Banaue - Sagada - Vigan

Hi fellow travelers,

I’ll be in Manila on March 9th and plan to head to Banaue on the evening of the 12th with Coda for a 3-day trek. After that, I’d like to go to Sagada and then continue to Vigan.

From what I’ve read, most people go to Sagada first with Coda and then return to Banaue, but I’d prefer to do Banaue-Sagada and then head to Vigan.

I haven’t seen this kind of itinerary on the forum. Does anyone have recommendations on how to do it by bus?

Your suggestions/tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

hello fellow traveler from Sagada, you head to Vigan via Cervantes if I remember correctly B

hello buddy de Sagada, the traveler goes to Vigan via Cervantes if I remember correctly B

Thanks a lot, Doud. I’ll check out the best options once I’m there.

From Sagada to Vigan doesn’t seem like a very common route. Still, I really want to see Vigan. I’ll go before heading to Palawan.

Have you ever stayed in Baguio? If so, what were your impressions?

Greetings from Lac Brome, Quebec.

Hi,

Taking the bus from Sagada to Vigan isn’t common, actually. It’s gonna be a long trip.

Sagada to Bontoc by jeepney. Bontoc to Cervantes by bus. In Cervantes, you’ve got two options: - Head north, maybe a direct bus (depending on what time you get to Cervantes) to Vigan; - Or go west to Tagudin via Bessang Pass (really scenic route), then switch buses in Tagudin to head north to Vigan.

You’ll need to leave Sagada super early to get to Vigan by mid-afternoon. FYI, I drove the Sagada-Tagudin stretch (via Bessang Pass) in 5 hours.

Thanks a lot, Khrapka.

Do you think it's easy to find a private transfer that would do Sagada-Tagudin to Sagada? If so, what kind of price range can we expect, in your opinion?

__

Hi,

Sagada-Vigan by bus isn’t common, actually. It’s going to be a long trip.

Sagada-Bontoc by jeepney. Bontoc-Cervantes by bus. In Cervantes, there are two options: - heading north, maybe a direct bus (depending on the time you arrive in Cervantes) to Vigan; - or heading west to Tagudin via Bessang Pass (a really scenic route), then changing buses in Tagudin to head north to Vigan.

You’ll need to leave Sagada very early to arrive in Vigan by mid-afternoon. For info, I did the Sagada-Tagudin stretch (via Bessang Pass) by car in 5 hours.

Yeah, there are private vans—just negotiate on the spot. I’d say around 5,000 PHP, give or take!

Hey buddy, from Sagada, the traveler goes to Vigan via Cervantes if I remember correctly. B

Thanks a lot, Doud. I’ll check out the best options once I’m there.

From Sagada to Vigan doesn’t seem like a very common route. Still, I really want to see Vigan. I’ll go before heading to Palawan.

Have you ever stayed in Baguio? If so, what were your impressions?

Greetings from Lac Brome, Quebec.

I love Baguio—its typical market (coffee, local sugar, indigenous fabrics, etc.) and the little restaurants in town and out in nature. B

Thanks a lot, Doud.

Have a great weekend!

M

Thanks so much.

Have a great weekend!

M

Dear fellow traveler, I’d like to make the reverse trip in May, so it’d be great if you could post a follow-up on your experience with details about the buses on this unusual route. I’d also love to visit Vigan and the UNESCO-listed churches north of Vigan, then head toward the rice terraces. Safe travels. Pasqualina.

Hi Pasqualina,

Yes, I’ll try to follow up with what I find on the ground as the best route or way to proceed. It surprises me that it’s not more considered, since it seems logical to me. Vamos ver. Cheers. Z

Thanks in advance. I'm leaving for the Philippines in 9 days, but I'll start with the Visayas.

For my part, I'm leaving tonight for Manila before heading to Banaue.

I'll explore the north before making my way to Palawan.

Have a great trip...

