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10 Things to Do in Sagada

Kara Santos

The mountain town of Sagada nestled in a valley in the Mountain Province is one of the most ideal places in the Philippines to enjoy the outdoors. This scenic town in the Cordillera region offers the most spectacular view of mountains, cooler climate due to its high elevation and well-preserved culture.


In recent years, Sagada has become increasingly popular with local and international tourists. It’s no surprise, because Sagada offers many adventurous outdoor activities and the cool mountain breeze that will make you just want to laze around all day as well as lots of great eats. For those who haven’t been to Sagada yet, here are ten activities you can do there.

1. Trek to the Hanging Coffins

One of the most recognizable landmarks of Sagada are its hanging coffins. These coffins made from hollowed-out logs hanging from limestone cliffs and cave walls, are part of Igorot burial ritual of pre-colonial Philippines. The Lumiang Burial Cave offers a glimpse of ancient traditions as the placement of the coffins was believed to put the departed closer to heaven.

If you’re visiting Sagada this break, you can also witness the Panag-apoy, a ritual and the traditional practice of burning “sa-eng” (fatwood) held every eve of November 1 at the cemetery.

2. Cave Connection

First-time visitors to Sagada usually make it a point to go spelunking and try the Cave Connection, which involves spelunking through the Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves. This involves traversing through slippery rocks and the icy cold water for roughly 3-4 hours.

3. Watch the Sunrise at Kiltepan Peak

Kiltepean Peak is the highest point in the area, situated on the eastern side of Sagada, around three and a half kilometers from the town center. This spot has become famous for its scenic view of the sunrise. Visitors usually wake up early in the morning to trek from town to catch the sunrise at this spot.

4. Hike to Waterfalls

If chasing waterfalls is your thing, then you’re in luck because Sagada has three waterfall destinations you can hike to. The most popular waterfall destination is Bomod-ok (Big Falls) which involves traversing through slippery rice paddies, a hanging bridge and quaint villages. The hike takes 2-3 hours (back and forth), or longer especially if you’re in a slow group, if you stop a lot to take photos, or linger at the falls to take a dip in the freezing cold water.

Other waterfall destinations in Sagada include Tape-ew (twin falls), which is said to also take 2-3 hours of hiking (back and forth) depending on your ability walk on trails, and Pongas–which involves a more challenging trail to get to.

5. Go Mountain Biking

If you’re a biker into dirt trails and challenging uphills, you’ll love mountain biking in Sagada. The high elevation and sloping terrain can be a real thrill for experts in technical riding.  You can try biking all the way to Marlboro Country in about 2 hours. The refreshing breeze, view of the pine-covered slopes and mountains beyond the cliffs, makes biking here a visual treat.

6. Go Rock Climbing 

Sagada’s cliffs aren’t just picturesque. They’re great for rock climbing too. Echo Valley has a natural rock wall that you can try scaling. The wall has an easy, medium and hard route. Compared to indoor wall climbing at the gym, the natural crags and rocks are a real challenge to climb, but the view all around and from the top is spectacular.

7. Explore by motorbike

For motorcycle riders coming from Manila, Sagada is one of the top riding destinations, as it passes spectacular mountain scenery and twisties. For tourists who aren’t riding all the way, but still want to explore sights nearby, you can rent motorbikes for use around Sagada town proper and even further.

We rented a couple of motorbikes and rode from the Sagada town proper to the Banaue Rice Terraces and back via Bontoc on a day ride the last time we visited. I really hope to be able to ride all the way to Sagada from Manila soon.

8. Try Whitewater Rafting

While walking around town, I noticed signs advertising whitewater rafting in Chico River in Upper Sagada. I haven’t tried this yet, but I can imagine that it would be as thrilling as our whitewater rafting in Chico River in Kalinga. If you’re in a large group, this can be a great option.

All organized tours for whitewater rafting in the Sagada area are done on the upper Chico, which is said to be different from most commercially rafted rivers in the country because of its high elevation. According to Rafting Philippines, the uppermost section of Chico river “tends to be constricted and technically demanding” which makes rafting here all the more exciting. There are six sections of Upper Chico which are accessible from Sagada or Bontoc (located in the municipalities of Sabangan, Bontoc, and Sadanga).

8. Go Orange-Picking

If you’re looking for something less extreme to do in Sagada, there are lots of family-friendly activities. Sagada is known for its delicious oranges, and a lot of people who visit this mountain town make sure to take home bags of oranges as souvenirs. In Rock Inn and Cafe, a top restaurant in Sagada, there’s an orange plantation where you can go around and pick the oranges yourself.

After walking through the lush orange orchard, nothing beats sitting down at their lovely Cafe Bodega, where you can enjoy a glass of fresh orange juice or pancakes with orange marmalade along with savory meals. Orange picking season is from November to February.

9. Go on a Food Trip

The cool crisp mountain air and all that walking in Sagada surely works up an appetite. Thankfully, there are lots of great restaurants to try out. The most famous homegrown restaurants in Sagada include Masferre Country Inn & Restaurant, Misty Lodge & Cafe, Salt & Pepper Diner, Log Cabin and Rock Inn & Cafe.

Must-tries include coffee from Sagada Brew, yoghurt from Yoghurt House and desserts from Lemon Pie House. Etag or salted smoked meat is a traditional delicacy in the Cordillera region, often paired with the traditional Pinikpikan chicken dish.

READ MORE: Food Trip: Sagada

10. Drink Cerveza Sagada

Cerveza Sagada is Sagada’s first home-made craft beer available in Sagada Cellar Door, which sells imported wine and beer brands aside from the homemade craft beer. The beers use local ingredients from the Cordillera region.

There’s Kapi, a cofee stout that uses Sagada coffee; Gusi Violet Ale with balantinao uses Mountain Province black rice while Alig Wheat Ale is flavored with wild sunflower honey and orange zest, to name a few.

Other things to do in Sagada:

Your best bet would be to go directly and inquire at Saggas, the Tourist Information Center. Please note that rates may have changed since I last visited.

WHERE TO STAY IN SAGADA:

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