Tinglayan, Kalinga Province is located in the northern part of Luzon. It is not a usual tourist destination in the Philippines, but it offers great sights, rich cultural experience and trekking destinations. Nestled in the Cordillera mountain range, it's landscape is surrounded by lush mountains ranges with the mighty Chico River gushing on one side. There are a lot sights to behold, things to do and activities to enjoy in Tinglayan, you could do trekking/hiking, interacting with the locals, appreciating their culture and immersing yourself with the community.
This travel guide will provide you with basic information on the tourist spots and attractions, how to get there, things to do, where to stay, suggested itinerary and estimated budget that will help you plan your visit.
THINGS TO DO, TOURIST SPOTS AND ATTRACTIONS
- Explore the Villages of LupLupa, Old Tinglayan and Ambato Legleg
- Trekking the Rice Paddies
- Swimming at the Chico River
- Crossing the Hanging Bridge
- Meet the Tattooed Women of Tinglayan
- Attend a Mass or a Wedding Ritual
- Climb or Enjoy the Charm of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain
- See Kalinga Houses
- Drink freshly-brewed Kalinga Coffee
- Meet the last tattoo artist Wang-od in the village of Buscalan
- Trek to Palan-ah falls and hotsprings at Tulgao
- Hike to the Rice Terraces at Barangay Tulgao
HOW TO GET THERE
Option 1: Via Banaue and Bontoc
From Manila, take a bus bound for Banaue. Travel time is 8-9 hours, fare is 450 pesos. Ohayami bus offers daily trips to Banaue, their terminal is located in Lacson Avenue, corner Fajardo St., Sampaloc Manila (near University of Sto. Tomas). From Banaue, take a jeepney bound for Bontoc, travel time is about 3 hours and fare is around 200 pesos. At Bontoc, take a bus bound for Tabuk that passes by the town of Tinglayan. The bus leaves at 9:00 AM and their terminal is found near Mountain Province State Polytechnic College. Travel time is around 2.5 to 3 hours, fare is 110 pesos.
Option 2: Via Tabuk
From Manila, take a bus bound for Tabuk via Victory Liner in Kamias. Fare is around 570 pesos and travel time is 12 hours. Alternatively, you can take a Tuguegarao bound bus and then take a van bound for Tabuk. In Tabuk, take a jeepney or an ordinary bus bound for Bontoc which passes by the town of Tinglayan. Terminal can be found in front of the police station across St. William’s Cathedral. Travel time is about 2.5 to 3 hours and fare is around 110 pesos.
If you're coming from Sagada or Bontoc, click here to read how we got there.
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION
During our visit, there are only 3 accommodation options available. Luplupa Riverside Inn, Sleeping Beauty Inn and homestay. We chose to stay at Riverside Inn which is located at the village of Luplupa, across the Chico River coming from the national road. Jeepneys and buses coming from Tabuk or Bontoc pass by Luplupa, so it won't be a problem finding it. Just remind the bus attendant or the jeepney driver to drop you at the Luplupa Riverside Inn.
It is a 2-storey house with several rooms. Accommodation is at 250 pesos per head/night. The room has a queen-sized bed and some cabinets. Toilet and bath is shared. Food is not a problem, you could also ask them to include you in their menu. In exploring Tinglayan, Riverside Inn could also provide you with guides (usually, 1,000/day).
Contact Number: (+63) 0917 750 1204
OTHER OPTIONS:
Sleeping Beauty Inn - Located along the national road, it has a restaurant and groceries where you could buy your needs. Room rates is at 200 pesos / head.
Home Stays - you can coordinate with the tourism office for available homestays.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please verify prices, inclusions, terms, and conditions with the hostel.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrive in Tinglayan
Check-in at the hostel
Lunch
Trek at the Rice Paddies
Explore the Villages LupLupa, Old Tinglayan and Ambato Legleg
Interact with the community
Meet tattooed women of Tinglayan
Drink freshly-brewed Kalinga Coffee
Cross hanging bridges
Go back to the Hostel
Day 2
Breakfast
Swim at the Chico River
Explore the community
Prepare for check-out
Check-out
Depart for Tabuk
This is my suggested itinerary for an overnight trip in Tinglayan. You could adjust it based on how many days you want to explore and the places you want to see and experience.
EXPENSES
Bus (Manila - Banaue) - 450.00
Jeep (Banaue - Bontoc) - 200.00
Bus (Bontoc to Luplupa) - 110.00
Accommodation (1 night) - 250.00 / person
Food (2 days) - 300.00 / person
Jeepney (Luplupa - Tabuk) - 100.00
Bus (Tabuk - Manila ) - 570.00
TOTAL - 1,980.00
Please note that these are just the basic expenses, you may add other expenses such as guide fees and tips which is dependent on how many are you in the group.
Enjoy Tinglayan's unique beauty and appreciate its rich culture and tradition!
| This is part of my Holy Week and Araw ng Kagitingan long weekend holiday trip in Ifugao, Mt. Province and Kalinga last April 5-9, 2012. Kalinga, a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region is the 60th province on my list. Join me as I continue my journey to visit all 80 provinces in the Philippines! | |
 Map By: Wikipedia |
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Hi Pinoy Adventurista,
ReplyDeleteTanong ko lang po sana kung nagta-tattoo sila sa visitors, and kung may idea po kayo kung magkano and sino po ang lalapitan ko?
Thanks. =)
maybe you could look for Fang-od sa village ng Buscalan... di pa ako nakapunta dun, but I saw in some blogs na nag-ta-tattoo cya dun (the traditional way..) :)
DeleteGreat post! Bookmarking. Hopefully, I'll be able to go this May and visit Buscalan, too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello! I have a few questions if you don't mind. What are things to bring for this trip? Does it get really cold there? We are planning to stay with Fang-od. Do we need bring warm clothes or light clothes? Do we need insect repellant? What can we bring as simple gift for Fang-od? Thank you.
ReplyDeletei'm not familiar sa place ni Fang-od kasi di kami nagpunta dun... pero i think malamig dun... regarding the gift, please check this post http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2012/11/tattooed-women-of-tinglayan.html Thanks!
Deletehi sir :) from tinglayan, how do you go to buscalan? you may have guessed it but i am going to fang oud! i read somewhere that it's a 2 hour trek from tinglayan daw
ReplyDeletei heard malayo pa nga... di pa ako nakapunta dun... i suggest, kuha ka nalang ng guide from Tinglayan going to Fang-od... enjoy! :)
DeleteHi there.
ReplyDeleteBeen really following ur blogs about your travel some time now. It really helped us your shared infos about the places you already had visited that eventually became our visit of interests as well. My friend and I will traverse Kalinga this weekend. Since it has been raining all week long in the northern part, is it still advisable to trek kalinga? We are visiting just to get their famous Kalingan souvenir. Thanks and would really appreciate ur advise.
Cheers
By any chance,do you know the schedules for these jeep transfers (or know where I could get the schedules?) We'll be flying Manila-TUG and TUG-Manila and want to do a two day trip to Tinglayan.
ReplyDeleteschedules of...:
*Tabuk to Tinglayen
*Tinglayen to Tabuk
*Tabuk to Tuguegarao
TIA! :)
im not sure of the sked po, since we went there po via Bontoc... :) When you're in Tanglayan, ask the locals as to what time are the jeepney/bus skeds... Enjoy!
DeleteHi, about don sa accomodations, what if you're a solo traveler, do you have to pay for the whole room? Shared room kasi ito diba? :) Thanks sa sasagot :)
ReplyDeleteHi, great blog. Did you meet apo Whang-Od? :)
ReplyDelete