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Puerto Rico gives you the Caribbean without the paperwork if you are American, and a genuinely distinct Spanish-Caribbean culture regardless of where you come from. Old San Juan is 500 years of blue cobblestones, pastel townhouses and the two vast Spanish forts of El Morro and San Cristóbal guarding the harbour. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system, Mosquito Bay on Vieques is the brightest bioluminescent bay on earth, and the island runs on salsa, reggaetón and some of the best food in the region.
Capital
San Juan
Population
~3.2 million
Area
9,104 km²
Time Zone
AST (UTC-4), no daylight saving
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
Languages
Spanish and English both official; Spanish dominant in daily life
Main Airports
SJU (Luis Muñoz Marín International, San Juan)
Visa
A US territory: US citizens need no passport, while others require a US visa or ESTA as for the mainland
Best For
Old San Juan, El Yunque rainforest, bioluminescent bays, Culebra and Vieques
Typical Cost Level
Mid-range
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US citizens need no passport and no visa, as Puerto Rico is a US territory and flights from the mainland are treated as domestic. Everyone else needs the same documentation as for the United States: either a US visa or an approved ESTA if you are from a Visa Waiver Program country. There is no separate Puerto Rican immigration process, and no customs check when flying on to the US mainland.
December to April is the driest and most comfortable period, and also the busiest with the highest hotel rates. The San Sebastián Street Festival in mid-January is San Juan's biggest party. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking in September, and Puerto Rico has been badly hit in recent years, so travel insurance matters. April to June is the sweet spot for value, with good weather before the rains and after the winter crowds.
Puerto Rico has three bio bays, and Mosquito Bay on Vieques is the brightest in the world. Laguna Grande at Fajardo is the easiest to reach from San Juan, about an hour away, and La Parguera in the southwest is the only one where swimming is permitted. Book a kayak or electric-boat tour around the new moon, as moonlight washes out the glow, and avoid nights after heavy rain. Sunscreen and insect repellent are banned in the water because they damage the organisms.
If you are staying only in Old San Juan and Condado you can manage on foot, taxis and rideshare apps. For anything else a car is close to essential: El Yunque, the west-coast surf towns, Ponce and the karst country are poorly served by public transport. Roads are good and signage is in Spanish with US-style highway numbering, though distances take longer than they look in mountain areas. Parking in Old San Juan is difficult and expensive.
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