Figuring out how to get to Sagada can be a bit chaotic, especially if you’re thinking of visiting this corner of Cordillera from somewhere other than Manila. However, we’re here again to sort out the “mess” and give you a few tips to make your trip to this part of the Philippines a little easier.
You already know there are lots of things to do in Sagada, so we’d be delighted if you decide to visit this very special spot.
Where is Sagada?
Sagada is on the country’s largest island, Luzon, the same one where Manila, the capital, is located. Specifically, it is 390 kilometers north of Manila and in the Mountain Province, in the Cordillera region.
To help you get your bearings compared with other nearby destinations, it’s farther north than Baguio and Banaue, northeast of La Union and southeast of Vigan. To the west, less than 45 minutes by road, is Bontoc, and farther northeast is Buscalan, home of Whang Od, the famous Kalinga tattoo artist.
In other words, getting to Sagada from these other places is possible, though with varying degrees of difficulty. If you have several days to devote to this part of the Philippines, you can put together a very complete route with a diversity of landscapes and experiences quite different from those you’ll find in the Visayas or Palawan.
Can you get to Sagada by plane? Directly, no. There isn’t a nearby airport as such. The closest are Cauayan and Tuguegarao, but afterwards, if you want to save time, you’ll have to negotiate a taxi (more than 4,000 pesos), so we don’t think it’s really worth it. In our opinion, the most comfortable way is to get to Sagada from Manila by bus or, if you’re in Baguio or Banaue, also by road.
Sagada doesn’t have a bus station as such, but jeepneys and buses stop in the parking area at the entrance to the town. It won’t be hard to spot it.
Before we dive into the details, remember that this part of the Philippines is less touristy and schedules and prices can change at any time. That’s why our recommendation is always to ask at tourist offices or accommodations so you can be 100% sure. Online reservations for bus tickets, except for those we mention in this guide, are almost non-existent.
Here you can get an idea of Sagada’s location in relation to other points in the north of Luzon:
It will also be very useful to read our Transport in the Philippines guide to get familiar with the different types that exist and how they work.
How to get to Sagada from Manila
The easiest way to go to Sagada (or at least the most direct) is from Manila. It will be long, but at least you won’t have to think about connecting several modes of transport and worry about missing one because of schedules.
The only company that goes directly to Sagada from Manila is Coda Lines. It operates two buses every day: one at 20:00 and another at 21:00. The former is “tourist class 45 seats” and the latter “VIP 35 seats” and is a little more expensive. The basic difference is that the latter has a bathroom and, in addition, the seats are a bit more comfortable.
The journey takes around 10–11 hours, but keep in mind this depends a lot on traffic when leaving Manila. Even so, it’s common to arrive in Sagada after sunrise, with time to make the most of the day.
Since this is the most direct way to get to Sagada and it’s becoming better known among Filipinos, we recommend that you book your tickets well in advance. Prices range between 1,200 and 1,300 pesos per person.
Buses from Manila to Sagada depart from the Cubao area, specifically at this address: HM Transport Terminal, Monte De Piedad St., corner Maryland St., Brgy. Immaculate Concepcion, Quezon City – Google Maps pin
Keep in mind this area is quite far from the airport and from Makati, where most travelers choose to stay in Manila, and traffic is usually terrible, so we recommend leaving at least a 2‑hour buffer so you can get here calmly. If you’re coming from the airport, you can take the UBE Express buses that go to Araneta Cubao (200 pesos). From other areas, the most convenient thing is usually to use the Grab app.
Although the bus makes a few stops along the way, we recommend bringing drinks and food, as well as warm clothing. Honestly, buses in the Philippines feel like refrigerators and you’ll think you’re at Pingu’s communion.
How to go from Manila to Sagada via Baguio
If, for whatever reason, you haven’t managed to find direct buses from Manila to Sagada, or the schedule doesn’t suit you, another way to get to Sagada from Manila is via Baguio. It won’t be the most comfortable and you’ll probably lose more time because you have to connect 2 buses, but it might suit you if you’re thinking of visiting the “City of Pines,” as we’ve also done on occasion.
