If you’re travelling around Luzon in the Philippines, then you’ll probably arrive at Sagada at some point.
Sagada is a lovely place for backpackers to visit, with a nice temperature, good food, nature and coffins!
To see many of the sights you may need to visit the tourist office in the centre to get a guide as you cannot go to the coffins, caves or treks without one.
Here are 7 wonderful ways to enjoy Sagada in the Philippines:
1. See the hanging coffins
The most famous sight of Sagada is, of course, the hanging coffins. You need to go with a guide and they will point out more coffins hidden in caves along the way. The people of Sagada have been burying people this way for 2,000 years and it’s a way of helping spirits reach the afterlife.
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2. Visit the church and museums
On the way into Sagada, you’ll see the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin that you can visit on the way to the coffins. Nearby you can hop inside the Masferre photos museum which shows the pictures that photographer Eduardo Masferre took to document Filipino life.
If you want more history, then check out the Ganduyan Museum which all about the art and history of Sagada.
3. Take in the views
If you get up early, you can go on a trip to Kiltepan Viewpoint to see the sunrise through the crowds. Not only that but when you’re trekking to the Hanging Coffins and waterfalls, you’ll be rewarded with marvellous views over the valleys.
4. Trek to a waterfall
As Sagada is quite wet, there are several waterfalls that you can include as part of your trek or tour. There are the Bomod-ok Falls and the Pongas Falls out of town plus the smaller Bokong Falls near town.
Read: The Top 3 Waterfalls of Sagada
5. Go caving
The most famous cave in Sagada is the Sumaguing Cave for spelunking, there is also the Lumiang Cave which contains coffins and another burial site known as Balangagan Cave. There are also river caves to explore too.
6. Eat delicious local food
Sagada is one of the better places to eat in Luzon and it produces a lot of its own tasty food. We had lovely local yogurt with local honey at the Yogurt House which was great. Masferre Country Inn also does great breakfasts with local ingredients. Try the pancake with wild berries picked in Sagada.
Read: 6 delicious foods to eat in Sagada
7. Support local artisans
Weaving is a popular traditional handicraft in Sagada, so why not visit the weaving shop on Staunton Road. The shop sells locally made bags, bracelets, blankets and food plus you get to meet the women who do the weaving.
I was glad that I visited Sagada as it was literally a breath of fresh air and full of interesting nature and culture. Completely different to the beaches of Palawan and Bohol.
Read more: The cheapest and easiest way to see Philippines Ifugao rice terraces
Check the reviews on Tripadvisor before you go:
Have you been to Sagada in the Philippines? What were your favourite things to do while you were there? Share your stories in the comments below!
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