Why visit Puerto Rico?

For the easiest entry to the Caribbean without losing its soul. Puerto Rico is part of the United States, so for Americans there is no passport and no currency change, yet it is fully Latin in culture, with a five-century-old colonial capital, a tropical rainforest, world-class beaches and offshore islands. It suits a city break, a beach week or an island road trip equally well.

Do you need a passport to visit Puerto Rico?

Not if you are a US citizen: Puerto Rico is a US territory, so it counts as domestic travel, with no passport required and the US dollar in use. Visitors from elsewhere follow the same entry rules as for the mainland United States. That ease of access is a large part of the island's appeal as a Caribbean destination.

When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico?

December to April, the dry season, for warm, bright days, low humidity and calm seas, though it is the busy, priciest peak. Summer and autumn are hotter and wetter, with hurricane season running June to November and peaking around August and September. Late spring and early December offer good weather and better value either side of the crowds.

How do you get around Puerto Rico?

By rental car for the island at large, since public transport is limited and the rainforest, beaches and smaller towns are spread out. Within San Juan, taxis and rideshare apps are easier and a car is a parking nuisance in the old town. The offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra are reached by short flights or ferries from Ceiba on the east coast.

What is there to do in Puerto Rico beyond San Juan?

A great deal. Hike El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the US forest system; surf and watch sunsets on the west coast around Rincón; kayak a bioluminescent bay after dark; and ferry out to Vieques or Culebra for some of the Caribbean's best beaches. The island is compact enough that much of this sits within a day trip or a short drive of the capital.

Boutique Hotels in Puerto Rico - Heritage & Coastal

Where to Go

For most visitors Puerto Rico begins in San Juan, and many never feel the need to leave. The capital is the island's cultural heart and best base: Old San Juan for its walled colonial quarter, forts and cobbled streets; Condado for the smart waterfront strip of beach, lagoon and design hotels; Isla Verde for broad resort sand by the airport; and Santurce for street art and late dinners. Beyond the city, the island opens up quickly: El Yunque rainforest within an hour for waterfalls and hiking trails; the west coast around Rincón for surf and sunsets; the south and the Ruta del Lechón for roast-pork country; and, offshore, Vieques and Culebra for the quietest, clearest beaches of all, reached by a short flight or ferry.

When to Go

The dry season between December and April is the prime window, with warm, bright days, lower humidity and the calmest seas; it is also the busy, priciest peak. The summer and autumn are hotter, wetter and quieter, with the official hurricane season running between June and November and the highest risk around August and September. Late spring and early December are the value sweet spots, with good weather either side of the crowds.

Getting There and Around

Puerto Rico is unusually easy to reach: San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín airport is a major hub with direct flights across the Americas and Europe, and for US travellers it counts as a domestic trip, no passport required. On the island, a rental car is the practical way to explore beyond San Juan, since public transport is limited and the best beaches and the rainforest are spread out; within the capital, taxis and rideshare apps are simpler. Vieques and Culebra are reached by short flights or ferries from the east-coast town of Ceiba.