More tourist destinations around the Philippines are easing travel restrictions and opening up to domestic tourism. Bohol, well-known for its majestic chocolate hills, tarsiers, and beautiful white sand beaches, is the latest to reopen to leisure tourists just in time for the Christmas season.

READ MORE: What to expect from the new normal travel in Bohol

Bohol has always been one of the most popular and tourist-friendly destinations in the country. This island province is a favorite among couples, families and groups of friends because of the eco-cultural wonders and variety of activities you can do there. Panglao Island, home to many luxury resorts and world-class hotels has also been a top choice for business and corporate travel as well as special events like destination weddings.

In fact, since November, Bohol has been open to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) guests and small events (weddings, reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.) with a minimum of 6 persons in a travel group. However, tourist arrivals have still been slow, according to local officials. 

Effective December 15, 2020 Bohol will now welcome frequent independent tourists from GCQ areas (which includes Metro Manila) with no age restrictions, allowing minors and senior citizens to travel with the rest of the family. Bohol offers a great choice for families and individual travelers looking for a destination to travel to where they can finally break their quarantine routine. 

The reopening is also being done to jumpstart Bohol’s local economy which is heavily dependent on tourism and has been devastated by the pandemic. As much as 75% of the locals rely on tourism for their main source of livelihood, and it’s not just big business establishments like luxury resorts. This trickles down to resort employees, restaurant waiters, boat operators, souvenir vendors, massage therapists, habal-habal drivers, cultural performers and more.

For those planning to take a trip to Bohol during this “new normal” phase of travel, here’s what you need to know.

New travel requirements under the new normal

Negative RT-PCR Test Result

To enter Bohol, visitors must present a negative RT-PCR Test Result from a DOH accredited COVID-19 testing laboratory taken 72 hours prior to arrival. Travelers are also advised to observe strict quarantine after undergoing the RT-PCR Test until their departure date.

No quarantine is required as soon as you arrive in Bohol if you are staying 5 days or less. However, if you will be staying for more than 5 days, you will be required to get another RT-PCR test done on the 5th day of your stay.

The high cost of the RT-PCR test has been a major hindrance for many travelers who want to travel, so DOT has come up with a plan to subsidize tests for tourists, which will bring down the cost to P900 for qualified domestic tourists.

READ MORE: How to get an RT-PCR test for P900 only

Online registration

All travelers going to Bohol are required to register online. Visitors can find the registration form at tourism.bohol.gov.ph. A “Behold Bohol” button with a registration link automatically pops-up or you could click the Visit Bohol Tab to and click the M.I.C.E +Event Registration which will take you to a Googleform where you can enter your details. The form now includes F.I.T. or Free Independent Travelers.

Scan QR Codes

Bohol has established a Contact Tracing Card system that contains a unique QR Code of the visitors, which visitors may get from the airport upon their arrival. The same QR code is sent via email when registering as a visitor, so you can save it on your smartphone. This QR code is scanned upon entrance and exit of establishments and sites. This way, visitors will not have to keep filling up contact tracing forms.

Confirmed hotel booking

Visitors are required to have a confirmed booking with an accommodation establishment with a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) from DOT or Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) Seal from the provincial government of Bohol. There are a number of resorts catering to different budgets including high-end luxury resorts, hotels, as well as inns, apartment rentals, dive resorts, pension houses and more. See full list of accredited accommodation establishments here.

Transport Service

All tourists must be picked up by the tourist transport service of their accommodations or by a DOT-accredited tourist and transport services which will take them directly to their hotel. FYI, all tours MUST be booked through DOT accredited / UBE certified tour operators. No stopovers or deviations from the planned itinerary are allowed.

Health and Safety

All tourists must strictly follow health and safety protocols at all times. This includes wearing of face masks and practicing social distancing.

How to get to Bohol

Flights have yet to normalize around the Philippines, but major carriers like Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Air Asia have all expressed interest in offering flights to and from Bohol. For our trip before the formal reopening, we took a PAL flight, which has been serving business/event travelers, locally stranded individuals and returning OFWs.

Flights now arrive at the Panglao-Bohol International Airport, a newly inaugurated airport in Panglao Island (which has replaced the old Tagbilaran airport) which can accommodate more aircrafts and larger planes.

