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Green mountains, extensive caves, indigenous culture, and excellent hikes, all in the mountain town of Sagada.

Nestled among verdant mountain landscapes, Sagada is a laid-back town that attracts adventure-seekers who come to hike, spelunk, and climb. However, this is also one of the few places in the Philippines where pre-colonial culture has survived largely unchanged. According to local legend, Sagada was founded as a refuge from lowland headhunters — later, it acted as a safe haven for those fleeing first the Spanish and then 20th-century dictators.

The town’s far-flung location and steep terrain kept it isolated, and today you can still glimpse the traditional Igorot way of life. Perhaps the best-known examples of this culture are the Echo Valley Hanging Coffins and nearby Burial Cave.

Things to see and do in Sagada

Caving, hiking & other adventures

Here, hiking trails wend their way through mist-shrouded forests and up steep slopes. Rice terraces undulate across the valleys and waterfalls cascade down cliff faces that are pocked with cave entrances. You can opt to make your time here as rigorous or as lazy as you like, with adventures that range from a rugged four-hour caving experience to casual strolls on nearly flat trails. Your specialist can help you choose.

Indigenous culture

Indigenous culture thrives here in every aspect of life, including death rituals. In Echo Valley, for example, you can glimpse coffins hanging off the cliff face — some date back hundreds of years, while others are much more recent. And, in the nearby Burial Cave, you’ll see more than 100 coffins stacked at the entrance. A guide is required to see the coffins and we can arrange a tour that includes both locations, as well as a stop at a local weaver’s studio.

Best time to visit Sagada

For the best combination of comfortable temperatures and sunny skies, we suggest visiting from November to February, though December can get busy with visitors.