Caribbean travel update; Curacao and Saba change their entry requirements

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Written by Gay Nagle Myers, Weekly Travel.

Curacao has added an entry requirement for U.S. travelers, and Saba will welcome U.S. visitors starting on May 1 but with different rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

A rapid antigen test on the third day of a stay in Curacao is now mandatory, in addition to the existing entry requirements of a Digital Immigration Card and a Passenger Locator Card (PLC) uploaded within 48 hours of travel and proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Travelers typically will receive their antigen test results within 20 minutes to one hour, on average. The antigen tests in Curacao vary in price but typically start at $20.

If the antigen test result is positive, the traveler will have to quarantine per local guidelines.

Every traveler is required to have insurance to cover any Covid-19-related expenses.

All visitors are required to make an appointment and pay in advance to undergo an antigen test at a local lab in Curacao. All travelers will receive a confirmation email including a booking reference number and the local laboratory website and instructions after submitting their PLC.

The traveler chooses the preferred lab and the time slot and pays for the test online. After booking and payment confirmation of the appointment is received, a confirmation email will be sent to the traveler by the local lab.

Travelers who have had Covid-19 in the past six months and have proof of a negative antigen test upon arrival in Curacao are exempt from the test on the third day.

Information is available at www.curacao.com.

Saba, meanwhile, will welcome travelers from high-risk countries, including the U.S., on May 1. Travelers need to obtain approval before arriving in Saba through http://www.sabatourism.com/quarantine-waiver. Fully vaccinated adults must present proof of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival and are not required to quarantine. Non-vaccinated travelers must quarantine for five days and take a rapid antigen test on day five.

Travelers connecting through St. Maarten prior to visiting Saba must follow St. Maarten's entry requirements in addition to those for Saba: a completed health declaration uploaded at stmaartenentry.com and proof of a negative Covid-19 test result taken within five days prior to arrival or an FDA-approved rapid test within 48 hours of departure.

As of May 1, Winair will offer morning and afternoon flights to Saba four days a week. Ferry service between St. Maarten and Saba will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Curacao offers resorts, hotels, lodges, guesthouses, apartments and villas as accommodations to visitors, check availability and prices here and save up to 60% on your stay.

Curacao dive sites:

Watamula











Watamula is, by many, considered the best dive in Curacao.

2 currents meet at this site and bring a lot of marine life to this 20 to 120 ft drift dive.

Soft & Hard Corals and Gorgonian Sea fans cover the reef. 

Trigger fish, Chubbs, Turtles, Groupers & Lobster, are living here, on the sand bottom you might spot Rays.


MV Superior Producer








This 200 ft long cargo ship sunk in 1977 and lies at a depth of 100 ft.

You can penetrate the cargo holds and dive trough the interior of the ship, the wheelhouse , at 80 ft is one of the highlights of this site.

Orange Cup Corals and Anemones attract many reef fish and invertebrates. Barracudas can be seen hunting around the wreck.

It lies very close to the cruise terminal and diving is not allowed when ships are docked here.


Eastpoint










Amazing Coral formations formed a bridge where a large school of Tarpons live.

Lots of Gorgonian fans cover this dive site,, Hard Corals & Sponges also grow here.

Because of the currents Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays and Barracudas are often seen at Eastpoint.


Beacon Point
















This spectacular wall, and amazing Pillar Coral formations, which are some of the largest in the Western Atlantic are at a depth from 40 to 120 ft.

Because of the currents, Large Jacks, Groupers, and Barracudas come here to hunt smaller fish. Turtles are a regular sighting at Beacon Point.

This site is recommended for experienced or advanced divers due to the depth and frequent currents.


Saba Tugboat















At a depth of only 40 ft, this wreck is an attraction for all level divers and snorkelers alike.

Blue Chromis, Scorpion fish, and seahorses made this their home.

Next to the wreck is a wall with amazing Sponges, Corals Moray Eels, Parrot- & Doctor fish, also large schools of Tarpon & some pelagic fish can be observed here.


Director's bay













Stunning Coral formations and marine life make this shore dive a popular site that is known for it's macrofauna.
This reef formed on a shark fence, that is overgrown with Sea Fans, Sponges and Soft Coral.
Flounders, Eels, Octopus, Frog fish & Seahorses reside on this fantastic reef.


Mushroom forest















Hard corals that have grown in such way that they resemble Mushrooms at a depth between 20 and 120 ft.
Giant Brain corals, Flower corals, Staghorn Corals & Boulder Coral  are just some of the species at Mushroom forest.
Turtles, Parrot fish, Yellow tail Snapper, Eels, Moray Eels, Trunk fish and many more species are to be observed here.


Klein Curacao













Klein Curacao is a little (Klein in dutch) island, it is actually a volcanic rock, about an hour and a half boat ride of the Southeast coast. It is well worth the ride, Clear water, stunning Coral formations and an incredible variety of marine life await the divers here. 
Sunfish, Hammerhead Sharks, and Turtles can be seen at Klein Curacao.


Paradise


















This reef with a maximum depth of 120 ft offers a wide variety of Hard Coral Colonies and colorful sponges.
It is the home to Lobster, Barracudas and Green Moray Eels.
On calm days you can visit a small cave, home to many Sea Turtles, Glassy Sweepers, Crabs & many Lobsters.


Booby trap














When it comes to sponges, Booby trap is the spot to visit.
The reef start around 40 ft and reaches a maximum of 120 ft.
Rope Sponge, Common Sponges, Branching Tube Sponges, and the Elephant Ear Sponges are some of the varieties that can be identified here.
Nurse Sharks and Rays are often seen at this amazing sloping reef.

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