Bomod-Ok Falls at Sagada, Mountain Province

• How to Get To Bomod-Ok Falls from Sagada Town Proper
• How to Go Back to Sagada Town Proper from Bomod-Ok Falls
• Things to Bring
• Suggested Itinerary
• Author’s Notes

Our itinerary for the day was to eat breakfast at Bana’s Cafe & Resto then go and visit the Bomod-Ok Falls. Alternatively they call it the Big Falls.

Surprised that we were actually late for the scheduled jeepney ride to Aguid, we hurriedly ate our breakfast and ran to where the jeepneys are located in Sagada. Thankfully, it had not yet left.

We rode the jeepney bound for Aguid, where we ironically became too friendly with the passengers and found out that one of them was actually one of the weavers of the famous Sagada Weaving. That’s when I realized that it was actually hard to make the weaved products of Sagada and how much quality control they have for their precious weaving. Unfortunately, she went down a town before Bangaan but we learned a lot about what she does and we made a new friend.

The trek to Bomod-Ok Falls

When we got out of the Jeepney at Bangaan, we registered at the Tourist Information Center. This is the place where you will need to hire a guide which will cost 500 pesos/guide. This is to ensure that no unsupervised tourist/traveller goes into town. It also is a good way for them to create jobs. Don’t worry, your guide will be telling you stories about the place as you walk by.

At the start of the falls we did not see the Big Falls. It’s a sign that it was somehow pretty far from the starting point. And since the views are pretty awesome I never noticed how far it was or how long we have been walking. When we arrived at the Falls that’s when I realized that we already walked an hour and 30 minutes.

4 Interesting Things in Bomod-Ok Falls

1. Major Part of the Irrigation System for the Rice Terraces

Arriving at Bomod-Ok Falls, I noticed that there were people seated while resting on the left side. There were two rows of people, that’s why I saw the ditch that goes through the big rocks. I asked our guide about the ditch and he told me that Bomod-Ok Falls plays a major part in the irrigation of the rice terraces. They would reroute the water to the ditch that would then water the rice paddies.

2. Red Rice Cakes

There were two children who were selling what I thought was kutsinta. I curiously asked why they were colored dark red and was it food coloring. They answered that it was not food coloring but the color comes from the type of rice they use, red rice.

They sell the Red Rice Cakes for 2 Pesos a piece.

3. Back and Foot Massage

Some of the children that were following us did not jump into the basin of the falls instead they approached some people and they were offering massage to the tired traveller. A massage costs 10 pesos or more.

Growing up with a family that could provide me food, shelter and education, I was not able to do part time jobs when I was in high school and college. The truth is my dream is to have my own business, that’s why I felt envy with the children selling the red rice cakes and giving massage to tourists because at such a young age they get to learn from experience on how hard it is to make a living. What I saw were future succesful businessmen.

4. Cliff Diving

I love cliff diving!!!

Swimming to the Falls

Confident with my swimming skills, I jumped into the basin and swam straight to where the water was falling. Since the falls was not as strong when Batang Lakwatsero was there, I was able to swim with minimal to none current at the basin. I stopped in the middle of the basin because it was too cold!!! It was my first time having difficulty breathing due to cold water. So this is the reason why they require swimming suits for triathlons in cold waters.

We somehow got a little bit carried away when we had a water fight with the children. 😛

The walk back to Aguid

After an hour and a half of enjoying the Big Falls we decided to go up as we we needed to catch the 1PM trip from the town of Aguid to Sagada Town Proper.

I highly recommend that you do the Bangaan going down and Aguid going up. Both trails have superb view of the rice terraces and the Halo-Halo at the top of Aguid is definitely a reward for the tired body.

How to get to Bomod-Ok Falls

From Sagada Town Proper ride a public jeepney bound for the town of Aguid. Tell the driver to drop you off at Bangaan as you are headed to Bomod-Ok Falls. Fare is approximately 20 Pesos or below per person. Travel Time is approximately 20 minutes. There are 2 trips going to Aguid, I only know one of the trips is scheduled at around 7AM. Will ask around for the other schedule when I get back to Sagada. The schedule is also dependent on how many passengers are there on the scheduled time. If there are a few passengers then you will have to wait.

