Puerto Rico Lifts All Travel Restrictions for Travelers — What to Know

Puerto Rico will get rid of all pandemic-related border protocols for home vacationers this week, opening the door to a lot simpler journey between the island territory and mainland United States.

Beginning March 10, vacationers heading to Puerto Rico on a home flight will not be required to indicate proof of vaccination or a detrimental COVID-19 take a look at, nor will they be required to finish a journey declaration type earlier than their journey, according to Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s vacation spot advertising and marketing group.

“Touring to Puerto Rico is changing into simpler because the Island continues to guide vaccination efforts and contagion charges proceed to lower,” Brad Dean, the CEO of Uncover Puerto Rico, said in a statement. “In the present day’s announcement lifting entry necessities for home vacationers and decreasing restrictions on Island, will deliver a brand new journey expertise to these visiting. Because the pandemic evolves, so will our efforts surrounding the well being and security of tourists and residents.”

Along with new entry protocols, the island will get rid of the requirement that individuals present proof of vaccination or a detrimental take a look at to enter businesses like hotels and eating places, however particular person venues will probably be allowed to implement their very own guidelines.

The island, which boasts one of the highest vaccination rates within the nation at 81.7%, can even carry its masks mandate, as a substitute merely recommending masks be worn.

The brand new journey guidelines are an enlargement of the island’s resolution to ease some restrictions earlier this 12 months when officers eliminated a pre-arrival testing requirement for vaccinated vacationers and allowed unvaccinated vacationers to skip quarantine in the event that they arrived with proof of a detrimental take a look at taken inside the previous two days.

Whereas the foundations are altering for home guests, worldwide vacationers who fly to a U.S. territory should nonetheless present proof of a detrimental take a look at taken within one day of their departure. American vacationers heading again to a U.S. state after visiting Puerto Rico are exempt from the testing requirement.

Puerto Rico is not alone in dropping COVID-19-related journey restrictions. Within the U.S., Hawaii plans to end its Safe Travels program for home guests later this month, and a number of other cities have lifted vaccine mandates on indoor areas like bars and eating places, together with New York City and Los Angeles.

Alison Fox is a contributing author for Journey + Leisure. When she’s not in New York Metropolis, she likes to spend her time on the seaside or exploring new locations and hopes to go to each nation on the planet. Observe her adventures on Instagram.