Last updated: 18 March 2022
After the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, Baguio City has reopened its doors to tourists. But hold your horses! While the city is slowly reviving its tourism industry, there are still regulations in place.
The City of Pines is accepting a limited number of visitors per day. Hence, prior to their trip, travelers entering city must schedule their visit online. In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll share with you how to do just that.
Who can visit Baguio?
Before anything else, it is important to know whether or not you’re allowed entry into the city and what requirements you need to present. This depends on your area of origin, age (adult or minor), and vaccination status.
We created a separate, more detailed post about it here: BAGUIO TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS!
List of Baguio VISITA Requirements
The first step in scheduling a visit to Baguio City is to register for an account with Baguio VISITA, a new tourism assistance project by the city government, in partnership with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. VISITA stands for VISitor Information and Travel Assistance.
But before you sign up for an account, have a digital copy of the following documents ready:
- A valid ID. Most government IDs like passport, SSS/UMID, driver’s license, and voters ID are accepted.
- A recent photo. This will be used on your QR Tourist Pass (QTP). I’ll explain what QTP is later.
- If staying at a hotel: confirmed accommodation details. Book only a hotel or accommodation establishment that is listed on Baguio VISITA. You can also find below a list of accredited hotels in Baguio.
- If staying with a friend/relative: Provide the following information:
– Your contact person’s name
– Your contact’s complete address in Baguio
– Your contact’s mobile number
Depending on your age or area of origin, you may also need either a VACCINATION CERTIFICATE/CARD or NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULT or both. To check what’s required of you, check out this post: BAGUIO TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS!
You will be prompted to upload a copy of it. You may choose to not submit this online but it’s highly advisable that you do for faster processing. You must also make sure you have your vaccination card with you during your trip.
How to Register for a Baguio VISITA Account
1. Visit the BAGUIO VISITA website.
The official website of BAGUIO VISITA is at visita.baguio.gov.ph.
Scroll down and you’ll find a CREATE AN ACCOUNT button. Click on it.
2. Fill out the registration form.
To get started, you need to enter the following details:
3. Complete your account details.
Enter the following personal information:
- Name
- Nationality / citizenship
- Birth date
- Current address
- Contact details
4. Upload a valid ID and current photo.
Most government IDs like passport, SSS/UMID, driver’s license, senior citizen ID, and voter’s ID are accepted.
The photo has to be recently taken. It will be used for the travel pass. More on that later.
Once done, click on PROCEED.
5. Accept the Terms and review information.
On the next page, you will be presented with the Data Privacy and Consent Agreement. Read it carefully. If everything looks good, click CONFIRM to accept the terms.
Then, review all the information you have previously entered. Nothing wrong? Click CONFIRM.
6. Check your email.
A verification link will be sent to your email address. Click on that and you’ll be redirected back to the VISITA website.
Login again to finalize verification process.
That’s it! You now have a BAGUIO VISITA account.
How to Schedule a Trip
1. Log in to your Baguio VISITA account.
Visit visita.baguio.gov.ph and click on the SCHEDULE A VISIT button or link.
You will be asked to log in.
2. Click on ‘SCHEDULE A VISIT’.
Once through, you will be greeted with a menu that looks like this:
Click on SCHEDULE A VISIT.
3. Complete the scheduling form.
Tick SCHEDULE A NEW TRAVEL. Then click PROCEED.
On the next page, enter your point of origin and mode of transportation.
If you’re entering Baguio on a PRIVATE VEHICLE, prepare the following information:
- Vehicle model
- Vehicle color
- Plate number
If you’re taking PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, enter the name of the bus company (Victory Liner, Genesis Transport, etc.)
Click PROCEED. Then, choose the purpose of travel that applies to your trip.
4. Submit the details of your accommodation.
If you’re staying at a hotel
Find the hotel that you booked using the SEARCH BAR. If you can’t find your hotel, check if you have misspelled it. If not, then your hotel is probably not DOT-authorized, which means they are not allowed to operate and you can’t stay there.
For a list of Baguio hotels that have certificate of authorization to operate, check out this post: LIST OF DOT-ACCREDITED HOTELS IN BAGUIO! ✅
If staying with a friend or relative in Baguio
You need to provide the following information:
- Your contact person’s name
- Your contact’s complete address in Baguio
- Your contact’s mobile number
However, staying in a stranger’s residence for a fee is NOT ALLOWED and is punishable by law. If you’re paying for lodging, make sure you book an authorized hotel or inn.
If you’re on a day trip
Choose NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT on the list of options and follow the next steps.
5. Accomplish the HEALTH DECLARATION FORM
You will be asked questions about your current health (whether you’re experiencing symptoms), exposure history, and other clinical information.
Once done, click SUBMIT.
6. Upload a copy of your vaccination card or certificate.
Your vaccination card or vaccination certificate must be issued by a legitimate establishment. It will also be validated by triage officers upon arrival.
Although your registration can still be completed and processed even if you skip this step, it’s highly recommended that you upload a copy of the vaccination card or certificate.
Either way, you must bring your vaccination card when you travel as it will be checked at Triage on arrival day
Once you have uploaded the documents, click CONFIRM.
7. Review all the information and confirm.
You will be presented with a summary of all the details you submitted. Review that everything is correct and then click PROCEED.
The next page will contain a confirmation message that your schedule is up for review.
7. Contact your booked hotel or accommodation establishment.
For those who will be staying at a hotel or inn, Baguio Visita QTP application approvals are done by the management of your booked accommodation. Get in touch with them and let them know that you have already scheduled your trip on Baguio Visita and you’re just waiting for their approval.
