Trekking Sagada
in Mountain Province

Trekking Sagada

Trekking Sagada in the Mountain Province in Luzon, Philippines, is a very rewarding experience for those who have walked the paths of mountain-dwellers who have been living there for thousands of years.

Trekking Sagada is not an experience that everyone can own. It is only for those who do not only possess the stamina to conquer long trails but also for those who love cultural features intwined in the natural landscapes.

Urban dwellers would typically prefer to rove around the metropolis and explore every side-street searching for ideal refuge, more than traveling to remote provinces.

However, there are more than 7,000 reasons to explore this archipelago's parameters, taking into account its profuse land and marine resources and myriad sanctuaries.

Among the many exciting regions in the Philippines is the mountainous terrain and savanna in northern Luzon as inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Part of this region is Sagada. With a measly P2,500, a determined explorer can take a fulfilling jaunt to Sagada—a serene mountain community in Mt. Province.

Hanging Coffins in Sagada, Mountain Province

The adventurous travelers would customarily take the 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano, Nueva Ecija route) that costs not more than P300.

In Banaue, travelers have the option to take the day off and trek along the well-engineered Banaue Rice Terraces or take a jeepney ride to Bontoc, and from there, one can catch a bus ride to a more tranquil region, Sagada in Mt. Province.

Sagada has economical lodging houses and hotels to spend the night over. For as low as P200, a traveler can avail of a bedroom for two and a well-scrubbed shared bathroom with sufficient water for an overnight abode.

Even though electricity and water are accessible in these highland regions, one of the guidelines in immersing in remote areas is not to expect urban amenities.

However, the lack of adequate necessities is not a hindrance to any devoted backpacker. Indeed, the remarkable view of the mountains, the sight of abundant natural resources, and exposure to the mountain community are enough reasons to enjoy the trip.

Trekking along the narrow mountain trails of Batad and Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one of the many leisure options where the terraces' panoramic views can be enjoyed.

To keep track of the trail, many villagers can be hired for hours as tour guides.

The trip is truly breathtaking, and for an amateur trekker, the long hours of the walk should not impede them from reaching the other side of the trail.

There are some brooks and the curvy mountain range that is guaranteed to quench one's thirst during hike hours. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring endpoint is an antidote to muscle pain.

Batad is comparable to realizing the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. It boasts of scenic and unspoiled layers of rice fields forming a colossal amphitheater, where native Ifugaos mostly dwell.

The terraces are still a useful source of livelihood and personal sustenance for Ifugaos, except for some where irrigation systems have been destroyed through seepage, landslides, prolonged drought, erosion, and other inevitable natural calamities.