Although there are several companies that operate the Manila–Baguio route, the one that’s usually best and with the most frequencies is Victory Liner. They leave roughly every hour between 00:30 and 23:45 and take between 5 and 7 hours to reach Baguio, depending on traffic and the route chosen, since the “First Class” ones, besides being much more comfortable, spend more time on the expressway and save you a bit of time.
It’s also worth booking in advance so you don’t make the trip to the station for nothing (as has happened to us at times…), since there are several terminals across Manila and the city isn’t exactly small. From our perspective, the most convenient thing is to buy a bus ticket to Baguio departing from the Pasay area, which is closer to the airport and Makati. But if the schedule doesn’t work, opt for those leaving from Cubao. In any case, when purchasing, pay close attention to the departure point, since each company has its own terminal.
Most likely the buses will drop you at the bus terminal in Baguio in front of SM City. The buses to get to Sagada from Baguio operate from the Dangwa Terminal (location pin), so you can walk or simply take one of the taxis in the area (metered).
From Baguio to Sagada the company GL Trans operates several buses a day: 5:30, 8:30, 10:30 and 11:30. However, the 8:30 one is the most direct of all, so that’s the one they advised us to take at the station. You can’t buy the ticket online, only there, so we recommend going at least an hour early, just in case it fills up, since in that case they leave earlier. The journey takes about 6 hours and the ticket costs 330 pesos per person. It makes a couple of stops for bathroom and food. The views over the whole Benguet area and its crops are incredible.
If you need a hotel in Baguio, we recommend this one or this one, both close to the bus stations.
Finally, can you get to Sagada from Manila by car? Unless you’re planning a slow road trip around northern Luzon, we don’t think renting a car is really worth it, especially considering the road is full of curves and could be somewhat dangerous due to landslides.
How to go to Sagada from Baguio
Baguio is a city much loved by Filipinos thanks to its scenery. Due to its cool temperatures, here you’ll find mountains full of pines that are very reminiscent of Mediterranean areas of Spain.
It’s very easy to reach Sagada from Baguio since, as we told you in the previous section, buses leave every day from Dangwa Terminal. Follow the steps above and you’ll be in Sagada in 5–6 hours.
How to get to Sagada from Bontoc
Bontoc is the capital of Mountain Province, so it’s the junction between several destinations in the country’s north. Although you can’t really say it’s a very beautiful city to spend much time in, the Bontoc Museum is interesting and the Malingcong rice terraces are among the most beautiful in all the Philippines.
Getting to Sagada from Bontoc is as easy as heading to the Sagada Jeepney Terminal (located here) and taking one of the jeepneys that go to Bontoc. The trip takes about 45’ and costs 80 pesos. They leave roughly from sunrise until 16:00, but it’s better not to be overconfident and go as early as possible.
On the other hand, the buses that go from Manila to Sagada, those of Coda Lines, also pass through Bontoc at dawn. We don’t think it’s the most convenient option, since there isn’t an exact time (it depends on how long it takes them to get through Manila’s outbound traffic), but it’s another alternative. You can head to this point to wait for the bus.
If you have any questions about transport in this area of the Philippines, we were kindly helped at the Bontoc Tourist Office. You’ll find them here.
How to go to Sagada from Banaue
Even better known than Sagada on the northern route is Banaue and its nearby rice terraces, with Batad as the prime example. For this reason, combining Sagada with Banaue is a great idea and, in addition, linking both places is relatively easy.
Basically, there are two options to get to Sagada from Banaue:
- Hop on the Coda Lines buses that go from Manila to Sagada every day. As in the case of Bontoc, they don’t have a fixed passing time, so it’s best to ask the day before at the company office located in a small shop just behind the Banaue Tourist Office, which also serves as a stop. You can’t buy the ticket online, but you can the day before at the “ticket office” we’ve mentioned. Estimate they usually pass between 4:00 and 5:00. The journey takes about 3 hours and costs 350 pesos.
