Sagada Tourist Spot

1. Hanging Coffins

It is the most iconic tourist spot in Mountain Province. The photo above shows a unique way of putting the local's loved ones to their final resting place. Their way of saying "Goodbye" is challenging, agree? How do they prepare? The elderly would carve their own coffin out of a log but if they are ill or too weak, their families prepare it instead. Not only that, they place the body in a fetal position as they believe that the spirit would leave the world in the same position as they were born. The coffins are also small, so they would break the bones to fit the body into the coffin. Lastly, they tucked them into crevices or stacked them inside the caves. The height at which coffins are placed also symbolizes their social status.

2. Sumaguing Cave

There are a lot of caves hiding in the mountainous area and it is the most visited because of its stunning beauty found only in nature. Trekking inside this cave is difficult because you need to hop on and off the slippery boulders. Ultimately, you will be rewarded with a world-class beauty with a big picture of sparkling stalactites and stalagmites that create unique images forming a natural grandeur.

3. Church of Saint Mary the Virgin


4. Panag-apoy

En route to the Hanging Coffins, we passed by a cemetery where we witnessed the remains of the Panag-apoy, a unique tradition in Sagada that means "to light a fire." Most Filipinos light a candle to their loved ones on the first of November, but the locals here use “saeng” to make bonfires near the graves of their dead loved ones. The wind is strong in the area, so a bonfire is better than a candle. By the way, we visited on the 2nd of November.

5. Rock Climbing in Echo Valley

Also en route to the Hanging Coffin, we passed by a wall where tourists can do rock climbing. If you want to add something extreme to your visit, then this is for you. We stop by this area for a couple of minutes while watching this guy reach the top. The area is surrounded by greens and the wind is cool.

6. Sagada Coffee


7. Dine at Log Cabin Restaurant


8. Marlboro Hills

Around 4:30 in the morning, we trekked through the hills' terrain, and it took us an hour and a half to reach its summit. The trails are simple and have a gradual ascent, but we can't hike faster because of tourist traffic - it was a holiday, so the area was full of tourists. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the relaxing cool wind with a remarkable view of the golden sunrise and sea of clouds.

9. Blue Soil

It's our last destination. The soil in the area turns to a shade of blue because of the presence of copper sulfate. If the soil is wet, the blueish color becomes more prominent. Aside from its color, there's nothing special about this place. Since it serves as the last destination of most Sagada itinerary, it's hard to take pictures without someone in the background. Just too many people!

Mountain Province is definitely one of the top tourist destinations in Luzon. The province has a combination of historical sites, gorgeous caves to explore, mountains to hike, food to taste, activities to try, friendly people to be with, and many others to discover.


How to Get to Sagada:

  1. How to Get Here: I was a solo joiner, but I learned that you can ride in a Coda Bus Line from Quezon City.
  2. Their last destination is at the terminal near St. Mary Church.
  3. Then, you can walk to the Municipal Hall or your accommodation nearby.

Where to Stay in Sagada:

  1. Rates, Budget Friendly and Affordable Place to Stay in Sagada.
  2. We stayed in Villa D' Familia. We occupied a spacious, non-AC room. The room is clean, and the toilet and bath have hot water. They also have a shared living room and kitchen.
  3. Book via Agoda. Baey Bogan Homestay is highly recommended, with 9.1 Exceptional ratings. Click the photo below to check their updated rates.
  4. If you're looking for more affordable places to stay in Sagada, click HERE.


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