Dominican Republic Travel – Visit Without A Vaccine Or PCR Test
Good news for anyone in need of a Caribbean break, as the Dominican Republic makes changes to its rules relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that travelers don’t need to be vaccinated against the virus to gain entry, nor do they need to provide a negative PCR test to travel here. Under most circumstances, travelers also don’t need to quarantine on arrival in the Dominican Republic.
What are the new protocols in the Dominican Republic?
Between 3 and 15 percent of travelers arriving at airports or other ports of entry into the Dominican Republic will now be required to perform a breath test. This will also be administered to anyone with virus symptoms. The latter will be placed into quarantine, as will anyone who does test positive for COVID-19.
Visitors will also be required to complete an electronic entry and exit form prior to traveling to the Dominican Republic. This form will combine a traveler’s health affidavit, international embarkation and disembarkation forms and a customs declaration.
The Dominican Republic is launching the new protocols as part of its range of incentives to attract visitors back to the Caribbean country. It is also offering travelers arriving on commercial flights and staying at hotels in the Dominican Republic a free, temporary health insurance plan to cover them in the event that they contract COVID-19.
International visitors staying at a selection of hotels will receive viral antigen and PCR testing, either free or charge, or for a small administration fee. This option will be particularly convenient for travelers who require testing for the return leg of their trip, including US citizens.
Curfew in the Dominican Republic
It should be noted that until May 16, a curfew is in place in the Dominican Republic from Monday through Friday from 10 pm to 5 am and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 pm to 5 am. Free transit is available between the evening curfew and midnight to ensure that visitors can return to their hotels.
During curfew, hotel guests can move freely within their resort property. However, they are required to stay on the property during those curfew hours.
Readers can find more information from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism’s website. Also, travelers should always check the travel guidelines for their country of origin and destination prior to planning their trip.
What can the Dominican Republic offer?
This Caribbean destination offers a wide selection of landscapes, including mountainous scenery, gorgeous beaches, desert scrublands and cities and towns with beautiful colonial architecture.
The island has miles of coastline, featuring some white sand beaches backed by palm trees, as well as beaches backed by rocky cliffs or dunes, or even mangrove lagoons. Quaint fishing villages are dotted along the coastline, along with lively tourist resorts. The Dominican Republic also features a number of parks and reserves where wildlife can be spotted, including migrating humpback whales.
Inland, visitors can explore the fertile interior, including lush jungles, beautiful waterfalls and rivers. The mountainous scenery includes four of the five highest peaks in the Caribbean, rising above the lowlands surrounding Santiago.
The cities and towns are fascinating, including Santo Domingo, with its Zona Colonial lined by beautiful architecture and cobblestone streets. Puerto Plata and Santiago feature crumbling gingerbread homes and lively communities. Newer communities have sprung up just a short distance from the ruins where Christopher Columbus once stayed.
Throughout the Dominican Republic, travelers can enjoy warm hospitality, lively music and delicious, traditional food, as they enjoy their Caribbean break after a year or more of the pandemic.
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