How to get from Manila to Sagada

Why visit Sagada?

Sagada is a famed tourist destination in the Philippines’ Mountain Province. Popular among locals for its sea of clouds and romantic laidback vibe, group tours and motorbike road trips to Sagada are common on weekends. We recommend visiting on a weekday if it fits your schedule.

The hanging coffins are probably the most iconic attraction in Sagada. But adventurers will also love its lush landscape, limestone caves, and refreshing waterfalls. Interestingly, this small town boasts a wide range of cuisine. Don’t leave without tasting its lemon pie, best paired with Sagada coffee!

There are 3 ways to travel the 390 kilometre (242 miles) distance from Manila to Sagada. You can choose between the bus, private transport and flight via Tuguegarao. The journey takes 6 hours 40 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight via Tuguegarao. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 1,270 PHP ($21.50).

When going from Manila to Sagada, the most straightforward option is by bus. You have the option to take a direct bus from Manila to Sagada or to travel via Baguio.

We think the 11-hour journey is already long enough so we will only explain the direct route.

Tourist vs VIP bus

Buses operating on the Manila to Sagada route are classified as either semi-deluxe (tourist) or super deluxe (VIP). The VIP buses only have 35 seats while the tourist buses have 45. We recommend the VIP bus, especially for taller passengers, because they provide more legroom.

During peak season, book your ticket at least a week before via BookAway for a higher chance of securing a seat on your desired date.

Departure station

The most popular bus company on this route is Coda Lines, offering daily night trips from Coda Lines Terminal in Cubao, about 10 km north of Makati.

A taxi from Makati to Cubao costs around 250 PHP ($4.30) and takes about 30 minutes. You can also take the MRT to Araneta Center-Cubao Station — it’s just a 10-minute walk from there to the bus terminal.

Note: You should arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes prior to departure.

To avoid the 11-hour bus ride, you can book a flight from Manila to Tuguegarao Airport (TUG) or Cauayan Airport (CYZ). The distance from Tuguegarao Airport to Sagada is 185 km while Cauayan Airport is 210 km to Sagada.

Flight times are pretty much the same from both airports, so it really comes down to cost and convenience. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

Flight via Tuguegarao: Flying from Manila to Tuguegarao usually costs around 1,640 PHP ($28). From Tuguegarao Airport, you can take a taxi to Sagada for about 3,000 PHP ($51). The total journey takes around 6 hours 40 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes.

Flight via Cauayan:  Flights from Manila to Cauayan are slightly more expensive, at around 1,750 PHP ($30). From Cauayan Airport, a taxi to Sagada will cost about 3,500 PHP ($60). The total travel time takes roughly 6 hours 20 minutes to 8 hours 5 minutes.

Flying via Tuguegarao is the more common route. Below, we’ll guide you through how to travel from Manila to Sagada via Tuguegarao.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

The easiest way to get to Manila Airport from anywhere in Metro Manila is by Grab car. Rates start from 230 PHP ($3.90) to Terminal 3 and 370 PHP ($6.30) to Terminal 2, depending on where you’re coming from. You can also hail a taxi from the street. Just make sure the driver turns on the meter!

If you want to pre-book your transfer, Klook offers private rides with prices from 1,170 PHP ($19.90) for a 4-seater.

Alternatively, UBE Express operates point-to-point buses to several locations across Metro Manila to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Here are the ticket prices:

• • 150 PHP ($2.60) – from Pasay, Parañaque and Robinsons Manila
  • 200 PHP ($3.40) – from Araneta City and Alabang

Check out our guide for Manila Airport for more details.

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL) operate four daily flights from Manila to Tuguegarao Airport (TUG).

The flights depart from Manila Airport Terminal 2 and 3 at 06:15, 08:20, 10:20 and 12:45. Flight time is 1h 10m.

If you book early, one-way flights can go for as low as 1,640 PHP ($28). You might score an even cheaper fare during seat sales.

Once you arrive at Tuguegarao Airport, you can take a taxi to get directly to Sagada. It’s not cheap, but you’re assured of a comfortable 5h-6h car ride. A taxi to Sagada costs about 3,000 PHP ($51) . If there are other travellers to share this cost with, that would be a bonus and save you money!

You can also take a bus but it doesn’t go all the way to Sagada. The bus only takes you to the junction in Banaue. From Banaue, you have to hop on a van to Sagada. Note that this indirect option might take about 6 hours. Read how to go from Banaue to Sagada for more info.

A private transport is the easiest and most convenient option when travelling in a group from Manila to Sagada. The journey takes 9 hours, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.

Prices for private transfer start at 21,000 PHP ($355) for a 3-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 7,000 PHP ($120) each.

Private Transport options from Manila to Sagada