PUERTO RICO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

5 things every tourist visiting should know

Traveling to Puerto Rico is not hard, especially if you know what are the current Puerto Rico Travel Restrictions. Long gone are the days where there was a 7 pm curfew and beaches were closed. EVERYTHING is open. Now there is still a curfew, but we are ready to guide you in planning your trip.

1. Puerto Rico is OPEN

Puerto Rico continues to be among the most accessible travel destinations for Americans in the time of COVID-19. In order to experience this coveted Caribbean island, U.S. visitors don’t need a passport or a negative coronavirus test result before returning home. Part of the Puerto Rico Travel Restrictions indicates an implemented enhanced health and safety protocols over the last year. With safety measures in place, Puerto Rico continues to boast beautiful beaches, an array of nature, and enchanting history and culture. Traveling to Puerto Rico will come with new challenges in 2021. However, knowing what to expect, will go a long way toward ensuring a positive experience in the U.S. territory.

2. CDC Advice

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Puerto Rico due to the ongoing pandemic, advising against travel to the island but offering guidance for those who decide to visit, including pre- and post-travel COVID-19 testing, wearing a face mask, social distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing.

3. Travel Requirements / Puerto Rico Travel Restrictions

Visitors to Puerto Rico must complete a Travel Declaration Form through the Puerto Rico Health Department’s online portal at travelsafe.pr.gov. Travelers must provide proof of a negative PCR molecular COVID-19 test result obtained no more than 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid quarantine. After uploading their test results to the portal, travelers will receive an Airport Exit Confirmation number and QR Code. The island isn’t accepting rapid tests because they can sometimes yield false results.

Arriving passengers can also expect to be pre-screened via thermographic cameras that monitor temperatures. They should also anticipate enhanced protocols at baggage claim. Travelers arriving without a negative test result will be required to quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their stay, whichever is shorter. They will end the quarantine as soon as negative test results are provided digitally to the Puerto Rico Health Department. San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport offers on-site testing at a cost of $110. Fortunately, because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, visitors are excluded from the CDC testing requirement for travelers returning to the U.S.

4. Enhanced Health and Safety Protocols

Puerto Rico continues to enforce elevated health and safety measures across the island. This includes social distancing, mandatory face-coverings in public areas, and some restrictions on businesses. Businesses have limited capacities and enhanced standards of cleanliness to meet CDC and EPA guidelines. Puerto Rico’s public beaches and natural reserves have reopened with social distancing guidelines. Restaurants are operating at 30 percent capacity. Attractions like casinos, museums, and even hotel pools are operating at 50 percent capacity. Bars remain closed to slow the spread. Meanwhile, an island-wide curfew is in effect from midnight to 5 a.m.

5. Travel Deals

Travelers can find plenty of cheap flights to Puerto Rico in the coming months. Budget-friendly carriers such as Spirit and Southwest have special offers. Spirit is offering nonstop roundtrip flights between Washington, D.C., and San Juan for as little as $170 in March, based on Google Flight data. Southwest is advertising nonstop roundtrip options between Fort Lauderdale and San Juan for March, April and May travel from under $130. There are also excellent deals to be had on hotel and resort stays. For example, you can always visit our Canario Lagoon Hotel booking site to see what great deals are currently being offered. To see a bit more of what our Euro-style hotel offers, visit our website Canario Lagoon Hotel.