To clear up some confusion...

There is much misinformation on the internet about traveling to and what to do in Negril and Jamaica. Much of it has been caused by the fluid guidelines set up by the government. At times some info on the pages on the same JTB website contradicts info on the other pages. This is caused by trying to keep up with all the changes and sometimes pages are missed.

Other misinformation can be found on other internet sources, TripAdvisor and Facebook being the main two culprits. Some is well meaning but incorrect, others seem to have some agenda and are simply false statements.

Let's try to clear up some of the info.

1) All residents of the United States of America (USA), Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico or Panama who are 12 years of age or over, are required to obtain and present a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result to check in for a flight. Tests must be done by a medical laboratory that has a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) registration or ISO 15189 certification. The date of the sample collection must be less than 10 days from the travel date to Jamaica.

There is NO NEED to upload the test results, just have them with you when you board your flight.

2) Unless specifically asked to remain quarantined in your ROOM and monitored by health officials, you are free to follow the "Stay In Zone" order. This means you must remain in the Covid Resilient Corridor that the government has set up.

3) If you are not staying in the Corridor at an approved facility, you will be required to quarantine for two weeks.

4) If you are not quarantined, you can feel free to walk, visit any business that is open, but if you take a taxi, you need to make sure that it is JTB Certified. Do not simply look for a red plated vehicle and of course do not get in a white plated vehicles as they are not taxis at all. All JUTA and Maxi tour drivers are certified.

5) As the government does not have the resources to license and inspect every single vendor, if a restaurant, bar or jerk chicken stand is open then you are allowed to stop there. The government has been distributing Covid Kits to the jerk chicken stands to allow them to have running water to allow you to wash your hands.

6) Wear your mask and sanitize when entering any property. This is pretty basic. While eating or drinking the mask can come off.

7) If you see a large gathering, avoid it. The only foreign national I have heard being warned about breaking the Covid rules was at a large, illegal yard party.

I hope this helps a little.

Hey Rob, what are the current curfew hours?

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Originally Posted by gregandkelly63

Hey Rob, what are the current curfew hours?

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I believe it's 9 PM to 5 AM

so are we required to still do the travel authorization online?

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Originally Posted by Rn71klp22

so are we required to still do the travel authorization online?

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Yes, I don't see that changing in the near future....

But it is an easy process and you should have your boarding Authorization in a minute or two.

Are they still working on approving more facilities? We have a VRBO booked in February that is in the corridor but not in the approved list of hotels/guest houses. Do we have to quarantine?

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Originally Posted by CocoBread

Are they still working on approving more facilities? We have a VRBO booked in February that is in the corridor but not in the approved list of hotels/guest houses. Do we have to quarantine?

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As of this point, yes you would. Ask your VRBO to get approval status before your arrival. Its all basic common sense rules and it's in their best interest...

Rob, just to clarify #4 - there was a point or a rumour a while back that where you stayed, taxis and attractions visited needed to be Covid certified? Was this true and if so, is it still in effect - i.e. a Red Plate would need to Covid Certified to take you to a Covid Certified attraction? Does the Covid-approved list of hotels/resorts remain?

Many thanks


As well, Canadian travellers - check out our Government's website for mandatory return information and an app you will have to have for re-entry home.

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Originally Posted by M&G Montreal

Rob, just to clarify #4 - there was a point or a rumour a while back that where you stayed, taxis and attractions visited needed to be Covid certified? Was this true and if so, is it still in effect - i.e. a Red Plate would need to Covid Certified to take you to a Covid Certified attraction? Does the Covid-approved list of hotels/resorts remain?

Many thanks


As well, Canadian travellers - check out our Government's website for mandatory return information and an app you will have to have for re-entry home.

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Yes, with some minor variations, the rules still apply. Only use JTB certified transportation. They have been trained to deal with the Covid risk.

There is a listing of attractions that are Covid certified, you can find both this and the transportation listings on the JTB website.

The "footnote" that has changed is that the government doesn't have the resources to certify every potential business such as bars, restaurants, jerk stands, craft shops and the like. So if the non attraction business is open, you can stop there.

The government is passing out Covid Kits to the smaller businesses that essentially make them Covid compliant without the need to be officially certified.

Once again, avoid any place that you see with a large gathering and places obviously not obeying Covid masks, sanitizing and social distancing. Yard parties tend to be the largest number of offenders in this category.

so to just verify, a rapid antigen test via nasal swab would be approved? testing centers are getting swamped near me,and results being delayed at most the most convenient testing centers near me.. looking at smaller testing centers in more rural areas

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Originally Posted by Rn71klp22

so to just verify, a rapid antigen test via nasal swab would be approved? testing centers are getting swamped near me,and results being delayed at most the most convenient testing centers near me.. looking at smaller testing centers in more rural areas

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This is what is allowed.....

"present a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result to check in for a flight. Tests must be done by a medical laboratory that has a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) registration or ISO 15189 certification."

Are tourists allowed to move throughout Negril via foot, JTA taxis or via rental car, scooter, motorcycle, etc?

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Originally Posted by RyanP

Are tourists allowed to move throughout Negril via foot, JTA taxis or via rental car, scooter, motorcycle, etc?

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Yes, but via JTB certified transportation, not JTA. The JTB, (Tourist Board) has certification requirements that the JTA (Transport Authority) does not.

Walking the Corridor and staying in the Corridor is a must.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Yes, but via JTB certified transportation, not JTA. The JTB, (Tourist Board) has certification requirements that the JTA (Transport Authority) does not.

Walking the Corridor and staying in the Corridor is a must.

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How prevalent is JTB transportation? For instance, are any route taxis JTB certified? Can tourists travel along the corridor using personal transportation (car, scooter, etc.)?

I assume tourists are allowed to roam freely in the corridor? To the stores, restaurants, etc?

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Originally Posted by RyanP

How prevalent is JTB transportation? For instance, are any route taxis JTB certified? Can tourists travel along the corridor using personal transportation (car, scooter, etc.)?

I assume tourists are allowed to roam freely in the corridor? To the stores, restaurants, etc?

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Route Taxis, kinda by definition are not JTB certified. But any JUTA or MAXI drivers, of which there are hundreds alone in Negril are all certified.

You are allowed to rent your own vehicle, but please do not offer anyone else a ride. Nor take public transportation (JTA). Getting caught can mean your 2020 will get much worse than it already has been.

The laws are pretty much common sense to protect both you and the local community. You must remain in the Corridor. If you want to visit an attraction which is outside the Corridor, you are required to take JTB certified transportation.

Reading where the resilient corridor actually runs, it seems to be mainly the roads lining the coast. Is Red Dragon outside of the corridor? Has it reopened?

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Originally Posted by RyanP

Reading where the resilient corridor actually runs, it seems to be mainly the roads lining the coast. Is Red Dragon outside of the corridor? Has it reopened?

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It never closed. And all of Negril is included in the Corridor. As I have stated, there are Covid Resilient properties on the various lists that are outside of the exact Corridor wording.

Thanks, Rob! Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to figure it all out.

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Originally Posted by RyanP

Thanks, Rob! Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to figure it all out.

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No worries man. My advice is don't overthink it. Just come down and enjoy!