Long Ride to Sagada, Ways to get there and back

It was originally a thesis proposal for one of our blogger friend who’s on his last year in college- turn - birth day travel instead after the former plan was scratched out. We thought of doing Baguio-Banaue-Batad-Sagada, a long stretch of tourist attraction in the high lands where rice terraces and never ending mountain ranges dominate the skyline. But after a strong typhoon hit the Mountain Province, we dropped Banaue and Batad, and focused on Sagada instead.

Onwards Sagada: How to get there?

There are a number of Bus Liners that take the route of Manila – Baguio, your drop off point going to Sagada. The popular choice was Victory Liner – Pasay (you may also opt for their Cubao terminal as well), by three in the morning, all 10 of us are cruising the NLEX road. Bus fare bound to Baguio costs 450 php each (you may also try their online booking like we did, but with additional 73 php service charge on top of the regular price).

When we reached Baguio, we went straight to Dangwa Bus Terminal (bus bound to Sagada are stationed here, tickets cost 220 php one way) to buy tickets for Sagada. Bus bound to Sagada leave every hour up until 1 in the afternoon. We were then joined by 2 more friends who were already in the city of Pines. Unfortunately, tickets are already sold out; in this kind of event you may want to check on your plan B --- renting a van. Van rentals costs around from 5000 – 6000 php depending on your haggling skills, we got ours for 5500 php, all thanks to Heiz’s local dialect know how (Ilocano).

Time Check: Expected travel time from Manila to Sagada is 12 hours. The bus ride from Manila to Baguio will take the first half of your journey and the ride from Baguio to Sagada will take the latter half of your travel time.

Fun Facts: Doing the Baguio-Sagada route will lead you to the Philippines Highway System Highest Point. You may want to ask your driver to pull over for some photo ops. If you want to enjoy the perfect view of this route, do top loading but at your own risk.

Other Road Option: Aside from the Manila-Baguio-Sagada route, you can also take the Manila-Banaue-Sagada. When doing the latter, you can do a side trip at Banaue and/or Batad.

Going back from Sagada

You can take the same route you had when you first came in Sagada town. Bus fare costs 220 php as well. But if unfortunate events happened you may want to go to Bontok, the capital of Mountain Province. There is a jeepney from Sagada to Bontok every day, fare costs 55 php. From Bontok you can ride an elbow bus going to Baguio. Bus fare costs 212 php.

Fun Facts: Top load is still gives you the best view of the road, especially the Sagada-Bontoc route. Chico River and Bontok Rice Terraces are two of the must see on this part of the road trip.

Time Check: Travel time from Sagada to Bontok will last for 2 hours while the ride from Bontok to Baguio will take another 6 hours.

Best Practice: If you’re visiting Sagada during peak/holiday season, it’s advisable to buy your return ticket from Baguio to Manila.

After the 12 hour ride, we opted to call it a night (after checking in at our rooms and eat a mouthful of delicious dishes at Yoghurt house) for some needed shut eye and recharge our tired body for all our planned adventures ahead of us.

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