IMPORTANT: Starting 28 November 2020, all passengers are required to download and register an account in the TRAZE Contact tracing mobile app prior to entry in the airports. You can download it here.

Top Sights / Things to Do in Bohol

Many of Bohol’s top attractions are nature-based and have been able to adapt and prepare for tourists to come once again with the proper safety and health protocols.

Enjoy a staycation at a beachfront resort or hotel

One of the best options for groups traveling to Bohol is to enjoy a staycation in a beach resort or luxury hotel that has all the amenities you need. When booked at a hotel, guests are free to use all the resort amenities including in-house restaurants and bars, swimming pools, enjoy the beachfront areas, use entertainment areas and lounges etc. Take note that some hotel amenities (ex. spas) may have limited service because of COVID-19 restrictions or other guidelines.

Marvel at Bohol’s Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is one of the Philippines most popular tourist attractions and is the top destination for Bohol Tours. Visitors can still hike up to the view deck to admire the 1,268 cone-shaped hills from two view decks at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen town and at Sagbayan Peak. 

Some ATV tours around the foothills of Chocolate Hills have also resumed operations and are ready to welcome guests, with additional safety protocols in place. Guests can avail of Sotera’s ATV Tours, and choose from 30-minute or 1-hour long trails where you drive through rural landscapes and see the hills from a different perspective.

See tarsiers up close

The Bohol tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the  world, and the mascot of the province. The Corella Tarsier Sanctuary is a research center managed by the Philippine tarsier foundation, where tourists can visit to see the creatures up close.

Drive through the Bilar man-made Forest

This 2-km stretch of mahogany trees that carpets the sloping ground where the municaplity of Loboc meets Bilar is a popular attraction in Bohol. Travelers going to the Chocolote Hills from Loboc can enjoy driving through this forest.

Take the Loboc River Cruise

Scenic river cruise aboard a floating restaurant while you dine. In compliance with guidelines for dining, the buffet set-up has been replaced to plated dining. Furthermore, live performers and servers practice minimum health and safety protocols on board the raft.

Seats have been spaced apart for socially distanced dining. Visitors can still enjoy a live performance of cultural dancers who perform aboard a raft across the river.

Go island-hopping, snorkeling, or scuba diving

All island-hopping trips to Balicasag, Pamilacan, dolphin watching and snorkeling sites now depart from a centralized jetty port in Panglao to control the number of tourists and ensure that tour operators have gone through the proper accreditation. Tourists many no longer depart directly from boats offered by the beachfront. A “one entry, one exit” policy will be enforced to ensure the carrying capacity for tours.

Divers are also welcome to visit Bohol for scuba diving expeditions. There are 5 designated jump off points for scuba diving. Dive trips can be arranged with accredited dive shops.

Explore the undiscovered side of Bohol at Anda

Visitors to Bohol can enjoy day trips to Anda beach, an eco-cultural destination 2.5 hours drive from Panglao. Located in Bohol island’s east side, this area is home to a long stretch of powdery white sand beach fringed with coconut palm trees and crystal clear blue waters.

To maximize their travel time, guests may want also choose to stay in Anda for the duration of their stay in Bohol and explore the unexplored side of Bohol, which has its own sites for scuba diving, island-hopping, and more.

Hike to caves at the mystical Lamanok Island 

When in Anda, visitors can take a boat tour to Lamanok Island, dubbed as Bohol’s cradle of civilization. The mystical Lamanok tour brings tourists up close to limestone rock formations, caves and secluded white beaches. 

Go souvenir-shopping for Bohol’s finest products

Visitors may visit accredited souvenir shops to buy handicrafts, Bohol crafts and decor, and popular souvenirs like calamay and peanut kisses. 

The Bohol Bee Farm, an organic farm and resort with local food and beverages, also sells a number of good products like Pesto Spread, Mango Spread and more.

Aside from these top things to do, there are many other tourist establishments that have reopened in Bohol such as farm tourism camps that accept day tours or farm stays, restaurants that have reopened, and tours (Ex. Firefly River Tour), golf ranges, and spas that tourists can choose to include in their itinerary with the help of tour operators. See full list of accredited tourism establishments here. 

