About Buscalan
Immerse with the unique culture and tradition of the mountain people and be awed with the natural beauty of one of the least explored provinces of Cordilleras – Kalinga!
An off-beat travel destination, the province of Kalinga offers beyond what most expect. And where’s best to experience the place aside from its provincial capital Tabuk? Tinglayan is one!
A sleepy town southwest of Tabuk, Tinglayan is dotted with panoramic rice terraces and surrounded by verdant mountains including the legendary Sleeping Beauty, a mountain range consisting of Mount Patukan, Mating-oy Dinayao and Mantingoy. The range is called as such because its silhouette resembles that of a sleeping woman.
Tinglayan is also home to tattooed women and warriors that are common in all of Kalinga, particularly the tribes of Bangad, Basaso, Botbot, Dananoao, Tinglayan and Sumadel. There are 20 villages or barangay that make up the town and the most prominent is the village of Buscalan where the great Whang-Od (Fang-Od), the the oldest and last surviving hand-tap tattoo artist lives. Tourists endure the one-hour trek to this village to meet and/or get a tattoo from this legendary woman.
But more than Whang-od, there are more in Tinglayan that will surely delight nature and adventure lovers. Check out the rice terraces of Buscalan-Loccong, Bugnay, Tulgao, Dananao, Luplupa, Padjao and Ambato Legleg; trek to Palan-ah falls and Hotsprings in Tulgao West; bike the trails of the town; or hike the great Sleeping Beauty.
Choose the road less traveled. Explore Tinglayan and bring home a whole new Cordillera experience!
How to Go to Buscalan/Tinglayan
The town of Tinglayan can be reached from either Tabuk in Kalinga or Bontoc in Mountain Province.
Via Tabuk
To date, the Tabuk route is the most convenient since there is no direct trip from Manila to Bontoc.
From Manila, Victory Liner has daily trips to Tabuk from Kamias Terminal. It is a 10 to 11 hours ride via NLEX – Maharlika Highway passing through the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela, fare is around P680 (as of 2014).
From Tabuk, catch a jeep or bus to Bontoc or Tinglayan across Saint William’s Cathedral. The ride passes through Tinglayan, travel time takes approximately three (3) hours and fare is around P130 (as of 2014). Get off at Bugnay if you take the Bontoc jeep, otherwise you will have to transfer to another jeepney going to Bugnay if you take the Tinglayan jeepney.
If you are coming from Tuguegarao, there are jeepneys and vans available in the city for an hour ride to Tabuk, jeepney fare is around P60. Last trip is around 4PM.
If you are going to Buscalan, proceed to the junction to Buscalan and trek for an hour to reach the village.
Via Bontoc
If you are coming from Bontoc, jeepneys and buses are available to Tabuk that pass through Tinglayan. First trip is at 7 AM and last trip at 11AM. This is a scenic route, passing by the rice terraces of Sadanga, Betwagan and Bugnay.
If you are going to the village of Buscalan, ask to be dropped off to the junction to Buscalan and trek for an hour to reach the village.
Coda Lines Corporation has a daily trip from Cubao HM Terminal to Bontoc. The bus leaves daily at 8PM, 9PM and 10PM, arriving Bontoc after eleven hours of the next day, regular fare is P760. For more inquiries, contact +639771860548 and +639394677863, or visit their Facebook page.
Going Around and Away
Public buses and jeepneys from Tabuk to Bontoc and vice versa pass through the town of Tinglayan via the Tabuk – Lubuagan – Tinglayan – Sadanga – Tocucan – Bontoc Road. The road is in good condition. The trips though are limited with the last trip at around noon for both route.
From Poblacion, there are double track trails going to the villages of Dananaw, Tulgao, Butbut and Ngibat that are accessible mainly to two-wheeled vehicles. The other villages including Buscalan can only be reached through human trails.
Where to Stay in Tinglayan
There is no big hotel or resort in Tinglayan, only small inns and lodges that offer basic accommodation and homestays. To date there are only three commercial accommodations, one in the village of Luplupa and two in Poblacion.
- Luplupa Riverside Inn Luplupa, Tinglayan, Kalinga Rate: P250/person/night Contact: +639177501204
- Sleeping Beauty Inn Poblacion, Tinglayan Rate: P200/person/night
Homestay is the only accommodation option in the village of Buscalan. Just ask around and the locals will direct you to one. Rate is as low as P175/person/night.
What to Do in Tinglayan
- Get a tribal tattoo from Whang-od in Buscalan Village, tattoo rate varies and usually starts at P300 for a small one
- Visit the only surviving Kalinga warrior Fa’wad Accad in Luplupa
- See the rice terraces of Buscalan-Loccong, Bugnay, Tulgao, Dananao, Luplupa and Ambato Legleg
- Don’t miss their coffee!
