Connect the Dots: Lumiang – Sumaging Cave Connection

Remember your kinder garden activity where in you are asked to connect the dots in order to finish a maze or create a shape out of the dots you’ve connected? That’s how I envision our Lumiang – Sumaging Cave Connection adventure would be. Fortunately, I’ve connected the dots and survived to share our story.

photo by Darwin, PP by me. Didn't brought my camera inside

Your Sagada trip will not be completed if you haven’t tried this famous cave connection up in the mountains. It will test your body strength, coordination, flexibility, patience and in some point, it will also test your mental/analytical skills on how to fit your body on small holes and sharp curves, not to mention vertigo driven cliffs and ice cold water from the river inside the cave. But after conquering these challenges, you will be rewarded with amazing rock formation and a sense of pride.

After our failed Sunrise viewing at Kiltepan Peak, we ate breakfast and change to our cave-connection-appropriate-wear and began our descent to the underworld.

Starting Point: Lumiang Cave

A short jeepney ride from our guest house and a short trek down to the mouth of Lumiang cave is the starting point of our spelunking adventure. Lumiang Caves or also known to locals as the Burial Cave, this particular cave serves as the burial site of the Igorots before they relocate at Echo valley. This explains the number of coffins at the cave entrance.

photo by Cai

From the entrance you will encounter two to three small holes that you need to climb down. This part is a bit tricky but thanks to the very supportive guides and knotted ropes, you will be on a flat surface in no time. Just keep in mind what the guide’s instructions and you’re good to go.

Best Practice: If you’re afraid of heights, just remember your favorite super hero when you’re still a toddler like I did. I went back to the years when I still believe that I am Spider Man. Sounds funny but it works for me. (You can also try any character from G.I Joe or Star Wars depending on the difficulty of the obstacle in front of you).

Second Point: Short Swim Required

I remember what the boatman at the Underground River, Palawan told us during our cruise, “caves with flowing river inside are young and alive caves”. Since Lumiang is considered “young and alive”, I anticipated the fact that we will get wet inside but I never thought swimming is required.

We are not the only group spelunking inside the cave, so often we stopped to wait for the group in front of us to finish. Instead of wasting time, we took advantage of this time for more photo ops and observe their technique to finish the activity faster.

Basically, you are required to swim just a few meters to get to the other point, the water is just waist deep, but if you don’t want to swim and get wet you have the option to rappel down. We choose to swim, it’s easier and it helps regain our energy for the next 2 hours.

Last Point: Sumaging Cave

After 2 hours of climbing, swimming, rappelling, walking, and sliding we reached the first part of Sumaging Cave, also known as the Big Cave. We are now half way out of the cave, and what better way to celebrate this achievement? Photo ops!

photo by Darwin

You’ll know when you’re half way of the cave connection when you see the mushroom like rock formation. From here, you’ll be walking 2 hours more before you reach the mouth of Sumaging Cave. You’ll be enjoying Sumaging because it houses a number of rock formation, plus rivers and shallow pools are abundant in this part of the cave, you can enjoy another round of water fun before leaving the cave.

photo by Darwin

Time Check: The Lumiang – Sumaging Cave Connection lasts about four hours but it varies depending on the number of people inside and the phasing of your own group.

Cash Flow: We went on spelunking right after our visit at Kiltepan, so basically 600 php covers both trips.

Best Practice: Waterproof everything, you may use zip locks or dry bags to secure your things are dry after the activity. Wear comfortable clothes and trusty footwear. A good licensed guide, you can find one at SAGAS office.

Sole Food: Reward yourself with a good, heavy meal, you can find one at Yoghurt House! Food is good for sharing but if you’re hungry as a hippo after the 4-5 hours of spelunking you can finish the whole plate.

Sagada Series:

Preview of Things to Come: Sagada

Long Ride to Sagada, ways on how to get there and back.

Sunrise at Kiltepan Peak --- Epic Fail

Connect the Dots: Lumiang - Sumaging Cave Connection

Falls from North to South (Part 1)

Falls from North to South (Part 2)

Walking Tour: Echo Valley & The Hanging Coffins

Witnessing Traditon: Begnas (Rice Ritual)

Witnessing Traditon: Panagapoy

Food Trip in the Mountains: Sagada and Baguio