Planning a trip to Puerto Rico? Start in colorful Old San Juan for historic forts, cobblestone streets, restaurants, and nightlife; hike through the tropical landscapes of El Yunque National Forest; travel to Vieques to experience the extraordinary glow of Mosquito Bay; or visit Culebra for beautiful beaches, snorkeling, and laid-back island life.
Puerto Rico offers far more than a traditional Caribbean beach vacation. The archipelago is filled with mountains, waterfalls, caves, coral reefs, mangroves, historic towns, surf beaches, tropical forests, and three remarkable bioluminescent bays. Outdoor adventures include snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, hiking, kayaking, sailing, horseback riding, and exploring some of the Caribbean’s most dramatic landscapes.
This Puerto Rico travel guide will help you decide where to go, when to visit, how to get around, how much to budget, and what you need to know before you arrive. You’ll also find practical information about weather, transportation, electrical outlets, safety, food, packing, and local travel tips.
Visiting Puerto Rico for the first time? San Juan and El Yunque make an excellent introduction. With more time, add Vieques or Culebra, explore the beaches and towns along the west coast, or head south to discover a completely different side of the island.
For U.S. travelers, Puerto Rico is particularly easy to visit. U.S. citizens do not need a passport, there is no currency exchange, and mainland U.S. visitors generally don’t need an international phone plan.
Puerto Rico Travel Guide at a Glance
Planning your first trip to Puerto Rico? Here are the essential things to know before you go:
Capital: San Juan
Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD)
Official Languages: Spanish and English
Emergency Number: 911
Driving: Puerto Ricans drive on the right
Power Outlets: Type A and B, 120V, 60Hz
Best Time to Visit: December–April for generally drier weather; late spring can offer a good balance of weather, crowds, and prices
Hurricane Season: June 1–November 30
Popular First-Time Destinations: San Juan, El Yunque National Forest, Vieques, and Culebra
Getting Around: Rental cars, taxis, ride-hailing services, tours, ferries, and short flights to Vieques and Culebra
Passport Requirements: U.S. citizens traveling from the mainland do not need a passport; standard U.S. domestic air-travel identification requirements apply
Best Known For: Caribbean beaches, Old San Juan, bioluminescent bays, El Yunque, Puerto Rican food, rum, surfing, snorkeling, and outdoor adventures
Don’t Miss: Old San Juan, El Yunque, traditional Puerto Rican food, a beautiful beach, and one of Puerto Rico’s famous bioluminescent bays
First-time Puerto Rico travel tip: Don’t spend your entire trip in San Juan. Puerto Rico’s mountains, rainforests, beaches, smaller towns, offshore islands, and west and south coasts offer completely different experiences.
Best Places to Visit in Puerto Rico
San Juan: Best for First-Time Visitors, History and Nightlife
San Juan is the oldest city in America and is full of Colonial-style architecture. Be sure to take a walk down Calle Fortaleza, Calle del Cristo, and Calle San Sebastian.
READ Things to Do in San Juan Puerto Rico, One Week Itinerary
Vieques: Best for Bioluminescence, Beaches and Wild Horses
Vieques is said to have the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. The island is also known for its wild horses and snorkeling with sea turtles.
Culebra: Best for Beaches and Snorkeling
Culebra is a collection of over 20 cays and home of Flamenco Beach which is consistently voted one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
El Yunque National Forest: Best for Rainforest Hiking and Waterfalls
The El Yunque National Forest is the US National Forest Service’s only tropical rainforest. The area covers 28,000 acres and receives over receives more than 100 billion gallons of rainfall annually. You will find hiking trails, amazing waterfalls, wild orchids, giant ferns, tabonuco trees, sierra palms, and the coquí frog.
La Parguera: Best for Boating and Bioluminescence
There are 3 bio bays in Puerto Rico: Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Laguna Grande in Fajardo, and La Parguera in Lajas. To have a better opportunity to see them, it is best to go when it is closer to a new moon, making the sky darker. The more light pollution, the harder they are to see, especially when you are close to the city. Note: the illuminist is not as bright as you see in pictures and very difficult to photograph.
What You Need to Know When Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico
Where is Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. island in the Caribbean between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands. It is a short 3-hour flight from Miami. Puerto Rico is actually an archipelago consisting of three islands: Culebra, Vieques, and the main island. It is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean Sea.
What Languages Are Spoken in Puerto Rico?
The national language of Puerto Rico is Spanish. English is widely spoken, especially in hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Do U.S. Citizens Need a Passport to Visit Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is a US Territory; US citizens do not need a passport or visa to visit. For all other countries, visa requirements are the same as in the United States.
