The Bahamas is officially open for tourism. 

The 700-island destination reopened its borders for international tourism on July 1, part of a phased reopening that began with a reopening for boaters and private aviation on June 15. 

Most crucially, incoming travelers must present a COVID-19 RT-PCR negative test upon arrival (that’s the swab test). 

Those arriving from July 1 to July 7 must present test results no more than 10 days old. 

Those arriving after July 7 must present results no more than seven days old. 

The testing protocol does not apply for children under the age of two; children between the ages of 3 and 10, provided their state or country doesn’t administer tests for children under that age (a proof of testing restriction must be submitted). 

All travelers must also present an electronic Health Visa (you can find it here) prior to departure; travelers must upload their test results and provide contact information. 

There is no quarantine required upon arrival — but travelers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an area away from other passengers for further testing. 

The reopening means hotels and vacation rentals are now open to guests, with airlines relaunching their service. 

The first airline to return to The Bahamas is Southwest Airlines, which returns July 1 from Baltimore-Washington. 

On July 2, JetBlue will resume its daily service between New York and Nassau, as will Delta Air Lines from Atlanta, which is flying twice daily on that route. 

United will be relaunching its daily flights from Houston and Newark on July 6, while weekly Denver-Nassau service on Saturdays will resume July 11. 

And American Airlines will be launching daily flights from Charlotte to Nassau; Miami to Exuma and Miami to Eleuthera, all on July 7. 

Twice-daily flights from Miami to Nassau will also launch July 7. 

So what’s open? Resorts like the Warwick Paradise Island, Riu Palace Paradise Island and Island House all reopening on July 1, along with Nassau’s legendary Graycliff hotel.

That’s along with a number of Out Islands resorts like Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island, the Kahari Resort and Staniel Cay Yacht Club in Exuma, Valentines Resort on Harbour Island and the Carriearl Boutique Hotel in The Berry Islands, for example. 

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Aruba has reopened its borders for tourists from Canada, Europe and the rest of the Caribbean (with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Haiti).

The Dutch Caribbean island had already reopened to travel from nearby Bonaire and Curacao. 

On July 10, Aruba will begin receiving travelers from the United States. 

Most notably, all visitors to Aruba need to present a COVID-19 negative test from a certified lab — with the test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure. 

Aruba is also requiring the purchase of “Aruba Visitors Insurance,” which the country says “helps to protect you against medical and non-medical expenses incurred if you test positive for COVID-19 during your stay in Aruba.”

That costs $15 per person per day of the trip. 

Travelers also need to fill out an electronic ED form (here’s where to find it).

All passengers will still be screened with a short health status interview and a temperature check.

“Aruba’s sunny shores are welcoming visitors once again,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said in a statement. “Aruba’s diligent reopening will happen in phases, monitored closely by the Government of Aruba and the Department of Public Health.”

A number of the island’s resorts are reopening this month; the Renaissance Aruba and Boardwalk Boutique Hotel have already relaunched, while the Hilton Aruba, for example, is opening July 9.

The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort never officially closed, having now completed a series of health and safety and cosmetic upgrades to the Eagle Beach-area property. 

— CJ

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Barbados is the latest Caribbean destination planning to reopen its borders for tourism. 

The Caribbean island will officially begin receiving visitors on July 12, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced. 

The move comes after Barbados has reported 35 days with no new cases of COVID-19. 

The first commercial flights to Barbados will kick off with Air Canada service from Toronto on July 12. 

On July 18, British Airways will resume service from London Gatwick, and JetBlue will be relaunching flights from New York to Barbados on July 25, with four weekly flights out of John F. Kennedy International Airport. 

On Aug. 5, American airlines will be resuming flights to Barbados out of Miami. 

“We will continue to take a risk based approach to the protection of our country, our people and our visitors,” Mottley said.

So what should visitors to Barbados know before they plan their trips?

Travelers will be required to present evidence of a negative result of a PCR COVID-19 test and a bar code to clear immigration. 

All travelers from “high risk” countries are “strongly encouraged” to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure for Barbados, according to Tourism Minister Kerrie Symmonds.  

Barbados is defining “high risk” countries as those with more than 10,000 cases in the prior seven days, with community transmission. That would include the United States. 

Travelers from “low risk” countries (those with less than 100 new cases in the previous seven days) will have up to one week prior to departure for Barbados to take their tests. 

Travelers will also have to fill out a new online “Embarkation/Disembarkation” ED card, which will include personal questions relating to COVID-19 symptoms. (You can find the card here)

Once all required steps are included (along with supporting documents uploaded), travelers will receive a bar code. 

Those travelers without a documented negative PCR test result will be required to take a test upon arrival, and will be quarantined at their expense, with an anticipated wait time of 48 hours for the results. 

If travelers fail that test, they will be replaced in isolation “where they will receive care from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.”

For more, visit Barbados. 

— CJ

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