Sagada Trip: Lumiang Burial Cave

What is really famous in Sagada, Mountain Province is their hanging coffins. It is their traditional belief that the dead are better buried above ground since this allows their souls to freely wander near their loved ones. We saw newly hanged coffins when we went there.

The first one we visited in May 2010 is the Lumiang Burial Cave which you can actually go near the coffins well if you are brave enough to touch it.

Coffins at Lumiang Cave

The Lumiang Cave houses have at least 200 coffins that have been there for 500 years. Our guide Kuya Jerome said family members or friends of the dead would pass and take turns in transporting the coffin to the cave. They believe that when the one that carries the coffin is stained with the dead’s blood, he gains good fortune and blessings in life.

A Deep Cave Entrance, connecting in Sumaging Cave

To get to Lumiang Cave, you need to walk about half an hour from the town. Our guide Kuya Jerome directed our attention to gigantic human-shaped stone formations on each side of the road along the way. To reach the cave’s mouth, we had to walk down some 500 meters, a railing aiding us down the slippery slope.
The entry point for the cave connection was pitch-black. The entrance is deceptively deep.

view going to the caves

hanging coffins

 Halfway through our hike, we passed by towering rock formations where you can see the hanging coffins, almost unnoticeable if not for tourists we saw taking photos.

trail going back to main road

Next stop: Sagada Trip: Spelunking at Sumaging Cave