Marlboro Hills and Blue Soil
About
Sagada's favorite sunrise hike! Start in the dark around 4 AM, climb through cool pine forest and reach the grassy top of Marlboro Hills (locally called Lamagan) just in time for sunrise, with a real chance of a sea of clouds rolling over the Cordillera. Grab hot black rice champorado from the hilltop stalls, then continue mostly downhill past limestone rock fields to Blue Soil (Kaman Utek), a striking slope of blue-grey earth that looks unreal in photos. It is an easy, beginner-friendly trek, about 4 to 5 hours including rest stops. A licensed local guide is required, so register at the Tourist Information Office and book your guide and shuttle the day before. Bring a flashlight, a warm jacket and shoes with good grip!
Dry until sunset (5:32 PM). Good time to go!
- 4–5 hrs (full traverse, including about an hr waiting for sunrise)Time to spend
- Cool, dry months (roughly November to April) for clearer skies; start the trek around 4 AM to catch sunrise. The sea of clouds is never guaranteed.Best time to go
- About ₱100 per personValue · Great value
- Bus gets you thereNo car needed
What to do here
- Catch sunrise and a possible sea of clouds from the top of Marlboro Hills
- Warm up with black rice champorado from the hilltop stalls
- Walk the pine and limestone trail down to Blue Soil
- Take photos on the blue-grey slopes of Kaman Utek
Know before you go
Bring a flashlight or headlamp: the trek starts in the dark around 4 AM.
Trails get slippery and muddy after rain, so wear shoes with good grip and watch your step.
Pack a warm jacket; mountain mornings are cold before the sun comes up.
Private vehicles can drive to the jump-off instead of hiring the shuttle; parking in Sagada town proper is scarce, so ask your lodging.
Sagada tourist registration fee ₱100 per person (Sagada Tourism Office site, 2025). Marlboro Hills + Blue Soil guide fee ₱1,600 per group of 5–10 (₱800 for either site only) plus shuttle ₱650 per group, +₱250 for lodgings far from town; no entrance fee (rates as of January 2024, Joan's Footprints guide updated January 2026). A 2026 traveler paid shuttle ₱1,350 and guide ₱1,600 split among four. Hilltop champorado about ₱80.
Bring a flashlight, a warm jacket and shoes with good grip!
Where it is
Lamagan (Marlboro Hills) to Kaman Utek (Blue Soil) trail, along the Sagada–Balili boundary, Sagada, Mountain Province
No car neededFrom Cubao, CODA Lines runs direct buses to Sagada (2–4 night trips, 8–10 PM; book ahead). Or take a bus to Baguio (7–8 hours), a taxi to the GL Trans terminal, then GL Trans to Sagada (about 6 hours; trips from early morning to early afternoon). In Sagada, register at the Tourist Information Office, then book a guide and a shuttle that picks you up at your lodging around 4 AM and drops you at the Marlboro Hills jump-off.
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FAQ
Can we do the hike without a guide?
No. Sagada requires a licensed local guide for its attractions, so book one at the Tourist Information Office after you register.
Is the trek hard?
It is easy and beginner-friendly! The climb to Marlboro Hills takes under an hour, and the walk to Blue Soil is mostly downhill.
Are there toilets and food along the trail?
Yes! There is a toilet at Marlboro Hills and another before Blue Soil, plus snack stalls along the way, especially on weekends.
Will we surely see the sea of clouds?
Not always. It depends on the weather, so go in the cool, dry months and start early for your best chance.