Palawan Travel Advisory

Travel Philippines

Sep 21, 2020

(Update as of February 17 2021)

Before you enter Palawan’s paradise, take note of all the important travel advisories and guidelines to keep both tourists and locals safe. Take note of the curfew hours and city-specific advisories listed below!

Quarantine Category

The entire Palawan province is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Movement Guidelines

For El Nido, tourists from within Palawan (Locals) are allowed to enter El Nido. Tourists from outside Palawan (Domestic Tourists) shall also be permitted to visit El Nido for leisure purposes through the Lio Airport, provided that measures, protocols, and requirements are acquired or accomplished before arrival.

Coron, meanwhile, has been open to domestic tourism since December 1, 2020.

As for Puerto Princesa, no definite date has been set for its reopening to domestic tourism.

Guidelines Specific to Palawan

EL NIDO

Who can visit El Nido?

All domestic tourists are allowed to enter El Nido for leisure travel. It is open to tourists of all ages without underlying conditions and comorbidities, provided that minors are accompanied by their parents or guardians.

What are the requirements for visiting El Nido?

All tourists entering El Nido must acquire a QR-coded Tourist ID (QT-ID) accessible through www.elnidotourism.ph. This QT-ID will serve as an identification tool for all establishments within El Nido, and it will be sent to tourists via email.

These requirements vary depending on where the tourist is coming from. Please note that tourists must have a digital copy or printed copy of these requirements when they enter El Nido.

FOR PALAWAN-BASED TOURISTS

Health Declaration Form
Booking or reservation in Accommodation Establishments (AEs) with Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO)
Valid ID (For minors, IDs of guardians)
Travel Itinerary with confirmed bookings accomplished through local tour operators/travel agencies with DOT-accreditation and Local Seal of Compliance (LSOC)

FOR DOMESTIC TOURISTS ORIGINATING UNDER GCQ AND MGCQ

A negative RT-PCR swab test taken not earlier than 48 hours prior to arrival in El nido
Health Declaration Form
Booking or reservation in Accommodation Establishments (AEs) with Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO)
Valid ID (For minors, IDs of guardians)
Travel Itinerary with confirmed bookings accomplished through local tour operators/travel agencies with DOT-accreditation and Local Seal of Compliance (LSOC).
Only Island Tours are allowed. Please see the list of all available tours below.

How can domestic tourists get to El Nido?

For domestic tourists, flights are scheduled through Airswift and will arrive at Lio Airport.

Upon arrival at Lio Airport, officials from the LGU will validate the tourists’ documents, scan their QT-ID, and check their temperature.

Which travel destinations are open?

Each set of island-hopping tours shall not exceed three (3) attractions. Combination tours are not allowed. The following tour packages are available for tourists:

PREMIUM TOURS (Please note that only DOT-accredited Local Tour Operators are allowed to conduct Premium Tours.)

Small Lagoon Premium: Small Lagoon, Payong-Payong, and Secret Lagoon
Big Lagoon Premium: Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and West Entalula Beach
Matinloc Island Premium: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, and Matinloc Shrine

REGULAR TOURS

Cave Exploration Tours: Cudugnon Cave, Snake Island, and Cathedral Cave
Tapiutan Strait: Talisay Small, Talisay Beach, and Istar Beach
Cadlao Channel Tour: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, and Dilumacad Island
History Island Tour: Pinagbuyutan Island, Sandbar, and 7 Commando Beach

CORON

a. Who are allowed to visit:

All tourists coming from different parts of the Philippines, including foreigners who are currently residing in the country, are allowed to visit Coron. Age restriction no longer applies.

b. Places to visit:

All tourist destinations within Coron that have obtained a Mayor’s Permit to Operate 2020 from the local government are open to tourists daily.