Where to Stay & Eat in Bohol

Panglao Island

Panglao Island, separated by 2 bridges from the larger Bohol island, is the main tourism area of Bohol. It’s where the new airport is located and contains most of the luxury beachfront resorts that visitors can choose from, making it an ideal place to base for the duration of your stay. 

Most hotels in Bohol that have reopened to welcome tourists have put up their own safety protocols to ensure the highest levels of health and hygiene. This includes QR scanning, temperature checks, contactless check-in/out, UV disinfection, social distancing, deep cleaning and more so guests can simply relax and enjoy a stress-free stay.

Here are just a few resorts I had the chance to personally stay in or check out during our recent visit.

The Bellevue Resort Panglao

Bellevue Resort is a new, modern resort located in Panglao located located in Barangay Doljo, along the coastline of Panglao Island, roughly 4.1 mi from Alona Beach. This quiet, secluded resort has 159 spacious rooms which come with a huge bed, desk, living area, minibar, private balcony overlooking the beach, plus free WiFi and flat-screen TVs with cable channels.

Each bathroom includes separate bathtubs and showers with rainfall showerheads, bathrobes, slippers, and bidets. The resort also features a beautiful outdoor pool right in front of the beach.

The Bellevue has two in-house restaurants on site: Lamian, an alfresco dining restaurant offering international cuisine and Marea Al Fresco, a beachfront restaurant offering seafood that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Best for: Business travelers, corporate getaways, team-building events, events and families.

Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort

A beach resort where guests can experience the charm of island living. This luxurious escape with Filipino architecture and design that complements Bohol’s culture, hospitality and eco-focused initiatives. The resort’s in-house Aplaya Restaurant & Bar specializes in Filipino-Asian fusion cuisine.

Best for: Families, groups of friends, romantic getaways, couples, small destination weddings

Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort Panglao

The first international chain resort in Bohol, Best Western has 80 rooms equipped with modern amenities, meeting rooms and outdoor spaces for team-building sessions and dream weddings. The rooms feature contemporary Filipino design and some even lead out from the balcony directly to the freeform swimming pool!

A bonus is the highly design-driven Tereza Rooftop Deck, where friends can just chill out and enjoy the view overlooking the beach any time of the day. The hotel is the located right in front of Alona Beach. Best for: Couples & small groups of friends, events

Donatela Resort & Sanctuary

A serene 7.5 hectare luxury resort and private enclave with 12 uniquely designed and luxuriously appointed villas and a botanical garden providing the perfect tranquil sanctuary.

Best for: Destination wedding, honeymoon, romantic getaways, family travel

Bohol Beach Club

The island’s first and one of the best resorts on the island. This beachfront resort features an outdoor pool and lush green gardens with peaceful and comfortable accommodations with free WiFi.

Amorita Resort

Award winning luxury resort with 98 spacious rooms, suites and villas perched secluded atop a limiestone cliff. 

Anda

Anda, a town on the Eastern side of Bohol, is another area being developed as the next premium tourist destination in Bohol. It’s located roughly 2.5 hours drive from Panglao, though it also has a seaport and small airport for chartered flights in the next town just 15 mins away, which could be possible entry points for visitors in the future once ferries and flights normalize. 

Anda is home to unspoiled white sand beaches and remote luxury resorts where you can cocoon for the duration of your stay and enjoy a truly remote getaway. These are just a few of the resorts we were able to visit that have reopened for guests in the new normal phase.

Amun Ini Resort and Spa

A three-hectare beachfront property providing a fantastic view of crystal clear blue sea that boasts of a 15 kilometer long coral reef. Amun Ini offers endless attractions for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.

Parklane Bohol Resort and Spa

Cebu based hospitality company to develop a 68-room modern paradise resort in the are. The resort also has affordable banquet packages for corporate functions team building activities and destination weddings.

Anda Pearl Resort

Secluded resort in Anda that features a garden and private beach area

NOTE: Aside from top luxury hotels and resorts, for budget travelers, there are also a number DOT-accredited basic accommodations including inns, pension houses, travelers inns, guesthouses and rooms for rent that you can choose from.

