Sagada is our next stop right after Buscalan. Moreover, Sagada will be second to Baguio being the well-known destination up North especially in the Cordilleras. Unfortunately, not all travels meant to be perfect as planned due to unforeseen factors especially the weather and our desire to rests peacefully  (tulog is life)  for a day since we’ve got so much wooz during the tour in Buscalan. And yes, we’ve missed a lot of areas in our itinerary (haha).

Sagada is approximately two hours from Buscalan and one and a half from the capital, Bontoc. One of the municipality in Mountain Province and has become famous in recent years due to influence of local movies and series. Who would have forget the movie that made this place even more popular in thing so called “soul searching”? This movie has become a box office success after being showed in big cinemas nationwide that was initially intended for small screen independent film festival so to speak. That Thing Called Tadhana grossed Php 134 million in 2014 and started the “hugot” feels movies trilogies.

Sagada has a lot to offer for tourists especially for those who wants to escape a hot steaming temperature in the metro. It has consistent subtropical highland climate ranging from 17-20 degrees Celsius that is relatively low compared to what we have in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in North and South Luzon. Sagada is one popular place for adventurers and wanderers. Famous for its hanging coffins, Sagada can be a perfect place for nature hopping such as spelunking and mountain climbing.

Blue Soil Hills

Known as Kaman-utek in local term, this place is a worthy spot to visit while in Sagada. Normally, this is the last destination right after you hike for Marlboro Country or the Kamanbaneng Peak where you can see the “sea of clouds” that unfortunately, we have not done and experience.  Anyhow, at least we were able to visit this famous “Blue Soil Hills” after 30-45 minutes trekking. You won’t get lost after all since a trail path were made respectively to guide you directly going to the area. But better as well to ask for a tour guide for safety.

The blue-green hue of this landscape makes it different from its surroundings. Do not wonder so much why because science has an answer to that. The soil in this particular area has a rich copper sulfate content and actually safe for human exposure. Pitcher plant, grass and pine trees are still growing all around despite of its condition. Our tour guide actually prohibits us to come near close since it caused a lot of damage to the soil. In fact, that’s true. You can observed a slight erosion in some parts.

Sumaging Cave

Adrenaline rush! That is one thing to describe my experience going in and out of this cave. It’s actually my first time to do caving or spelunking so far and I thought it would not be that bad (haha). But hey! Good thing I’m always ready for situation like this and survived the trail. Climbing back down to see its hidden beauty was difficult and absolutely quicker in climbing up back. Entry and exit point is the same and that would same slippery experience but it’s totally fun! I’m noticing myself being competitive enough and became tremendously tougher. Because it’s typically cold inside, you can also observed a condensation or a smoke when you breathe (feels like a K-drama experience).

Sumaging Cave dubbed as “The Big Cave” because of its huge chamber that connects a total of 60 caves of the town. Inside is splendid rock formations that comes in different shapes. Major highlights as well is the stalagmite and stalactites that was formed millions of years ago.

Trail is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is to reach the bottom of the steep. A strange smell of bat-poop was vivid in this area. Phase 2 is where you can see now the rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. Mandatory to remove those gorgeous sleepers, sandals and shoes to protect the landscape in this area as you go down to Phase 3 that called the tunnel. You can swim in a freezing cold water in chambers.

Being able to experience how tough it is, I would like to share some helpful tips and reminders that could probably help as you do your own Sumaging adventures too.

The North especially Baguio and Sagada are quite famous for people who does their “soul search”. You can look around in Google or in your dictionaries the meaning of the word but for me, it is all about “serenity”, “finding answers”, “looking for your purpose” and “a time to reflect and replenishing your soul”.

It was a short and quick decision to make to join again for the second time around a trip to Buscalan and Sagada for 3 days and 2 nights together with other travel joiners. Fortunately, the team composed of 12 people including the driver and the travel coordinator are from the South – Cavite indeed. We left Pasay at around 9:00PM and arrived in Banaue at 4:30AM and its 30 minutes earlier compared to our schedule. It was really quick for an 8-9 hours travel time from Manila so we had some coffee and bio-break before leaving going to Banaue Rice Terraces View Point in Batad, our first stop.

