Giant Lantern Festival 2015

 For the last 3 years, I make sure that I wouldn't miss this Christmas Festival.  Please check out the schedule of exhibition.  Don't forget to explore the many foodie places in San Fernando while you're there.

Direct Bus to Sagada with Coda Lines

Travelling to Sagada is now made more convenient with a direct bus from CODA Lines.  Operation started just last October, and they boast of new and comfortable buses, not to mention the most accommodating staff, conductors and drivers.

Photo grabbed from Coda Lines FB Page

It leaves daily at 9 in the evening, with a short stop to see the Banaue Rice Terraces just in time for sunrise. The bus arrives at the town centre of Sagada 12 hours later and the fare is only 750 pesos one way.

It's best to book in advance, especially for trips falling on long holidays, and during peak season.  I purchased my ticket 4 days prior to the APEC holiday, and just days after, they were full.  Advance booking also guarantees you a good seat.

They only stop once for meals halfway through the trip in Nueva Viscaya, so it's better that you get yourself full during dinner.  Snacks and water are also handy.

The terminal is located within the Cathedral Heights Compound, in between Trinity University and St. Lukes along E. Rodriguez in Quezon City.  There's a Shakeys Branch right at the entrance of the access road, and the terminal is on the right when you reach a dead end.

Their Manila bound buses departs Sagada daily at 3 PM.  This enables weekend tourist enjoy the many activities of the province without taking leaves.  Accommodation can be difficult during the peak season, and its a must that you book in advance especially if you want to stay within the town centre.

Here's my suggested weekend itinerary:

Friday:
9:00 PM Depart for Sagada

Saturday:
6:00 AM Banaue Rice Terraces Stopover
9:00 AM ETA Sagada
                Register at the Municipal Tourist Center just a few steps away from the terminal
9:30 AM Breakfast at Masferre Inn
10:00 AM Book a Guide and Van for Tour
                If the place your staying is far from the downtown, you can ask your driver to drop you off and wait for you to change before proceeding with the tour.
                Hanging Coffins
                Lumiang Cave
                Sumaguing Cave
2:00 PM Late Lunch at Lemon Pie Cafe
                St. Mary Church
                Echo Valley
                Gandungan Museum
                Sagada Weaving
6:00 PM Dinner at Misty Lodge
7:00 PM Beer at Bamboo Bar
9:00 PM Back to Lodge or Inn

Sunday:
4:00 AM Sunrise at Kiltepan, or at Marlboro Country if you want to avoid the Crowd
7:00 AM Breakfast at Rock Inn
8:00 AM Orange Picking also at Rock Inn
9:00 AM Bomok-od Falls
12:00 NN Check-out
1:00 PM Lunch at Youghurt House
2:00 PM Pasalubong Shopping
3:00 PM ETD from Sagada

Monday:
3:00 AM ETA Manila

This is a very compressed itinerary, but it covers the major attractions.  You may opt to extend your stay longer and pace your tour, or explore other sites not included, like the pottery and Lake Danum.

Please check out the other schedule and contact details of Coda Lines.

Live Blog: Sagada

In anticipation of the inconvenience APEC would cost, plus the fact that my original flight to Cagayan de Oro got cancelled, i booked myself direct bus trip to Sagada.  Coda Lines now offer direct trip daily leaving Quezon City at 9PM. The fare cost is 750 pesos, but with my PWD discount, its only 575.

At the terminal, the seats got chaotic as i was transferred to a different bus. A friend of mine who decided to join me the last minute got a seat on my original bus. We're travelling on different buses. We did not mind, since we're not seted together anyway.

I just hope that everything else would go smoothly after this!