The Ultimate Puerto Rico Travel Guide

| Destination |

Puerto Rico is an amazing Caribbean destination that has been popular with travelers for decades. And it’s popular for a reason! From roadside pork to bioluminescent bays, this small and mighty island has a lot to offer. And don’t forget the rich historical significance of this island has to offer with cities that have been established for hundreds of years. With so many different things to do, it makes sense that this small island is a popular vacation destinations for families, couples and singles.

Why Visit Puerto Rico?

First, it’s a great Caribbean destination with lots of variety. While other Caribbean islands may have more amazing beaches and tropical forests, Puerto Rico has a great combination of natural wonders and towns with historical significance. This makes it a great destination for families or couples who require more from a Caribbean vacation than beach time.

Additionally, Puerto Rico is an extra great destination for U.S. travelers. This is because you do not need a passport if you are a U.S. citizen because it is a U.S. territory. There are also frequent direct flights from lots of U.S. destinations – even smaller airports. Because of the frequent flights, adults can take short last minute trips and families can find great discounts on long planned vacations.

Overall, we think Puerto Rico is both a convenient and a diverse Caribbean island for travelers.

Our Top 5 Things to do in Puerto Rico

Try some delicious Puerto Rican food, whether its roadside pork along the Pork Highway or traditional Puerto Rican fare like mofongo.
Explore the hills and waterfalls of El Yunque with a great day trip to this National Forest.
Sample Rum at one of the rum distilleries on the island: Don Q or Bacardi.
Spend plenty of time exploring the history and culture of Old San Juan.
Paddle a Bioluminescent Bay. There are 5 bioluminescent bays in the world and Puerto Rico has 3! Don’t miss one.

The best time to visit is between November and April. This is the dry season so you’ll have the best chance of clear skies and mild weather. This is also the busiest tourist season. December and March are the busiest time of year.

The temperatures in Puerto Rico are pretty steady year round. However, outside of the dry season, you’ll get frequent rain storms that can put a damper on your day. Typically, you’ll get pop-up rainstorms throughout the day and then the storms clear off. While this can be frustrating, you’ll also get discounts on hotels during the off season that may make braving the weather worth it.

Getting Around:

There are two popular ways of exploring Puerto Rico. The first option is staying in San Juan and taking day trips to other areas on the island. This can be accomplished by utilizing tour companies and taxis. The second option is a self-drive tour of the island. For this, you’ll need a rental car. In our Puerto Rico itinerary, we used a combination of these two trip styles to see everything!

Puerto Rico has one major airport just outside of San Juan. You’ll need to arrange transportation from the airport to other areas in the country. If you aren’t driving yourself, you can take a taxi into San Juan where many tours offer pickups through the city.

Know Before You Go

Currency and Budget:

The US dollar is the official currency in Puerto Rico. Additionally, credit cards are frequently accepted throughout the country. However, small kiosks and roadside stands will require you to have a bit of cash on hand.

Puerto Rico is expensive by Caribbean standards. We’d say a Puerto Rican vacation budget is a mid-range travel budget. Food costs about $30 USD for a full sit-down meal. Accommodations average around $180 USD/night. Tours typically cost between $75-150 USD for a 6-hour tour. However, without tours, you can save lots of money as lots of activities on the island are under $10/person.

Language:

Spanish is the official language in Puerto Rico. However, many people in larger cities speak English. However, in more rural areas, like the Pork Highway, you will need to use Spanish.

Safety:

Puerto Rico felt like a relatively safe place. Tourism is important to the Puerto Rican economy so the popular tourist areas felt really safe with a visible police presence in more crowded areas or late at night.

The most common crimes are petty theft so make sure to leave your valuables behind and be aware of your wallet/bags. Just be safe and make smart choices like everywhere else in the world.