06/09/2023
BUSCALAN, Kalinga ❤️
Meeting the legendary Filipino tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od (Maria Oggay)
Visitors from around the world travel to Buscalan to receive a tattoo from Apo Wang-Od and to experience the rich indigenous culture of the Kalinga people.
🚌 How to get there:
If you're going to commute from Metro Manila, here are some options:
📍Via Bontoc
Coda lines Terminal in Cubao has daily 9pm trip going to Bontoc, Mountain Province
From Bontoc, ride a jeepneys going to Mar O Bugnay or Tinglayan, Kalinga (Jump-off area)
From Tinglayan (Jump-off area, check point area), ride a motorcycle to Buscalan.
🕰Travel time is about 11-12 hours.
🔈Fare Expenses:
Cubao-Bontoc- 1,200/pax more or less
Bontoc-Bugnay- 200/pax
Bugnay-Buscalan- 150/pax
📍Via Baguio
Ride a Bus or Van to Bontoc, Mountain Province in Dangwa or Slaughter Terminal
From Bontoc, ride a jeepneys going to Mar O Bugnay or Tinglayan, Kalinga (Jump-off area)
From Tinglayan (Jump-off area, check point area), ride a motorcycle to Buscalan.
🕰Travel Time is about 8-9 hours
🔈Fare Expenses:
Baguio-Bontoc- 800/pax
Bontoc-Bugnay- 200/pax
Bugnay-Buscalan- 150/pax
📍Via Sagada
Ride a Bus or Van to Bontoc, Mountain Province
From Bontoc, ride a jeepneys going to Mar O Bugnay or Tinglayan, Kalinga (Jump-off area)
From Tinglayan (Jump-off area, check point area), ride a motorcycle to Buscalan.
🕰Travel time is about 2 hours
🔈Fare Expenses:
Baguio-Bontoc- 120/pax
Bontoc-Bugnay- 200/pax
Bugnay-Buscalan- 150/pax
Upon arriving at the Buscalan Registration area, pay the necessary fees like environmental fee, Eco cultural fee, hire a guide and ready yourself for a 30 minutes trek to the village.
🍴 Food & Homestay in Buscalan
For your food, you have a choice to either
▪️Bring canned goods (you can cook food in your homestay)
▪️Eat in local karenderyas
-Most homestays offer unlimited rice and brewed coffee.
⛺️Homestays
There are no hotels and inns in the village, all accommodations are owned by the locals
400 per person
📌Updated Expenses
Guide Fee - 1,000 Day Tour (1-5 pax)
1,500 Overnight (1-5 pax)
Homestay - 400 per person
Environmental Fee - 50 per person
Eco Cultural Fee - 50 per person
Tattoo Price Range:
Pattern Tattoo design- 150-2,000 depending on its size
Signature of Apo Wang Od (3 dots) -300
📣Buscalan Travel Tips
▪️Commuting going and leaving Buscalan is hard. If you want a comfortable travel, there are many travel and tours that offer their service. It's much better to join a group travel.
▪️It is important to contact your guide 1 week prior your travel date. I highly recommend Lei Paclay . She is a relative of Apo Wang Od. She will arrange everything for you as well your homestay.
▪️There is no signal in the village, but there are piso WiFi owned by the locals.
▪️No ATM. Bring enough cash
▪️If possible, go there on weekdays to avoid the crowd.
▪️Bring something for the locals
