(SPOT.ph) Tourism in the Philippines is slowly reopening after months of closure due to the pandemic. But while people are excited to travel again to satisfy their wanderlust, cities and provinces are still implementing health and safety protocols and requiring travel documents to somehow curb the spread of the virus. It can be confusing, especially since policies differ from one local government unit to another. One thing’s common though: always bring a government-issued ID wherever you go—whether you're just having a staycation in Metro Manila, going on a long drive just outside the city, taking the whole family to Luzon's beaches, or flying to the Visayas or Mindanao.
Also read: There's a New Name for Your Wanderlust and It's Called Revenge Travel
To help you decide where to travel next, here’s an updated list of travel requirements for every popular destination in the country:
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METRO MANILA
Staycation Hotels
A total of 13 Metro Manila staycation hotels reopened their doors on May 17. Guests of all ages are allowed to book a room for leisure purposes, but those below 18 and above 65 years of age are required to present negative RT-PCR test results taken not more than 72 hours prior to check-in. Visitors booking the same room should come from the same household, too.
These are the establishments with Certificates of Authority to Operate for Staycation:
- Aruga by Rockwell
- EDSA Shangri-La Manila
- Grand Hyatt Manila
- Hilton Manila
- Hyatt Regency
- Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila
- Nobu Hotel
- Nuwa Hotel
- Okada Manila
- Shangri-La at the Fort
- Sheraton Manila Hotel
- Solaire Resort
- The Peninsula Manila
Also read: 10 Staycation Hotels With the Most Inviting Swimming Pools
Attractions
National Museum of the Philippines
The National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, and National Museum of Natural History in Manila City reopened on June 19 in time for the commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal's 160th birth anniversary. Visitors are required to book online at least a day before their visit since capacity is capped at 100 per museum per session. Only persons aged 15 years old and above and fully vaccinated senior citizens are allowed to enter the museums. Visiting schedule is from Tuesday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the morning session, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the afternoon session.
Intramuros
Only people from 18 to 65 years old as well as fully vaccinated senior citizens are allowed to visit Fort Santiago, Baluarte De San Diego, and Casa Manila Museum. Entrance fee for all three sites is at P75, with a discounted rate of P50 for students and adults. Operating hours are as follows: Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Fort Santiago; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for Baluarte de San Diego; and from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Casa Manila Museum.
Also read: How to Visit Intramuros During the Pandemic
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NEAR MANILA
Tagaytay City, Cavite
Tagaytay City in Cavite is always a good choice for weekend getaways, especially with its proximity to Metro Manila. It is home to nature-inspired restaurants, rustic Airbnbs, and wellness resorts where you can just relax and chill. With Cavite being part of the NCR Plus travel bubble, there’s not a lot of requirements for visitors coming from Metro Manila. Outdoor attractions like People's Park in the Sky, Tagaytay Picnic Grove, and Tagaytay Sky Ranch have also reopened.
List of Tagaytay travel requirements:
- Guests below 18 and above 65 years old should present negative RT-PCR test results within 72 hours for overnight stays.
- Most restaurants only accept diners between 18 and 65 years old.
Also read:
10 Private Cabins You Can Book in Tagaytay to Enjoy The Chilly Weather
10 Outdoor Wedding Venues In and Around Tagaytay
Batangas
Batangas is known for impromptu weekend getaways. It has private coves, white-sand beaches, and luxurious resorts where you can check in for a breather after a busy work week—or basically anytime you're free and want a change of scenery.
Their famous dive spots reopened as early as October 2020, following a resolution allowing accommodations and dive centers in the province to accept guests for recreational diving. Hotels have yet to accept guests for leisure purposes, but dive establishments are allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
List of Batangas travel requirements:
- Confirmed booking at Department of Tourism- and Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving-accredited dive establishments
- Negative COVID-19 test results (rapid antigen) taken within 48 hours
Also read:
10 Laid-Back Beach Rentals in Batangas
10 Exciting Things to Do in Batangas
10 Best Places to Stay in Batangas
Rizal Province
Rizal Province's attractions range from the quiet wellness resorts in Antipolo to the adventure-driven trails in Tanay. It also features many rustic restaurants and art museums, which you can drive to while enjoying the view of the city from its hilly terrain. Also part of the NCR Plus travel bubble, Rizal is relatively easy to enter. Just don’t forget to follow minimum health protocols, such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distance, and washing hands frequently.
