As the coronavirus pandemic continues to pester the country, travel restrictions in the Philippines have started to ease after months of lockdown, and one of the popular local destinations to reopen is Siargao, widely known as the surfing capital in the Philippines.

Flights to Siargao have already resumed operations last December 1, 2020. Airlines are now allowed to have one round-trip commercial flight per week, per route. Albeit the local destination has eased travel restrictions, some health and safety protocols are still need to be followed. There are also travel requirements visitors have to comply with before going and present upon arrival on the island.

If you are planning to include Siargao in your 2021 travel list, here are the requirements and protocols you have to know:

General Requirements

- All flights bound for Siargao (from any point of origin in the Philippines) shall only be allowed to board passengers at a maximum of 75% of the aircraft’s seating capacity.

- Starting December 1, Siargao and Surigao Airport shall be open to commercial travel.

- All pax will no longer be required to undergo quarantine upon arrival, but shall be tested again using Rapid Antigen Test at their own cost after 7 days of their RT-PCR or PCR Test. The pax will personally shoulder this cost. If they are tested as Positive, the cost of quarantine and transportation costs to the hospital for COVID-19 cases will also be shouldered by them. This does not apply to pax going to the City of Surigao and the Municipality of Pilar.

• • Locator Form
  • Letter/Certificate Acceptance from destination LGUs
  • Certification - Undertaking of 14-day quarantine (at LGU quarantine facility/home)

- Negative RT-PCR Test Result or COVID-19 Saliva Test (taken within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) days of release of the result)

- Negative Result on Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR Test) taken within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) days of release of the result

- HOTLINES: Passengers of airplanes and such other aircrafts going to Siargao Airport and/or Surigao Airport may call any of these hotlines of the Provincial Tourism Office for clarification and/or information: 0963-890-6038 or 0927-281-8555

For Tourists

Tourists invited by local resident of Surigao del Norte, must submit scanned or pictured copies of the following:

- Negative RT-PCR Test or COVID-19 Saliva Test Result taken within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) days of release of the result

• • Exemption: All Children, 14 years old and below, traveling to Siargao/Surigao Airport shall be exempted from presentation of Negative RT-PCR Test or COVID-19 Saliva Test Result, provided they shall be accompanied by their parent/s or guardian.

- Valid Identification Card

- Surigao del Norte’s e-Health Pass as Tourist from https://covid19.ssct.edu.ph/healthform

- Travel Certification issued by the Mayor of the City/Municipality of destination (within the Province of Surigao del Norte)

Tourists not invited by local resident of Surigao del Norte (Walk-in Tourist), must submit scanned or pictured copies of the following:

- Negative RT-PCR Test or COVID-19 Saliva Test Result taken within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) days of release of the result

• • Exemption: All Children, 14 years old and below, traveling to Siargao/Surigao Airport shall be exempted from presentation of Negative RT-PCR Test or COVID-19 Saliva Test Result, provided they shall be accompanied by their parent/s or guardian.

- Valid Identification Card

- Surigao del Norte’s e-Health Pass as Tourist from https://covid19.ssct.edu.ph/healthform

- Confirmed Booking of Accommodation for at least five (5) days from the resort, hotel or hostel duly accredited by the DOT

- Travel Itinerary in Surigao del Norte

- Roundtrip ticket

For Surigao Del Norte Residents

Must submit scanned or picture copies of the following:

- Negative RT-PCR Test or COVID-19 Saliva Test Result (taken within forty-eight (48) hours or two (2) days of release of the result)

- Valid Identification Card

- Printed copy of Surigao del Norte’s e-Health Pass from: https://covid19.ssct.edu.ph/healthform

For more information, you may visit Siargao Tourism Assistance Center's Facebook page. Have a safe travel!