Kankanay, or more popularly known as Sagada, rests in the Benguet Province. It is a popular destination for its rustic and provincial way of living which is a welcome reprieve from the stress of urban life. Its untouched lush environment and beautiful mountain scenery attracts tourists from all over the world who are seeking to reconnect with nature and their spirits.

The journey from Manila to Sagada takes hours long and you literally will traverse mountains. To make the journey comfortable, sign up for a tour package with personal driver Manila or Quezon. They will provide you a well-maintained air-conditioned van that will take you from your hotel or home in Manila, all the way to the mountains of Benguet. Just inform them of your specific travel dates and time for your pick-up. They also have a pre-arranged itinerary so you won’t miss out visiting the key locations you must see in Banaue, Sagada and Baguio.

Highlights of the Tour:

• Breath-taking views of Banaue Rice Terraces and Kiltepan

• Discovering their history and culture by visiting the Hanging Coffins, pottery and weaving

• Swimming and trekking the Bomod-Ok Falls

• A sidetrip to Baguio Strawberry Farm

SITES TO SEE

Kiltepan Viewpoint. It is popular viewpoint that tourists visit to witness the beautiful sunrise on top of a mountain. Lovers and the lovelorn travel to this destination to shout and profess their love sentiments while having a view of a sea of clouds.

Hanging coffins. This world-renowned destination is frequented by tourists for a glimpse of the fascinating hanging coffins that existed from the ancient times. You witness the 2,000 burial traditions of the Igorots that have fascinated the whole world.

Ganduyan Museum. The Ganduyan Museum is an exhibit of the rich cultural artifacts of the Mountain Province. It is an anthropologist’s haven and owned by a local curator named Christina Aben.

Lumiang Cave. The entrance of the cave is a display of wooden coffins, which indicates this used to be the burial grounds of the Igorots. Further down the cave is a picture worthy interior with ancient scribbles and pictures on the cave walls and the entrance to the Sumaguing Cave which IS popular for spelunking.

Echo Valley. Traverse the challenging walk to Echo Valley that starts from the Episcopal Church in the heart of the town. You can purchase a map from the local store to guide you through the town and the trek through Echo Valley that takes you to some caves, view of cliffs and mountains with options for mountain climbing and cave exploring.

St Mary’s Episcopal Church. A notable historical structure because of its distinct European features, the church is the symbol of the introduction of a new religion to the natives. It is located in the heart of the town and people visit the place to admire the beauty of the church or to pray and seek spiritual refuge.

Bumod-ok Falls, Pottery House. Also called the Big Falls, Bumod-ok Falls measures 200 meters high and is hidden behind the small villages and rice paddies of northern Sagada. You will have to walk a hiking trail to get to the falls from its jump-off point in Barangay Fidelisan. The Pottery House is an impressive display of the locally made pots by the Igorots.

Sagada Weaving. The shop is located in the main road of the town. You will see how the natives create the distinct intricate clothing with the traditional methods they use with their ancient looms.

Sumaguing Cave. The Sumaguing Cave is popular for spelunking and its amazing limestone formations. You will do a lot of cave climbing and crawling and there are hidden ponds inside the caves.

Orange Farm. The Orange Farm is located at the back of a rustic restaurant called Rock Inn and Café. While waiting for the food you ordered, you can go to the back of the restaurant and pick oranges from the orchard.

Side trip to the Strawberry Farm. A trip to Benguet is not complete unless you visit the farm where they grow the popular Japanese strawberries. These succulent, large strawberries are for you to pick and take home to Manila.