Yes people. it’s worth it. This shot was taken near the summit of Mt. Ampacao in Sagada. The area provides a very good vantage point to the towns of Sagada and Besao as well as the summit of Mt. Polis and the humongous waterfalls of Bauko, Mountain  Province.

Here are resources about Mt. Ampacao

Visit Sagada: Mt. Ampacao

Pinoy Mountaineer: Mt. Ampacao

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Most (if not all) of the visitors to Sagada would brave the long drive or commute to experience the natural beauty of the town. Of course, most of these natural wonders would require walking and navigating through not-so-familiar hike trails and paths. Be a responsible and smart backpacker by researching about the sites that you want to visit. If that’s not possible, ask the other tourists and travelers that you encounter during your stay.

If you’re a first time traveler, you’re definitely going to benefit from having a tour guide that could give directions and pertinent information about the places you want to see.

To arrange a guided tour, make your way to the municipal hall near the intersection of Sagada’s three main roads. The tourism desk is to your left immediately upon entering the building. There, you would see the list of possible destinations and the standard rates for each. (more…)

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This will be the first of a series of posts on things you should never miss out on your trip to Sagada. I’d like to keep them as simple and as doable within at least a 3-day trip as possible (no “camp out on Mt Ampacao overnight” suggestions here, as fun as that sounds).

We’ll start off big. Like I mentioned, all five will (or should, as I’m imposing on myself) be doable within a 3-day trip; which should really be the minimum number of days you should set aside for a trip to Sagada. What follows is a video of our friend here Des, daredevil and mountaineer extraordinaire:

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(Note: the video might take a while to load) If the vid does not play, right-click here and then click “Save Link As…” to download any play the file offline (either way, it requires QuickTime, which you probably already have installed on your computer).

This one was taken from the Bokong Falls, the smaller of the two waterfalls open to tourists (the other, why yes, the Big Falls!). This jump is about 20-25 feet high. Des set the bar for the jump, and for the 3 of us other guys who were there at that time, our male egos obviously wouldn’t take the beating and got pressured into decided we’ll jump off, life be damned.

Unfortunately, my jump wasn’t caught on video; which works against my favor, because people who read my blog or know me in real life wouldn’t believe I’d do something as daredevil-ish as jumping off a 25-foot height and into equally deep water, with sharp rocks inches away. Not something I’d do from the Bomod-ok Falls though (at least not anytime - dare me?)

Shout out and thanks to Jam, Gab, Des and Dru for the video and photos!

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As one could easily see in this picture, the Bokong Falls is definitely no where near the size and majestic beauty of the Bomod-ok Falls (Big Falls) but since it’s just a few minutes’ walk from the town center, it’s still worth your time. The waterfall is located at the edge of rice fields and the water drops from a height of above 20 feet. It’s no higher than a usual diving board but it’s still a rush to jump off its highest point.

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Just like plenty of the attractions in Sagada, Lake Danum is an easy walk away from the town center. Though it is realistically not as stunning as the other locations in town, it still is a very nice venue for picnics and it is often used as a jump off point in going up Mount Ampacao.

Mount Ampacao offers a majestic view of Sagada and surrounding townships. The vantage points offers a unique chance to catch an awe-inspiring view of the sun as it sets behind the mighty Cordilleras.

Mt. Ampacao Trek via Lake Danuum
A trek at the mountain ranges overlooking Sagada and Besao
Guide Fee: Php. 600 / max of 10
Optional Vehicle: Php. 600

Photo Credit: Chieyu

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