Banaue Rice Terraces View Point - Batad

Before heading out to Buscalan, which is about three and a half hours more or less, we did a side trip in one of the acclaimed and pride of Filipinos, the Banaue Rice Terraces or Hagdan-hagdang Palayan in local term. Anthropologists believed that this natural wonder is over 2000 years old but some says it’s beyond than that. Built by the indigenous people of Banaue or the Ifugao's, this rice terraces stands 1,500 meters above sea level. Ancient irrigation system allows the terraces to grow rice and other crops up to this date.

Batad - Banaue Rice Terraces View Point [Photo: Hannah Cesista]

The Cordilleras is a mountain region in the northern part of Luzon consists of six provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province. Rich in mountains and rivers but fewer plains to grow rice and other crops especially in Benguet and Mountain Province, the locals has to carve out the mountains and convert into such beautiful rice terraces where they could plant and grow respectively. The Banaue Rice Terraces is a pre-colonial testament that is few in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been influenced by other colonial cultures especially Spanish who ruled the country for over three centuries. Luckily, it was not heavily damaged during Japanese and American invasion.

Banaue Rice Terraces View Point - Batad [Photo: Margaret Cupino]

In 1973, it was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government and considered as one of the Eighth Wonder of the World. Though it is not an official title, Filipinos are purely proud for Banaue to be included in the listings. Unfortunately, due to several modern structures around the site, it hits down the score for integrity criterion and it was not then included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site so to speak.

Sunrise at Banaue Rice Terraces View Deck [Photo: Romano Beunavista]

And it was an awed for the Filipinos and the entire Philippines when it appears in the finale scene of 2018 highest grossing film of the year and fourth highest grossing film of all time, “Avengers: Infinity War”.

An Ifugao rice god, "The Bulul" [Photo: Roman Buenavista]

Buscalan Tattoo Village

Buscalan is one of the 20 barangays in Tinglayan, Kalinga. Perhaps one of the famous spots in the province due to its popular local celebrity, who is also known as the last mambabatok or traditional tattoo artist, Apo Whang-od, a Butbut tribe origin. The village is situated on top of the mountain, which is about an hour trekking to some but it takes forever for those joints and legs that the only trekking made so far is from their living room going to their bedrooms at the second floor (hahaha). I bet, aside from Whang-od, this is one of the best part in Buscalan. Some sort of exercise though.

Overlooking the Buscalan Tattoo Village

Fluctuating from 10-15C temperature (even actually lower), sweats are running down from head to toe and that glamour and freshness has gone for good but an awesome view from the mountaintop once you reach the village and back is all worth it. Lush green mountains and cliffs, running rivers, Buscalan's rice terraces and a remote village that is full of life was an absolute perfection of living away from the metropolis and a perfect place to soul search indeed.

Rice Terraces in Buscalan Tattoo Village

We stayed at the homestay organized by our travel agency for one good night. It’s a simple abode made of concrete and wood but truly signifies the unique architectural style of Kalinga. The water is cold by the way like freshly out from the fridge. Even the temperature at night is cold enough as if you’re having an air-conditioner and thus, a jacket, your warmer and that pants is a must to bring when visiting the place.

Morning Coffee [Photo: Macja]

Essential Things to Bring

Tumblr for water and some biscuits for snacks

Warmer, jackets and pants for those who gets cold easily like me

Cash or money since they don’t have ATM’s or banks

Design of your own tattoo just in case you would like a personalized one

Patience, endurance and stamina

Welcome Sign Board - Buscalan Tattoo Village

Trip to Buscalan and Sagada made possible by below travel organizers. You can check out their Facebook page for more details. For this trip as a travel joiner, I spent around Php 5,000.00+. That is Php 3,599.00 for the tour itself inclusive of transportation, accommodation, meals and environmental fees. The rest of Php 1,500 were used to pay other excluded fees such as for tour guide, other optional activities and souvenir shopping.