Sagada is a mysterious village in a mountainous province of the Philippines, about 250 miles from Manila. It’s just under a mile above sea-level and situated near the Chico River, much of it on switch back mountain roads. On my visit, I went by car from Manila to Banaue, followed by six hours in a private jeepney (a vibrant, rustic mode of transportation unique to the Philippines) to Sagada. It was a long and treacherous trip, but I was to discover it to be well worthwhile.

Sagada immediately exuded a different feel to the rest of the Philippines. Rather than a palm tree-dominated landscape, here I discovered lush pine forests. In this fertile region, many agricultural products are grown, including Arabica coffee, brought by the Spanish colonialists, which is one of my personal favorites.  Also grown here are green peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and Valencia oranges.

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