Puerto Rico travel guide

Getting there

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan is the main gateway, with flights from the United States, Latin America and Europe. San Juan is also a major cruise port, and ferries and small planes link to Vieques and Culebra.

Best time to visit: Dec–Apr – dry and sunny season.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to San Juan, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: August to October – the height of hurricane season, with more rain and heat.

Weather by month in San Juan

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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Puerto_Rico. Compare with your local time.

Background: Visa policy of the United States (Wikipedia).

Stay

Most trips to Puerto Rico are based around Old San Juan, El Yunque National Forest or Vieques. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$60–90 for a backpacker and US$150–280 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 120 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +1787.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Old San Juan (San Juan · colonial history): A UNESCO-listed historic district of forts, plazas and colourful streets.
• El Yunque National Forest (Northeast · rainforest): Lush mountains, waterfalls and the chirping coquí frog.
• Vieques (Island · beaches & bio bay): Wild beaches, roaming horses and Mosquito Bay, one of the brightest bioluminescent bays in the world.
• Culebra (Island · beaches): A laid-back island famous for Flamenco Beach and excellent snorkelling.
• Rincón (West coast · surfing): A relaxed surf town with sunsets and seasonal whale watching.
• Ponce (South coast · culture): The 'Pearl of the South', with an art museum, a colourful firehouse and grand plazas.
• Cabo Rojo (Southwest · cliffs & salt flats): Dramatic limestone cliffs, a historic lighthouse and pink-tinged salt flats.
• Fajardo (East coast · boats & bio bay): The jumping-off point for Laguna Grande and catamaran trips to offshore islands.

Things to do

• Wander Old San Juan. Stroll blue cobblestone streets lined with pastel colonial houses, plazas and cafés.
• Explore El Morro. Climb the ramparts of a sixteenth-century Spanish fortress overlooking the Atlantic.
• Hike in El Yunque. Walk to waterfalls in the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system.
• Kayak a bioluminescent bay. Paddle at night through water that glows with every stroke at Mosquito Bay or Laguna Grande.
• Relax on Flamenco Beach. Take a ferry or small plane to Culebra for one of the Caribbean's most beautiful beaches.
• Dance salsa in San Juan. Join locals on the dance floor for live salsa and bomba in the old city.
• Taste mofongo and lechón. Eat garlicky mashed plantain and roast pork from the famous lechoneras of Guavate.
• Tour a coffee hacienda. Visit the cool central mountains to learn about the island's coffee-growing heritage.

Eat and drink

• Mofongo – mashed fried plantain with garlic
• Lechón – slow-roasted pork
• Arroz con gandules – rice with pigeon peas
• Alcapurrias – fried fritters filled with meat

Money and safety

Currency: US dollar (USD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: 15–20% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 911 police, fire & ambulance.

• Puerto Rico uses the US dollar (USD), and ATMs are widely available.
• Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry cash for kioskos and small vendors.
• Puerto Rico is generally safe for tourists; use normal precautions at night and avoid poorly lit areas.
• Do not leave valuables in parked cars, especially at beaches and trailheads.