- Trek to Palan-ah falls and Hotsprings in Tulgao West
- Take home some local products such as coffee, local wine and knives
- Go mountain biking
- Hike the great Sleeping Beauty, trekking usually takes eight (8) hours
- Go white water rafting in Chico River
- Explore Tabuk, Balabalan and the other towns and attractions of Kalinga
- Head to the neighboring Mountain Province and visit the attractrions in Bontoc, Maligcong and Sagada
Sample Overnight Itinerary and Budget in Buscalan (Via Tabuk)
Day 0 Manila to Tabuk
1930H: Departure from Victory Liner Kamias to Tabuk
Day 1 Tabuk to Buscalan
0600H: Arrival in Tabuk, heavy breakfast
0700H: Catch a jeep or bus to Bontoc or Tinglayan
1100H: Arrival in Bugnay, trek to Buscalan
1230H: Arrival in Buscalan, find homestay, lunch
1330H: Free time, tattoo session, see the rice terraces, etc
1800H: Dinner, socials, lights out
Day 2 Trek down
0530H: Call time, see sunrise in Padjao Rice Terraces
0630H: Breakfast
0700H: Trek back to Bugnay
0830H: Catch a jeep back to Tabuk or Bontoc then Sagada
*Estimated budget P2500
Other Tips
- In compliance to the new municipal ordinance, all tourists are now required to pay eco-cultural fee of P75 per person
- Relative to the new ordinance, all tourists are also now required to have a guide with fee as follows:
- P1,000 per day for one guide (1 to 5 tourists)
- P2,000 per day for up to two guides (6 to 10 tourists)
- P3,000 per day for up to three guides (11 to 15 tourists)
- P4,000 per day for up to four guides (16 to 20 tourists)
- No ATM in town
- Best time to go is during dry months from December to May
- Mobile signal is weak to non-existent
- There is no restaurant in Buscalan but you can order food from where you are staying
- Tattooing schedule is on first-come-first-served basis
Updated: 05-Nov-2015; 15-Jan-2016; 25-Mar-2018
Hi there!
Is there anyone here who would go there on the last week of May? I badly need a tattoo from this legend. Ciao!
HI! Me and friends are planning to go on the 27th. E-mail me [email protected]
Meron po b ngbabalak mgpatattoo itong last week ng april? Mga 26-27?
up Sir! cannot be ng 2 days lang
Tlga? Ilang araw kau?
Hi sir we are planing to go to buscalan alis kami manila later 7:30pm going to tabuk. Contact me asap 09755359339
any one who will be going to buscalan on April 16?
I am!
Hi,
Any interested joiners pa akyat? Byahe kami this friday, April 1. Si kuya charlie dn tour guide namin. Please txt me at 09776950441.
hi, do you have Charlie’s number? will be going on April 16. thank you.
Any one going up next week? march 30?
Hi all! We’re going 12th of April. Would you like to join us? We’ll split up payment for Guide services. PM me on my FB account if you’re interested. facebook.com/veronicathe13th
Any travellers going to Buscalan on the 6th of April?
Planning to go on the 6th!
Punta po kmi ky whang od on march 25 friday… dalawa lng po kmi… we already contacted kuya charlie ung guide… who wants to join us po? Thank you
Sabay kami since si Kuya Charlie ung guide. send me your number so that we can contact you. 2 din kami to visit Whang Od. Thanks
09176767014… on feb 25 dn?
Hi Phoebe… me & my partner are going… want to share the tour guide fee?
Looking for travel buddy to share cost. Traveling this holy week, we’ll be leaving Manila on Thursday night. 09985544549 (Dom).
Hi Dom. I contacted you. Thanks.
Any joiners will be leaving this coming Good Friday March 25? then we’ll go to Sagada.
What’s your number? Me & my partner are going on March 25, 7pm from Victory liner Kamias Qc
hi may number po ba kayu ni kuya charlie na guide? planning to go there on april ty
Hi sir! We will go there also on April, what date po kayo sir? Kami 1st week ng April, pls do text me if same lang 09228044907 thank you 🙂
Hi ill be going to Buscalan on April 6, and kuya Charlie would be my guide,when on April ur going?
Hi Ms. Kris! It’s me po Carla, yung nagchat sa fb. Hindi po tayo April 5 aakyat? Sagada na po kami mangagaling.
Sa mga planers going to buscalan txt mi in this # 09467637948 am raffy guid sa buscalan
Sorry thanks,, mark,, eto pala # ko 09467637948
Hello ☺
I am planning po to go on 3rd week of April, is there anyone po na nais jumoin hehe para hati sa guide fee :))
PS.
Solo and First timer po here
Thanks,
Z
next week are you free? any day from March 15-18.
Who wants to join me to this place on/within March 15-18? contact# 09274082700 (Bryan)
Hi z anong date plan umakyat?
Punta kami this april 22. Thursday night alis via Tabuk.
planning to visit buscalan this March 11 any joiners?
Manila to Tabuk (Victory Liner) 1st timer din
and i need I guide? 🙂
09228129534
Hi! Anyone here planning to go on Holy Week?
Hi. Planning to go there on Holy Week but I’ll be available to leave Manila on Black Saturday. Any group I can join in to share the expenses?
Hi Y…planning to go buscalan black sat also. U have a guide already?
Holy week trip leaving manila thursday night, interested to join?
Holy week trip leaving manila thursday night, interested to join? Dom 09985544549
Good noon, sir. May dala kayo bike nung pumunta kayo o may nare-rent? Thanks.
We brought our bikes. We biked from Banaue to Buscalan to Tabuk 🙂
Oks, sir. Thanks. Ilang hours nyo pinadyak from Banaue to Tabuk?
Hi I’m planning to visit apo Whang -od on the first week of April…anyone here going there para may kasabay ako…thanks pls feel free to PM me..
sa mga planers going to buscalan txt this # 98467637848
hai everyone kung sinong mag plan papunta sa buscalan text mi ,,, am raffy from buacalan guide din….
Raffy kindly check ur #?
Sorry,,, eto pala # ko am raffy 09467637948