Baguio – Sagada – La Union – Journey Up

Sagada is a scenic city nestled within the Mountain Province in Northern Luzon of the Philippines. For these coming from Manila and the remainder of Luzon, it’s probably the greatest locations you’ll be able to journey to purely by land (no air or sea journey concerned). The roads main up supply probably the most spectacular view of mountains and cliffs. When you get there, you’ll be able to benefit from the cooler local weather due to its excessive elevation and soak within the well-preserved tradition of the Cordillera area.

Sagada is a city within the Mt. Province about 391 km or a 10-12+ hour drive from Metro Manila through Baguio, La Trinidad, Bontoc Rd, Halsema Freeway and the Mountain Path.

If you would like a protracted journey from Manila with nice views by the mountains and plenty of twisties, it is a sensible choice. Whilst you can sleep on an in a single day bus or van journey to get there, getting there by bikes affords a protracted and satisfying street journey. Mixed with stays in Baguio Metropolis and La Union, that are alongside the way in which there and again from Manila, this route affords an entire trip getaway showcasing a number of the better of the Northern Philippines.

Baguio, Sagada and La Union are all tourist-friendly locations with plenty of lodging, eating choices and vacationer spots for sightseeing.

Our earlier journeys right here again in 2006 and 2013 concerned lengthy and bumpy bus rides. Although we rented bikes as soon as we acquired there to journey to Banaue and again on a day journey, I’ve all the time wished to journey all the way in which up from Manila. However my bikes aren’t precisely match for lengthy rides. I’ve really been planning to get an improve, however since Kymco lent me a brand new unit of theirKymco Like 150i with Noodoe Navigation for a long-term assessment, it appeared like the right alternative to try it out.

Final February 2019, we lastly had sufficient time to go to when Artwork acquired a depart from work. Right here’s what I can share from our journey that may assist others plan their journeys.

Whereas some riders choose to journey all the way in which as much as Sagada in a single go, these using smaller displacement bikes like scooters can’t cross the expressways (NLEX, TPLEX). Within the Philippines, solely bikes with 400 cc displacements and up are allowed to make use of these highways. It’s a extremely discriminatory rule. Don’t get me began on this. I’d most likely journey extra to the North by scooter if not for that silly rule. FYI, there’s a most pace restrict of 100 km/h on expressways even for 400 cc bikes which scooters are additionally fully able to reaching if there’s no visitors.

When you’re taking small displacement bikes, probably the most direct route means you’ll have to slog by the Service Street getting out and in of Metro Manila which entails passing by extremely congested cities within the CAMANAVA space (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), roads being dug up, plenty of vans and really sluggish public transport automobiles blocking the principle street. The visitors was fairly dangerous within the parts of Malabon, Malolos, Calumpit and solely acquired higher as soon as we acquired to Pampanga and Tarlac.

Another route is to cross the Del Monte-Norzagaray Street resulting in Angat and San Rafael in Bulacan, although different riders warn that plenty of vans additionally cross there. Simply plot your route on Googlemaps and click on the “Keep away from Highways and Tolls” choices.

Skilled riders recommend leaving very early within the morning (like 3am) to keep away from the visitors. However in the event you’re like me who doesn’t like driving at evening for security, the horrible visitors is one thing you’re simply going to should cope with earlier than you get to the nice half. To make the journey extra manageable, I recommend you cut up the journey by spending the primary evening in Baguio Metropolis earlier than using as much as Sagada, which can take roughly 10 to 12 hours coming from Manila. As an alternative of using again straight, we made a detour on the surf city of La Union.

Ideally, it would be best to spend not less than 4 days for the journey or extra to get pleasure from sightseeing round Baguio, Sagada and La Union. However you’ll be able to minimize this shorter if all you need to do is journey. A part of my purpose for this journey was to go to craft beer locations up North that I hadn’t been to but. After a protracted journey, all you need to do is sit back and drink good beer and these three locations supply that.

