Officials in Puerto Rico recently announced that the U.S. territory will be easing some of its entry requirements for American travelers.
Effective February 2, fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S. mainland to the island will no longer have to present a negative Covid test result before entry. The 7-day quarantine requirement that’s currently in place will also be scraped for unvaccinated travelers, as long as they can present a negative Covid test taken from the previous 48 hours of travel to Puerto Rico.
Governor Announced Travel Update, Cited Lower Case Counts
The travel update was announced on Friday by Puerto Rico’s Governor, Pedro Pierluisi. He mentioned reports of significantly lower case counts as one of the reasons for the ease in restrictions.
Local restrictions will also be eased throughout the island for the month of February. You can see Governor Pierluisi post about the loosened local restrictions here via Twitter.
Please note that the entry restrictions for international travelers will not change at this time.
What Are The Entry Rules For Fully Vaccinated Travelers?
According to the updated guidance, fully vaccinated arrivals from the U.S. mainland will no longer have to present a negative Covid test result for travel to the island.
This testing requirement for all travelers to Puerto Rico was put in place at the end of December in the midst of the Omicron wave over the holidays.
What If I’m Unvaccinated And Traveling To Puerto Rico?
A 7-day quarantine requirement for all unvaccinated arrivals to Puerto Rico was also put in place at the end of last year, but this entry requirement will be scraped on Wednesday.
However, unvaccinated travelers will still have to present a negative Covid test result (molecular or antigen are both currently accepted) taken no later than 48 hours from travel to Puerto Rico.
Unvaccinated travelers who don’t present a test at entry will be required to take a test and self-isolate until the results come back negative. All positive test results must continue to quarantine for at least 10 days. Those who do not take a test upon entry will be subject to fines and have to quarantine for 7 days.
Health Declaration Form Required For Travel
Regardless of your vaccination status, all travelers to Puerto Rico must fill out an official Travel Declaration Form prior to departure.
All visitors can upload their test results or Covid vaccination records through the online form.
Some Restrictions At Restaurants, Bars And Large Events To Be Eased
Starting February 2, restaurants throughout the island will be able to operate at 75% capacity (indoor settings) and 50% for outdoor settings.
However, the requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative test result taken from the previous two days will still be in place at restaurants and bars. The mask requirements for all indoor venues will also remain for at least the month of February.
Bars in Puerto Rico will continue to operate at 50% capacity, but bars and shops that sell alcohol will no longer be required to close between the hours of midnight and 5 am. Proof of vaccination or a negative test will also still be required to attend any large events.
Things To Do In Puerto Rico
El Yunque National Forest is one of the most popular hikes and outdoor day trips to take when visiting Puerto Rico. There’s diverse flora, fauna and over 24 miles of paved trails to explore. The park is located just over 30 miles outside of the capital of San Juan.
After exploring the historic sights and colorful houses in Old San Juan, travelers can relax at Condado Beach or the beautiful Playa Peña. Then, head southwest to Cayo Aurora for some clear, calm waters that are perfect for kayaking.