What Currency Does Puerto Rico Use?
The currency in Puerto Rico is the US dollar.
Can You Use Credit Cards and ATMs in Puerto Rico?
ATMs are available throughout Puerto Rico. Credit cards are widely accepted. It is always a good idea to carry some cash for small shops and street stalls. Tipping 15-20% before tax is expected.
How Much Does a Trip to Puerto Rico Cost?
According to Budget Your Trip, the average daily cost of traveling in Puerto Rico is $218. Expect to pay $3,048 + airfare for a one-week trip for 2.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico?
The best time to visit Puerto Rico is May and June. The high season is from December to May; expect good weather and higher prices. The low season is from July to November. This is also hurricane season; be sure to purchase travel insurance. Temperatures in Puerto Rico average around 85F plus humidity.
How Many Days Do I Need in Puerto Rico?
It is possible to experience the island during a long weekend basing your stay in San Juan and booking day trips from the city. Note, Puerto Rico is a small island yet a drive around it will take 7 to 8 hours without stops.
How Do You Get Around Puerto Rico?
Fly into San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín Airport. Old Town San Juan is a 20-minute drive from the airport. Speak to your hotel to see if a shuttle service is available. If not, Uber or taxi to the hotel. Public transportation is limited. San Juan is walkable with short Uber rides. Rent a car or book day trips from San Juan to visit other areas of the island. Note: roads are rough, have potholes, and there is very little parking in Old San Juan.
What Power Adapter Do You Need in Puerto Rico?
Plugs are type A and B, the standard voltage is 120 V, and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. If you are visiting from the US, you do not need a converter or adapter.
What Should You Pack for Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is a tropical destination. Pack lightweight, casual beach clothes, including sandals, sunglasses, swimsuits, cover-up, water shoes, a floating dry bag, reef-safe sunscreen, and bug spray. Bring activewear, an umbrella, a raincoat, and a day pack for rainforest hiking tours. Wear shoes with cushioned soles for walking on San Juan’s cobbled streets. Pack a nice outfit if you plan to go clubbing.
Is Puerto Rico Safe for Solo Travelers?
According to Travel Safe Abroad, the overall risk of travel to Puerto Rico is medium. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and petty theft are common, do not leave belongings on the beach or in a car. There is a medium risk for mugging, stay on well-lit streets at night. There is a high risk of terrorist attacks and separatist violence in Puerto Rico. Travel Safe Abroad reports Puerto Rico “isn’t too safe for solo women”; do not walk alone at night and book your hotel near the Condado area. Pay attention while walking in Old San Juan. The streets are narrow and have tripping hazards. Mosquito protection is useful in Puerto Rico. Travelers who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should review current CDC guidance on mosquito-borne illnesses, including Zika, before traveling. Dial 911 in an emergency. Contact the US Embassy for non-urgent emergencies, such as a lost passport.
What Puerto Rican Food Should You Try?
Mofongo (fried plantains mashed with meat, fish, or vegetables), Lechón (slow roast pork), arroz con habichuelas, empanadas, Tostones (mashed and fried plantains), sofrito, and drink pina coladas.
Puerto Rico Travel Guide Tips
- U.S. cell phone plans do not need a SIM card; check your plan for roaming charges.
- The legal drinking age is 18.
- There is very limited parking in Old San Juan, grab an Uber.
Top Things to See and Do in Puerto Rico
- Explore colorful Old San Juan
- Relax on Flamenco Beach, repeatedly voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
- Kayak the famous Mosquito Bay bioluminescent bay
- Hike through El Yunque National Forest
- Eat your way across La Ruta del Lechon, the Pork Highway, in Cayey
- Ride the “Monster” zipline at Toro Verde Adventure Park
- See Salinas de Cabo Rojo, the pink salt flats
- Visit Puerto Rico’s west coast and Rincón
Check the Puerto Rico Office of Tourism for current events
Puerto Rico Travel Guide Interesting Facts
- San Juan is the oldest city in America; it is more than 500 years old.
- Puerto Rico has 3 of the world’s 5 bioluminescence bays.
- El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States.
- The Pina Colada originated in Puerto Rico at Barrachina or Caribe Hotel (depending on who you talk to).
- The longest zipline in the world is located here, The Monster is the length of 28 football fields!
- Puerto Rico is responsible for over 70% of the rum sold in the United States and has the largest distillery in the world.
- Puerto Rico has the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope.
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