Unvaccinated Travel: Caribbean Islands With Relaxed Entry Rules

The Caribbean islands have a mix of COVID regulations, with some requiring proof of vaccination and others not. Jamaica, Grenada, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not require any COVID documentation. In contrast, at least seven Caribbean nations and territories, including Anguilla, Grenada, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, have announced mandatory vaccination policies for incoming adult travelers. Meanwhile, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, and St. Lucia allow unvaccinated travelers to enter but require them to quarantine.

The British Virgin Islands allow unvaccinated travellers with a quarantine period

The British Virgin Islands are a popular destination for the rich and famous, with captains of industry like Richard Branson and Google co-founder Larry Page frequenting the islands. The islands offer a chilled-out Caribbean experience with a focus on luxury and privacy. The British Virgin Islands are one of a rising number of Caribbean destinations that attract vaccinated travellers, while proving less attractive to unvaccinated people.

Unvaccinated travellers are permitted to enter the British Virgin Islands, but they are required to quarantine for a certain period. However, data shows that few are willing to do so, especially when they have alternative options in the Caribbean that don't mandate quarantines or vaccine certificates. The relative leniency of the British Virgin Islands' entry requirements may be a factor in shaping travel trends in the region, with unvaccinated travellers opting for islands with more relaxed protocols.

The British Virgin Islands offer a range of high-end resorts and exclusive experiences. Yacht and catamaran charters are a popular choice, with crewed and bareboat options available. The islands are known for their clear waters, ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. The Baths National Park, with its boulders and sea pools, is touted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The largest of the islands, Tortola, offers classic Caribbean attractions such as zip-lining, rum distilleries, botanical gardens, and souvenir shopping. Virgin Gorda is home to the Baths, a National Park with giant granite boulders forming grottos, arches, caves, and pools on a white-sand beach. Jost Van Dyke, named after a Dutch pirate, is known for its rum, sun, and lively bars.

The British Virgin Islands have a dry climate, and while they may lack verdant rainforests and waterfalls, they make up for it with clear waters ideal for marine activities. The local cuisine features seafood, with the sweet and succulent Anegada lobster being a highlight. The national dish is called fish and fungi, a unique combination of okra and cornmeal with a polenta-like texture.

Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic have testing requirements

Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic have adopted contrasting approaches to other Caribbean islands, implementing testing requirements instead of vaccine mandates for unvaccinated travelers. These protocols have influenced travel trends, attracting unvaccinated visitors while deterring vaccinated ones.

Jamaica

Jamaica, a stunning Caribbean island, welcomes unvaccinated visitors with moderate entry requirements. All passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative antigen or PCR test taken within three days of their arrival. Symptomatic individuals may be subject to additional testing upon arrival, and unvaccinated tourists are required to remain within the 'resilient corridor'.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas, a popular vacation destination, requires unvaccinated travelers to undergo two tests for entry. A PCR test taken within three days of arrival is mandatory, along with a possible second antigen-type test upon landing. The Bahamian government maintains these entry requirements for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, coupled with online pre-travel registration.

The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has taken a more relaxed approach, lifting all COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine mandates, as of February 16, 2022. Neither testing nor quarantine is required for entry, making it a relatively easy destination for unvaccinated travelers. However, some travelers may be subject to COVID-19 breath tests upon arrival.

Anguilla, Grenada, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Cayman Islands require vaccination

The Caribbean has a mix of COVID regulations, with some nations dropping their COVID protocols, making it easier to access the islands without proof of vaccination or a pre-flight COVID test, and others maintaining protocols.

Some other Caribbean islands, such as the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, and St. Lucia, allow unvaccinated travelers but require them to quarantine for a certain period. These destinations are less attractive to travelers who have other Caribbean options without such requirements.

In contrast, islands like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have more lenient entrance policies, relying on testing rather than vaccines. These islands have seen a decrease in travel interest as vaccination rates have increased in their top markets, such as the United States and Canada.

Puerto Rico requires vaccination or frequent negative tests

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped travel trends, with vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers heading to different sets of Caribbean islands. While some islands have implemented mandatory vaccination policies for incoming travellers, others have more lenient protocols that rely on testing.

Puerto Rico, for example, initially gave the impression that it had a vaccine mandate. Discover Puerto Rico's website stated that "vaccinations are required" for guests and employees in hotels, house rentals, restaurants and bars. However, this is not entirely accurate. In reality, Puerto Rico allows unvaccinated travellers to enter without quarantining. A negative COVID-19 test on arrival is sufficient, and weekly negative tests will be needed afterward. This flexibility means that unvaccinated travellers can still visit Puerto Rico, provided they are willing to undergo frequent testing.

This policy stands in contrast to other Caribbean islands with stricter requirements. At least seven Caribbean nations and territories, including Anguilla, Grenada, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, have announced mandatory vaccination policies for incoming adult travellers. These destinations are proving less attractive to unvaccinated travellers, who are instead gravitating towards islands with more lenient protocols.

The relative strictness or leniency of entrance requirements is significantly influencing travel choices in the region. Unvaccinated travellers are choosing to visit places that do not require quarantines or vaccine certificates, while vaccinated individuals prefer destinations that enforce vaccination protocols. This divergence in preferences is leading to a noticeable shift in tourism patterns across the Caribbean islands.

The British Virgin Islands, Barbados, and St. Lucia, for instance, allow unvaccinated travellers to enter but impose a quarantine period. Data suggests that few travellers are willing to undergo quarantine, especially when they have alternative options that do not involve such restrictions. As a result, these destinations are seeing lower demand from unvaccinated travellers.

The US Virgin Islands don't require COVID documentation

The US Virgin Islands are among a handful of Caribbean destinations that rely on testing rather than vaccination status to determine entry requirements. As of May 31, 2022, the US Virgin Islands dropped all COVID-19 entry requirements for domestic travellers. This means that unvaccinated travellers no longer need to show a negative PCR or rapid test upon arrival, nor do they need to fill out the USVI Screening Portal before entry.

However, international travellers to the US Virgin Islands, including Americans, will still need to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or rapid) taken within 24 hours of arrival. These requirements also apply to travellers coming from the British Virgin Islands, which has separate entry requirements.

The US Virgin Islands' approach to COVID-19 entry requirements is in contrast to other Caribbean islands, such as the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, and St. Lucia, which require unvaccinated travellers to quarantine for a certain period. At least seven Caribbean nations and territories, including Anguilla, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis, have announced mandatory vaccination policies for incoming adult travellers.

The US Virgin Islands' policy change was decreed by an executive order from Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., with the commissioner of tourism, Joseph Boschulte, stating that "the health and well-being of our residents and visitors alike continue to be our biggest priority."

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