Buscalan Adventure Tours: Philippines Travel Diary
Our 2-day (Day 30-31) tour in Sagada was extraordinary. We immersed ourselves in the exquisite and unique culture of the Igorot tribe.
Travel Diary for Day 32-33:
Looking forward to another fun-filled Philippine adventure experience in northern Luzon’s less traveled destinations, we spent 2 days (Day 32-33) roaming around Buscalan in the province of Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region. Buscalan is a small remotebarangay in the Kalinga highlands. Home to Butbut Tribe, known as fearsome headhunters in Cordillera, we got ready to trek through the mountain slopes and narrow trails to reach Buscalan.
Day 32: How do we Start the Day Visiting Sagada Tourist Spots?
24 March:
Today (Day 32), we got up very early and left the accommodation to watch the gorgeous sunrise at Kiltepan. It is just a short distance from the town of Sagada. At 4:30 a.m., we met with Chris, a good friend who volunteered to guide us around Sagada. Sad to say, the thick clouds covered the sky, and there was no way for us to see the crack of dawn.
Aside from trekking and hiking on the highest mountain climbs in the Philippines, sunrise watching is one of the most recommended activities when you visit the country.
How do we Visit the Echo-Valley Hanging Coffins in Sagada?
Aside from caves, you shouldn’t miss getting a view of the hanging coffins – one of the best places to visit in Sagada. We went to the Echo Valley and got a closer view of the famous coffins that are hung from the cliffs and rocks. Located in the Land of the Hanging Coffins, Cordillera Administrative Region, the place vividly portrays the Igorot tradition of burying their deceased loved ones. Playing a vital part of the Cordillera people’s culture, it is great to know that such tradition is still practiced up to this time.
We stopped by Bontoc local market, in front of Sagada Municipal Hall, to buy some ingredients for a Filipino-style agahan (breakfast). Upon reaching our accommodation, we whipped and enjoyed scrambled eggs and rice.
Discover more about the Sagada travel guide: Philippines best outdoor travel destination for a handful of travel pro-tips. Learn where to stay, how to get there, and which places to visit.
How do we Travel to Buscalan Village from Sagada?
Google My Maps Buscalan Travel Adventures: Day 32-33
If planning a trip to Buscalan, check out the Google My Maps below to experience exciting activities and adventures, and get to know different routes and directions, accommodations to stay, attractions to visit, and restaurants to dine in. Visit the Buscalan travel Google My Map to learn more about our Philippines Travel routes and adventures.
How do we Deal with the Weather in the Philippines?
How is our Journey to Buscalan Village by Foot?
At last, we made it to the base camp, and waited for the weather to calm down. After an hour, the rain stopped. So, we continued our journey towards Buscalan by foot. We grabbed all our equipment and the live chicken (which we bought from Bontoc local market a while back), and made our way up to the adventurous path to Buscalan. Walking on the scenic nature trail was such a delightful experience.
At this point, you might be asking when is the best time to visit the Philippines. Here’s the catch. Don’t let bad weather ruin your travel plans. Visit the country during the dry season – that is between December and May.
We finally got there, and were warmly welcomed by our local friends in Buscalan. They are Chris’ Igorot friends. It’s good to have good connections in the village.
How do we Find Homestay Lodging in Buscalan?
How is the Homestay Accommodation in Buscalan?
You will know that you have arrived in Buscalan Village the moment you see Butbut kids and wandering boars around. When it comes to accommodation, expect no expensive inns, motels, or hot showers, because you'll be living with the local people’s homes. They offer rooms at their residences or homestays ranging from PHP 200 to PHP 300 USD 4 to USD 6.
And the best part? Although not every home has a private toilet and bath, a public bath near the basketball court is being provided for you. You may also dip and relax on the waterfalls nearby. Here’s another kicker! Don’t expect to sleep on a cozy bed when you are in Buscalan village. Get used to sleeping on the floor using a thin banig (mattress) instead. Despite the simplicity of the village people’s lifestyle, you can never feel unwelcomed, because they are congenial and very accommodating.
Isn’t it fantastic to experience the life of the Butbut tribe during your visit to Buscalan? Grab the opportunity to know the indigenous people’s culture in Buscalan.
Day 33: How do we Explore the Natural Beauty of Buscalan?
What are the Top Things to do in Buscalan?
Renowned among local and foreign tattoo enthusiasts, Buscalan is located in the northwestern part of Luzon. It is the home of Apo Whang Od, the last mambabatok (tattoo artist) of the Butbut tribe. Aside from getting inked, here are some of the things that you would definitely love to do, places to visit, food to try when traveling to Buscalan, Kalinga (Cordillera Administrative Region):
How do we get from Buscalan to Banaue Village?
In the afternoon (Day 33), we made our way back down the tricky path towards our jump off point by foot. After an approximately 1-hour hike, we reached Chris’ car (which we call an Igorot Tank). We left Buscalan and headed towards Banaue in the province of Ifugao, Cordillera Administrative Region. Leaving Buscalan wasn’t easy, because all of us had fallen in love with the village and its fun-loving people.
It started raining again while we were on our way to Banaue. After a 4-hour challenging drive at the panoramic and gusty road, we arrived at our destination. It was still raining cats and dogs. Chris took us straight to Las Vegas Lodge and Restaurant, an accommodation in Banaue he knew of.
It is located in Bisaang, Banaue Ifugao (Cordillera Administrative Region). Although it was in desperate need of maintenance, it wasn’t a major problem for us because we planned to stay there for just one night.
Visit the detailed Banaue Travel Guide: A visit to the majestic Philippine Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Google My Maps Philippines Travel Diary: Day 1 to Day 51
Check out the Google Maps below, to have an overview of the entire 51 days of Philippines travel adventure including exciting attractions and activities we did, destinations we explored, and travel directions in the Philippines.
Philippines Tour Adventures from Day: 1 to Day: 51
We are giving you a complete list of the places we visited in the Philippines. The country is full of amazing destinations that can be best explored solo or with friends. Here is a complete overview of the Philippines Travel Diary experience for our 51 Days trip to the different destinations in the Philippines in 2017:
Day 1-2: Manila Adventure Tours
Day 3-4: Bantayan Island Adventure Tours
Day 5-6: Cebu City & South Cebu Adventure Tours
Day 7-8: Southern Visayas Island of Negros Adventure Tours
Day 9-11: Siquijor Island Adventure Tours
Day 12-14: Guimaras Island Adventure Tours
Day 15-17: Gigantes Island Adventure Tours
Day 18-20: Philippine Visa Extension & Food Tours in Metro Manila
Day 21-23: Puerto Princesa Adventure Tours
Day 24-25: El Nido Adventure Tours
Day 26-27: El Nido Motorbike Adventure & Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour
Day 28-29: Baguio City Adventure Tours
Day 30-31: Sagada Adventure Tours
Day 32-33: Buscalan, Kalinga Adventure Tours
Day 34: Banaue, Batad Rice Terraces Adventure Tours
Day 35-36: Pangasinan Adventure Tours
Day 37-38: Hundred Islands National Park Adventure Tours
Day 42-47: Metro Manila Adventure Tours
Day 40-41: Leyte Eastern Visayas Adventure Tours
Day 48- 50: The Bamboo Paraiso Beach Resort & Hundred Islands Adventures
Day 51: Best Tour in Pangasinan & Back to Manila
Why do we Create the Philippines Travel Guide?
SUMMARY: Buscalan Adventure Tours
We ended our Buscalan trip, and moved on to Banaue in the province of Ifugao, Cordillera Administrative Region, our next Philippine destination. Stick with as we share with you A day to forget in Banaue: Day 34.