Editor’s Note — Coronavirus cases remain in flux across the globe. Health officials caution that travel increases your chances of getting and spreading the Covid-19 virus. Unless you’re fully vaccinated, staying home is the best way to stem transmission. Below is information on what to know if you still plan to travel, current as of January 25. The entries on Puerto Rico and Turks and Caicos were updated on February 1.
(CNN) — If you’re planning to travel to the islands of the Caribbean, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each of them has its own rules, subject to frequent change. Some have put up travel bans or changed their rules because of the recent Omicron variant.
Some islands require quarantines, even for vaccinated travelers, while others don’t even request a Covid-19 test. Rules vary depending on your country of origin.
Here’s a roundup of key highlights on nine popular Caribbean destinations. There is also a link to keep track of the most recent risk level for each destination from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Aruba
Aruba is known for its white-sand beaches and colorful buildings in the capital city of Oranjestad.
DPPA/Sipa USA/AP
Entry requirements: These vary depending on your country of departure.
Aruba has introduced a list of very high-risk countries, all of them currently in Europe, from which arrivals must adhere to stricter testing than other visitors and must test no more than one day before their departure for Aruba. These visitors won’t have the option of test upon arrival.
On January 18, Aruba started accepting antigen tests. Previously, only PCR tests were accepted.
People coming from high-risk countries — including the United States, Canada and numerous Caribbean neighbors — must take a PCR Covid-19 test within two days of their departure to Aruba or take an antigen test within one day. They won’t have the option to test upon arrival.
All arrivals 12 and older must test.
Aruba visitors insurance, in case you test positive for Covid-19, is mandatory. No quarantine is in place. Travelers who test positive for Covid-19 are required to stay in mandatory isolation, however.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid travel to Aruba.
The Bahamas
You’ll find Bimini Big Game Club and Marina on North Bimini, which is off the coast from Miami, Florida.
Francisco Blanco/Alamy
Who can go? The Bahamas is open to all international travelers.
Entry requirements: Vaccinated travelers must present a negative result from a rapid antigen or RT-PCR test taken no more than three days before arrival. Unvaccinated travelers 12 and older also have the three-day requirement, but only from a RT-PCR test. Unvaccinated travelers 11 and younger may still present results from a rapid antigen test.
Children younger than 2 are exempt from any testing. There are also testing requirements for intra-island travel in the Bahamas.
You must fill out a health visa application and opt in to the Bahamas’ Covid-19 health insurance.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid travel to the Bahamas.
Barbados
Charles Fort was built in 1650 to protect Carlisle Bay on Barbados from pirates.
Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/AP
Who can go? The island is welcoming visitors from around the world. Barbados has discontinued its Caribbean travel bubble.
Entry requirements: If arriving by air, both fully vaccinated travelers and the unvaccinated must present a negative result from either a “RT-PCR Covid-19 test” taken no more than three days before arrival or a “rapid Covid-19 PCR test” taken no more than one day before arrival. You must upload results to the BIMSafe app.
Some vaccinated travelers may be selected at random for a rapid antigen test upon arrival but do not have to quarantine awaiting results.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid travel to Barbados.
Curaçao
The Penha Building was built in 1708 in the Dutch colonial style and is now a department store in Willemstad, the capital of the island.
Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/AP
Entry requirements: All visitors must have negative results from a Covid-19 PCR test that’s no more than 48 hours old before your flight to the island. There are no exemptions for the fully vaccinated. Children 11 and younger are exempt from testing.
Visitors are required to undergo an antigen test at a local laboratory on the third day in Curaçao. All travelers must fill out the passenger locator card 48 hours before arrival. No quarantines are in place unless you test positive for Covid-19 during your stay.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4: Very high. Avoid travel to Curaçao.
Dominican Republic
Tourists take pictures of flamingoes in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province.
Erika Santelices/AFP/Getty Images
Who can go? Tourists who have been in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland on the government’s website), Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa in the past 14 days still may not enter the Dominican Republic. Otherwise, travelers around the world may enter, but depending on where you’re coming from, entry requirements will differ.
Entry requirements: Travelers from many nations — including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama and France, among others — do not need a Covid-19 test to enter.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid travel to the Dominican Republic.
Jamaica
Reach Falls, near the city of Port Antonio, is a popular destination in Jamaica.
Valery Sharifulin/TASS/Getty Images
Who can go? Jamaica lifted its travel ban on eight nations in southern Africa in mid-December; the island is now open to anyone who meets the entry requirements.
Entry requirements: Travelers 12 and older must have a negative result from a Covid-19 molecular (PCR, NAA, RNA) or antigen test performed taken within three days of the travel date. You must fill out a travel authorization form.
Fully vaccinated travelers that present a negative result from a PCR test for their inbound flight are allowed to leave the Corridor and visit other areas while observing all the safety protocols.
Unvaccinated travelers are required to quarantine for 14 days.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid travel to Jamaica.
Puerto Rico
Paddleboarders enjoy themselves near a beach in the Condado neighborhood of San Juan.
Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A travel ban on eight countries in southern Africa has been lifted.
Entry requirements: Visitors entering any of the Island’s three open airports, whether on commercial or private aircraft, are required to fill out a Travel Declaration Form.
All passengers arriving on US domestic flights who are not vaccinated must show a negative result of a Covid-19 test (either antigen or PCR) taken within 48 hours before arrival time.
Unvaccinated travelers who arrive without a test must take a Covid-19 test within 48 hours of arrival and go into quarantine awaiting results. Failure to comply could result in a fine.
Starting February 2, vaccinated travelers are exempt from testing rules.
Tourists arriving on international flights must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within one day of travel. You must be fully vaccinated if you’re not a US citizen or long-term resident.
Unvaccinated travelers 12 and older cannot disembark cruise ships to visit the island.
Unvaccinated cruise ship passengers cannot disembark in Puerto Rico except for children 11 and younger.
Turks and Caicos
Colonial houses line the waterfront in Cockburn town, Grand Turk.
Alamy
Who can go? Visitors from around the world are welcomed to vacation here.
Entry requirements: You must be fully vaccinated if you’re 16 or older to visit.
All travelers 2 and older need a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than three days before arrival to enter. Starting January 28, anyone 2 and older must be tested.
There’s no quarantine on arrival. You must fill out a travel authorization form, and Covid-19 travel insurance is required as well.
US CDC travel advisory: Level 4 (very high). Avoid to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
US Virgin Islands
St. Thomas saw a lot of cruise ship activity before the pandemic.
Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post/Getty Images
US citizens do not have to be vaccinated to visit.
A travel ban on eight countries in southern Africa has been lifted.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated domestic travelers must present a negative result of a Covid-19 test taken within three days of arrival.
Travelers arriving on international flights must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within one day of travel. International tourists arriving by ferry must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days of travel.
Only fully vaccinated foreign tourists may disembark cruise ships. All sea travelers 2 and older must provide a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken within three days of arrival.
CNN’s Forrest Brown and Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