When you send them a message, include the following details:
- Name of the guest under which the reservation was made
- Names of all your companions
- Travel dates
This is a crucial step because hotel booking websites generally just ask for the ONE guest’s name. Sending them the names of your companions make it much easier for them to identify which to approve.
In addition, some hotel bookings involve certain complications. For example, in one instance, we were asked to re-do our scheduling under another hotel’s name because the triage is done there instead.
7. Check your email.
Once done, you should receive an email confirmation with a link to a QR Coded Tourist Pass (QTP).
Download your QTP. You must either print it or save on your device.
The QTP looks like this:
The QTP is extremely important! Its code is unique to you and it contains your name, photo, and travel dates. When in Baguio, make sure you have it with you all the time. You will need to scan it at certain checkpoints including the triage area, hotel reception, and key attractions around the city.
That’s it! Once you have a QTP, you’re already registered and permitted to visit the city on the designated dates.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Can we schedule a trip as a group?
YES. You can schedule a trip as a group, provided that you have the same travel dates and you’re staying at the same place.
One member of the group must sign up for a Baguio Visita account and schedule a visit like usual. Afterwards, do the following:
- On the dashboard, go to MY TRAVELS tab.
- Choose the trip you wish to add companions to and then tap the 3 dots next to it.
- Choose ADD COMPANION on the prompt that would pop up. You will be directed to the MY COMPANIONS page.
- Add a vehicle or add a companion for each vehicle. Then input the details for the vehicle or each
companion accordingly.
For those staying at a hotel, up to 9 companions and 2 vehicles are allowed to be added to the group.
For those who are not booked at any accommodation establishment, up to 4 companions on 1 vehicle can be added.
Once approved, each member of the group will get their own unique QTP.
This group feature is a new development. Previously, it was not possible. (It wasn’t during our trip.) But it has since been implemented to make scheduling easier for groups.
My travel date is approaching but my schedule is still pending. What should I do?
Call the hotel/accommodation establishment that you booked. In most cases, it is them that take care of approval and triage. Reach out to them and submit all your names and travel dates.
We actually experienced this. We waited for days but our schedule application was still not approved. I called the hotel management and they took care of it immediately.
If you’re not staying at a hotel/accommodation establishment and your schedule is still pending after days of waiting, contact Baguio Visita through these numbers:
- (074) 446 2009 (7am – 11pm)
- 0956 572 9097 (7am – 3pm)
- 0956 572 9093 (3pm -11pm)
- 0956 572 9094 (11pm – 7am)
Can I choose 2 hotels when I schedule my visit?
No, it’s not possible. You can’t choose two accommodation establishments on just one application. What you can do is schedule two separate visits. It’s double the work, but that’s the process.
In our case, we were to stay in Baguio for a week. However, the hotel we wanted had available rooms only on a few days, so we booked a second hotel. When we inquired, we were told to make two separate schedule applications, one for each hotel (reflecting the dates of stay at each property).
We ended up with two schedule applications and two unique QTPs, and we had to go through the triage process twice.
Are there available public transportation options to Baguio?
Yes, visit this page for your options: BAGUIO BUS SCHEDULE!
Within the city, taxis and jeepneys are operational.
What are the accredited hotels in Baguio?
It is highly recommended to book an accommodation with a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) from the Department of Tourism. Here are just a few of many options:
- G1 Lodge
#2 Leonard Wood Rd., Baguio City
Check Rates & Photos! ✅ - The Orchard Hotel Baguio
#149 Legarda Road, Baguio City
Check Rates & Photos! ✅ - City Travel Hotel
#16 Kisad Road, Burnham-Legarda, Baguio City
Check Rates & Photos! ✅ - Citylight Hotel
#245 Upper General Luna Road, Baguio City
Check Rates & Photos! ✅ - Travelite Hotel Legarda
Travelite Hotel cor. Legarda Rd. & Bukaneg St., Burnham-Legarda, Baguio City
Check Rates & Photos! ✅
For more options, check out this post: LIST OF DOT-ACCREDITED HOTELS IN BAGUIO! ✅
If you know a local, you may also stay with a relative or a friend as long as the area is not on hard lockdown. However, staying in a stranger’s residence for a fee is NOT ALLOWED and is punishable by law. If you’re paying for lodging, make sure you book an authorized hotel or inn.
What’s the protocol upon arrival in Baguio?
All tourists must undergo triage upon arrival in Baguio City. You cannot go anywhere else until you’re done with triage.
The main triage areas are located near Baguio Convention Center. But some hotels have their own. Some bus terminals operate their own triage systems too.
- For yellow QTP, the triage area is at Central Triage.
- For blue QTP, you may proceed to your hotel or terminal for triage
Triage operations usually start at 7am, but this may differ from one establishment to another so just ask them to be sure.
Visitors who are showing symptoms, regardless of the test result or their vaccination status, will be tested, isolated, and referred to health officials for next steps.
UPDATES LOG:
2020 November 19 – Originally published
2021 March 2 – Removed swab test as requirement. Added passenger bus options. Expanded scope to all tourists from PH.
2021 March 19 – Mandatory negative RT-PCR/Antigen/Saliva test result is reimplemented.
2021 July 5 – Vaccination cards/certificates are now accepted for fully-vaccinated travelers.
2021 October 27 – Baguio reopens to vaccinated adults only (+ negative tested minors).
2022 January 10 – Baguio requires tourists from areas under Alert Level 3 to submit a negative test result, regardless of fully vaccinated status.
2022 February 21 – Moved the requirements to another post.
2022 March 18 – Added personal experiences
Additional words by: Mariah Cruz
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