In addition, all tourism-related establishments within Coron that have obtained a Mayor’s Permit to Operate 2020 from the local government as well as a Certificate of Authority to Operate from the Department of Tourism are allowed to cater to tourists.

c. Guidelines in traveling to Coron:

Booking and Registering

a. Before traveling to Coron, make sure you book a reservation with a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment (with a Certificate of Authority to Operate). If you will go on any tours, these must also be booked prior to the trip from licensed tour operators.

b. Before your trip, accomplish a health declaration form on Coron’s official LGU website. You will soon be given a QR code that you’ll be using within Coron.

c. Secure an RT-PCR test taken 48-72 hours before your flight.

d. Once you enter Coron, present the following documents:

Copy of your hotel and tour bookings
Flight itinerary, including your return ticket
Negative RT-PCR test result

Evaluation and Testing

a. All arriving guests should have a negative RT-PCR test taken 48-72 hours prior to travel.

b. All arriving tourists will undergo a health assessment upon arrival at the triage area of Francisco Reyes Airport.

c. If found to be symptomatic, a mandatory antigen test will be conducted with a fee amounting to Php 3,500.00, which will be shouldered by the tourist.

d. If tested positive, tourists will be brought to the hotel isolation room for COVID-19 positive where he/she is booked. (See health protocols below)

Guidelines while in Coron:

a. All tourists will be subjected to regulated movement.

b. Since tours are pre-booked, all tourists are required to coordinate with the front desk officer regarding their itinerary, in order for them to work hand-in-hand with the travel agency.

c. All transfers going out and coming back to the hotel are strictly to be arranged by the hotel accommodations. Everything should be logged for contact tracing purposes. Transportation protocols must be strictly followed such as, but not limited to: 50% seating capacity, wearing of face shields and face masks every time, ensuring physical distancing, and frequent hand sanitation from time to time.

d. All businesses are only allowed to operate at 50% capacity.

e. All businesses are only allowed to operate until 10:00 PM.

f. During daily tours, all tourist boats and destinations will only be strictly allowed to operate at 50% capacity. They must also adhere with the minimum health protocols.

g. Tourists will not be allowed to wander in the streets.

Health protocols for tourists:

a. When a tourist starts to manifest symptoms for COVID-19 and is found to have been in direct contact with an active positive case, he/she will be referred to the Municipal Health Office for further health assessment.

b. He/She will be subjected to mandatory Antigen tests with a corresponding fee of Php 3,500.00.

c. If required, an RT-PCR test will be conducted and its sample will be sent to the nearest licensed RT-PCR laboratory for processing. Tourists will be assigned to a hotel isolation room for COVID-19 patients where he/she is booked while waiting for the results.

d. If determined to have deployed severe symptoms, tourists will be referred immediately to the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital for Medication. All related expenses will be shouldered by the tourist.

e. Tourists must be responsible for any medical/accommodation bills related to COVID-19 while in the municipality of Coron.

When leaving Coron:

a. From their hotel, tourists will go directly to the airport. Stopovers will not be allowed.

b. Secure your documentary requirements for entry to your next destination.

What Transportation options are available?

For El Nido, transportation is available via Airswift from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. For Coron, transportation is available via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Emergency Contacts

For health concerns, please contact any of the following:

Ospital ng Palawan
- (+63 48) 434 8339; (+63 48) 434 2148; (+63 48) 433 2621
- http://onp.doh.gov.ph/
- ospital.palawan@yahoo.com
Provincial Hospital of Oriental Mindoro
- (043) 288 5130
- (043) 286 2627
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital
- (+63 48) 433 7743; (+63 48) 759 3956 to 12
- doh_culsan@yahoo.com.ph
For tourism-related concerns, please contact the Palawan Provincial Tourism Office at (+63 977) 368 8207 or at (+63 947) 392 3139.
For safety and security, please contact the Palawan Police Provincial at (+63 48) 433 4363.
Covid Hotline or other health hotlines Provincial IATF Focal Person - Dr. Jeremias Y Alili 09177756640

List of RT PCR labs available (DOH Accredited)

Ospital ng Palawan 220 Malvar Road, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, 5300 Palawan
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital Robert St., Brgy Tiza, Culion, Palawan 5315