When Caribbean Countries Will Re-Open: An Updated Report

The world is beginning to open up, with the Caribbean leading the way. These beautiful islands have been off-limits to travelers for months, but the coming days and weeks will see many places reopen to international visitors albeit with restrictions and requirements ranging from curfews and health checks to capacity limits. For now, here's the latest intel on when you can experience the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda re-opened to international tourists on June 4. The first phase is expected to last from June through September and will see airports mandating temperature checks for all arrivals. Face coverings will also be required for anyone entering facilities.

Aruba plans to open borders to visitors from Canada, Europe and most Caribbean countries on Canada Day, July 1. Travellers from the United States have to wait until July 10. Beginning on June 15 the country's borders will be reopened to travelers from nearby Bonaire and Curacao. Travelers to Aruba should anticipate some hurdles this summer, including pre-screening for COVID-19, temperature checks and mandatory quarantine for those who fail to comply, among others.

The Bahamas is reopening to international travelers on July 1 and is currently working to ensure the safety of visitors as well as provide peace of mind during hurricane season. "We are putting an even greater emphasis on making sure The Bahamas is safe and clean for everyone and look forward to once again providing travelers with the tropical experience our islands are known for," Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation Director-General Joy Jibrilu said in a statement.

Barbados' primary airport is closed to international flights through June 30, and beach access is limited to only a few hours as the island aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The British Virgin Islands will open its borders under phase two of its COVID-19 recovery plan. However, only persons deemed to belong to the territory and those with resident status will be allowed entry over the second phase's initial three months.

The Cayman Islands had been eyeing a September 1 reopening, but that appears to be too optimistic heading into summer. "Given what I and everybody else is seeing in the United States, the September 1 reopening date is not looking good," Premier Alden McLaughlin said last month.

Cuba is hoping to reopen its airports as soon as July 1, but that date is dependent on the trend of the country's COVID-19 cases. American Airlines plans to begin operating four daily flights from Miami to Havana on July 7.

Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit anticipates that the country could open its borders to "at least regional travel" by July if it maintains its current trajectory. The island is currently enforcing an overnight curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday-Friday and from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Dominican Republic, the hardest-hit country in the Caribbean, plans to reopen to tourism on July 1. Travellers should keep in mind that not all hotels will reopen their doors at the same time next month.

Grenada is eyeing a June 30 reopening date, according to Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, however, that timetable will depend on whether the country has all of the necessary protocols in place by then. The tourism authority issued the following statement this week: "The tri-island destination Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is preparing for the gradual reopening of its borders in the coming weeks while creating a new way of doing business in the Tourism industry. As work continues, the main areas of focus are the training of tourism personnel and implementing new health and safety standards. Already training is ongoing in the accomodation, transportation and food and beverage sectors under the guidance of the Ministry of Health."

Jamaica plans to reopen its borders to international travellers on June 15. Visitors will be required to undergo health screening upon arrival as the country looks to reinvigorate its economy while limiting the spread of illness.

There's currently no timetable on when travelers will be able to experience Montserrat without restrictions. "Our borders are still closed and the movement of people into Montserrat is restricted," Montserrat Premier Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell announced in mid-May. "However, we all know that the time will come when our borders will have to be opened to the movement of people into and out of the island, and at that time we will once again be at an increased risk of exposure. So, we have to ensure that appropriate protocols are in place to manage this potential risk."

Puerto Rico reopened beaches, restaurants and other businesses at limited capacity in late May but the U.S. territory will officially reopen to all international travelers on July 15.

Officials in St. Kitts and Nevis have stopped short of issuing a specific date for reopening, with Prime Minister Timothy Harris calling it a "moving target" and noting that citizens' safety "must come first."

Saint Lucia began a phased reopening on June 4. "Our people, our beaches and our mountains await you in all of their splendour. Now, the way we used to vibe will change just a little bit [with] responsible tourism [and] heightened protocols. There's still going to be plenty of fun in the sun," the country's minister of tourism, Dominic Fedee, said in a recent video message.

The reopening of Trinidad and Tobago's borders would come in the sixth phase of the country's strategic reopening plan, which began on May 11. Phase 3 is scheduled for June 7-June 20 assuming cases don't jump, with additional phases taking effect later this summer.

The Turks and Caicos Islands will begin welcoming travelers back on July 22, with officials planning to reveal new safety protocols in the coming weeks. "We are eager and excited to reopen our borders and safely welcome travelers back to the picturesque Turks and Caicos Islands later this summer," said Pamela Ewing, director of tourism for the islands' Tourist Board.

The U.S. Virgin Islands began welcoming visitors back on June 1. The American territory has established public health and tourism protocols to ensure a safe return for visitors and has provided comprehensive health and safety guidelines for the islands' tourism industry.