Know Before You Go: Puerto Rico

A quick list of seven things to keep in mind while planning your trip to the ‘Isle of Enchantment’!

playa tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo, Puerto Rico

1. It’s a US Territory

If you’re planning a trip to the Island of Enchantment, you probably already know this, but it merits pointing out again. This makes it so easy for US citizens to travel there–no passport necessary, no worrying about money conversions when buying stuff, AND no worrying about going through customs on the way back! It also makes it easy for other travelers as well. I often call Puerto Rico “Latin America for beginners” because it has a lot of the perks of a Latin American country–awesome food, colorful culture, and friendly people–without some of the drawbacks, like worrying about whether it’s safe to drink the water, whether you can flush the toilet paper, or whether you’re two years of high school Spanish will be enough to get around (almost everyone we encountered was bilingual!).

pr 2
Sunburnt in Puerto Rico

2. The sun is stronger than you think…

We explored Old San Juan the first day, and despite the fact that I put on and re-applied sunscreen throughout the day, I still got pretty sunburnt (see the picture from the next day). If you’re coming from somewhere in the continental US or Europe, the sun is likely going to be a lot stronger than you’re used to in Puerto Rico. Bring water with you, reapply sunscreen often, and keep in mind that we found the sunscreen, aloe vera gel and other toiletries that we’d planned on buying there a bit overpriced, so consider taking that sort of stuff with you!



La Mina Falls in El Yunque
La Mina Falls in El Yunque

3. Rental cars are great for day trips!

Puerto Rico is a super drive-able island. Pretty much everything is a two hour drive or less from Old San Juan, and you can see a ton of cool stuff on the island that’s a bit off the usual tourist trail if you just get out and drive. For example, we had a rental car for three days of our stay and took day trips to El Yunque National Forest, Luquillo Beach, the Bio Bay in Fajardo, Cueva del Indio and the Observatory in Arecibo, Guanica Dry Forest, Tamarindo Beach, and Ponce, Puerto Rico. If you’re staying more than a couple of days it’s definitely worth it to rent a car! Be aware that, as in a lot of Latin American countries, the drivers are pretty aggressive so it pays to stay alert!

Puerto Rico souvenirs
Loot from our first day shopping in Old San Juan

4. Everyone wants $1 bills

Keep this in mind when you’re shopping, especially in Old San Juan. It seemed like the shopkeepers (or even workers at places like San Juan National Historic Site) were pretty reluctant to give change, and a lot of them wouldn’t even take a $20 bill. We were staying at the Sheraton Old San Juan, so it was easier to change for some smaller bills at the casino there, but for an easier shopping experience change out your twenties for some smaller bills before heading out.

colonial architecture in Old San Juan
Cobblestoned street in Old San Juan

5. A map and comfortable shoes are your best friends in Old San Juan

Old San Juan is a gorgeous area, with vibrant colonial architecture, historic forts, lots of plazas and sculptures, and gorgeous views of the ocean. We stayed in that area while in Puerto Rico, and definitely recommend doing that if you can. I recommend comfortable shoes (probably no heels!) because the cobblestoned streets can be pretty uneven. That said, the area is really easy to walk around. Get a map from your hotel and pretty much anything you’d want to visit will be labeled on it. You’ll want to walk anyway, to better enjoy this unique place and because parking there is super expensive and a hassle!

jungle and lava rocks in puerto rico
Getting rained on at Cueva del Indio

6. The weather

Puerto Rico is in the Caribbean, which means that it has a dry season, a wet season, and that hurricanes can be a concern! Hurricane season runs June-November in Puerto Rico and those are the months when you can expect more rain as well. Not by coincidence, Puerto Rico’s main tourist season is November through May. We were able to get a great deal on our flights and hotel through Expedia by going at the edge of hurricane season, in early June, and we avoided a lot of crowds that way as well. Not everyone will be comfortable doing this, but we were only rained on once the whole time we were there (see above). Just bring an umbrella, and enjoy the cheaper prices and thinner crowds!