Also read:
10 Exciting Things to Do in Rizal
10 Campsites In and Around Antipolo for Stargazing
10 Romantic Places in Antipolo for Every Type of Couple
Subic Bay Freeport
Subic Bay is known for its beaches, adventure parks, and duty-free shopping centers. It's just two hours away from Manila, making it a go-to choice for impromptu long drives especially on weekends. Following the June 1 decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allowing leisure travel in and out of NCR Plus, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority announced that Subic Bay open to visitors from Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan—collectively under general community quarantine status.
List of Subic travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab) if you're staying for more than four days
- Vaccination cards of fully vaccinated travelers can also be presented in lieu of the testing requirement
Also read: 10 Chill Airbnbs for Your Next Subic Escape
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LUZON
Zambales
Zambales, a province north of Metro Manila, is home to one of the Philippines' most beautiful and longest coastlines. The towns of Liwliwa and San Felipe are known for overhead waves where surfers can practice their tricks, while Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves are popular for their lagoons where pine trees grow in sand.
List of Zambales travel requirements:
- For unvaccinated individuals, you need to present a negative RT-PCR test results (swab) taken 48 hours prior to travel
- For fully vaccinated individuals (strictly one month after second dose), you can present your vaccination card and a negative rapid antigen test result taken 24 hours prior to travel
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- QR-coded travelers pass from Zambales VISITA
Where to register: Zambales VISITA
Also read:
10 Laid-Back Places to Stay in Zambales
The SPOT.ph Guide to Zambales
La Union
La Union in the western seaboard of Luzon is a favorite spot among weekend travelers for its proximity to Metro Manila, thanks to road improvements and the easy commute. It is home to Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan, a beach break and surf spot so famous that it's been dubbed the Surfing Capital of the North. Nearby towns also have their own beautiful spots, such as Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel, Poro Point Lighthouse in San Fernando, and Pebble Beach in Luna. Tourism resumed in the province on May 22.
List of La Union travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab or saliva) taken within 72 hours
- Tourist Pass through Tara Na! La Union
Where to register: Tara Na! La Union
Also read:
10 Laid-Back Beach Rentals You Can Book in La Union
10 Places to Stay in San Juan, La Union for Any Type of Traveler
The SPOT.ph Guide to La Union
Ilocos Norte
Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte is every outdoor lover's haven. The coastal town boasts lesser-known white-sand beaches, amazing geological formations such as the Kapurpurawan Rocks, and Kaibigan Falls on the eastern side of the municipality. It also offers amazing waves for surfers to practice their tricks or just ride for some stoke.
List of Ilocos Norte travel requirements:
- For travelers from GCQ, you need to present negative RT-PCR test results (swab or saliva) taken within 72 hours, rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before arrival or upon arrival in Ilocos Norte.
- For travelers from MGCQ, you need to present negative rapid antigen test results taken within 24 hours or upon arrival.
- Those below 18 and above 65 years old are required to present RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours, whether or not coming from a MGCQ area.
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Travel coordination permit from SafePass
- Tourist QR code
Where to register: Ilocos Norte Tourism
Also read: This New Glamping Site in Ilocos Is Powered by the Sun
Baler
Baler in Aurora Province is home to a number of surfing spots, from the popular beach break of Sabang that's ideal for beginners, to the secret hideouts that only the pros and locals know. It's also home to hole-in-the-wall restos and homegrown food finds, making visitors fall in love with its old-town charm.
List of Baler travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab) taken within 72 hours; medical certificate for kids ages five to 10
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
Where to register: S-Pass
Also read:
10 Laid-Back Beach Rentals for Your Next Baler Weekend
The SPOT.ph Guide to Baler
10 Places to Stay in Baler for Every Type of Traveler
Palawan
Palawan has been hailed time and again as one of the best and most beautiful islands in the world. Whether you're going to Coron, El Nido, San Vicente, or any other of its towns, you're guaranteed white-sand beaches, rich marine life, and crystal-clear waters.
Islands resorts like El Nido Resorts, Amanpulo, and Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort have all-in-one packages that include chartered flights, full-board meals, and private transfers. But if you’re heading to other parts of the province, there are specific travel requirements for each municipality. Coron is gradually reopening on August 1, and guidelines have yet to be released; Puerto Princesa, on the other hand, is open only to Palaweños.
