Here are the travel restrictions across Central and South America due to COVID-19
Bailey SchulzEditor's note: An updated version of this story is available here.
Thinking about making a trip to Central or South America soon? You may want to get familiar with each country's travel restrictions.
Entry requirements for U.S. travelers vary country by country, with some enforcing strict testing or quarantine mandates while others list very few COVID-19-related rules. Either way, most travelers will have to take at least one coronavirus test during their trip to reenter the United States.
Travelers can also take a look at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's travel recommendations to see the agency's COVID-19 risk assessment for each country. Many of the countries listed below have a "high" or "very high" risk of COVID-19, which means travelers should make sure they are fully vaccinated before visiting or avoid the destination altogether, according to the CDC.
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Argentina
Can U.S. tourists enter?As of Nov. 1, non-resident foreign tourists can enter Argentina.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, will need to take a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours before arrival. If they are not fully vaccinated, they will be subject to a seven-day quarantine period.
What else do I need to know? All travelers entering or leaving the country must submit an electronic sworn statement within two days before their arrival or departure. Travelers must also have travel insurance that would cover any COVID-related hospitalization or quarantine.
Last updated: Nov. 2
Belize
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Unvaccinated travelers must show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival. As of March 1, travelers who can show proof of full vaccination do not need to test prior to entry.
What else do I need to know? Travelers must purchase travel health insurance to enter Belize. International tourists must book their stay at a property approved by the Belize Tourism Board.
Last updated: March 8
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Bolivia
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Travelers 5 and older must show proof of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure.
What else do I need to know? All travelers must quarantine at least 10 days after arrival and must take another coronavirus test seven days after arrival. Visitors must also submit a sworn statement of where they'll be staying. Nonresidents will need health insurance with COVID-19 coverage to enter.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Brazil
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Travelers must show a negative coronavirus test administered by an accredited laboratory and taken 72 hours prior to check-in for international flights. Children under 2 and children under 12 who are accompanied by parents or guardians are exempt. Travelers will also need to submit a health affidavit form.
What else do I need to know? Travelers cannot stay more than 90 days.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Chile
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Chile allows fully vaccinated foreigners who test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to travel. Travelers vaccinated outside of Chile must verify full vaccination through a "mobility pass," which can take two to three weeks to obtain. Travelers with a mobility pass will need to quarantine five days at a private residence or hotel and comply with a 14-day follow-up process that includes self-reporting of their health status and location. The country says it "may" require travelers to test for COVID-19 again on "several occasions," including at the point of entry or during the 14-day follow-up period.
Starting Dec. 1, travelers with a booster shot will not have to quarantine or take additional PCR tests upon arrival.
What else do I need to know? Visitors must complete an online "travelers' affidavit" form prior to travel. Visitors must also have travel insurance that will cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19 with a minimum coverage of $30,000.
Last updated: Nov. 24
Colombia
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? No, the country does not require any coronavirus testing or vaccinations to enter.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Costa Rica
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes, U.S. citizens can enter via air, land and sea.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Unless they are fully vaccinated, adult travelers will need to provide proof of a medical insurance policy that covers COVID-19 related medical treatments or quarantine lodging. All visitors must also complete a health pass online 7hours prior to arrival. These entry requirements are set to be lifted April 1.
Last updated: March 8
Ecuador
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Visitors must provide a negative coronavirus test 72 hours prior to travel or proof of full vaccination.
Last updated: Sept. 17
El Salvador
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? As of Nov. 17, travelers do not need to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to enter.
Last updated: Nov. 19
Guatemala
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Travelers 10 and older who are not fully vaccinated must show a negative coronavirus test or proof of recovery to enter.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Guyana
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Vaccinated travelers who have a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their scheduled flight may enter.
What else do I need to know? All travelers must also submit a passenger locator form 24 hours prior to travel.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Honduras
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Travelers must show proof of full vaccination or carry proof of a negative PCR or rapid test result taken less than 72 hours before entry.
What else do I need to know? All travelers must complete an immigration precheck form to enter and should carry a printout of the confirmation email during their trip.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Nicaragua
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Yes. Travelers must show a negative test at the airport taken less than 72 hours prior to entry. Test results should also be sent to the airline electronically before the travel date. Land borders also require a negative coronavirus test.
What else do I need to know? Travelers must fill out an online form and submit it at least seven days prior to arrival.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Panama
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter. Unvaccinated tourists will be subject to at least 72 hours of quarantine.
What else do I need to know? All travelers must show a completed health affidavit to their airline or carrier before boarding.
Last updated: Sept. 17
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Paraguay
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Visitors older than 12 must show a negative coronavirus test result prior to entering, regardless of vaccination status. Visitors who have recently recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from the testing requirement.
Visitors older than 12 who cannot show proof of full vaccination must also quarantine five days after the date of their pre-departure test and take another test on the fifth day. If the test is positive, they must quarantine another seven days.
What else do I need to know? All air travelers should complete a health declaration form within 24 hours of entering the country.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Peru
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Visitors must complete a health form and offer a negative coronavirus test to enter, if they cannot present proof of v.
What else do I need to know? Children under 12 can show a medical certificate of good health in lieu of a negative test.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Suriname
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing?Fully vaccinated people may enter without a quarantine period as long as they show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old and valid travel documents. Unvaccinated visitors can only enter for essential purposes and must show a negative coronavirus test and undergo a seven-day quarantine.
Last updated: Sept. 17
Uruguay
Can U.S. tourists enter? As of Nov. 1, foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated and present a negative PCR test can enter the country, according to the Embassy of Uruguay in the U.S.
Last updated: Nov. 2
Venezuela
Can U.S. tourists enter? Yes.
Do I need a vaccine or testing? Travelers must show a negative PCR test taken less than 48 hours before arrival to enter.
What else do I need to know? U.S. citizens must apply for a visa to enter.
Last updated: Sept. 17
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