The Most Accessible Caribbean Destinations This Summer

The world is beginning to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic but many destinations have implemented strict requirements to ensure that visitors are arriving healthy. The Caribbean is no exception as many popular islands have begun welcoming back guests but in many cases only those who have tested negative for COVID-19 within a short timeframe of their trip. Here are some of the places that will be the easiest for travelers to experience this summer.

Located less than 150 miles from Miami, the recently reopened Bahamas is one of the most accessible Caribbean destinations for Americans, especially those visiting from the East Coast. While the islands are requiring arrivals to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, the result only needs to be less than seven days old to grant entry.

Visitors to Barbados from countries that have been deemed "high risk" like the U.S. will need a negative COVID-19 PCR (nasal swab) test prior to travel. Additionally, the Caribbean country is giving internationals added incentive to visit and stay longer this summer by introducing a 12-month visa for those choosing to work and live remotely.

The Dominican Republic reopened to international tourism on July 1, allowing flights to Punta Cana and other popular vacation destinations while reopening about half of the country's hotels and resorts. Travelers should anticipate numerous health and safety protocols such as temperature checks and face mask and social distancing requirements from arrival to departure.

Americans visiting Puerto Rico from July 15 on still won't need a passport but will require a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours of arrival to gain entry. Otherwise, they'll have to undergo a test on-site and risk being placed in quarantine for 14 days if they test positive for coronavirus.

Saint Lucia's revised entry requirements mean that all visitors arriving from the U.S. and other places outside of the Caribbean travel bubble will need to provide proof of a negative PCR or nasal swab test completed within seven days of travel. Travelers also need to complete a Pre-Arrival Travel Registration Form, which most if not all destinations are requiring at this point in time.

Like Puerto Rico, Americans don't need a passport to experience the U.S. Virgin Islands, making this destination that much more accessible. Still, the USVI is enhancing its COVID-19 response this month, requiring a negative antigen test taken within five days prior to travel or a positive antibody test completed within four months of travel from any state with a positivity rate of greater than 10 percent. This rule includes states such as Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Texas, among others.