Caribbean Yacht Destinations Update

December 22, 2020

Prepared: 10th December

In advance of the Caribbean season, we present an overview of the COVID situation in most of the region’s most popular yacht destinations.

Regulations are subject to change, so in order to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information, we would always recommend using an accredited AYSS member yacht agent wherever possible.

In the Caribbean, AYSS agents can be found in the following locations: Antigua, Bermuda, BVIs, Costa Rica, Dominica, Panama, St Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These agents will help you navigate your way around their and their neighbouring islands.

Island-hopping is complicated this season by divergent regulations, such as in the French island bubble and CARICOM, whose mutual arrangements have been suspended temporarily.

It should be taken as read that each destination has COVID sanitation regulations in place, such as health screening, restricted capacity, curfews, mask-wearing and other hygiene measures. Please consult each destination’s official website for details regarding health provisions, testing facilities and insurance requirements.

ANGUILLA

  • Open to pre-approved visitors, who must provide a negative PCR test result (<5 days)
  • All visitors must complete an individual application (including children)
  • For more information, visit: https://ivisitanguilla.com/escape/apply.html or telephone +1 264 476 7627

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

ARUBA

BAHAMAS

BARBADOS

  • Open to yachts coming from medium- and low-risk countries, subject to complete advance health form (https://www.travelform.gov.bb/home) and a negative PCR test taken up to three days prior to arrival. Countries include Australia, NZ, China, nearby islands.
  • High-risk arrivals, including from the USA, South America, Europe and UK, must also submit the pre-arrival PCR and quarantine for two days before being re-tested.
  • For more information, vist: https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2020

BERMUDA

BONAIRE

  • Open to yachts, for visitors from all countries, travelling from or via Curaçao or The Netherlands
  • Visitors must present a negative PCR test (<72 hours) and complete health declaration, here https://bonairepublichealth.org/en/form. Travellers from Saba and Sint Eustatius do not have to undergo a PCR test.
  • Yachts must ask the Bonaire Harbor Master for permission to enter. You must have a reservation at Bonaire Marina and complete the Maritime Declaration of Health provided by the marina office
  • For more information, visit https://www.bonairecrisis.com/en

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

CAYMAN ISLANDS

COSTA RICA

CUBA

  • Open to visitors, subject to completed health declaration and PCR test upon arrival, followed by five days’ self-isolation and a second test
  • USA State Dept advises US citizens not to travel to Cuba
  • For more details, visit https://salud.msp.gob.cu/

CURAÇAO

  • Open, no quarantine for arrivals from most Caribbean countries
  • Pre-arrival negative PCR required for arrivals from low/medium-risk countries or states (incl Canada, Florida, New York, Connecticut, China/HK, India, Italy, Germany). Closed to high-risk countries  
  • For more information, visit: https://gobiernu.cw/corona-travel-to-curacao/

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FRENCH GUIANA

  • Regulations for French Overseas Territories in the Caribbean mirror those of mainland France, except for Martinique
  • Open without any COVID restrictions to visitors from the EU, UK, Australia, Japan, Monaco, NZ, Norway, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand
  • Visitors arriving from the USA, China, Israel, Panama, South Africa, Russia, Turkey, UAE, or Ukraine, must present a negative PCR test taken not more than 72 before boarding flights
  • Visitors from other countries are advised to travel only with valid negative PCR tests 
  • All visitors must complete a health declaration, here https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Attestation-de-deplacement-et-de-voyage

GRENADA

  • Open to visitors from low-risk countries with a negative PCR test taken within the previous 7 days. Includes Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, BVI, China, Guernsey, IoM, Japan, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
  • Visitors to Grenada must apply for a ‘Pure Safe Travel Certificate’, here https://travelauth.health.gov.gd/
  • Visitors from all other countries must present a negative PCR test, quarantine on board for 5 days, undergo a fresh PCR test on Day 4, before entering the territory
  • All yachts must register on Sailclear https://sailclear.com/ before departing for Grenada, and anchor in the dedicated Quarantine Zone
  • For more information, visit https://covid19.gov.gd/grenada-yacht-entry-protocol-october-2020/

