Last Updated on February 24, 2021 by haveclotheswilltravel
Turks and Caicos is open for tourism. The Providenciales Airport is taking international flights! However, this doesn’t mean things have gone back to “normal.” There are still plenty of precautions in place, and things, of course, are always changing.
My husband and I went to Turks and Caicos for our first international trip since COVID hit. We arrived at the end of January and returned this weekend (February 14, 2021). I received a landslide of questions from my Instagram stories such as, “Can US citizens even leave the US now? What kind of paperwork do you need? Are things even open? Can you eat at restaurants? Is it busy?” So, I thought it might be helpful to put a post together explaining the experience.
If you’re planning on traveling to Turks and Caicos in the near future, here are a few things to know before you go to make your trip more enjoyable and safer. I’m also more than happy to answer any questions in the comments section at the end of the post.
- Read next: What to Pack for Turks and Caicos in 2021 for Men & Women
- Read next: Honest Beaches Turks & Caicos Review: EVERYTHING You Need to Before You Book
As always, stay up-to-date on the current situation by visiting the CDC’s website for current regulations and guidelines regarding COVID.
7 Things to Know Before Traveling to Turks and Caicos During COVID-19
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1.) You will need to obtain a travel pre-authorization certification via the TCI Assured Portal.
What this means is:
*You will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. This test must be taken within 5 days prior to your travel to Turks. Children under the age of 10 are excluded from this requirement.
- A PCR COVID test is different than an antigen test! Double-check with your testing location to make sure it is a PCR test you are receiving. We went to our local CVS to have our tests done.
*Travel insurance that covers COVID-19 medical costs and full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance.
- I used Squaremouth to find our insurance policy, as it is the only site that currently lets you filter travel insurance policies for COVID-19 coverage. (I ended up buying the Trawick International Safe Travels Single Trip Insurance Policy.) You can enter you info in the widget below to see which policies are available or click here.
*A completed online health screening questionnaire.
- This is done when you begin uploading your documents to the TCI Assured Portal. It’s easy and only took a few minutes to do.
Once you upload all of these documents, you’ll get your certification. It honestly only took us about a half-hour to get ours back! (Although, we were talking to some locals that said it took a couple days before they get theirs.)
- Click here, to apply for your travel pre-authorization. (Only do this once you have your negative COVID test and insurance policy.)
Then, you will need to print all of these documents and have them ready to go for your flight to Turks and Caicos. Here is your MUST print list:
- Travel Authorization Form
- Negative COVID Test
- Travel Insurance Form
You will need these documents for EACH person who is traveling to Turks and Caicos. (I witnessed a man miss his connection flight to Turks and Caicos because he had left his printed Negative COVID Test at the check-in counter. ALWAYS make sure to have these documents on you when flying to Turks and Caicos.)
2.) You do not need to quarantine
Once you arrive to Turks and Caicos you do NOT need to quarantine.
We were able to dine at restaurants because we had stayed at a resort during the curfew.
3.) Restaurants and businesses are open, but curfews are in place
This changes RAPIDLY. Be ready to roll with the changes if you’re visiting Turks and Caicos amidst COVID.
This is currently what’s happening. I recommend following Visit TCI for the latest updates to the curfews.
- There is a curfew in place from 9 PM until 5 AM nightly until 3 March 2021. (This means you can NOT be out and about after 9 pm.) Businesses must close at 8 PM. This applies to all islands.
- Independent restaurants are required to close at 5 PM daily, and can only offer curbside take-out and delivery during the day. No dine-in service is allowed at non-hotel/resort restaurants.
- Restaurants at hotels and resorts can remain open for guests of the hotel and resort (including dine-in service).
Basically what this all means is, restaurants can only serve carry out. However, if you are staying at a hotel that has a restaurant on-site, they can serve you at their restaurant. All-inclusive resorts, like Beaches Turks & Caicos, are not affected by this. All restaurants/bars are open on these resorts.
We were staying at Beaches Turks & Caicos when this curfew went into place – that’s why we were still able to eat in restaurants on the resort.
Need a place to stay in Turks & Caicos? Click here for a list of hotels & resorts, and click here for Airbnb rentals.
4.) Masks are required in all public places
Any time you enter a business, taxi, are walking on the street, etc. you WILL need a face mask. (On the beach, though, almost no one was wearing a mask, but social distancing was in place.) I packed both disposable masks and cloth masks.
Most taxis and businesses will also require you to use hand sanitizer before you enter. Almost all will provide this for you, but I kept a pocket-sized sanitizer on me always, just in case.
5.) You can travel between islands – domestic flights are operating
There are flights operating between the islands, but again, this can change. For example, we were unable to fly from Grand Turk to Salt Cay, due to a 2-week window where flights weren’t going. (We took a boat instead.) And our flight from Provo to Grand Turk also was canceled (due to us being the only passengers), and we were put on a different flight that day. Again, everything is still a bit up-in-the-air… just be prepared for changes.
6.) US Citizens need a negative COVID test before they can return to the US
I had received comments from quite a few followers who were surprised Americans could leave the US. You can leave…however, you must test negative for COVID before you can return to the US. You will need to take a test 3 days prior to your departure. (This does not need to be a PCR test – antigen is fine.)
Again, because we stayed at Beaches Turks & Caicos, we had our COVID test included in our stay. Many folks who were not staying at a resort were going to Seven Stars to take their COVID tests. (You can book your test online via Seven Stars, here. It costs $50.)
We pretty much had the beach to ourselves.
7.) There are hardly any people visiting Turks and Caicos right now
Social distancing is not difficult in Turks and Caicos right now. There are virtually no tourists. We had stayed at a hotel in Provo then Grand Turk and also Salt Cay… and we only ran into a handful of other travelers.
That being said, there were quite a few people at Beaches Turks & Caicos. It was by no means full, but there were more people here than anywhere else we had been on this vacation.
If anyone has any questions at all about traveling to Turks and Caicos, I’m happy to answer them in the comments section at the end of the post!
- Read next: Honest Beaches Turks & Caicos Review: EVERYTHING You Need to Before You Book
- Read next: What to Pack for Turks and Caicos in 2021 for Men & Women
- Need a place to stay? Click here for a list of hotels and resorts in Turks and Caicos, and click here for Airbnb rentals.
Hello! Great information. We are thinking about going to T & C in May for our daughter’s college graduation. It is one of the few places you don’t have to quarantine. We were thinking about 3 days on Grand Turk and then finish on Provo for 5 or 6 days. But I am questioning if it is worth it to go to Grand Turk? We love culture, history, as well as the fun of adventure activities. Thoughts? Thanks!
Oh, tough question! Unfortunately, when I was there a few weeks ago, the curfew was in place… so, I wasn’t able to experience much of Grand Turk while I was there. That being said, I would argue Pillory Beach (on Grand Turk) is even more beautiful than Grace Bay Beach. Snorkeling with the rays on Gibbs Cay is also a fun experience. Provo was far more lively (and more businesses seemed to be open) at the time I had visited, though.
Another option would be to go to North Caicos or Salt Cay for a couple days. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path and enjoy a bit of adventure – this would be the way to go! I, personally, went to Salt Cay and the beaches and snorkeling were phenomenal (and if you dive, Salt Cay Divers is the way to go).