Last updated: 29 MARCH 2022

We’ve just arrived from a week-long tour of La Union, and we’re very excited to share with you what it’s like to travel around the province now that we have entered what many call the “new normal”.

La Union is still bursting with life. Yes, tourism had declined since the pandemic started, but if what we saw on our trip was any indication, it already begun bouncing back. Wave-riders and non-surfers alike are once again making La Union their go-to place to chill and play. Tourists are filling up resorts’ weekend calendars and foodies are lining up to their favorite cafes and restaurants.

That said, there are still certain requirements that you need to prepare beforehand, as part of their health and safety protocol. In this post, we’ll be sharing with you the things you need to take care of before, during and after your La Union trip, based on EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 03, SERIES OF 2022 with some insights from our own personal experience.

Here are the requirements if you plan to visit La Union for leisure or tourism:

For Tourists coming from Areas Under ALERT LEVEL 1 & 2

• NAPANAM QR Code. More info on how to get one below.
• Valid ID. Government-issued.
• Confirmed booking with a DOT-accredited accommodation or tour operator. See list of accredited establishments here!
• If fully vaccinated: Vaccination card. You’re considered fully vaccinated if you’ve had both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine.
• If unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated: Negative RT-PCR Test result, taken within 3 days prior to arrival.

For Tourists coming from Areas Under ALERT LEVEL 3 & 4

These requirements apply regardless of vaccination status.

• NAPANAM QR Code. More info on how to get one below.
• Valid ID. Government-issued.
• Confirmed booking with a DOT-accredited accommodation or tour operator. Check out list of accredited establishments here!
• Negative RT-PCR Test result, conducted within 3 days prior to arrival.

We also created a video version of this post on our YouTube channel! Watch below.

Who are NOT ALLOWED to visit La Union?

Travelers from areas under ALERT LEVEL 5 are currently NOT ALLOWED to enter La Union and shall be refused entry, unless for life-threatening medical emergency purposes.

How to Get a NAPANAM QR Code

NAPANAM is La Union’s centralized COVID-19 tracking system, replacing the previously implemented TARA NA! QTP.

Only 3000 tourists are allowed to enter La Union per day. This means that you have to register your visit in advance via NAPANAM, which monitors the movement of people into the province.

To do that, just follow these steps:

1. Visit the NAPANAM website.
2. Click TOURIST on the menu. It will reveal four options: REGISTER, TRAVEL, UPLOAD DOCUMENTS, and CHECK STATUS.
3. Create an account. Click REGISTER. Enter your personal details including your name, address, contact numbers and emergency contacts. Then hit REGISTER. Then complete the Health Declaration Form. You will be given a NAPANAM ID number. DO NOT FORGET to take note or take a screenshot of your ID number! You’ll need it later on.



4. Register your travel. Click TRAVEL REGISTRATION and enter your travel dates, point of origin, and destination address. Then click REGISTER. (You can also access it from the homepage. Just click on the TRAVEL button on the menu.)
5. Upload the requirements. This includes a government-issued ID, proof of accommodation or tour booking, and vaccination card or negative test (whichever is applicable to you).
6. You can check the status of your application by clicking the CHECK STATUS button on the homepage and logging in again.

That’s it! By the end of the process you should be given your own NAPANAM ID number and NAPANAM QR code.

Download, save, or print this QR code as you will be needing this as you enter or explore La Union.

Actually, this whole uploading of requirements online seems to be a newly implemented feature. Back when we did this, there was no TOURIST tab and activation is done offline, at designated verification QR scanning points throughout the province.

DOT-Accredited Hotels & Resorts in La Union

Tourists traveling to La Union must have a pre-booked accommodation at an establishment with a Certificate of Authority to Operate from the Department of Tourism (DOT). There are plenty of accredited hotels and resorts, but here are just a few of them:

• Urbiz Garden
  134 Beachfront, MacArthur Hwy, Barangay Urbiztondo, San Juan
• Kahuna Hotel Cafe And Restaurant
  Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union
  Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Awesome Hotel Inc.
  319 Eagle Street Montemar Village, Ili Norte, San Juan, La Union
  Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Puerto De San Juan Beach Resort Hotel
  Barangay Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union
  Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Villas Buenavista
  Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union
  Check Rates & Photos! ✅

You can find more options here: LIST OF LA UNION ACCREDITED RESORTS & HOTELS!

Accredited COVID-19 Testing Centers

Not all tourists visiting La Union are required to submit a negative test result. But if you do need one, here are some testing laboratories that you may book via Klook.

• Singapore Diagnostic, Makati
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Safeguard DNA Diagnostic, Mandaluyong
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Manila Healthtek Inc., Marikina Branch
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory, Pasay
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Kairos Diagnostics Laboratory, Quezon City
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Be Safe MD Inc., Quezon City Branch
  Check Rates & Availability! ✅

SEE FULL LIST OF ACCREDITED TESTING CENTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are children allowed to travel to La Union?

YES. Children 11 years old and below are NOT required to submit negative test results, provided that the adults accompanying them comply with the requirements that apply to them.

Is there a limit on the number of tourists allowed?

The province of La Union allows only a maximum 3000 registered tourists per day.

*additional words by Mariah Cruz

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Is this post helpful to you?