• Day 1: Quezon Metropolis – Baguio Metropolis, Benguet (259 km)
• Day 2: Baguio Metropolis, Benguet – Sagada, Mt. Province (154 km)
• Day 3: Sagada (free day; non-compulsory)
• Day 4: Sagada, Mt. Province to San Juan, La Union (167 km)
• Day 5: San Juan, La Union to Quezon Metropolis (322 km)

Coming from Quezon Metropolis, our first main cease after 4-5 hours of using lunch at Max’s Restaurant in Plaza Luisita, Capas, Tarlac. There are many quick meals choices to select from right here and safe parking areas for the bikes. Earlier than that, we handed by some scenic spots in Pampanga with a view of Mt. Arayat Nationwide Park and welcome arches. After passing Pangasinan and La Union, we lastly arrived within the province of Benguet!

Day 1: Baguio Metropolis, Benguet

There are a number of choices to get to Baguio Metropolis from the freeway, however the two primary routes are Kennon Street or McArthur Freeway. We determined to cross Kennon Street, which on the time was one-way going up. This route has much less visitors and also you get views of the Benguet marker, the Lion’s Head and Kennon Street Viewpoint which as a pleasant view deck overlooking the street. Nevertheless, this route is typically closed on account of landslides. We reached Baguio Metropolis round 4:00 pm however handed by plenty of high-traffic areas and one-way roads simply to get to the lodge.

• Begin level: Quezon Metropolis
• Finish level: The Podium Boutique Lodge, Baguio Metropolis
• Route: EDSA – MacArthur Freeway / Manila North Street / R-9 and Kennon Street
• Sort of street: Average to excessive visitors + lengthy freeway stretches
• Stops: Max’s Restaurant Tarlac (lunch), Capas Municipal Corridor, Benguet welcome arch, Lion’s Head, Kennon Street Viewpoint
• Journey time: 7-8 hours
• Kilometers traveled: 259 km

The Podium Boutique Lodge

We stayed in a single day at The Podium Boutique Lodge alongside the McArthur Freeway, which has comfortable rooms, a tremendous view, safe parking space for bikes and an in-house restaurant and craft beer bar. So that you don’t should go far to eat and drink given the visitors.

Their normal room is provided with 1 Queen dimension Mattress, Cable TV, Excessive-speed Web Connection and Jet powered Scorching and Chilly Bathe. It’s good for two pax with free breakfast.

No downpayment is required to make reservations. I simply messaged them on Fb and emailed and so they had been very accommodating and confirmed reservation particulars by textual content message.

Podium Boutique Lodge. Km. 4 Ben Palispis Freeway, (Previously Marcos Freeway), Baguio Metropolis. Contact numbers: 0999-9928006, 09178528006
(074) 442-7250. Charge: Php 2,380 web/evening. Web site:
www.thepodiumboutiquehotel.com. E-book lodge rooms right here.

Hoka Brew

Podium Boutique Lodge’s in-house restaurant referred to as Hoka Brew makes a speciality of craft beer, espresso and grills. They serve craft beer on faucet from Bulul Brewery and Cerveza Sagada right here.

Hōka Brew is the brainchild of a few architects and designers. The restaurant may be very ethereal with extensive home windows providing a fantastic mountain view.

Additionally they have an “Eat all you’ll be able to! Drink all you’ll be able to!” Mongolian buffet of limitless recent Baguio veggies, meat picks, squid and shrimp balls, eggs, rice and noodles plus a wide selection of sauces for less than Php 275.00. The complimentary breakfast of mountain rice and Baguio longaniza is fairly good too.

Baguio Craft Brewery

For hopheads, no journey to Baguio Metropolis is full with out passing by Baguio Craft Brewery whose flagship beers are impressed by Ifugao mythology.

They’ve plenty of craft beer varieties on faucet to select from together with a Strawberry beer and Zigzagger (Triple-Hopped Double India Pale Ale) and extensive menu of meals and appetizers like crispy dinakdakan. It’s also possible to purchase bottles and cans of craft beer for takeout right here.

Baguio Craft Brewery is simply strolling distance from the lodge so there was no want to drive. We solely stayed one evening in Baguio and needed to get up early for one more lengthy drive so we didn’t drink an excessive amount of.

If it’s your first time in Baguio Metropolis or are staying longer, there are plenty of different issues you are able to do there.

