Boracay remains one of the Philippines’ most famous and popular beaches. That’s for good reason, of course. Its waters are crystal clear; its sand is extra fine and powder white.
After the Visayan island’s ‘rehabilitation’, more and more people are eager to see how it looks in person. I’m sure you’re one of them and why you’re here! So I won’t let you wait any longer. Here’s everything you need to know and prepare before heading off to Boracay.
Is Boracay open for tourists now in 2022?
Yes, Boracay is now open for tourists. Aklan, the province it belongs to, has been placed under Alert Level 1, so entering the province and movement around it is a bit more lax than we’re used to. COVID is still present, of course, so proper precautions must still be observed.
Is RT-PCR still required in Boracay?
In a bid to promote the tourism industry in the area, the government declared in early February 2022 that RT-PCR testing is no longer required for visitors — if they’re fully vaccinated.
What are the requirements to travel to Boracay?
Okay, that’s one less thing to think about (if you’re fully vaccinated)! But what else do you need to prepare for your trip?
- An official health declaration card (OHCD) confirmation — more on how to get this in a bit!
- A valid ID
- Proof of vaccination (a vaccination card given by your local government or a certificate via VaxCertPH)
- A copy of your booking confirmation from a Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited establishment
- Travel details (a digital copy of your roundtrip plane tickets)
For those who are unvaccinated, you need to present a negative RT-PCR test that’s dated within 72 hours of your travel date.
Those who will bring children under the age of 12 will need to accomplish a certificate of undertaking with minors template, which can be found on the local government’s website.
How to get an OHCD confirmation
Here’s how you can get the health declaration card confirmation.
- Head to the touristboracay.com website
- Choose ‘Guide for Tourist’. This will lead you to two (2) sites: the provincial government’s website and the the province’s health declaration page.
- Fill out the health declaration card form and upload all digital copies of your requirements on the site. Make sure that you do so within three days of your arrival to the island.
- Once you’ve successfully submitted your requirements, you’ll be given your OHDC QR code, which you need to save or print out and bring with you on your trip. This will be used in all points of entry to and exit from the island as well as in establishments there.
How do I get to Boracay in 2022?
There are various ways to go to the island, depending on what mode of transportation you’re using and where you’re coming from. Here are the a few ways!
From Manila or Clark by plane via Caticlan
This route is considered the ‘fastest’ if you’re coming from Luzon.
- Book a domestic flight to Caticlan
- From Caticlan airport, take a tricycle to the Caticlan Jetty Port
- Take the ferry from the port to Cagban Jetty Port on Boracay Island
- Ride a tricycle to your accommodation
From Manila or Clark by plane via Kalibo
You can also book a flight to Kalibo instead of Caticlan, but it will take you two hours longer to arrive on the island should you go for this route. The pro of choosing this is the airfare is cheaper.
- Book a flight to Kalibo
- At the Kalibo airport, take a bus or a van to Caticlan Jetty Port
- Ride the ferry to Cagban Jetty Port on Boracay Island
- Ride a tricycle to where you’re staying
From Cebu by plane via Caticlan or Aklan
The steps are similar to the ones above (only your jump-off point will be different), so it will boil down to what’s more convenient and which one you prefer.
From Batangas, by ferry
You can book a trip via 2GO. If you’re coming from Manila, your booking may include a land transfer from Pasay or Cubao to Batangas City. The trip takes nine hours and will stop at Caticlan Jetty Port. From there, you’ll take a ferry to Cagban Jetty Port and ride a tricycle to your accommodation.
From Manila or Batangas via RoRo
If you’re coming from Manila, you can ride a bus that does the Manila-Caticlan route (technically, the Pasay-Caticlan or Cubao-Caticlan route). This will bring you to the Batangas port where the ship will make a stop in Calapan, Mindoro. From there, you will need to travel via land to Roxas Port (still in Mindoro), where the ship that will take your bus is. You will be taken directly to Caticlan port.
You can also opt for this route if you have your own vehicle and are okay with longer travel. The fees will be higher than if you’re taking the public transportation, of course.
From Cebu by ferry
There are two shipping lines that provide service from Cebu to Iloilo.
Cokalion Shipping vessels leave through Cebu Pier 1 to Iloilo and the trip takes 12 hours. Transasia Shipping vessels depart from Cebu Pier 3 to Iloilo and the trip takes 14 hours.
Take a bus or a private transfer from Iloilo port to Caticlan port and ride a tricycle to your accommodation from there.
Can I extend my stay?
Once you arrive in Boracay, you’ll have plenty to do and see. So it’s not a surprise if you’d want to extend your stay (we’ve experienced this in so many of our travels — from Baler to Cagayan). The good news is you can definitely do so. But make sure you submit new requirements to the local government.
The OHCD QR code expires 12 hours from your accommodation check-out time. Make sure you send an email that includes a new booking slip to touristboracay@gmail.com so the local tourism office can confirm your extended stay and reactivate your QR code.
Enjoy!
