If you are unvaccinated for whatever reason, it may seem that there is nowhere in the Caribbean for you to visit. However, while many islands are only open to fully vaccinated travellers, there are some that are open to all.
Travelling the region unvaccinated does mean though that you are subject to quarantine and have to fulfil a number of requirements that could be costly.
Before you purchase that ticket, please check the tourism website of your intended destination and inform yourself of all the requirements as protocols are constantly being updated.
Here are some islands still open to the unvaccinated.
Curacao
Curacao’s protocols are based on the categorisation of countries: Very Low Risk, Low Risk, High Risk or Very High Risk. Apart from those protocols, all travellers who were in contact with a person who tested positively for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to arrival will be placed in mandatory isolation. You must be adequately insured for medical care and any additional costs if you are quarantined or become ill during your stay. You must carry also carry a printed or digital document of proof of the mandatory steps at all times. For more information: www.curacao.com
Barbados
Unvaccinated travellers must take a PCR test within three days of arrival, quarantine at a pre-approved accommodation and take a second PCR test five days after arrival and await results. For more information: visitbarbados.org
Bermuda
Unvaccinated travellers must complete their mandatory 14 day quarantine at an accommodation of their choice (at home or other accommodation). For more information: GoToBermuda.com.
British Virgin Islands
You will not be allowed to enter the BVI if you are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated if you do not apply for authorisation via the BVI Gateway Travel Application Portal no later than 48 hours upon arrival or within 24 hours of departure. A certified PCR negative test result must be uploaded to the portal three to five days prior to arrival and you must provide evidence of travel insurance which covers coid-19 medical costs, medical repatriation and quarantine accommodation costs. For more information: bvitourism.com
Dominica
Unvaccinated travellers are subjected to mandatory quarantine at a government-operated facility or a Safe in Nature-certified property for five days. You must also take a PCR test on day five and await results for up to 48 hours. Unvaccinated children under 18 traveling with fully vaccinated family must follow same protocols as their fully vaccinated family members. For more information: www.discoverdominica.com
Jamaica
Non-residents travelling for business purposes, who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated, would be released from quarantine if their PCR test is negative but will remain under a “Stay at Intended Address for Business Travellers” measure for the duration of their stay. If the test is positive, they would be required to isolate either at their hotel/intended address or in a government facility as determined by the health authorities.
For non-residents visiting for tourism purposes, they will undergo a health screening and risk assessment and may still be required to be tested at the airport or designated facility if they exhibit symptoms despite presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate to board their flight. In this case, travellers would await their test result in their hotel room. If the test is negative, they would leave the confines of their hotel room and continue their stay in Jamaica under the “Stay in Resilient Corridor” control measure. If the result of the test is positive, they would be isolated either at the hotel/resort or in a government facility as determined by the health authorities. For those visiting for other purposes including tourists and are not staying in the Resilient Corridor, if they are not vaccinated, or not fully vaccinated they will be placed under the Home Quarantine measure for a period of 14 days following the date of landing in Jamaica. For more information: https://www.visitjamaica.com/
Saint Lucia
All travellers 18 years and older must complete and submit an online travel registration form to receive travel authorisation. All travellers five years and over must take a PCR test five days or less before arrival in Saint Lucia and submit the negative results to the travel registration form for review and approval.
Unvaccinated passengers must be transferred by certified taxi to approved COVID-19 accommodation. Guests who are not fully vaccinated are required to remain on property for the duration of their stay except to transfer to another Covid-19 certified property to continue their stay, or to participate in certified activities, tours and excursions. After 14 days in COVID certified accommodation, international visitors who are not vaccinated may remain in COVID certified accommodation and continue to observe the protocols for stays in this type of accommodation, and they will also enjoy expanded access to the destination. For More information: www.stlucia.org
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Travellers to St. Vincent and the Grenadines must arrive with a negative PCR test result. Protocols regarding length of quarantine for unvaccinated visitors vary depending on the risk category your country of departure falls in. For More information:www.gov.vc
St Eustatius (Statia)
Unvaccinated travellers entering from low risk, high risk and very high risk countries must go into quarantine upon entry for 10 days (not including the day of travel). Those coming from very Low Risk countries are not required to quarantine. However, you must have been in a low risk country for 14 consecutive calendar days, not including the day of travel. All visitors will be screened on health and travel history upon arrival on Statia. For more information: statiagovernment.com
The Bahamas
Unvaccinated travellers ages 12 and older entering The Bahamas and/or those travelling inter-island from Nassau and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, Exuma, Abaco, and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island, must obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than five days prior to the date of arrival. For more information: www.bahamas.com