Tagaytay City now welcomes tourists and visitors who would like to visit the place under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status, City Administrator Gregorio Monreal confirmed on Saturday, September 5.

However, the City Administrator said that tourists should follow minimum health standards including physical distancing, and wearing of face masks to avoid the further spread of COVID-19. Monreal also added that checkpoints at entry points to Tagaytay will be maintained.

“Yung mga gustong pumunta sa Tagaytay ay hindi natin puwedeng mapigilan, welcome sila sa atin pero kailangan nilang sumunod sa minimum public health standard,” Monreal said.

“Bagamat ang ating guidelines ay nasa quarantine protocols pa rin tayo, pero yung mga gustong pumunta sa Tagaytay ay hindi natin mapipigilan,” he added.

In a memorandum dated on September 1, Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino issued guidelines for establishments, offices, businesses, transportation, religious groups, churches, and barangays.

Tolentino said all establishments permitted to operate are required to adhere to the health standards and protocols to protect their workers and guests.

Private vehicles traveling to and from Tagaytay will be allowed provided that physical distancing is observed inside the vehicle, Tolentino added.

Hotels are now also allowed to operate only up to 50 percent of their capacity upon securing clearance or accreditation from the Department of Tourism.

Tagaytay City is one of the favorite weekend getaway destinations of many residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Laguna and Batangas to de-stress and temporarily escape from the bustling city. Aside from its cold weather, visitors and tourists get to enjoy different restaurants and places that offer relaxing views of the beautiful Taal Lake.

For those who are planning to visit Tagaytay, we list down places to visit and things you can do for your itinerary:

Staycation

Tagaytay now allows staycations as long as the establishments were able to secure their clearance or accreditation from the Department of Tourism. Although unlike before, hotels and condo units will only accommodate lesser guests to comply to the MGCQ guidelines. Ages below 21 and over 59 will be required to present a medical certificate. Also, do not forget to bring your valid IDs.

Go on a foodtrip

Tagaytay is best known for being filled with so much restaurants with all sorts of food that are enough to satisfy whatever you’re craving for. You can find a healthy meal of veggies and fruits at Sonya’s Garden, wherein they serve fresh and organic food just right at their backyard. Also if you are trying to look for a perfect place for lunch, Leslie’s or any other restaurant down the Tagaytay-Nasugbu highway offer different mouth-watering Filipino meals, such as sinigang, adobo, kare-kare, and Tagaytay’s famous dish—bulalo. You can also find fresh fruits, flower and plants in Mahogany market.

Have a picnic

Tagaytay is a city known with its cold climate, thus, it is also known for its perfect picnic spots. In fact, one or two places in Tagaytay are solely dedicated for picnic. Picnic Grove is a popular tourist destination in the area, where you can either rent tables and chairs or bring own mats to fully experience that picnic vibe, perfect for the cold weather. Have breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snacks here while you enjoy the company of nature.

Visit the Sky Ranch

Sky Ranch is a leisure and entertainment park everyone has to see when they visit Tagaytay. The park offers exciting rides, dining places, horseback riding, and also an astonishing view of Taal Lake (I personally recommend to ride the ferris wheel to see its perfect view). This is a place where kids and adults alike will enjoy. Sky Ranch Tagaytay is set to reopen on September 11, 2020, with their new schedule Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 AM - 7PM.

Discover nature and wildlife

If you want to see and interact with the nature, Paradizoo, from the name itself—is a combination of a Paradise and a Zoo. The 12-hectare farm offers a perfect getaway with its tranquil gardens, lovely flora and fauna and different animals. The theme park also offers a great place to bond with the family while appreciating nature. Paradizoo offers a pet store, a meditation garden, an Orchidarium and new thrilling attractions like Camel Ride and Zing Ride. (Paradizoo is still closed due to the pandemic, but they will post an announcement on Zoomanity Group  once the park is back to operations.)

Although it’s still unsafe to visit, Taal Volcano is one of the popular views in Tagaytay. According to PHIVOLCS, On September 3, in the past 24-hour period, the Taal Volcano Network recorded eight volcanic earthquakes.

“Weak steaming or fumarolic activity rising 5 meters high before drifting northeast was observed from vents on the Main Crater and fissure vents along the Daang Kastila Trail,” said PHIVOLCS.

I know it’s not the bst time to go out and act like there is no pandemic at the moment, but it’s never okay to procrastinate in taking care of yourself. As long as you are being a responsible tourist and you comply with the safety protocol, it’s okay to have fun sometimes and relieve the stress.