3 / 5 - One review
How to get there
30min walk from the centre of Sagada
When to go
From October to May
Minimum stay
A few hours
Echo valley (The Philippines)
©
Arthur Joffrin
Practical information on Echo valley
Reviews of Echo valley
Echo Valley is a fascinating cultural site, where a stunning landscape blends with strange funerary practices.
My suggestion:
Once you reach the cemetery, head towards the large relay antenna from where you'll see the cliff to your right. It's here you'll find the hanging coffins.
My review
It was whilst in Sagada, to the north of Luzon that I discovered Echo Valley, during my holiday in the Philippines. Once you're there and have experienced the acoustics, you'll understand why it bears this name!
Leaving from the centre of Sagada, a twenty-minute walk will get you to this surreal, religious site. I walked up to the Saint Mary Church, on the higher levels of the town and continued along a dirt path that runs beside this historic monument and then crosses a cemetery. Echo Valley is a bit further downhill, on the other side of the cemetery.
Having scrambled around looking for the right place, I finally came across the famous hanging coffins, which cling to the side of a high, limestone cliff. I was more surprised than impressed - what religious ceremony lay behind this tradition and how on earth did they manage to attach the coffins at such a height? From here, you can either turn back in the direction from which you came or head down the valley and continue exploring the area. Make sure you don't get lost!
©
Arthur Joffrin