When you are now in Bangaan, you’ll see a tourist information office there. You need to get a local guide when you want to get to Bomod-Ok Falls. Guide fee is 500 pesos/guide. This is required since they do not want unsupervised tourists/travellers to go inside the town of Bangaan.

You will then be guided to Bomod-Ok Falls by your guide where you will be passing by the town of Bangaan, awesome views of the rice terraces. Your guide will not only tell you where to go, they will also tell you what you are seeing and how it is related to their daily lives. The trek take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

* Another way of going to Bangaan is by renting a jeep that would cost about 500 Pesos/jeep round trip. You can avail the jeep on the tourism office in Sagada.

How to go back to Sagada Town Proper

Tell your guide that you are now going back and this time take the route to the town of Aguid. This will also go through a different scenic route. The trek going up will take approximately 2 hours.

At the end of your trek up to the town of Aguid, you will be stopping at a basketball court which also serves as the jeepney terminal bound for Sagada. The jeepney’s schedule going to Sagada is around 1PM. Jeepney fare is 20 pesos/person or less than. Travel time is approximately 25 minutes.

By the way, the halo-halo at the basketball court of Aguid is one of the best I’ve had. Fresh and many-many ingredients! It only costs 20 pesos! 🙂

Things to Bring

• Trekking clothes (shorts, shirt, etc.)
• Trekking shoes or sandals with straps
• Snacks and drinks
• Swimming clothes
• Small back for the snacks, drinks and swimming clothes
• Camera
• Extra Money

Suggested Itinerary

This itinerary is only applicable if you’re going to ride the public jeepneys to Bomod-Ok Falls

0530 AM	Wake up and pack for Bomod-Ok Falls; Don’t forget to pack some snacks and drinks
0600 AM	Early Breakfast at Sagada Town Proper
0645 AM	Walk to Jeepney bound for Aguid
0700 AM	ETD to Bangaan; Don’t forget to tell the driver to drop you off at the Bangaan Information Center
0730 AM	ETA Bangaan Information Center; Register and Hire guide; Guide fee is 500 Pesos/Guide
0800 AM	Start Trek to Bomod-Ok Falls
0930 AM	ETA Bomod-Ok Falls; Rest and enjoy!!!
1045 AM	Start trek going up to the town of Aguid
1245 PM	ETA Aguid Basketball Court; Look for the jeepney to Sagada; Buy Halo-Halo
0100 PM	ETD Sagada Town Proper
0130 PM	ETA Sagada Town Proper; Late lunch

Author’s Notes

• Since you are required to hire a guide in Bangaan, you no longer need to hire guides from Sagada Genuine Guides Association (SaGGAs) or Sagada Environmental Guides Association (SEGA). Hiring guides from them would cost your group an additional 600 Pesos. But if you have extra money do hire their services for Bomod-Ok Falls.
• You can hire a jeep at Tourism Office at Sagada Town Proper for 500 Pesos/jeep. Round trip. Sagada-Bangaan, Aguid-Sagada. This is actually highly adviseable if you’re with a big group. This would also make your time more flexible than hurrying to get on the schedule of the rides.
• Bring snacks and water.
• You will be passing by some sari-sari stores in Bangaan. Though it was a bit expensive yet understandable since they had to deliver the goods by foot.
• Wear comfortable clothes, you will be trekking on rice terraces.
• Please throw your trash in the proper disposal areas. I had seen many trash lying around the area.
  

  Trash at one of the rice paddies

Visit my other Sagada, Mountain Province posts

• Sagada Tour Guide and Van Rates
• Where to stay in Sagada
• How to get to Sagada
• Bus Ride from Sagada to Baguio
• Bomod-Ok Falls at Sagada
• Salt and Pepper Diner (Food Trip)
• Buying Sagada Coffee (Mother’s Day Special)