The CDC announced this week that Puerto Rico’s COVID classification level dropped to a Level 3 status.

Puerto Rico also has the highest rate of vaccination doses administered (to eligible populations over 11 years of age) against COVID-19 among all jurisdictions of the United States, with 89% of the population having received at least one dose and 80.1% who are fully vaccinated*. The success of the vaccination and masking policies in Puerto Rico not only has led to some of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the country but is likely contributing to visitor confidence and driving record lodging revenues.This makes the island the safest place to visit in the United States, and we invite you to come and find out for yourselves! Vamonos takes great care in providing a safe tour for your students. 

*.data taken from Puerto Rico’s Department of Health

Beginning  August 16th Puerto Rico will require all travelers to be fully vaccinated or present a weekly negative PCR or antigen test for the length of their stay. Then, beginning on August 23rd, you will also be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or antigen test to enter any  indoor establishment that prepares or serves food. You can read more detailed information about these changes at the Discover Puerto Rico website.

Recently we had the opportunity to arrange a tour for Brandon Harris and his group of students from the Coalition for Success in Annapolis, MD. You can read all about his organization that mentors young people living in the city of Annapolis and their trip to Puerto Rico at the link below.

Great news for US student groups! As of Monday May 24, 2021, incoming continental US travelers are no longer required to show proof of a negative PRC Covid test upon entering San Juan if they are fully vaccinated. The Governor of Puerto Rico issued a new executive order On May 20th, 2021.

The Governor also lifted the yearlong curfew that was in place since March 2020. Before traveling to the US Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, travelers must fill out a Travel Declaration Form and present a QR code to exit the airport. Fully vaccinated travelers must upload their FDA-approved vaccination record card on the declaration form.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to show proof of a negative PCR Covid test within 72 hours of arrival. This is being strictly enforced. Failure to comply will result in a $300 fine. All travelers are still required to wear masks indoors and in all public spaces. Beaches are fully open. Businesses and restaurants are operating at 50% capacity.

We at Vamonos are excited to welcome student groups to our now fully open friendly island. We urge tour operators to consider offering Puerto Rico to new or previously booked groups not able to travel in 2021 or 2022 to other Latin American or European destinations.

As of May 1st, 2021, Vamonos is operating student groups and expects hundreds of travelers in June 2021. For more information and travel guidelines, visit Puerto Rico’s Department of Health Travel Safe page.

Feel free to contact us should you have any questions about Puerto Rico.

Are you planning to travel this year? We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself and your investment. It’s important to have coverage for unforeseen circumstances such as missed or canceled flights, lost luggage, even illness and quarantine. Travel insurance protects you from additional expense and loss. Some countries like Costa Rica even require it for entry now.

Today, travel insurance is more important than ever. With Covid19 not completely behind us yet, there is always the small chance that you might have to quarantine in your destination and/or need medical care.

Our partner, RoamRight, has created an upgrade that covers you if you should need to quarantine and seek medical care while on your trip. Just purchase a Pro Plus Plan and add the Platinum Upgrade and you will be covered for up to $75,000 in medical expenses and $2,000 for quarantine lodging and expenses. If you are traveling to Costa Rica, the Platinum Upgrade will satisfy Costa Rica’s travel insurance requirements for entry.

Insurance is like an umbrella, if you have it, you probably won’t need it, but if you leave home without it, you may wish you had considered it.

Back in early April, all travel insurance companies pulled their cancel for any reason* option from the market as the pandemic was shutting down travel.  Our partner, RoamRight, also pulled their cancel for any reason upgrade as well. You will no longer be able to purchase the cancel for any reason upgrade for the Pro or Pro Plus insurance plans.

Starting in December, they have created a new insurance plan called Cancelflex. This new plan has all the same benefits as the Pro Plus Plan. However, it will reimburse at 60% instead of the old upgrade rate of 75%. The plan must be purchased within 21 days of your enrollment deposit. Cancelflex will not be available to any groups that booked in 2020 and rescheduled and will not be available for any new groups that travel before June 1, 2021. We realize that the 15% decrease in this benefit may be disappointing. Due to these changes, we are actively looking out for the best insurance options for our groups.

RoamRight is also rolling out a new upgrade for those who will be traveling to Costa Rica. Costa Rica has new requirements for travelers that include travel insurance with a medical benefit of $50,000 minimum and at least $2,000 in coverage for lodging in case of quarantine in the country. To assist those travelers that would be traveling to Costa Rica, RoamRight has created a new Platinum Upgrade that can be added to any Pro Plus or Cancelflex insurance plan. Platinum can be added to any traveler’s existing Pro Plus plan as well, regardless of whether you are rescheduling from 2020 or if you are a new group. It is also available for any group traveling before June 1, 2021. If you purchased a Pro Plan, and would like to get the Platinum Upgrade, you will need to cancel your existing Pro Plan and Purchase a Pro Plus Plan with the upgrade. Please contact us for assistance and we would be glad to help you with this.

*Cancel for any reason is an upgrade offered  by most travel insurance companies. When purchased as an upgrade to a travel insurance policy, it gives the traveler the option to cancel their trip, even if their reason for cancellation is not one given as a covered reason in their policy, and still allows for a refund of up to 75% of their trip payments.