Bohol Travel Requirements for Domestic Tourists

Bohol is easily one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines, and it’s not hard to see why. Brimming with white sand beaches and famous attractions like the Chocolate Hills and the Bilar Man-Made Forest, it’s an undeniably beautiful place to escape to. If you’ve been itching to visit for over a year now, we’ve got great news for you. The province is ready to accept local tourists — all you’ll need to do is make sure to keep up with the current Bohol travel requirements.

Bohol travel overview

At the time of writing, Bohol is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Alert Level 2. The province first reopened to tourists in December 2020, but has relaxed their travel requirements in Feb 2022 as COVID-19 vaccination statistics have gone up in the Philippines.

Who can travel to Bohol?

For tourism purposes, Bohol is currently open to residents and domestic tourists. To enter the province, fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to present a negative RT-PCR test result. (For clarity, individuals are only considered fully vaccinated once they are two weeks past receiving their final vaccine dose.) This change in travel requirements has been in effect since 16 Feb 2022.

COVID-19 health and safety protocols

While Bohol has already been accepting visitors, strict COVID-19 protocols still remain in place. The following are some of the guidelines that tourists must adhere to:

• For tourism purposes, visitors may only enter the province via Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) or other approved ports of entry, such as Tagbilaran City Port.
• Each tourist must generate a S-PaSS QR code for contact tracing purposes.
• Visitors must bring printed copies of required documents upon entry to Bohol.
• Tourists are not allowed to take part in DIY tours.
• Tourists are highly discouraged from engaging in personal activities outside the tourism bubble, including meeting up with friends or relatives in Bohol.
• Minimum health standards, such as wearing of masks and face shields, regular hand washing, and physical distancing, are to be strictly observed.
• A no mask, no face shield, no ride policy is in place for vehicles.

Bohol travel requirements

To be able to enter Bohol, tourists must secure the following requirements:

• Vaccination certificate generated through vaxcert.doh.gov.ph (duly authenticated and validated by the Department of Health – Bureau of Quarantine)*
• TRAZE app
• Valid ID
• Approved S-PaSS and QR code
• Pre-booked accommodation at a DOT-accredited/UBE Seal establishment
• Pre-booked tour with a DOT-accredited tour operator
• Negative RT-PCR test result (nasopharyngeal/saliva) result administered by the Philippine Red Cross not more than 72 hours before travel, for unvaccinated visitors**
• Negative RT-PCR test result taken not more than 72 hours before travel, for partially vaccinated tourists

*As of 30 Oct 2021, Bohol will be temporarily accepting vaccination cards in place of vaccine certificates while VaxCertPH is not yet fully operational. 

**Children four years old and below are exempted from having to present a negative RT-PCR test result.

Where to stay in Bohol

Visitors are required to book stays at establishments accredited by the DOT or those that bear the UBE (Ultimate Bohol Experience) seal. See some of our recommendations below:

• South Palms Resort
• Amorita Resort
• Amarela Resort
• Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort
• Donatela Resort & Sanctuary
• Mithi Resort & Spa
• BE Grand Resort Bohol
• Alona Gecko Inn
• Linaw Beach Resort
• Villa Umi Panglao Resort
• Bird of Paradise Bohol Resort
• Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa
• Villa Kasadya
• Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa
• Citadel Alona Inn
• Oasis Resort

Bohol travel resources

For news and updated information regarding Bohol travel requirements, you may also visit the following links:

• City Government of Tagbilaran Official Website
• Provincial Government of Bohol Official Facebook Page
• Travel Philippines App Official Website

Also read: 15 Tropical Airbnbs & Resorts in the Philippines That You Need to Visit

Planning to explore more local destinations? Check out more of our COVID-19 travel guides:

• Siargao Travel Requirements for Domestic Tourists
• Boracay Travel Requirements for Domestic Travellers
• Baguio Travel Requirements for Fully Vaccinated Tourists
• Camiguin Travel Requirements for Domestic Tourists

Featured image credit: kjorgen via Canva Pro