- Get on one of the buses or jeepneys heading to Bontoc and then take the jeepney to Sagada that we mentioned in how to go from Bontoc to Sagada (45’/80 pesos). Since the buses usually come from other towns in the Cordillera region, the schedule is always indicative. Our recommendation is to ask at the Banaue Tourist Office. It took us barely 2.5 hours to cover Banaue–Bontoc and we paid 330 pesos. It’s possible they’ll drop you near the market in Bontoc, so from there you’ll just have to walk to reach the Sagada Jeepney Terminal.
Make sure you grab a window seat and, if possible, on the left side—the landscape is amazing!
If you’re in Batad, you’ll first have to go to Banaue. For that, you can take the public jeepney that leaves from the road (45’/80 pesos, but make sure of the schedule in the village) or negotiate a tricycle (between 500 and 800 pesos).
By the way, you might also be interested in How to get to Banaue.
How to go to Sagada from Buscalan
You also have the option of going to Sagada from Buscalan, Kalinga land. For this, you must first walk to Bugnay (about 30’), take a habal‑habal to the main road and wait for a bus or jeepney to Bontoc (1.5–2 hours/120–140 pesos). Since schedules change, it’s best to ask in Buscalan about the passing times for these transports and not to leave too late so you don’t get stranded.
Once in Bontoc, take a tricycle or walk to the Sagada Jeepney Terminal and in about 45’ you’ll be at your destination.
How to get to Sagada from La Union
If you’ve spent a few days exploring La Union, perhaps “catching some waves,” and you want to get to Sagada, you should know there’s no direct transport. There are two options to consider, but keep in mind both will take the whole day:
- Via Baguio: take a bus at the Partas Terminal in San Fernando and go to Baguio, which will take about 2 hours and costs around 150 pesos. There are also vans that are a bit faster. Afterwards, follow the steps we outlined in How to go to Sagada from Baguio. It’s advisable to leave La Union as early as possible.
- Via Tagudin and Cervantes: we haven’t done this route, but people say it’s more scenic although tougher. From La Union you’ll need to take a bus to Tagudin (1 hour), then another to Cervantes (2 hours), another to Bontoc (2 hours) and the jeepney to Sagada (45’).
How to get to Sagada from Vigan
Vigan is possibly the most beautiful city in the Philippines, so if you’ve decided to visit it and then want to go to Sagada, you also have two alternatives:
- Via Baguio: take a bus operated by Farinas to Baguio, which will take about 5 hours and cost around 550 pesos. After that, follow the steps we outlined in How to go to Sagada from Baguio. If you don’t want to stay overnight in Baguio, it’s better to take one of those that pass through Vigan at dawn.
- Via Tagudin and Cervantes: as in the previous case, you can tell the bus driver to stop at the Tagudin intersection (approximately 2 hours) and then connect transports: another to Cervantes (2 hours), another to Bontoc (2 hours) and the jeepney to Sagada (45’).
How to go to Sagada from Clark
Clark is one of the country’s most important airports, so if you’ve arrived here, you may want to know how to get to Sagada. In this case, you’ll also have to do it via Baguio.
Buses from Clark to Baguio take about 4–5 hours and the ticket costs around 350 pesos. Afterwards, you’ll need to take any of the buses we mentioned above.
How to get to Sagada from other places in the Philippines
If you’re exploring other parts of the archipelago, you might want to get to Sagada but not be quite sure how. For convenience, what we would do is fly to Manila and, once there, take one of the buses that go to Sagada.
Although it’s true that the airports of Tuguegarao, Cauayan or Clark are closer, getting to them will require more transport connections and, in addition, there are fewer flights and therefore they tend to be more expensive (unless bought well in advance).
More information about Sagada
You can find everything you need to plan your adventure in our guide to things to do in Sagada.
If you still have any questions about how to go to Sagada or want to add anything, fire away in the comments!
