Summer 2021 in Boracay Island, A Travel Guide

I am one of those who love beaches over mountains so staying locked in at home is a mental torture. But I also don’t want to risk my health so I choose to stay indoors. I know that a lot of us crave for some Vitamin Sea so I decided to write this entry. I just wanted to share this because I know some of you are already planning your summer this year and in case you haven’t read any updates about traveling to Boracay, I already summarised it here.

Boracay was one of the first islands in the Philippines that reopened to leisure travelers last October 2020. There are still many provinces all over the Philippines with strict border restrictions but Boracay is one of the easiest beach destinations to visit.

Boracay Island accepts leisure travellers of all ages, including children and senior citizens. Hotels, resorts, and accommodations on the island have set safety measures so guests can enjoy what the island has to offer.

Families, couples, and small groups of friends will probably be interested in visiting this tropical island paradise to take a break from their life in lockdown or to finally have some vitamin sea after a year of staying at home. Some would say that this is the perfect time to visit the island since large parties or gatherings are still prohibited.

I’ve listed down the travel requirements you need to get before your Boracay trip. (Read the updated version here >> I just visited Boracay very recently)

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

AKLANONS

~~This includes local tourists/residents and APORs~~

Confirmed hotel booking from DOT-accredited establishments (for Aklanon Tourists only)
~~Health Declaration Card available on: aklan.gov.ph or touristboracay.com.~~
~~Valid Government-issued or Company-issued ID~~

APORs

For tourist travelling by air, only CATICLAN AIRPORT shall be the port of entry and exit to Boracay. KALIBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT shall only cater to Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) and other emergency travellers.
Register online as APOR for the Health Declaration Card with QR code available on: ~~aklan.gov.~~ph or touristboracay.com. The QR code is a mandatory pre-boarding requirement for some airlines.
~~Negative RT-PCR test result (7 days validity)~~
~~Mission/Travel Order~~
Valid Identification
Confirmed hotel booking from DOT-accredited establishments
~~Clearance or authority from LGU Malay that they are allowed entry in the island~~

NON-AKLANON / TOURISTS

~~Negative RT-PCR test result (72 hours validity) – all tourists except children aged (2) years and below~~
Confirmed hotel booking from DOT-accredited establishments
Register online as tourist for the Health Declaration Card with QR code available on: ~~aklan.gov.~~ph or touristboracay.com. The QR code is a mandatory pre-boarding requirement for some airlines.
Note: The Tourist QR Code has an expiry of twelve (12) hours from the checkout time. If pax is extending their stay in Boracay Island, they should send an email of a new booking slip showing the extension to touristboracay@gmail.com before their original checkout time.
Proof of identification with Philippine residency or any government ID
Round trip flight/travel details

These travel protocols are subject to change by the issuing local government authority. As these requirements may change at short notice, the information written above serve as a general guide.

~~All these requirements can be sent and paid online except of course for your actual swab test. Talks are currently in place to accept Saliva RT-PCR tests in the future.~~

Unlike other Philippine Island destinations, there is no need to secure Barangay certificates, medical clearances, Joint COVID PNP Shield Travel Passes, and all the other requirements from destinations that haven’t officially reopened yet. This makes Boracay Island an easy destination to visit.

NEW NORMAL TRAVEL

GETTING TO BORACAY

There are six (6) flights a day to Boracay aboard major carriers including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia. For tourist travelling by air, only CATICLAN AIRPORT shall be the port of entry and exit to Boracay. KALIBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT shall only cater to Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) and other emergency travellers.

It is strongly advised to monitor the status of your flights and ensure that you have the necessary documents in compliance with the regulations of the local government of your point of origin and place of destination.

Upon arrival in Caticlan, port officials will scan your Tourist QR code and ID to verify that your travel documents are in order before you can ride the ferry boat that will take you to Boracay Island. Hotels and resorts offer complimentary transport service you just have to make arrangements before your trip.

BORACAY EXPERIENCE

Tourists can still walk along the white sand beach, dine in any of the restaurants or restobars, shop at souvenir stalls and bazaars, ride e-trikes, go on island-hopping tours and do other beach activities like before. The only difference is that everyone is wearing face masks in public. Face shields are only required when riding public transportation vehicles and maybe some establishments.

Also, you can no longer do an all-nighter drinking spree but you can still drink and chill safely and responsibly. There is an 11 PM curfew in Boracay so plan your meals and drinking sessions wisely. Some restaurants need reservations while others don’t. Make sure to double-check with the restaurants because the info displayed on their pages may not be updated. Some restaurants start taking last orders around 8 PM to 9 PM during weekdays.

As for the classic Boracay experience, there has been slight changes in beach activities such as Paraw sailing and island hopping. Paraw boats used to accommodate eight (8) people, now it can only accommodate maximum of four (4) people. Island hopping tours now costs 750.00 pesos per person cheaper than the usual 1,500.00 pesos per person for joiners tours. But if you want an exclusive tour, expect to be paying more. For those who plan to go snorkelling, invest in your own gears for hygiene purposes.

I know we all have been waiting for the time when things will go back to normal but honestly I think we will never go back to how it was before. All that’s left for us is to move forward…with caution of course since COVID is still not gone… I hope this entry will help you with your summer plans and if you ever decide to push through with your trip, always remember to TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY. Until then, explorer!

If you have questions or need any clarification, feel free to leave a comment or message via e-mail. If you like this article and want to see or know more about my other trips and tips, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Stay safe, observe proper health protocols, and explore responsibly!