Heading on a vacay to the famed white sand beach of the Philippines? Here’s what you need to know.
Quarantine has long ended, and somehow we’ve already acclimated ourselves to the so-called new norm. Slowly and surely, we’re already starting to revive our economy after being hit hard by the havoc brought by the coronavirus pandemic. Borders of many tourist destinations—such as Boracay last October 2020—have re-opened again to visitors coming from Metro Manila.
And since the toll of the virus is far from over, following health protocols, such as social distancing, sanitizing, and wearing face masks and shields are still, of course, a must. So, just like whenever you’re leaving your house it’s important to have the new essentials with you.
But apart from that, there are other requirements that the municipality of Aklan would require from you. Now, as someone who recently went on a week-long vacation on the island, let me help you get through all the things you need to do before, during, and if ever, extending your stay in Boracay. Because let’s face it—we know that accomplishing a list of all the requirements can be quite confusing.
Before Getting There
- Confirmed Flights
All flights, in general, are lower than ever. Not because they’re on seat sale, but their prices have gone down simply due to the low demand. But it’s safe to allot around P1500-2500 per pax for a roundtrip flight. In case you need 15-20kg checked-in baggage, just approximately add a thousand peso to your base fare.
- Hotel Booking
While not all hotels are already open, there are already quite a handful of hotels that re-opened their doors starting January 2021. And if you want to get a good deal in your hotel, I suggest looking at third-party sites such as Expedia and Agoda.
But if you truly want hassle-free transportation to-and-from the Caticlan airport and your hotel, we suggest booking your stay in luxury hotels such as Discovery Shores Boracay, which was where I also stayed in. They took care of everything—from the airport to port, boat to the island, including all terminal fees and environmental fees.
- Valid Government ID
Traveling in the new normal regardless if it’s only domestic feels like you’re traveling abroad. You always need to have the proper documents with you, simply because there are reports that some tourists have attempted to falsify their documents.
- Negative RT-PCR Test taken within 72 hours before your arrival in Boracay
Make sure to schedule an appointment with any of the Department of Health (DOH) accredited laboratories in the Philippines. Now since you only have a three-day window, you only have two options when availing of the RT-PCR Test: 48-hour (approx. P3000-4500 per person) or 24-hour package (approx. P5000-6500 per person). Children two years and below are not required to take the swab test.
- Tourist Boracay’s QR Code
Once you have successfully acquired all of the necessary documents I’ve mentioned, visit https://touristboracay.com/ and fill up the Online Health Declaration form. Do not forget to choose Boracay on the “Where To” page.
Fill out the required fields and click submit. Please do not leave any fields blank. You may put N/A if the item is not applicable. Once submitted, a confirmation with instructions will be provided. Make sure to save a screenshot of the confirmation of the Health Declaration Form (HDC).
Send the following documents to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to your visit to Boracay or as soon as your swab test results have been received, with the email subject OHDC-Family Name, First Name:
- Copy of RT-PCR Negative Result (should be valid 72 hours prior to arrival in Boracay)
- Booking Confirmation from the hotel
- Government Local ID or Alien Certificate of Registration (for foreign guests residing in the Philippines)
- Flight ticket
A response from Tourist Boracay should be received less than a day after the submission. If the response is successful or approved, a copy of the Health Declaration Form with Tourist QR Code will be provided. Present these documents to authorities at the borders/airport for scanning and verification. However, if the response is unsuccessful, resubmission of requirements or clarification may be required.
Print or save a copy of the OHDC and QR Code on your mobile together with your flight ticket, negative swab test results, and hotel confirmation letter. Again, keep all necessary documents with you at all times—either digital or printed.
On The Island
You’ve finally arrived on the world-famous white sand beach of Boracay, and you can finally enjoy the heat of the sun and the clear waters. Now, it doesn’t mean that all tourists who arrived on the island are negative of COVID-19 already insinuates that you can forget about all the health protocols.
If you’re strolling by the beach, you only need to wear your face mask. You can only remove it if you’re going for a swim or sunbathing. But if you’re going to ride on e-tricycles or shuttles and enter establishments such as in D-Mall, you have to wear your face shield. And honestly speaking, whenever riding e-tricycles or your resort’s shuttles, there’s a high chance you’ll forget to wear your face shield. So, if you’re with someone, do try your best to remind each other to wear this, or else the driver will be penalized for having passengers who forgot or don’t wear a face shield.
Extending Your Escape
All of the people I knew who visited Boracay extended their stay. So, if you suddenly think of extending your stay on the island, that’s very much normal. Come to think of it, we’ve all been stuck in the four corners of our houses for almost a year—we deserve a change of scenery, of course.
But since you’ve only declared to the local municipality about the days you’ll only be spending on the island, you have to email Tourist Boracay again with regard to your extension. Just reply to the email where they sent you your QR Code, and attach all necessary documents with your confirmed new flight schedule and hotel booking.
In less than a day, they will notify you via your email that your QR Code has been updated. After that, just continue relaxing by the beach and enjoy your much-deserved vacation in the new normal.
