A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer – Cond Nast Traveler

We'd all love to lay out on a beach right nowand no one does beaches better than the Caribbean. But with many Caribbean islands reopening, questions for travelers remain: Do you need to take a COVID-19 test before arriving? How are hotels and resorts stepping up cleaning efforts? Will you be able to rent snorkel equipment? And, importantly, do you have to wear a face mask on the beach?

To help you sift from all the information out there, we broke down exactly what to expect if you're heading to the Caribbean in the coming months, for every destination with a reopening plan. Note that not everyone is rushing to welcome travelers back: you won't find the Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, or Curaao belowas they don't plan on open their borders anytime soon. (We've also left off the Dominican Republic, which has announced a July 1 opening date, but has yet to share many details beyond that.)

Read on for what to know about visiting the Caribbean this summer. And as you plan your visits, remember to keep checking in on local government and tourism board sites, as coronavirus updates come often.

This dual-island country officially reopened its borders, and its international airport on Antigua, on June 1. (As of publishing, American is flying the only route from the U.S., with a daily flight from Miami.) Visitors have two options when it comes to Antigua and Barbuda's mandatory coronavirus testing: you can pay $100 for free test at the airport upon arrival and quarantine in your hotel for about 24 hours until you get the results; or you can quarantine at your hotel or rental for the first 14 days of your stay.

You'll have to wear a mask in all public places, and when interacting with others outside your family circlebut you won't have to wear them at beaches or pools where social distancing is possible, Colin James, head of the country's tourism board told the Telegraph. At beach bars, stools will be removed and tables will be at last six feet apart; and, for now, local restaurants outside of hotels will be restricted to takeout. All hotels and villas are also being certified by the local government to ensure they're following local health and cleaning guidelines. Check back on the government's COVID-19 site for continuing updates.

Aruba reopens to American travelers next month

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Aruba is reopening its border in stages. First, on July 1, European, Canadian, and Caribbean tourists (with the exception of the those from the Dominican Republic and Haiti) will be able to visit. Then, on July 10, that will extend to U.S. travelers. No date has been announced for travelers from countries not mentioned above. Like a number of U.S. airlines, Aruba is requiring visitors to both complete a health questionnaire and upload negative COVID-19 PCR test results, within 72 hours of arriving, as part of a new embarkation and disembarkation (ED) card process. (You can also prepay for a COVID-19 test upon arrival at Queen Beatrix International Airport.) Once you've filled out that ED card and received approval to visit, you're set to fly.

As for the experience on the ground, masks are not required, but are requested in situations where social distancing is difficult. Hotels have installed plexiglass barriers at front desks, and many are offering contactless check-in. Outdoor restaurants have been open since late May, restaurants with seating inside (as well as spas) opened June 1, and bars and nightclubs opened on June 10. The island has also instituted a Health & Happiness Codeessentially a certification that shows that a tour operator, water activities coordinator, car rental company, or spa is complying with suggested safety guidelines.

The 700 islands that make up the Bahamas have a two-prong plan: First, international boaters (including yachters) and those with private planes were allowed to visit starting June 15. Next, on July 1, all international visitors will be welcome as long as they can show negative COVID-19 results from a test taken within 10 days of arrival, according to the Miami Herald. (There will be temperature checks at arrival points, too.) All visitors, no matter what mode of transportation they're using, will have to fill out a questionnaire, or "travel health card," before flying for government approval.

Hotels, villas, and Airbnbs will also open to guests on July 1, with enhanced cleaning in guest rooms and public spaces, and readily available hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes required by the health ministry across properties. Some hotels will also be limiting the number of guests in elevators. Masks will only be required when social distancing is not an option (like at the airport), and government officials ask that visitors "pack appropriate PPE such as face masks, just as they would their swimsuits and sunscreen." You'll be able to eat in at restaurants that separate their tables to provide social distance, and most shops, equipment and beach rentals, and boating companies will be open.

Jamaica is among the first Caribbean islands reopening to international tourists

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Jamaica's international borders officially reopened June 15, but tourists are only allowed to travel within a specific stretch of coast, between Negril and Port Antonio (which includes Montego Bay and Ocho Rios). Set up with many of the top tourist attractions in the region, this corridor is intended to limit exposure from international travelers and provide easier contact tracing, should someone develop COVID-19 symptoms. "The most important thing is to be able to trace the visitors and to contain their movement," said Edmund Bartlett, the country's tourism minister, at a press conference in early June.

Before flying, travelers will need to complete an online health assessment (found here). Temperature checks will be required on arrival as well, but travelers do not have to present or take a COVID-19 test. Restaurants are currently limited to 70 percent capacity (without buffets), social distancing is required on beaches and at pools, and you cannot congregate in groups of more than 10. Visitors should note that a country-wide curfew is still in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, through June 30.

The island will be reopening to tourists July 15, as a phased reopening rolls out for locals: As of June 16, restaurants have reopened and are operating at 50-percent capacity with required temperature checks; public beaches, natural reserves, and golf courses are open (although groups must limit themselves to members of the same household); and visits to national parks like El Yunque are possible, by appointment only.

Travelers arriving in July will have to undergo a health screening at the airport, and may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of symptoms, or take a rapid results test at the discretion of the National Guard and health officials. Note, only the reopening of air travel has been announcedcruising is still on pause until further notice. Full details for incoming visitors have not been released, but in the meantime, be sure to check out Puerto Rico's health and safety guidelines for hotels, villas, and Airbnbs before your stay.

St. Lucia is rolling out a sanitization certification for hotels and rentals

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St. Lucia began welcoming travelers back on June 4, as long as they could provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight. A pre-flight health assessment, and temperature checks at the airport, are the norm now as well. Hotels and rentals are getting sanitization certification to ensure health and safety for guestif you're not staying at a certified accommodation, you'll have to quarantine for 14 days, so ask your hotel or host if they've been certified in advance. Restaurants on the island are currently only open for delivery or takeout. The country has created an extensive COVID-19 Q&A online, which it's updating with new information as the reopening continues.

Among the first Caribbean islands to reopen on June 1, St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix are currently accepting visitors. Most hotels have reopened with additional cleaning measures in place, and restaurants are operating at 50 percent capacity (or no more than 50 guests, whichever it hits first). Masks are required in public places and where social distancing of six feet is difficult to maintain. And, most importantly, beaches are open as long as social distancing is practiced.

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

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A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer - Cond Nast Traveler