Fast Facts
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and a territory of the United States. It is officially a part of the United States, though it is not one of the 50 states. This diverse destination, while often thought of as just one island, is actually an archipelago of 140+ islands, cays, and islets, including popular destinations like Vieques, Culebra, and Cayo Icacos. Puerto Rico is known for its incredible beaches, delicious food, reggaeton and salsa, and rich cultural history.
Language
Spanish is the first official language in Puerto Rico, though English is considered a second official language. Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly speak Spanish as their primary language; while English is taught in schools and widely spoken, it is not frequently used between locals. However, as a non-Spanish speaker, you will have no trouble getting by using only English when visiting Puerto Rico.
Currency
The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Puerto Rico. Visitors will find plenty of ATMs and all major U.S. banks in Puerto Rico.
Getting to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a major flight hub in the Caribbean, with San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport receiving direct flights from over 60 destinations in 16 countries. Frequent flights from most major cities across the mainland United States make it one of the most accessible islands in the Caribbean for U.S. travelers. Puerto Rico also received frequent flights to Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla on the northwestern coast and Mercedita International Airport in Ponce on the island’s southern coast.
Travelers can also arrive by sea, with ferries connecting Puerto Rico with several nearby islands, including the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though not on a daily basis.
Entry Requirements
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, meaning that travelers from the United States do not need a passport to visit Puerto Rico. If you are traveling to Puerto Rico from the U.S. mainland, you will not pass through an immigration checkpoint of any kind; traveling to Puerto Rico is the equivalent of traveling from one state to another.
Most travelers who are not U.S. citizens, residents, or visa holders will need a U.S. tourist visa to visit Puerto Rico. Check with the U.S. Department of State for specific entry requirements for travelers from your country of origin.
Budget Your Trip
Puerto Rico is a great Caribbean island destination for travelers of all kinds of budgets. You’ll find everything from award-winning luxury resorts with every imaginable amenity to super-affordable beach cottages and Airbnb rentals in San Juan. While certain activities and transportation can get expensive – this is the United States, after all! – there are plenty of ways to save money on the island that make it refreshingly affordable.
Budget Hotel: $100 – 215 / night
Mid-Range Hotel: $215 – 400 / night
Luxury Hotel: $400 – 1,000 / night
Best Time To Visit
Spectacularly sunny skies and warm, not oppressive, weather make December through mid-April the best time to visit Puerto Rico. However, parts of San Juan and the northern coast beaches can feel busy during the high season, and prices will be higher throughout this season all over the island.
High Season: December – April
Shoulder Season: May – June, October – November
Low Season: July – September
How Long To Stay
We recommend that travelers spend at least 4 or 5 days in Puerto Rico to fully get into vacation mode and enjoy more than just the beachfront or Old San Juan. However, excellent flight connectivity makes Puerto Rico a great long weekend getaway for U.S. travelers.
Alternatively, visitors could easily plan to spend two weeks or more beach hopping around the island, hiking through El Yunque, and sailing to islands like Vieques and Culebra for a much fuller experience.
Playa Flamenco | Culebra
The tiny island of Culebra is home to arguably the best beach in Puerto Rico. In fact, Playa Flamenco is so stunning it has earned a top spot on many a list of the best beaches in the Caribbean. In addition to its dramatically arching scallop of white sand, it’s known for having a decades-old U.S. Navy tank, a testament to the island’s dark past as a site of military exercises.
Playa Montserrate | Luquillo
Eastern Puerto Rico is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, and Playa Montserrate in Luquillo is no exception. Playa Montserrate is managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and has amenities like bathrooms, picnic areas, and plenty of surrounding green space in addition to stunning white sand and impossibly clear waters.
Playa Crash Boat | Aguadilla
Aguadilla is known as the town in Puerto Rico with the most beaches, though Playa Crash Boat is arguably the best beach on the western side of the island. Beach bars and restaurants give it a vibrant atmosphere around the clock. Crash Boat Beach is also known as a haven for surfers, and though there are certainly some legendary waves here, there are areas dedicated to swimming as well.
Playa Jobos | Isabela
“Puedo ver el paraíso llegando a Isabela,” says Bad Bunny in his hit summer song Me Fui de Vacaciones; “I can see paradise when I arrive in Isabela.” This dreamy beach town is surrounded by a gorgeous coastline, though Playa Jobos is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Isabela. A perfect combination of beach amenities and a laidback feel makes it one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, hands down.
Vieques
Vieques is the largest and most populated island in Puerto Rico’s Spanish Virgin Islands. Don’t let this fool you; Vieques is a laidback paradise that will make even the most untouched corner of the mainland feel busy in comparison.
Vieques is best known for its bioluminescent Mosquito Bay, home to the most powerful bioluminescent effect on Earth. But its so much more than its most famous attraction. Stick around for lush tropical landscapes, black sand beaches, and an increasingly cool array of accommodations waiting to welcome visitors to an island that is still very much a hidden gem.
Culebra
Culebra is the second largest island in the Spanish Virgin Islands. The island is known for its famous Playa Flamenco, which is considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. An abandoned U.S. Navy tank on the beachfront speaks to the island’s dark past.
Many visitors spend little more than a few hours in Culebra before scurrying back to mainland Puerto Rico. That’s a big mistake, as there’s much more to enjoy here than just Playa Flamenco. Colorful beach cottages and quaint guesthouses await for guests looking to sink in to the best of this island destination that far too few visitors properly explore.
Cayo Icacos
Located just 1.5 miles off the Puerto Rican mainland, Cayo Icacos is a tiny, uninhabited island located within the La Cordillera Nature Reserve, truly untouched and perfectly pristine.
In recent years, Cayo Icacos has become an increasingly popular day trip destination for travelers looking to spend a day enjoying the island’s crystal-clear waters, powdery sand beaches, rich reefs, and underwater riches. Catamarans and water taxis depart from Fajardo, though many travelers visit as part of a day trip with transportation included from San Juan.
Culebrita
Laidback and lovely Culebra is a beach paradise, but if you’re looking for an even more unplugged escape, head to the tiny island of Culebrita instead.
Located just off of Culebra’s east coast, Culebra is a place to bask in empty beaches and untouched landscapes. The island’s best best is Tortuga Beach, named for its resident turtles that accompany kayakers and snorkelers exploring its tranquil waters.
Water taxis and organized catamaran excursions are the only way to access uninhabited Culebrita for a dreamy day trip.
Day Trips to Cayo Icacos
Cayo Icacos has quickly become one of the top day trip destinations for travelers based in San Juan looking for a beach getaway. Including transportation from the capital, small group day trips are a convenient way to check out one of the most beautiful areas of the Spanish Virgin Islands. Organized day trips are also popular from nearby Fajardo.
Day Trips to Culebra
Looking for an easy way to visit Puerto Rico’s most beautiful beach, Playa Flamenco? Book a day trip to the island of Culebra from either San Juan or nearby Fajardo. Sailing excursions include delicious food and drinks, plenty of stops for snorkeling, and a day spent aboard a catamaran sailing the waters of the Spanish Virgin Islands. What could be better?
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