READ MORE: 10 Issues to Do in Baguio Metropolis

Day 2-3: Sagada, Mt. Province

From Baguio Metropolis, we proceeded as much as Sagada within the Mt. Province on the second day of our journey passing La Trinidad and Bontoc Rd/Halsema Freeway. Halsema Freeway itself is a tremendous and fantastically scenic route with breathtaking mountain views and plenty of twisties.

Alongside this route, you’ll cross by (previously) the Highest Level within the Philippine Freeway System in Atok, Benguet, the Mountain Province welcome arch, fields of lettuce rising by the roadside, lovely surroundings and winding mountain roads.

Due to a landslide, the Sabangan stretch was closed so we needed to make a detour by Abatan Street and Bauko. We additionally by accident handed by the steeper backroad (South Street) that passes Sumaguing Cave earlier than reaching the city correct of Sagada.

• Begin level: The Podium Boutique Lodge, Baguio Metropolis
• Finish level: Sagada Forest Lodge, Mt. Province
• Route: La Trinidad – Bontoc Rd/Halsema Freeway – Abatan – Bauko – South Street
• Sort of roads: Mountain roads, LOTS of twisties, some steep sections, gravel roads on account of street constructions, average visitors in small cities
• Stops: 2nd Highest Level: Philippine Freeway System, Mt. Province marker (for espresso), random roadside views
• Journey time: 5-6 hours
• Kilometers traveled: 154 km

Sagada Forest Lodge

Whereas in Sagada, we stayed two nights in Sagada Forest Lodge & Restaurant, a quaint and quiet lodge positioned within the outskirts of city. It has a gated semi-flat space to park bikes. The lodge has its personal restaurant and is a few 5-8 minute stroll to Sagada Cellar Door.

They’ve a number of cozy rooms within the decrease floor ground space. Our had its personal CR and a typical sala, fire and outside hearth pits searching on rice terraces and pine bushes We had been the one friends so we ended up having the entire place to ourselves. It was very peaceable and quiet. We felt like we had been in our personal non-public cabin within the woods.

Sagada Forest Lodge & Restaurant. Danonoy, Sagada, Mountain Province. Contact: 0928-2778510, 0977-7217061. Charges: P400 per individual per evening or P800 for two pax. Fb Web page: Sagada Forest Lodge & Restaurant

Discover extra lodging in Sagada right here.

Misty Lodge Cafe

There are many locations to eat in Sagada however we went again to our outdated favorites like Misty Lodge & Cafe which serves pizzas, burgers, platter meals, breakfast meals and drinks.

Salt & Pepper Diner

One other place you’ll be able to strive alongside the principle road of Sagada is Salt & Pepper Diner which serves native specialties like Dinakiw (grilled pork stomach), Rosemary Inutom (baked rooster) or Mushroom Inutom served with potatoes.

Sagada Cellar Door

Among the finest locations to chill out after a protracted journey with beer is Sagada Cellar Door, a microbrewery inside a forest that serves craft beer infused with native substances! Take a look at my full assessment and extra pictures within the hyperlink above.

We spent an additional day in Sagada simply taking it simple and chilling out. When you plan to do any excursions there, please learn my separate submit on new guidelines and excursions.

READ MORE: Issues to Do in Sagada: New Guidelines & Excursions (2019)

Day 4: San Juan, La Union

After the great thing about Halsema Freeway, I actually wasn’t anticipating a lot from the journey happening to La Union, however it ended up being one in all my favourite components. Earlier than heading down, we stopped for photograph ops at Ampanga Heights, a small cafe and memento store that provides superb views of Kiltepan Peak.

The winding mountain street in Cervantes and Suyo that are a part of Ilocos Norte was additionally beautiful.

We handed by lovely mountain roads and hardly encountered different automobiles. We didn’t actually make good time as a result of I saved desirous to cease to take pictures. I imply, simply have a look at that! The surroundings was overwhelming. The street appears like a Nice Wall down there.

We finally made it again to the Nationwide Freeway and our lodge in time to catch the sundown. Estimated journey time ought to have solely been about 5 hours however we made plenty of stops, which had been completely price it.

