The short answer to the question “When is the best time to go?” is “any time when it isn’t raining too much”. Sagada is a good trip all-year long as long as the weather cooperates, really but since Sagada is in the middle of Luzon, there are micro climates that makes the weather a little bit harder to predict.

I’ve been to Sagada almost all months of the year and this is how I felt about it:

January

The first month of the year is probably one of the best times to go. January usually isn’t peak season for tourism so you’ll the town to yourself. The weather is still cold so the early evenings and nights can be quite an experience. From what I remember, it rarely rains during this month; if ever, it would only be in the afternoon.

February

This month is a lot like January but the big clincher here is the town fiesta during the first week. It’s a big local celebration so it would be a good idea to check it out to see another side of the town’s personality.

March and April

It gets hot real fast. I personally don’t like the summer months for two reasons – the amount of people in town usually doubles or triples instantly and the weather just becomes too similar to the warmer parts of the country. The road to Sagada gets a bit too dusty and it will be a challenge to people with asthma.

May

I’ve been to Sagada three times during May and it’s a mixed bag. The other two trips were unremarkable and very enjoyable weather-wise, but the latest one (2008) was absolutely rained out. It could be a bit risky.

June and July

The Aguid village near the Bomod-ok Falls (Big Falls) usually close the trail to the waterfall around this time. The exact date of closure is NEVER known in advance so you could be missing out on your chance to check out the waterfalls. The rains start to get more regular around this time and in this region, rain equals landslides. These roadslips can certainly slow down your transit time – especially from the Baguio side.

August, September and October

This is typhoon season. Fortunately, Sagada has not been heavily damaged by the last two super typhoons that has hit the area (Megi 2010 and Parma 2009). The towns around Sagada were devastated though and it made traveling to the area next to impossible. Power could also be unavailable in town during times of severe rains and typhoons. I went to Sagada August last year and the Baguio-Sagada trip that was usually 5.5 hours ended up being longer than 7 hours due to road repairs. It’s frustrating because the section that usually gets bad rock slides is in the barangay of Gonogon – just 40 minutes away from Sagada.

November

It starts getting cold around this time. Late November is a really good stretch to consider going – there aren’t a lot of people in town yet and the weather is probably as perfect as its going to get.

December

Early to mid December is a lot like November but a little bit colder. Late December is awesome if you like being in large groups. The annual bonfire activity is held every December 28 and its easily one of the biggest parties that the town hosts every year. If it’s okay for you to share a packed town that’s filled to the brim, December is the perfect time to go. I’ve gone the past three years and it’s been nothing short of a great experience.

Around three years ago, a group of guys got together to create a website that would help people find their way to Sagada. The internet was still pretty bare when it came to having good websites that would be useful in providing information and tips on how to go about planning a trip to this sleepy mountain town at the heart of the Cordilleras. Travel bloggers already had their take on their Sagada adventures but it was still quite a challenge to consolidate the information. When I tried going back in 2006, I had to rely on Pinoyexchange (the Philippines’ largest online forum) for directions and hotel recommendations. This is how I discovered the then still unnamed and unpainted Residential Lodge – my home now for most of my 16 trips to Sagada. (more…)

This is kape alamid or civet cat coffee. You’re probably wondering why in the world a cat would have something to do with the making of coffee but if you let your imagination really run wild, you would probably figure out that the coffee is actually made from the droppings of the alamid. The digestive process supposedly gives the resulting coffee a very distinct taste.

I tried kape alamid at Bana’s Cafe last year and I think it’s the only establishment in town that has a wide assortment of coffee products – truly deserving of its self-declared title of cafe. It had a very mild flavor – almost like chocolate with a faint hint of caramel at the end. It was quite an expensive cup of coffee (150 pesos ~ 3 USD) for a place like Sagada but you have to try these things at least once, right?

If you don’t feel like drinking coffee derived from something that came out of the rear end of a small animal, you could always go for their other brews. The arabica and robusta on the menu are pretty good and they do pack a punch.

Photo: Tet Grajo

Angel Juarez came up with his own version of this list so I’m just going to compile my own ten. Do check out Angel Juarez’s link – he’s certainly one of the best travel bloggers in the Philippines and he’s fast becoming one of the most popular as well.

Here are the ten things you have to do when you’re in Sagada:

1. Complete the Lumiang-Sumaguing cave connection.

Most people haven’t gone caving and most people are NOT prepared for the physical requirement that this task entails. This makes it the perfect almost-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to somehow push yourself to the limit and take some risks with your physical well-being. You’ll be surprised how many seemingly nonathletic people have managed to finish the course. Expect to get wet and use muscles that you’ve never used before.

2. Go to the Bomod-ok Falls (Big Falls)

The Big Falls is one of the largest waterfalls you’ll see in the Philippines and the trek to the valley that hides it is a great treat. You will be literally walking along the rice terraces and going through villages that don’t have access to a main road. It’s an easy enough hike if you can go walk for 60-90 minutes without huffing and puffing. Do not underestimate the sun – it may be cold in Sagada but the sun is still king around these parts. Always protect your skin with sunblock. The water temperature in the natural swimming pool is pretty close to ice cold. Reward yourself for walking under the sun with a quick dip before shivering all the way back to the top of the trail. (more…)

For better or for worse, Sagada has gotten the unfair reputation of being a source of marijuana (obtained from Cannabis sativa) and the town’s name has even been linked to the best quality of the “drug”.  Whether you believe in the legalization of marijuana use is irrelevant when you’re in Sagada – or anywhere in the Philippines for that matter. Yes, many countries have moved forward and made it possible for its citizens to access and use marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes but only Philippine laws would apply should you ever get caught.

Here’s what the law states:

Republic Act 1965 is the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. It metes out very stiff penalties for those who are found using, selling, storing and manufacturing substances that appear on a fairly comprehensive list included in the bill (the list includes cocaine, heroine, MDMA and other substances). You will face anywhere from 12 to 20 years in jail if you are found guilty and if you’ve seen what Philippine jails are like, it’s likely that you wouldn’t want to spend more than a few minutes in one.

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So please, do not unfairly equate Sagada with weed. The place can stand alone without that tag and reputation. No, it is NOT true that the people don’t care if you do use it – but you’re more than welcome to push your luck between getting a cheap thrill and landing 20 years in the slammer.

Do what you wish at your own risk.

The weather in Sagada is so different from the rest of Luzon that it is actually possible to have orange orchards in some areas. One of the largest is the one around Rock Inn – easily one of the most remote but stunning hostels in town. The inn has its on drive way that takes visitors deep into a valley around 2 to 3 kilometers away from the town center. This is a perfect spot for people who want peace and quiet.

The inn also offers the unique experience of orange picking. For just 50 pesos entrance fee, you can enter the premises and get all the oranges you want. The oranges you get will be weighed and priced at a fairly reasonable 50 pesos per kilo once you step out of the premises.

Visit Sagada is now on Facebook. We currently have around 130 people who have liked the page and if you think we deserve your “likes” and clicks, please go to the Visit Sagada Facebook Page. You may also use the wall to ask questions about Sagada. See you there!