Hi there! I just got back from Vigan, and the Sagada-Vigan route is way easier than what you find online. If you do an activity in Sagada (like visiting the caves, for example), you can ask your guide 😊 The route is Sagada-Baguio by bus (JL Transport), which you can catch right in front of the visitor center. Then walk to the Partas bus station when you arrive in Baguio (15-20 minutes, or 10 if you're quick) and take a Partas bus to Vigan. The key is to leave early in the morning because the trips are long, and depending on the luxury level of the Partas bus, stops will be more or less frequent. All in all, it took me 13 hours of bus time (7 AM–1 PM JL Trans. and 2 PM–9 PM Partas).

Thanks for the precise info with the schedules, but it seems to me this option was clear in the guides except that it’s really long. So it would’ve been interesting to know if we could cut through the mountains without taking the huge detour via Baguio. Too bad Zorro didn’t share his experience. For me, without any other transport info and with mild but persistent knee pain (arthritis), I gave up on going to the rice terraces. I’m leaving in 3 days for Laoag by overnight bus if I can find a seat on a comfortable one.

To take the shortest route, you should go via Cervantes Road, but time-wise, I’m afraid it might actually take longer—lots of transfers, probably waiting around, etc. Few travelers take that way, so there’s not much feedback😕 The Spanish churches around Vigan are gorgeous.

B

Hi Pasqualina,

Sorry for the late reply. My return from the Philippines was really hectic. After a 4-day trek between Hapao-Banaue-Batad-Baangan, which I loved, I headed to Sagada via Bontoc. Personally, I wasn’t blown away by Sagada—maybe the cold rain didn’t help.

After that, to get to Vigan, I first went back to Bontoc by jeepney. From there, I took a van to Cervantes (about 2 hours, plus 2 hours of waiting). Then another van to Tagudin (same deal: 2 hours, plus 2 hours of waiting). Finally, a Partas bus from Tagudin to Vigan.

A really long, off-the-beaten-path journey, but a great way to connect with the locals, who were generally really friendly and kind.

I left Sagada at 7:30 AM and arrived in Vigan at 6:30 PM (11 hours of travel with 3 connections). You’ve got to really want it... But I quickly forgot about it because I loved Vigan—it reminded me of New Orleans, but more exotic.

P.S. Don’t even think about trekking if you have knee problems.

Safe travels, Zorro __

Dear fellow traveler, I’d like to do the reverse route in May, so it’d be great if you could post a recap of your experience with details on the buses for this unusual route. I’d also love to see Vigan and the UNESCO-listed churches north of Vigan, then head toward the rice terraces. Happy travels. Pasqualina.

Thanks for the info—it’ll definitely help other travelers! 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM is a shorter route than 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM via Baguio. Was the scenery nice along the way? Did you visit any of the old churches outside Vigan? I’ve planned one night in Laoag and three in Vigan.

Hi there,

The road is very winding but really beautiful all the way to Tagudin, as it's a mountain route. Once there, I found the 2-hour waits at the Bontoc and Cervantes stops quite long.

However, since I was pretty much the only tourist around, it was a great chance to chat with the locals. I loved how those who speak—or even just fumble through—English were so friendly and chatty.

Personally, I spent 2 days/3 nights in Vigan, which was one of my absolute highlights in the country. As I mentioned in my previous post, I focused on the city itself, its historic houses, and landmarks—there are so many—in a really cool and relaxed vibe.

It was a nice historical complement to Intramuros, where I’d stayed earlier in Manila and also really enjoyed. I heard Laoag is interesting, but it wasn’t part of my itinerary.

After the north of the country, I was craving the sea and opted for Palawan, which I also loved for different reasons.

Happy travels,

Zorro

__

Thanks for the info—it’ll definitely help other travelers! 7:30 AM–6:30 PM, your route is shorter than the 7:00 AM–9:00 PM via Baguio. Were the views scenic along the way? Did you visit any of the old churches outside Vigan? I’m planning one night in Laoag and three in Vigan.

Thanks!

Hi there, Zorro’s trip is a bit dated now, and I’d love to know if there are any easier ways to do the Vigan–Sagada route, which seems pretty complicated. Is it possible to take a bus or a somewhat comfortable van for Vigan/Cervantes and then Cervantes/Sagada (for two seniors…), or are there other connections we should consider? Thanks so much for your help