Cruise ship in Puerto Rico
Cruise ship, as seen from our balcony

7. Cruise ships make a big difference

Since we stayed in Old San Juan all week, it soon became obvious that whether a cruise ship is in harbor had a significant impact on the liveliness of Old San Juan. If there was one, there would be a lot more vendors selling things in the street, the horse-drawn carriages came out, and restaurants were a lot more crowded. We enjoyed it more on the days there weren’t any cruise ships, as things were a mellower. It might be a good idea to try to find out the cruise schedule before going, or just keep in mind that if you’re visiting on a cruise ship, it’s going to be really busy!

Luquillo Beach, Puerto Rico
Luquillo Beach

If you’re planning a trip to Puerto Rico, I know you’ll have a wonderful time! I really enjoyed the blog Puerto Rico Day Trips when I was planning, because they’ve done basically everything on the island and can advise you on it all. It might also be helpful to know some typical Puerto Rican dishes that you’ll see on menus and tips for free and cheap attractions. Have fun on your trip, and feel free to leave a comment below!

7 Things to Know Before You Go to Puerto Rico

21 thoughts on “Know Before You Go: Puerto Rico

  1. We’re heading to Puerto Rico in April and I am so excited. My husband lived there for two years but this will be the first time for the kids and me.

  2. By “rainy season” does that ran it will rain all day or showers for a few hours? We are considering going in July/ August because that’s when kids are off school (although not small kids- high school age). We’re hoping to go for 10 days and do a combination of sights and beach. Would suck if we got rained on all day though. Any thoughts and opinions you could offer on weather would be great!

    1. Hi Liz! I think that during the rainy season there are usually just short rains in the afternoons. When we went, the first week of June, we only had a little bit of rain on one day, and the rest of the time the weather was pretty much perfect! The main concern with going in July/August would be risk of hurricanes (I think that hurricane risk peaks in August), but it also means you can get great deals on flights and accommodations if you’re willing to take the risk. Happy planning! Laura

  3. I’m heading to Puerto Rico next week, so thanks for the tips! Especially the random one about $1 bills 🙂 I’m so excited to see this beautiful place.

  4. My husband and I just booked time in Old San Juan for next April. I’ve been to quite a few of the Caribbean islands but never Puert Rico. We are really looking forward to exploring the city and absorbing some of the cuture as well as delicious food and wine! Thank you for the tips you shared, especially the dollar bills and the cobblestone. Very helpful!
    Jeff and Joycelyn

    1. You’re welcome! I hope you have a fantastic trip. There’s another article on the site that’s sort of a guide on Puerto Rican food, so that might be helpful to check out too. The food is amazing and the island is beautiful – you won’t be disappointed!

      Thanks for reading!
      – Laura @thexenophilelife

  5. We booked our trip mid July, reason being children are out of school. Vacation sounded fab and why not go to PR! Did not realize It was hurricane season. It’s a done deal! My question is: are we still able to enjoy the perks of your island?

    1. I’m not sure about July, but I went in early June and we had a great trip! Only had rain on one day out of the seven. And the rain is usually only for a little while in the afternoon and then passes on. So hopefully even if you get rain, it will just mean stopping into a museum or restaurant until it subsides and you can get back out and explore again. Best of luck to you – hope the weather holds out and you have a great trip! 🙂
      – Laura @thexenophilelife

  6. Great post! As a local, I agree. To clarify about hurricane season, the peak is in September. It is the only month I would avoid, but if you are willing to take the chance, it is considerably more affordable and still warm and beautiful.

  7. Yes, the peak months for huricane season down here (Puerto Rico) are August (more so mid to late August) and September. If you can rather travel the rest of the year, I would recommend that. Lets face it, if you leave home to go for vacation, you don’t want to worry about tropical storms.
    When visiting the island, make sure you go to interesting places besides Old San Juan (which it is a jewel) and El Yunque (Rainforest). We have beautiful beaches through out the island (including Vieques and Culebras, of course!) but you should always ask if the beach where you go is safe to swim– just to make sure there are no dangerous water currents. Generally speaking, the Balnearios are safe.
    About the $1 bill… most stores will give you change for the $20’s. Street vendors, they would most likely prefer the smaller denominations. Come and have fun you all!

  8. I live Puerto Rico; the food, culture, the people!
    I want to go back! I felt like I left a part of myself there!
    Thanks for the lovely art, Samuel Lind!

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