Flights to the Caribbean from the US
3 route guides to 3 Caribbean airports from US cities, with entry rules, flight times and the best months to go.
Quick answer: Most of the Caribbean is a short flight from the US: about an hour from Miami to Nassau and about four hours from New York to Punta Cana or Montego Bay. Every island except Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands needs a US passport book for a flight; a passport card is not valid for air travel. Some islands add an online form before you fly: the Dominican Republic's free e-Ticket and Jamaica's C5 declaration are the two most travellers meet. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and December to April is peak season.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
Caribbean flights at a glance
| Passport | US passport book for every island except Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands; a passport card does not work for flights |
|---|---|
| Forms before you fly | Dominican Republic: free e-Ticket with a QR code for entry and exit. Jamaica: C5 immigration and customs form, online or on paper. Check each island |
| Main gateways | Punta Cana (PUJ), Montego Bay (MBJ), Nassau (NAS), plus San Juan (SJU), Aruba (AUA) and others |
| Typical flight time | About 1 hour Miami to Nassau; about 4 hours New York to Punta Cana or Montego Bay (recent schedules) |
| Coming home | Nassau and Aruba have US Customs preclearance, so you land in the US as a domestic arrival |
| Hurricane season | June 1 to November 30, most active from mid-August to October |
| Peak season | Mid-December to April, and US spring break weeks |
Where you can fly in Caribbean
Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.
Passports and entry rules by island
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are US territories, so a US citizen flying from the mainland needs no passport, only the ID you would use on a domestic flight. Everywhere else, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Aruba, you need a US passport book to fly. The passport card is valid only for land and sea crossings, so it will not get you on the plane.
Dominican Republic: every air passenger must fill in the e-Ticket, the free electronic entry and exit form, on the government site eticket.migracion.gob.do. It produces a QR code that is checked on arrival and again on departure, and some airlines ask for it at check-in. Paid sites that offer to file it for you are not official.
Jamaica: the C5 immigration and customs declaration can be filled in online before you fly or on paper on arrival, and it is free. US citizens need a valid passport and a return ticket, and no visa for a tourist stay.
The Bahamas: US citizens need a passport and no visa for tourism. The official Bahamas tourism site asks visitors for a passport valid at least six months on entry, so check your date before booking. Rules differ island by island, so check the State Department page for each country on your trip.
Flights to Punta Cana, Montego Bay and Nassau
Punta Cana (PUJ) on the east coast of the Dominican Republic is one of the busiest Caribbean airports for US travellers, with nonstops from most large US cities on American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest and others, plus more flights in winter. New York to Punta Cana takes about four hours on recent schedules.
Montego Bay (MBJ) is the main airport for Jamaica's north coast resorts, including Negril and Ocho Rios, with nonstops from the big US hubs and many seasonal winter flights. Kingston (KIN) serves the capital and the south.
Nassau (NAS) is the closest of the three: about an hour from Miami or Fort Lauderdale and under three hours from New York. Nassau's airport has US Customs and Border Protection preclearance, so you clear US immigration and customs before the flight home and land in the US like a domestic passenger. Bahamasair and smaller airlines link Nassau with the Out Islands.
Hurricane season and the best months to go
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity usually from mid-August through October. Most trips in those months are not affected, but a storm can close airports for days. Travel insurance that covers hurricanes, or a ticket you can change, makes a late-summer trip much less risky.
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao sit south of the usual storm track and are hit far less often, which makes them a common choice for a summer or fall trip. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas are all in the main hurricane zone.
Peak season is from mid-December to April, when the weather is driest and US winter sends the most travellers south; Christmas, New Year and spring break fill first. May, June and early November are often quieter, with fewer people than winter. The fare grid on each route guide shows what is live for your dates.
Booking tips for the Caribbean
Fly nonstop where you can. Many Caribbean airports are served mainly from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York and Newark, so travellers from smaller US cities usually connect at one of those.
Check whether your nonstop is seasonal. Many routes, especially to Montego Bay and Punta Cana from colder US cities, run only in winter.
For island hopping, look at the hub of a regional airline, such as San Juan or Nassau, and keep the flights on one ticket if you can. Small regional airlines have tight bag limits, so check before you pack.
Arrange the airport transfer before you land. Punta Cana and Montego Bay resorts are often 20 minutes to well over an hour from the airport, and the arrivals hall is busy with unofficial offers.
Coming home to the US
From Nassau and Aruba you clear US Customs and Border Protection at the departure airport. Arrive early, because the preclearance line is part of your check-in time.
From Punta Cana, Montego Bay and most other islands you clear US immigration and customs at your first US airport, so leave enough time on a domestic connection. In the Dominican Republic, have the e-Ticket QR code ready for departure as well as arrival.
Route guides to Caribbean
Punta Cana (PUJ)
Montego Bay (MBJ)
Nassau (NAS)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to fly to the Caribbean?
Yes, for every island except Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, which are US territories. A passport card is not accepted for flights, so bring a passport book.
What is the Dominican Republic e-Ticket?
A free online entry and exit form at eticket.migracion.gob.do that every air passenger must complete. It gives a QR code that is checked when you arrive and when you leave.
Do I need to fill out a form before flying to Jamaica?
Jamaica uses the C5 immigration and customs declaration. You can fill it in online before you fly or on paper when you land, and it is free.
How long is the flight from New York to Punta Cana?
About four hours on recent nonstop schedules from New York. Check with the airline for your flight.
When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?
June 1 to November 30, with the most storms usually from mid-August through October. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are hit less often than the islands further north.
Does Nassau have US Customs preclearance?
Yes. You clear US immigration and customs at Nassau's airport before the flight home, so you land in the US as a domestic arrival.
What is the cheapest time to fly to the Caribbean?
Usually late spring and early summer, and early November, outside holidays. Mid-December to April is the busiest season.