List of El Nido travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab) taken within 72 hours
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Roundtrip tickets
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
- QR-coded tourist ID
Where to register: S-Pass and El Nido Tourism
List of San Vicente travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab) taken 48 before your flight
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Roundtrip tickets
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
- Filled out Responsible Visitor’s Pledge
Where to register: S-Pass and San Vicente Tourism
Also read:
10 Best Places to Stay in El Nido
10 Best Places to Stay in Coron
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro is easily accessible by public bus and ferry, has a whole strip of budget hotels and resorts, and is filled with no-frills bars and restaurants. They're exempting fully vaccinated individuals from undergoing the mandatory RT-PCR testing as declared through an executive order on July 10, as confirmed by Mayor Rocky Ilagan in an interview with Teleradyo on July 12.
List of Puerto Galera travel requirements:
- For unvaccinated individuals, you need to present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken within 24 hours of travel.
- For fully vaccinated individuals (strictly two weeks after second dose), you can present your vaccination card in lieu of a COVID-19 test.
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
Where to register: S-Pass
Also read:
Puerto Galera's Newest Resort Is a Luxurious Tropical Paradise
10 Places to Visit in Mindoro Aside from Puerto Galera
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VISAYAS AND MINDANAO
Bohol
Think of Bohol and what usually comes to mind are the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, white-sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters. But this island province also boasts a number of attractions for exciting weekend adventures, such as scuba diving amid beautiful coral reefs in Panglao or bungee jumping at Danao Adventure Park.
List of Bohol travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab or saliva) taken within 72 hours before your flight
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Bohol tourist registration
Where to register: Anda | Dauis | Loboc | Panglao
Also read:
How Bohol Is Bouncing Back, One Tour at a Time
How Bohol Bee Farm Supports Their Community During the Pandemic
From Whale Hunters to Whale Watchers: How Bohol Promotes Responsible Tourism
Boracay Island, Aklan
Boracay Island is always top of mind when it comes to beach getaways. It boasts powdery white-sand beaches like no other in the country, after all. The island went through a six-month rehabilitation and cleanup in 2018; and while it's no longer the party island we got used to, it's still the tropical paradise that we've always known it to be.
List of Boracay travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test results (swab or saliva) taken within 72 hours before your flight
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Roundtrip tickets
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
- Tourist QR code
- Health declaration form completed 24 hours before your flight
Where to register: S-Pass and Tourist Boracay
Also read:
A Comprehensive Guide to Traveling to Boracay During the Pandemic
10 Best Places to Stay in Boracay
Cebu
Cebu boasts historic sites like the Magellan's Cross, while its coasts have some of the best white-sand beaches in the country. It was named the Best Island in Asia by the Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards in 2020.
List of Cebu travel requirements:
- For Cebu City only: Negative RT-PCR test results (swab only) taken within 72 hours before your flight
- For non-Cebu City destinations: Medical certificate issued within seven days
- Confirmed booking at accredited hotels/resorts
- Travel coordination permit from S-Pass
Where to register: S-Pass
Also read:
10 Under-the-Radar Food Finds in Cebu You Should Know About
10 Essential Restaurants in Cebu City
10 Best Places to Stay in Cebu
Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
With its barreling waves perfect for board tricks and numerous surf spots along its coast, Siargao in Surigao del Norte is regarded by many as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. It also boasts white-sand beaches, lagoons and coves, rows of restaurants and bars, and a laid-back vibe you can't resist.
List of Siargao travel requirements:
- Negative RT-PCR test result (swab or saliva) taken within 48 hours before your flight
- For “walk-in tourists,” you need a confirmed booking at accredited hotel/resort/hostel for at least two nights
- For travelers invited by a local resident of Surigao del Norte, you need a travel certification issued by the mayor of the city or municipality of destination in lieu of a confirmed booking
- e-Health Pass
Where to register: Surigao del Norte’s e-Health Pass
Also read:
10 Resorts in Siargao Where You Can Work Remotely
10 Best Places to Stay in Siargao
10 Things You Can Do in Siargao Other Than Surfing
Note: This article will continuously be updated as new travel requirements are announced by local government units.
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