GUADELOUPE

JAMAICA

  • Open to visitors from destinations worldwide, though “residents (sic) of the USA, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico or Panama are required to present a negative PCR or Antigen test.”
  • Online information is vague regarding visitors from other countries; it is therefore advisable to seek specific guidance from Jamaican authorities in planning your visit
  • All visitors must seek travel authorisation, here https://travelauth.visitjamaica.com/

MARTINIQUE

MONTSERRAT

PANAMA

PUERTO RICO

SABA

  • Open to tourism, without PCR test, only from St. Eustatius (Statia), Anguilla, St. Kitts
  • Visitors from Bonaire and Canada may enter the territory subject to 14 days’ quarantine, while arrivals from all other countries must quarantine, in addition to PCR testing pre- and post-arrival
  • For more information, visit: http://www.sabatourism.com/entry-saba

ST. EUSTATIUS (STATIA)

ST. BARTS / SAINT-MARTIN

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

  • Open to tourists, from all countries, arriving by air or sea
  • All arrivals must complete the travel authorization form, here: www.knatravelform.kn
  • All arrivals must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departing the last port of call or conducted before departure if at sea longer than 3 days
  • Yachts must register with www.sailclear.com before leaving the previous port
  • Yachts must dock at one of six designated ports and submit the Maritime Declaration of Health.
  • If applicable, vessels must quarantine at a designated port
  • For more information, visit: https://www.stkittstourism.kn/travel-advisory-update

ST. LUCIA

  • Open to all visitors who have spent 21 days within the ‘Travel Bubble’, consisting of Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. PCR test results to be provided and screening on arrival
  • Open to all other visitors subject to a Travel Authorisation Letter sent to applicants upon completion of the online registration form, here: https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/travel-registration-form/
  • Arrivals must present the above, plus a completed health screening form, downloaded here
  • All arrivals (5+ yrs) must have a negative PCR test result, taken no more than 7 days before arrival. Test results must be submitted by email before travel to sarscov2ell@gmail.com
  • In-transit passengers with a same-day onward journey do not require travel authorisation, but must demonstrate verified arrangements to join a boat
  • Arrivals from outside the Travel Bubble who are not joining a boat must stay in COVID-certified accommodation and are restricted to certified excursions only for the duration of their stay
  • For more information, visit: https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/

SINT MAARTEN (SXM)

  • Open to visitors from all countries, with official ‘Protocol for Yachts’ in place for the 2020/21 season
  • Air passengers must present negative PCR test, taken <120 hours of the last leg of trip
  • Arrivals from other than low-risk countries must complete a travel form (EHAS), here: https://stmaartenehas.com/application-form/
  • Arrivals by sea, on vessels coming from a low-risk country are not required to provide a negative PCR test result 
  • Arrivals by sea, on vessels coming from a moderate- or high-risk country must provide a negative PCR test result, along with all other entrance documents, to a Yacht Agent in advance of arrival
  • If testing was not possible prior to departure from last port, yachts can enter St. Maarten under quarantine, with testing to be done within 24 hours of arrival, coordinated by the Yacht Agent
  • Protocols are in place for yachts calling only for fuel/provisions, or meeting in- or out-bound private flights
  • For more information, visit: https://www.yachtingstmaarten.com/latest-covid-19-protocols-2020-2021-yachting-season
  • AYSS agent: Dockside Management

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

  • Trinidad and Tobago’s international borders are closed. 

TURKS & CAICOS

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

  • Open to visitors from all countries, required to obtain travel pre-authorisation via the Travel Screening Portal, here: https://usvitravelportal.com/
  • Arrivals must present a negative PCR OR antigen test result (<5 days) OR an antibody POSITIVE test result (<4 months)
  • Visitors and residents who have travel or tourism-related inquiries are asked to email info@usviupdate.com or call the Department of Tourism at +1 340-774-8784 in the St. Thomas-St. John District, +1 340-772-0357 on St. Croix

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