You don’t have to stare longingly at the bikinis and board shorts hanging in the back of your closet because this week, you can pack a bag and set off to the Caribbean. Several Caribbean islands have already reopened for tourists.
Here are some destinations where Americans are, or soon will be, able to visit, along with a few health measures to ensure safety. No matter where you go, be ready for health screenings and temperature checks, and be sure to pack masks for everyone traveling.
Jamaica opened its borders June 15. Non-resident tourists must complete an online travel authorization prior to departure, but travel authorization is granted (or denied only if significant health risk) within one day.
Quintana Roo, the Mexican state on the Caribbean that is home to Akumal, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya and Tulum, reopened to tourism on June 8. Temperature checks are taken upon arrival at airports.
The US Virgin Islands are welcoming leisure travelers to St. John, St. Croix and all the territory’s islands, as they have since June 1.
These destinations require documentation of a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours (or as noted) prior to travel:
· Antigua and Barbuda opened on June 1 and require a valid medical certificate stating a negative COVID-19 test completed within 48 hours prior of traveling. Or you can pay $100 to be tested at the airport upon arrival.
· Aruba will reopen its borders to visitors from the United States on July 10. If you don’t bring COVID-19 test results, then you must get tested locally and quarantine while waiting for the results, which usually take 24 hours. Children under 12 are exempt from testing requirements.
· The Bahamas can be yours right now if you travel there via private plane, boat or yacht. Those deigning to travel commercially are welcome as of July 1. No matter your method of transport, all travelers must complete a health form before arriving and present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 10 days of travel. Children under 2 are exempt.
· Bermuda will reopen to visitors on July 1, requiring both a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test (within 72 hours) and then a locally administered test upon arrival. Protocols are still being reviewed, however, so things might change.
· Puerto Rico will welcome visitors again starting July 15, and the mandatory 14-day quarantine will be lifted if a recent negative test is presented, though further details are still to come.
· St. Barths opened to tourists on June 22, and in a heartwarming statement, President of Territorial Council Bruno Magras said, “Life on the island has returned to normal.” Anyone staying longer than seven days is required to be retested on Day 7. Children under 10 do not require testing.
· St. Lucia resumed regular travel as of June 4. Negative test results received within 48 hours of travel are required.
· St. Maarten, which is resuming international flights on July 1, highly recommends being tested 72 hours or less before traveling and bringing proof of a negative result, but is not requiring it at this time.
The Dominican Republic is likely reopening July 1, but details have not yet been released.
Turks and Caicos will reopen July 22, with safety protocols still to be determined.
And because we did our due diligence, the following islands as of July 1, 2020 still do not allow travel or you must quarantine 14 days upon arrival:
Anguilla
Barbados (14-day quarantine)
Belize
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Dominica
Grenada
Guadalupe (14-day quarantine)
Haiti (14-day quarantine)
Martinique (14-day quarantine)
Montserrat
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Kitts
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (14-day quarantine)
Trinidad and Tobago
This is changing daily, so keep checking back and make sure to look up the latest rules before you book a trip.
