Planning a trip to Puerto Rico? With stunning ocean views, breezy mountains, a lush rainforest, vibrant nightlife, and a fantastic culinary scene, Puerto Rico offers an unforgettable Caribbean experience. Understanding the island’s culture and customs will enhance your vacation. This guide provides essential tips on planning, etiquette, and health and safety to help you make the most of your trip.
1. Visa and Passport Requirements for Puerto Rico
While Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the USA with its own local laws and customs, US citizens do not need a passport or visa to enter. Flights from the US are considered domestic, so you won’t go through customs upon arrival or need to pay a departure tax.
However, visitors must pay the local 11.5% tax on goods and services and pass through the US Department of Agriculture channel at the airport to ensure no fruits, vegetables, or open food packets are brought back into the US.
Non-US citizens may need a 90-day visa before arrival, unless their country participates in the US Visa Waiver Program. Check the Department of Homeland Security website for participating countries and visa requirements.
Person in silhouette looks out through the mouth of a cave to the green valley below, showcasing the adventurous possibilities of travel in Puerto Rico.
2. Renting a Car for Exploring Puerto Rico
Public transportation in Puerto Rico can be unreliable, especially outside the San Juan metropolitan area. Consider this when planning the duration of your stay.
While buses run by Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA) serve San Juan, Bayamón, and parts of Carolina, their routes and schedules are often inconsistent.
To explore the central mountain range, northwest beaches, or southwest desert, renting a car is essential. Car rental prices fluctuate seasonally, but having a car allows you to stop at scenic miradores (lookout points) along Expressway 22 and Route 66.
Two young women kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, showcasing one of the unique experiences when you travel to Puerto Rico.
3. Plan Your Itinerary Wisely: Seeing Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is approximately 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, offering a diverse range of attractions. The island boasts stunning white sandy beaches and unique natural wonders.
Visitors can explore bioluminescent bays, ancient caves adorned with Taino hieroglyphics, rivers, canyons, mountains, and salt flats.
While San Juan has many tourist attractions and bars, the authentic Puerto Rican culture is often found outside the metropolitan area. Traveling across the island can take up to three hours, with potential delays due to road closures and construction.
Expressways offer a faster route, while backroads provide a scenic, albeit longer, journey. Expect traffic jams during peak commuter hours (6am-9am and 4pm-7pm).
4. Dress Codes in Puerto Rico: What to Pack
Puerto Rico’s Spanish colonial heritage influences local customs, including dress codes. Catholicism is prevalent, similar to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Ricans tend to be conservative in their attire. In Old San Juan, professionals often wear suits, even in the tropical heat.
Flip-flops are generally reserved for beaches or casual settings. Avoid wearing swimsuits to malls like Plaza las Américas.
Some clubs have dress codes requiring smart shoes. Pack swimwear and flip-flops, but also include dressy outfits for nightlife and modest clothing (covering knees and shoulders) for visiting religious sites.
People sit and drink cocktails at La Factoria, Puerto Rico which has a green and white tiled floor and a bar, representing the nightlife you can experience when you travel to Puerto Rico.
5. Booking Tours and Attractions in Advance
For activities like snorkeling trips, catamaran tours, or dining at the 1919 Restaurant in the Vanderbilt Hotel, book ahead of time to secure your spot.
6. Language: English and Spanish in Puerto Rico
Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Puerto Rico. While many Puerto Ricans, especially in metropolitan areas like Caguas, Bayamón, Guaynabo, Carolina, and Trujillo Alto, speak English fluently, it’s polite to ask if someone speaks English before continuing a conversation.
Outside tourist zones, brush up on your Spanish or be patient and courteous to connect with locals.
Man playing an accordion in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, showcasing the culture you can experience when you travel in Puerto Rico.
7. Navigating Political Discussions in Puerto Rico
Conversations about Puerto Rico’s political status can be sensitive. Views vary widely, and the topic is often controversial. Approach these discussions with an open mind, remembering that Puerto Rican politics differ significantly from US politics. Listening to Puerto Ricans’ stories and aspirations for the island’s future is valuable.
8. Experiencing Puerto Rican Cuisine
Don’t limit yourself to street snacks like pernil, alcapurrias, and bacalaitos. Puerto Rican cuisine is diverse, with influences from West Africa, Spain, and Asia.
Explore vegetarian options at El Grifo in Caguas and 100% HP in San Juan. Enjoy fine dining at 1919 Restaurant in the Vanderbilt Hotel or French cuisine at Trois Cent Onze.
Puerto Rico features talented local chefs and influences from other countries, including Puerto Rican-Chinese restaurants. Sample mofongo and pernil, but also explore the broader culinary landscape.
Man holds up a plate of food, he is wearing a baseball cap, and a blue plastic hygiene glove, showing the delicious food you'll be able to eat when you travel to Puerto Rico.
9. Embracing “Island Time”
While Puerto Rico is known for its relaxed atmosphere, it’s also a bustling metropolitan area. Be prepared for busy mornings, traffic jams, and long lines at government offices, fast food restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets.
Avoid getting frustrated by slower service. Embrace the relaxed pace, practice Puerto Rican small talk, and enjoy the moment.
10. Hurricane Season Awareness
The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. While Puerto Rico isn’t frequently hit, hurricanes can be devastating.
Check airline natural disaster policies when booking flights and hotels during hurricane season. Hotels typically have emergency plans. Tourists are generally well cared for.
Travel during hurricane season is possible but monitor weather forecasts for approaching storms.
A family runs out of the sea at the wild Caracas Beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico, highlighting the wild and scenic beaches you can see when you travel to Puerto Rico.
11. Beach Safety in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s beaches offer clear waters and white sand. However, lifeguards are often absent, and the Atlantic coast has choppier waters than the Caribbean side.
Learn to identify rip currents and whirlpools. The NOAA recommends swimming parallel to the shore to escape rip currents.
Exercise caution with children and avoid empty beaches, which may have jellyfish, sea urchins, or strong undercurrents.
Avoid bringing expensive jewelry or leaving purses unattended due to potential pickpockets on tourist beaches like Ocean Park and Isla Verde.
Colourful buildings by the sea in San Juan, Puerto Rico, illustrating the vibrancy of San Juan, which you can experience when you travel to Puerto Rico.
12. Safety Precautions in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is generally safe for travelers. Be cautious in dark, empty streets in Old San Juan and other neighborhoods. Exercise caution when visiting clubs in Santurce at night, as it’s a high-crime area.
Some urban beaches are unsafe at night due to lack of lighting and police presence. Research the area you’re staying in and consult locals or past visitors for safety information.
Blurred people walk past the exterior of Patio de las Flores cocktail bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which you can experience when you travel to Puerto Rico.
13. Sun Protection and Insect Repellent
Caribbean sunlight is intense, especially between noon and 4pm. Use SPF50 or higher sunblock to avoid sunburns.
Mosquitoes are common, especially near water bodies like mangroves and lagoons. Use DEET-based bug spray to protect against tropical diseases like dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya.
Back view of a woman sat in a chair on the beach, in the shade, with a sun hat on, highlighting the relaxation that you can experience when you travel to Puerto Rico.
Conclusion: Your Puerto Rican Adventure Awaits
Puerto Rico offers a blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and exciting activities. By following these tips, you can ensure a safe, enjoyable, and memorable trip. Prepare to embrace the island’s charm, savor its cuisine, and create lasting memories.
