It’s said that if you put in a line all the rice terraces from the Mountain Province, located on the island of Luzon, they will surround the World. I am not sure if that’s true, but I can definitely affirm that the landscape offered by the terraces is really spectacular. So if you come to the Philippines to enjoy its paradisiacal islands (Coron, Plawan or Bohol, among others), you should also dedicate a weekend to enjoy this wonderful place.
WHEN & HOW TO TRAVEL TO MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
I believe that a good idea is to make an organized trip from Manila. It is easy to find on the Internet the different travel companies that will take care of everything letting you only enjoy your trip. Organized trips are normally for small groups. To reach Sagada, the most prominent city in the Mountain Province, you will spend at least 9-10 hours of travel. Therefore, the trips for the weekend start on a Thursday or Friday night in order to spend these hours sleeping.
If you decide to travel by bus, I advise you to find a trip from Cubao or Pasay station with the Victory Liner to Baguio City, where you will have to take a taxi to Dangwa Station to take a GL Trans Bus to Sagada. There is also a direct bus from the Quezon City in Manila with the Coda Lines that operates daily at 9:00 p.m.
Travelers are advised to visit Mountain Province between the months of November and February, during the wet season. Keep in mind that temperatures can even reach 4ºC, so take appropriate clothing. During this season the harvest takes place and locals are celebrating numerous festivals. I advise you to participate in the Sagada Festival that takes place between January 30 and February 2, whose purpose is to promote ecotourism through processions and ancient sacred rituals. On the other hand, if too cold temperatures scare you, the dry (summer) season takes place between March and May.
WHAT TO VISIT IN THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
SUMAGUING CAVE
Sumaguing Cave, also known as the Big Cave, is the largest among the 60 caves located in Sagada. It is a very popular tourist attraction that includes contemplation and descent through the extraordinary rock formations, some of them in the shape of animals. If you dare, you can take a walk through a narrow tunnel, in which you will surely get wet or even muddy. Therefore, it is better to wear comfortable clothes and good shoes, since the pavement is also slippery. The entire tour lasts around 4 hours.
HIKING TIME
MT.KILTEPAN
Mount Kiltepan is 1,636m high, making it the largest in the region. I recommend you rent an excursion in Sagada to watch the sunrise. The sun rises between the mountains, setting itself above the clouds. It is certainly a spectacular sight.
MALBORO HILLS
By the way, if you like hiking, I also recommend a route through the Malboro Hills. These mountains are less visited by tourists, so you will have the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic sunrise alone. In both cases it is quite cool, so bring warm clothes.
BOMOD-OK WATERFALL
The Bomod-ok Waterfall, also known as the Grand Waterfall, is an excellent opportunity to take a dip. Although its waters are somewhat cool, they come in handy after a hiking trail. The path that leads to the waterfall is down the mountain. During the journey you will have the opportunity to contemplate the beautiful rice terraces and the farmers who carry out their work. You will also pass through some small villages, built with traditional elements.
I recommend you bring water and a hat, since especially in the dry season it can be quite hot, and it is better to be well equipped.
KAPAY-AW RICE TERRACES
The Kapay-aw rice terraces are located in the vicinity of Sagada. In my case, I had the opportunity to visit them on the way, since I was traveling with a private tour from Manila and the terraces were part of the itinerary. I arrived just at sunrise and the scenery looked really beautiful.
In case you didn’t know, rice is an herbaceous plant, originally cultivated in China for 4000 years. For its cultivation, it is necessary to create a semi-aquatic environment, which is why this crop had great development in Southeast Asia, due to the long wet seasons with abundant rains. Although cultivation is currently widespread in different parts of the world, for example, it is possible to observe it in the Guadalquivir Valley in southern Spain.
HANGING COFFINS
Sugong Hanging Coffins represent an ancient burial tradition. Only people of a very advanced age who have descendants of several generations have the possibility of being buried in the wooden coffins that are placed on the cliffs of the limestone rocks. The tradition has existed for over 2,000 years and some of the coffins are over 100 years old. Over time, the coffins deteriorate and end up falling from the top of the mountain.
The reason why the dead are placed on the mountain wall comes from a belief that the spirits of the dead placed high up will have a better chance of reaching nature in their afterlife.
TIPS:
- In this part of the Philippines the weather is cooler, so you should bring warm clothing, as well as good hiking shoes.
- In Sagada there is a great culinary offer to taste the delicious local cuisine. I personally have loved Yoghurt House. They make great pancakes! I leave you the photo and you can see it for yourself. But, there are more phenomenal places to eat sweets and typical dishes, the best thing is to try a new place every day.
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