Food Tripping Sagada

Part 7 of the Cordillera Series
Sagada can be considered as the backpacking capital due its various sites and tourist spots that can be reached via trekking, hiking, climbing or even spelunking. As these activities consume a lot of your daytime energy, you should end your day regenerating those lost calories. Not to worry as Sagada would not disappoint you on that aspect. As you get tired of all those hours of hiking, Sagada will surprise you with its delicacies. Read more and learn about Sagada and food tripping the town.

Hanging Coffins and the Irony of the Echo Valley - when death meets life in Sagada

Part 6 of the Cordillera Series
The Echo Valley is a small ravine along the highlands near the town center of Sagada. Due to its topography, echoes are enhanced where it make sounds resonate as the valley is shaped like a large megaphone. At the bottom of the valley lies the famous Hanging Coffins of Sagada where our ancestors "bury" the dead by hanging their remains on a cliff with the belief that their loved one's spirit can reach the heavens in a faster way. Today, the valley, in spite of being eerie, reminds us of the irony of death and celebrating life.

Sagada Pottery - emotions and artistry from the hand to the clay

Part 5 of the Cordillera Series
One of the artistic expression of the of the locals of the Sagada can be seen on their pottery. Emotions and artistry are passed on from concept to their hands and to the clay and finally the artwork. Each of the pottery depicts various concepts and refinement of each of its complex designs are visible and unique among one another.

Sagada's Lake Danum Sunset

Part 4 of the Cordillera Series
We have been to the best place to greet the sunrise at Sagada which is the Kiltepan peak. How about bidding goodbye to a great day at the Cordilleras? Lake Danum is located along the western part of Sagada near the town of Besao where one can be at peace with the nature as you await the setting sun over the mountains of Ampacao.

Kiltepan Peak of the Sagada - an awesome place to greet the sunrise

Part 3 of the Cordillera Series
The Kiltepan peak is the best area to await for the sunrise in Sagada. Giving you a view of the Kiltepan Rice Terraces from below having standing on a ravine at 1640 meters above sea level, one can see how the sun rises slowly filling up the skies with an awesome play of light over the farther mountains of the Cordilleras while sea of clouds slowly drifts away from caressing the valley below.

Banaue Rice Terraces - a surreal sight of a town 1300 meters above sea level

Part 2 of the Cordillera Series

It is a dream come true. One of the surreal places in the Philippines to be at. Imagine square kilometers of mountains and valley converted by hand by Philippine ancestors to supply the tribe with their staple food even if they live at 1300 meters above sea level. A time when tools and heavy equipment is not yet available yet over the centuries, the functional agricultural masterpiece also became a work of art that the world admires. I have personally been here to fulfill a childhood dream of stepping on and seeing for myself the acclaimed National Culture Treasure of the Ifugao Rice Terraces. I was speechless as I first had a glimpse of it. I got down from our guide's transport and for the first time, I bore witness the Banaue Rice Terraces!

Caramoan Travel Guide

Part 6 of the Caramoan Series
How to get there and things to do.

The Caramoan Peninsula is the northernmost part of the province of Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region. It is one of the famous tourist destinations in the Philippines which is noted by its several islands that are an escape from the urban lifestyle as it is far away from the buzzing city. The islands are located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean and each of the island has its own beauty and characteristic which would surely amaze beach bums, island hoppers, and even trekkers. This article features great things to do in the Caramoan and how to get to this town.

Sabitang Laya - the best island beach getaway of the Caramoan

Part 5 of the Caramoan Series

Sabitang Laya is so far the best island beach get away in the Caramoan Peninsula. Being situated at one of the nearer islands from the main island hopping jump-off of Barangay Bikal, it is only about 20 minutes away. The island features a campground and shallow turquoise waters touching its fine golden sands with natural granite towers. It is no doubt that this island is one of the beautiful location being sought in Caramoan by Filipinos and foreigners alike.

Manlawi Sandbar - The floating cottages of Caramoan

Part 4 of the Caramoan Series

Manlawi Sandbar of the Caramoan Peninsula is one of the jewels of the island hopping itinerary at this group of islets. It is a sandbar situated east of the largest of the island group, Lahuy that becomes completely submerged at high tide and a one-kilometer wide sandbar during low tide. Eight huts are constructed for those who would like to enjoy the scenery of this wide sandbar and these huts are designed to float during high tide.

The Cotivas Island - the perfect beach spot of the Caramoan

Part 3 of the Caramoan Series

The Cotivas island is a small island in the middle of two larger islands at the northernmost part of the Caramoan peninsula. Notable for its golden sand beach tip and coconut trees that proliferate at the middle of the island. It is a usual beach stop for the island hopping itinerary due to its calm waves being protected by 2 larger islands on both of its sides and the huts that provide shelter.

The Scenic Guinahuan Island and Liwan Beach of the Caramoan

Part 2 of the Caramoan Series

The Guinahuan island is one of the island destination on the group of islets north of the Caramoan Peninsula and is one of the farther islands from the docking ports of Barangay Bikal, the usual jump-off for the island hopping itinerary on this peninsula. The island features a wide grassland and rolling hills to where you can trek up to its highest point to where a lighthouse stands and see the view of the islands from above.

Discovering the Cordilleras - a mapping expedition

January 1-6, 2014
Part 1 of the Cordillera Series

You really haven't been a Filipino backpacker if you haven't trekked the Cordilleras. You could not call yourself a Filipino mountaineer if you haven't even set foot at the widest mountain range in the Philippines which is the Cordilleras. We have been to a mapping expedition to the Cordillera region starting off from Banaue, Ifugao, all the way to the top at Bontoc Mountain Province and the backpacking center of the Philippines - the Sagada. Back down to the winding roads and death-defying and picturesque view when road tripping along the Halsema highway and down to Benguet and Baguio City. This is an account of our 6-day expedition on the road to the highest winding roads of Luzon to experience the culture, the food and the people of the Cordillera Region.

Discovering Caramoan Peninsula - a mapping expedition

December 27-29, 2013
Part 1 of the Caramoan Series


The Caramoan has gained its popularity when the Survivor, a reality television program has used its islands for their survival series on 2012 and has been a favorite filming location of some foreign movies even before that year. Schadow1 Expeditions has been there to discover for ourselves its beauty and realize why foreigners are eager to travel to this peninsula. Aside from it, our mission is to thoroughly map its islands, analyze the locals and the main valley where most of its people are located. And here is what we have seen.