The main tourist attraction and thing to do at Sagada has to be the experience of caving, or spelunking as it’s also known. There are several options for this at Sagada, the most common being a visit to Sumaging cave, and for the ones not afraid of small spaces and cold water, the cave connection where you enter through the Suamging burial cave and come out the opposite side through another entrance is worth doing. If you are in any way claustrophobic it’s probably not for you, but if you like some adventure then go for it!
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The route starts in the grand entrance cave that is a large cavern winding it’s way down 160+ meters. This makes it the deepest cave in the Philippines. You have to make several rappels going hand over hand down ropes through small holes to reach the bottom of the cave. here you walk and hop along boulders into the large cavern that is home to many bats. You can’t see them but you can sure hear them! Then you go into the water system part of the cave. There are some fascinating rock formations, stalactites, and most pronounced are the flow stone formations. Some have amusing names and look like various body parts and animals. The guides have some funny jokes about them that brighten up the gloomy darkness of the cave.
From here you enter a hidden tunnel that is full of cold water and involves some more squeezing through small holes and wading through cold was it deep water. After this, you start the climb back up tot he exit of the cave which is just as spectacular as the entrance.
I hired a guide from the SAGGAS office found just down the road from the Yogurt house on the main street in Sagada town. The guide was excellent, his name is Jeffery and comes thoroughly recommended. He was also our guide the next day for the crystal caves.