The point is when planning your trip, you have to choose an accredited accommodation because these are the ones that have been inspected and cleared to operate for the safety and well-being of guests. 

Travel tips / Things to know while traveling under the new normal

• DIY or “do-it-yourself” travel is currently not allowed under the new normal guidelines in Bohol
• At the moment, travelers can not rent private vehicles like motorcycles or bicycles to tour on their own. All tourists have to make use only of accredited transportation, so it makes more sense to travel in a group to save on costs.
• Tourists must wear facemasks when doing outdoor activities like riding boats, hiking etc, especially when traveling in the presence of locals (for their protection as well)
• Face shields may be required in some enclosed spaces and restaurants, though most restaurants are outdoors with al fresco, so there’s no need for a face shield
• Guests must always bring their contact tracing cards with them and check in and out of every destination visited
• Some restaurants and tourist sites have yet to reopen or normalize their operations, so expect the list of allowable places you can visit to change (which is why you need to get the service of local tour operators because they know the situation on the ground better)
• Tour guides are enforcing a no contact policy and are discouraged from taking your souvenir photos because of the potential spread of germs from frequently holding cameras and phones of guests
• Tourists may not deviate from their pre-set itinerary. Tour guides may be be held liable for any violations done by the group.

Is it worth traveling at this time?

Like many people stuck in Metro Manila, I’ve been missing my life before the pandemic, which involved frequent travel. I immediately jumped at this chance to join an official work assignment for ABS-CBN Online to write about how Bohol is preparing for tourists ahead of their reopening. Many people are still wary about traveling at this time because of health concerns and the hassles of getting the additional requirements and additional cost of travel these days.

Given all the restrictions, admittedly it’s much easier and more affordable to travel to nearby destinations that won’t require air travel and RT-PCR tests unless you’re on a work trip or have a really compelling reason to travel.

At the moment, I think traveling to Bohol may be worth it if you’re traveling with a group (ex. family or friends) or members of your same household for special occasions like destination weddings, birthdays and the like. Corporate team building or work trips where your company is shouldering additional costs of travel might also ease the burden. For now, the travel arrangements are not ideal for solo travelers who prefer explore on their own and budget travelers.

Of course, aside from the additional hassles and cost, it’s mainly the fear of getting sick especially in transit and in the airplane, and uncertainty and paranoia may weigh on you before your trip. However, airlines have put their own enhanced safety measures in place and all you can do is practice safety protocols.

Once you get there, Bohol itself feels like a very safe destination. The LGU has done an excellent job in putting health and safety measures in place for the well-being of tourists as well as locals. Private establishments like hotels and resorts have invested in their own health protocols. Going around Bohol felt much safer than the risks we take doing everyday tasks living in Metro Manila like going to banks, grocery stores, crowded government offices, eating out in restaurants, etc. In fact, I was more paranoid while in line at QC Hall getting the required medical certificate to travel than I was the whole time I was in Bohol.

Bohol itself is a beautiful destination where you can enjoy fresh air, beaches and open spaces, which is something most of us stuck in Metro Manila have been missing badly. While Bohol on the LGU side has done its best to ensure the safety of tourists and make travel hassle-free, I really wish that the requirements coming from the national level coming from Manila would be further streamlined because applying for a travel authority/pass and other requirements is a real pain.

If you do choose to travel while we’re still living with the pandemic, just undergo the proper tests to ensure you’re COVID-free, comply with health and safety protocols like wearing your facemasks and face shields in the presence of other people, maintain social distancing, sanitize your hands often, and do whatever you can to boost your immune system and stay healthy.

Traveling during the “new normal” is not the same as it was before and won’t be for a long time until we all get a vaccine. I don’t want to encourage people to travel right now if they’re not ready or are facing health risks. While we’re still living with this pandemic, people are going to have to be more selective about the trips they take and weigh the risks.

But for those who are really raring to travel to get a change of scenery and experience a few days of fun and beauty during this terrible year that we’ve been all living in lockdown, then Bohol is a great choice among the domestic destinations that have reopened. The safety measures they have put in place could serve as a model for other provinces that plan to reopen their doors. The unique blend of nature, adventure, culture, and warmth and hospitality makes Bohol worth revisiting. I really wish the best for the entire tourism industry.