Huddled about 5,000 feet above sea level, Sagada has an idyllic temperature attracting tourists to flock their way to this quaint town in the Cordillera. Besides the usual attractions Sagada offers, the place has quite established itself as the home of the sweet Sagada Oranges. The weather of the town is regarded ideal for growing what we Pinoys call “imported” fruits. During the months of October through December, orange picking is a welcome treat to everyone who visits Sagada.

Snuggled in a four-hectare land totally ringed with a lush pine forest, the Rock Farm is home to this orange orchard that was started a decade ago. To date, the farm boasts off its sumptuous and sweet Ponkan and Washington Navel oranges, and persimmon fruit.

***A bit of information: According to the Sagada Genuine Guide Association (SAGGAS), the Spaniards introduced the sunkist and hamlin seedlings in the 1900s, while the ponkan variety was brought by the Koreans in the 1990s.

The Rock Farm also has a homey inn and café that showcase the best of Cordillera culture. The Rock Inn overlooks a rock-strewn valley on one side and the orange trees on the other side. This has to be the most convenient place to stay at if you plan to do orange picking, plus the fact that the area is quite secluded making it a perfect place for relaxation and solitude.

The Orange picking allowed by the Rock Farm is said to be the sole orange plantation in the Philippines to date.  What I loved the most was the chance to eat oranges as plenty as you can without being charged. You only get to pay what you bring home. Cool isn’t it?  The picking is allowed for an hour to let other visitors do their picking too.

After a fun time with the Orange trees, you can spend time at the Bodega Café for some delightful meal. (I did try there Yoghurt, it was as yummy as that of Yoghurt House).

Other amenities offered by Rock Inn includes the following:

• Massage Services
• Safe & Spacious Parking Area
• Cable-TV-in-Lounge
• Shuttle Services
• Foreign Currency Payments
  • Cafe’ Bodega – On-Site Restaurant
  • The Dap-ay – an all-weather bonfire area

Room Rates

4 2	Executive Rooms (2 Queen sized beds) Mini Executive Rooms (1 Queen & 1 Single Bed)		Php1,800 Php1,500
4 1	Bunk Rooms (4 double deck beds; good for 8) Bunk Room (3 double deck beds; good for 6)		Php450/person Php450/person
	Attic Floor (good for 18)		Php300/person
	Lower Ground Floor -with 3 bedrooms, a living room and shared bathroom
1 2	Room with a queen sized and  2 single beds (good for 4) Rooms with 1 queen sized bed each (perfect for couples)		Php4,100 (for the entire floor)

How To Reach Sagada:

1) MANILA – BAGUIO – SAGADA: (12 – 14 hrs ride)

• Victory Liner, Genesis, Joybus or Dagupan Bus
• Terminal : Cubao Quezon City

Once in Baguio: Take a bus bound for Sagada

• Lizardo or GL trans (6-hour ride) (P230 Bus Fare/Person)
  • Location: Dangwa Terminal, Baguio (Back of Baguio Center Mall)
• Lizardo Bus schedules (Baguio – Sagada & Sagada-Baguio)
  • 6:30 AM (Baguio – Sagada)
  • 7:30 AM (Baguio – Sagada)
  • 8:30 AM (Baguio – Bontoc)
  • 9:30 AM (Baguio – Sagada)
  • 10:30 AM (Baguio – Sagada)
  • 11:30 AM (Baguio – Sagada)
  • 1:00 PM (Baguio – Sagada)

* BONTOC – SAGADA jeepney transport (45-minute ride) (P50/head fare)
* 7:00 AM first trip followed by 8:00 AM so on, one hour succeeding per trip. until 5:00 PM

2) MANILA – BANAUE – BONTOC – SAGADA route:

• BANAUE TRANSPORTATION:
  • Banaue -Manila and V.V. Buses: ( 10 hrs ride)
  • Florida Bus:
    • Contact #: 3864042 / 09185225049 Banaue reservation
    • Departure from Banaue: 8:00 pm > located near Banaue Hostel
    • Departure from Manila: 10:45 pm > located Sampalok Manila
    • Fare: PHP 450
  • Auto Bus
    • Dimasalang cor. Laong Laan St., Sampaloc, Manila
    • Telephone Number: 7358098, Fax: 7432227
    • Departure from Banaue: 5:30 pm > if peak season 2 additional trips would be included.
    • Departure from Manila = 10:00 pm, located at Sampaloc Espana near UST
    • Fare: PHP 432

Banaue – Baguio Bus info:

• OHAYAMI:
  • Departure from Banaue: 6:30 am and 4:30 pm
  • Departure from Baguio: 6:30 am and 3:00 pm
  • Fare: PHP 360
• KMS
  • Departure from Banaue: 7:00 am / 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm
  • Departure from Baguio: 6:30 am and 3:00 pm
  • Fare: PHP 360
• Banaue – Bontoc jeepney and bus transport
  • Jeepney: 8:30 am – located near the Banaue Market
  • Fare: PHP 120

* Bus waiting transport: if you happen not to catch the jeep, here is your alternative: estimate time of arrival for buses going to Bontoc:

• 10:00 – 12:00 pm : Bonbon Bus
• 12:00 – 1:00 pm : Emmanuel Trans
• 5:30 – 7:00 am : Cable tours
• Bontoc – Banaue (3 to 4 hrs ride)
• 7am – Bonbon bus – terminal: beside the Municipal hall
• 8am – AV trans bus – terminal: beside the Municipal hall
• 9am – Emmanuel bus – terminal: behind the Municipal hall
• 12 noon – Jeepney – terminal: beside the Municipal hall
• 1pm(not regular) – terminal: beside the Municipal hall
• 3pm – Cable Bus – terminal: in-front of Cable Cafe’ near Churya-a Hotel
• Bontoc-SAGADA: Jeepney transport only
  • 7:00 first trip, 5pm last jeep out to Sagada and in betwin, jeeps leave every after 45 minutes. Ride to Sagada from Bontoc would take around 40 to 45 minutes, PHP 50 fare

From downtown Sagada, Rock Inn is about 2 km away, or a 20-30-minute leisurely walk (or you can bike your way to the area just like what I did).

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address: Orange Drive, Rock Farm, Batalao, Sagada, Mountain Province, 2619 PH

Telephone: +63 998 556 6047; +63 905 554 5950; +63 928 213 1149

Email Address: info@rockfarmsagada.com; therock_sagada@yahoo.com.ph

More of Sagada here at:

https://roamulofied.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/sagada-mountain-province-philippines/

https://roamulofied.wordpress.com/2015/06/03/kamanbaneng-peak/