Sagada | Cave Connection Spelunking

SAGADA | Cave Connection Spelunking

Lumiang And Sumaging Adventure

Sagada is a very endearing place to visit, not only because of the scenic views that the Mountain Province has to offer, but for the strenuous activity that it caters to any adventurer that steps on its threshold. Eco friendly tours and a paradise of nature treks from below the ground to the upper most viewpoints. Sagada will not run short of expectation if you intend to exert some pent up energy.

I know this cave because I've been here before. Back then on my first visit, I took just the Sumaging Cave Spelunking, about 2 hours of exploring that watery cave of Sumaging. This time though, along with 4 other friends, we took the Cave Connection Spelunking, called as such because well be starting from Lumiang which is a sacred burial cave of Sagada's tribes, down to the connecting cave in Sumaging area. Having been able to trek the road from Lumiang to Sumaging on foot, It can take over an hour, now imagine a route through the caves, it became 5x longer, and 10x more physically demanding.

Sagada had made the spelunker out of me. I've never been inside a cave longer than 30 minutes before I laid eyes to entrances of Sagada's caves, and this Cave Connection spelunking took a whooping 6 hours to accomplish yet still on the first day that we arrived. Taking a bus ride from Baguio City is 6 hours utmost, through the cold numbing and awe inspiring beautiful highway landscapes of La Trinidad, Benguet and Mountain Province just to get to this humble town of Sagada.

What brings people here is the Marvelous caves that it keeps in check, and there are quite a number of them, all challenging yet sacred, raw and beautiful. Passing through Lumiang and Sumaging is just one part, as there are many other cave system, that is much more treacherous and otherworldly.

A quota of 1 guide per 2 guest, completely on a different scale compared to taking the 2 hour Sumaging Cave Spelunking. This cave connection runs on a well established path, starting from the entrance where Cave Coffins are placed, the length and breadth of the cave is unimaginable. Before getting into tight crevices, we have to go down rocky slopes that are sticky with mud, and the ceiling so high that if there were luminescent creatures in there, one might think they were the stars.

On our first 2 hours, we got delayed as they are guest who brought in kids and overweight individuals who obviously didn't prepare for this assault. I have nothing against them having a share of fun like this, but to this extreme without preparation, I am with 4 guys all in the cusp of youth and yet we are sweating due to the humidity and exertion on the first hour. This activity has surely become a money making machine, but good thing we were whisked to trek ahead of others who were dilly dallying. Lesson in preparation, I'll never bring someone in Sagada who can't keep up with everyone.

Visitors would often phrase the term, "I survive Sagada" because of the extreme physical activities that they had to go through. For me, its one of those rides that I get the most junk that I need. I know for a fact that I can be an extremist when it comes to Physical exertion, but a 6 hours straight spelunking through tight crevices, swimming through numbing cold waters, sliding through rough limestone rocks and slippery marble stones, knowing that you are far below underground and seeing things that had never seen sunlight in millions of years.

Some of the things you can do in Sagada, Mountain Province

The Big Falls
Trekking Echo Valley
Kiltepan Viewpoint, Sunrise Viewing
Sumaging Cave Spelunking
The Road Through The Highest Highways

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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