• Begin level: Sagada Forest Lodge, Mt. Province
• Finish level: Vessel Hostel, San Juan, La Union
• Route: Tagudin – Cervantes – Sabangan Street – MacArthur Freeway
• Sort of roads: Mountain roads, LOTS of twisties, downhills, lengthy flat final stretch
• Stops: Ampanga Heights, Bessang Move Pure Park, random roadside views
• Journey time: 6-7 hours
• Kilometers traveled: 167 km

The Storage, Vessel Hostel

There are many lodging, roadside inns, seaside resorts and artsy hostels to select from within the surf city of San Juan, La Union. E-book budget-friendly guesthouses in La Union right here.

I booked The Storage at Vessel Hostel, the place you sleep inside a Volkswagen van in a storage, for the novelty issue and since I wished extra non-motorcycling materials to put in writing about. The Kombi is nice for 2 individuals and is fitted with a ½ HP window kind AC, a twin mattress for 2, a locker, evening lights, curtains, and has Wi-Fi.

I personally discovered the distinctive set-up and “van life” vibe actually cool and comfortable, however it’s most likely extra preferrred for {couples} or mates on a chill weekend trip moderately than drained riders simply in search of a spot to crash for the evening. The sleeping space is usually a bit cramped for taller guys.

The Storage, Vessel Lodge. Urbiztondo, MacArthur Freeway, San Juan, 2514 La Union. Charge: Php 2,900 per evening with complimentary continental breakfast for two (full fee required to order). https://vesselhostel.com/

Gefseis Greek Grill

We didn’t cease for lunch through the journey, so we had late lunch at Gefseis Greek Grill, a beachside restaurant providing a style of genuine Greek delicacies.

Curious Creatures Taproom

There are plenty of meals parks and meals hubs now in San Juan. We checked out Nice Northwest the place you could find Curious Creatures Craft Beer.

Too dangerous they had been all out of Surftown La Union Blonde Ale. I requested the bartender if they’d empty bottles only for photograph ops, however they didn’t 🙁 They’d different beer variants on faucet although.

When you’re staying longer in La Union, take a look at my different submit of issues you are able to do there.

READ MORE: 10 Issues to Do in La Union

Day 5: Again to Manila

So after that tremendous journey and all the attractive surroundings, we made the error of driving again to Manila on a Friday by rush hour visitors. If I may repeat this journey, we should always have left a lot earlier or stayed an additional evening in Angeles Metropolis in Pampanga then pushed again Saturday morning as an alternative. We tried to take an alternate route by San Rafael, Bulacan to keep away from visitors however needed to double again. Apparently the street we had been instructed to cross by my navigation system had closed so we needed to backtrack and ended up on the Plaridel Bypass Street.

• Begin level: Vessel Hostel, San Juan, La Union
• Finish level: Quezon Metropolis
• Route: MacArthur Freeway / Manila North Street / R-9 – Plaridel Bypass Street – EDSA
• Sort of roads: Lengthy flat highways, average visitors in small cities, horrible visitors in final stretch approaching Manila
• Stops: Lunch in Tarlac, View of Arayat, gasoline stations
• Journey time: 9-10 hours
• Kilometers traveled: 322 km

Man, that final very lengthy stretch of visitors going again beside hordes of vans, clogged roads, and flooded streets due to a burst pipe nearly ruined the reminiscence of the nice journey. I didn’t hassle taking any pictures anymore there. Although I like utilizing the scooter for metropolis driving, I can see why riders put money into greater displacement bikes simply to allow them to use the expressway.

If solely I may skip the getting out and in of Manila part and begin the journey someplace in Tarlac or Pampanga, I’d be using right here each weekend. I believed we’d be dwelling by afternoon, however it was nearly 9:00 pm by the point we acquired again. However the vital factor is we acquired dwelling safely. General, this was one heck of a journey and I’m glad to have lastly ticked this off my bucket checklist.

Based mostly on Googlemaps estimates, whole distance ought to be about 902 kms however this doesn’t account for going round Sagada to eat, backtracking, detours to load gasoline, and so on. The Kymco Like odometer studying exhibits that we coated greater than 1,000 kilometers throughout this journey. Achievement unlocked!

• STARTING ODOMETER: 1312 km
• END ODOMETER: 2353 km
• TOTAL: 1,041 kilometers

Thanks to Kymco Philippines for lending me the All-New Kymco Like 150i. Take a look at my assessment of the bike right here.

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