Playing tomb raider at the Sagada Hanging Coffins.

It's been awhile since I posted a travel blog here and I missed doing so which is why, let me share to you a very unforgettable experience my husband James and I had in Sagada.

From Batad, Banaue, we traveled at least three hours to get to Sagada. First by our own pair of feet as we trek the slippery and sloppy trail from the Batad Rice Terraces up to the Saddle Point just so we could get the 8:00AM trip to Sagada. From there we took a van going to Bontoc then from there, we hired a public jeepney which then traveled to Sagada.

Here's the Banaue Rice Terraces, Banaue Ifugao

A local pausing for a photo. There's a fee for every shot taken. Mind you, they won't let you take a photo without paying!

Some souvenir products at Banaue Rice Terraces Viewing Deck.

I really want to buy one of these but it would take up space in our backpack.

We had a few stop overs by the way so we had time to take photos of some other attractions. First stop was at the famous Banaue Rice Terraces. While I see that it is very famous, perhaps much famous than the amazing Batad Rice Terraces, I can personally that Batad's is more beautiful than Banaue's. I noticed that the terraces of rice were mainly made of soil while in Batad, rocks were being used which means they are more sturdy! Then the Banaue Rice Terraces as well looks not properly maintained.

Then we also had another stop over in another village which grows their rice plants in yet another rice terraces, unfortunately, I forgot the name of this village. A local dressed in his traditional costume was looking over the paid comfort room but didn't hesitate to pose for a photo opportunity! He looked like a warrior for me though!

Awesome right?

Local warrior!

Going back to our trip to Sagada, I had high expectations with this place because of what other people had told me, two of my colleagues have been there before me and that they told me good things about it. I was expecting that I would be able to see the sea of clouds, as well as the mysterious hanging coffins and of course the beautiful pine trees!

On our first day, James and I made sure not just to stay at our room even if we were dead tired because we only have two days to stay here! Of course we need to make the most out of it! Upon arrival, we went straight to our booked room at Isabelo's. I was glad to learn that upon setting my foot on Sagada's land, I learned right away that this is just a small town.

Arrival at Sagada. Isabelo's is behind that maroon building.

I was also thankful that I booked at Isabelo's because it is located at the heart of Sagada itself! It was just next to their mini market, walking distance to the Tourism Office and the bus stop as well! Not to mention that it was also very affordable! I booked mine online through Agoda.com!

I did mention before that I spent a month planning this trip as I can't afford to mess up. So I had searched as well if there's any motorcycle for rent in town. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one. I had to ask the locals when we arrived there and delighted to find one but it was expensive. Php 750 for four hours!

I have to take a photo of the pinecone

It was definitely pricey but we don't want to go where the common tourists go, I can actually sense a lot of visitors even when we were at the Tourism Office when we paid our environmental fee so we have to get a motorcycle so we could roam around with a free itinerary. Plus, booking vans and other vehicles for our tours would cost us more because most of the Sagada tours are group friendly but it would break a leg if you are traveling solo or with a partner.

Which is why, I would highly recommend going to Sagada in groups.

James handed over his ID to the motorcycle for rent owner in exchange to his red Honda XRM 125, ignited the engine and off we went to our first destination: Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins.

But first, check this noob video which summarizes our trip enroute to Sagada:

ECHO VALLEY & HANGING COFFINS

Talking about hanging coffins gives chill to my spines but it made us very curious as to why they have these wood coffins hung at these rock walls persuaded us to go.

Our tour guide was a Kuya (elder) who had been a tour guide for more than two decades. He was thin, dark skinned and he spoke a mix of Tagalog and their local dialect so there were many times when we couldn't get what he was staying but we nodded anyways.

There's really something about pine trees. I like them a lot!

He showed us the way to the town's common cemetery. While I find it awkward to have a cemetery as a tourist spot, I just keep the conversation going until we were off to the real hanging coffins.

It only took us a good walking until we reached the Echo Valley.

We passed by this beautiful rock church on our way to the entrance of the Echo valley and hanging coffins.

This area has been called as such because if someone shouts, there will be multiple echoes returned back. The locals take advantage of this when calling out somebody far away from the cemetery.

View of the Echo Valley.

James and I at the Echo Valley. Kuya tour guide took this photo.

We started trekking again towards the hanging coffins. As soon as we reached this area, Kuya started explaining why there are coffins and chairs included too in these walls.

Coffins were hanged because they believe this will bring them closer to heaven and that they could also watch over their families from there.

There were also chairs together with the coffins because they positioned the dead body in fetal position during wake in a special chair chosen by the dead person when he was still alive, he or she as well decides if he'd like the chair hung with him too. Note, they don't place them in a coffin at that time yet, they'll sit like that and during burial, it was surprising to know that the entire village will be on a holiday, everyone will help pass the dead body wrapped in a cloth until it reaches the rock wall at the hanging coffins area.

As for the fetal position, they believe that when we were born in this world, we were in fetal position thus we should also be positioned this way when leaving the earth.

Did I mention that only the elders, pure and local of Sagada can be placed there. Also, there's no burial fees attached to this ceremony!

Next Stop: LAKE DANUM. watch for it in my next blog!

I made a photobook for our Batad - Sagada Travel here:

Unfortunately, it would be hard for me to enumerate my expenses for this trip. Apologies! But I hope you had fun and learned something out from this blog.

You might also be interested in my previous travel blog series:

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DIY Travel PH#15: Motorcycling to Sagada's Mysterious Hanging Coffins

ECHO VALLEY & HANGING COFFINS

You might also be interested in my previous travel blog series: