So you’ve decided on Puerto Rico for your next trip, excellent choice! Puerto Rico is an incredible island with so many amazing areas to explore. You can truly tailor your Puerto Rico itinerary to fit any kind of trip you’d like to have. Puerto Rico isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination, it has so much to offer. Relaxing beaches? Check. Delicious food? Check. Adventurous, adrenaline inducing experiences? Check and check. Now that you’ve decided on your destination, let’s get right into this guide for planning an incredible trip to Puerto Rico!
Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico
Map created using Wanderlog, a vacation planner app on iOS and Android
1: Choose Your Dates Wisely
The first step when planning a Puerto Rico trip is to decide on the time of year you’d like to visit. The best months, in terms of weather, to visit PR are December-April. This is when you’ll get the most mild weather and the least amount of rain.
However, since this is the high season, expect flights and accommodations to be more expensive. If you’d like to potentially save some money on your trip, consider visiting in the summer or fall.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that June-September is hurricane season. This doesn’t mean there will 100% be a hurricane or bad weather on your trip, but the chances are much higher.
I’ve traveled to PR during many seasons and my favorite time of year to visit is around January/February. The weather is great, the island isn’t too busy and it’s always wonderful to escape a Vermont winter.
My least favorite time of year to visit is the height of the summer, August, for example. Although it’s still beautiful, the high heat and humidity aren’t my favorite.
2: Consider How Much Time You Want to Spend on the Island
If you’re traveling from the East Coast of the US, you can get to PR in about 3.5-4 hours. This means you can easily visit Puerto Rico for a long weekend or just a few days. However, if you can, I definitely recommend staying longer and exploring more of the island.
If you’re only planning to spend a few days in Puerto Rico, I recommend staying in San Juan. That’s where you’ll fly into and there is more than enough to do to fill a few days. Old San Juan, specifically, is my favorite part of San Juan and you can easily spend a full day or two exploring this beautiful neighborhood.
Check out my posts all about how to spend 48 hours in Old San Juan and the best things to do in Old San Juan for an itinerary and tons of recommendations.
If you have more time to spend in Puerto Rico, say a week or ten days, then I highly recommend taking a road trip around the island and checking out the amazing beaches, charming towns and beautiful views. Check out my 7 day road trip around Puerto Rico post for a full itinerary and guide!
3: Plan Your Transportation
If you’re planning to stay in the San Juan area on your trip to Puerto Rico, I don’t recommend a rental car – especially if your trip is short. Ubers are affordable and readily available and most neighborhoods, like Old San Juan and Condado, are very walkable.
If you’re planning on taking a day trip to El Yunque rainforest from San Juan, which I highly recommend you do, there are many guided tours available that provide transportation and an expert guide.
If you’re planning to leave San Juan during your trip, and especially if you’re road tripping around the island, then a rental car is 100% necessary.
4: Understand the Wifi and Electricity Situation
Wifi
You will find good wifi in many parts of Puerto Rico. However, don’t count on every business and hotel to have great wifi. I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels and AirBnbs that have wifi, but it’s quite slow. I’ve also stayed at properties that have amazing wifi.
If you’re planning to work from home, check with the hotel or AirBnb first to see how strong the wifi signal is.
Power outages
Power outages are common in Puerto Rico. The electrical grid is outdated and is actually the worst in the US. For many Puerto Ricans, blackouts are a part of everyday life – something that is difficult and at times dangerous to live with.
Most hotels and businesses have generators for when these blackouts take place, but it’s important to be aware that these outages can happen.
5: Decide on the Type of Accommodations You Want to Stay In
Puerto Rico is one of those destinations that really has it all. There are luxury beachfront resorts, quaint AirBnbs, eco-stays, budget stays and many more. I like to stay in a mix of property types when I travel, but I definitely gravitate towards boutique hotels.
You’ll also find options at a variety of price points, from affordable hostels to luxury resorts. San Juan definitely has the highest concentration of hotels and guest properties, but you’ll find great options all over the island.
Many people visit PR for the beaches and if a beach vacation is your vibe, check out these awesome properties:
- Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Dorado)
- The Horned Dorset (Rincon)
- Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (Condado, San Juan)
If you’re interested in an eco-stay, check these out:
- El Yunque Rainforest Inn (near el Yunque)
- Casa Grande Mountain Retreat – Adults Only (Utuado)
- 4 Casitas (Cabo Rojo)
- Hacienda el Jibarito (San Sebastian)
Lastly, if boutique hotels are your thing, here are a few of my favorites:
- Dreamcatcher (Ocean Park, San Juan)
- O:live Boutique Hotel (Condado, San Juan)
- Hotel el Convento (Old San Juan)
- Boutique Hotel Belgica (Ponce)
- Parguera Plaza Hotel – Adults Only (La Parguera)
- Check out my Instagram reel of the beautiful pool area.
6: Book Unique Tours and Activities
When visiting Puerto Rico there are so many fun and unique activities to partake in. You can swim in a bioluminescent bay in La Parguera, visit the only tropical forest in the United States, explore a 500 year old fort and so much more.
There’s really something for everyone, but a few of my top favorite experiences include:
In San Juan:
- La Perla Like a Local
- Explore the infamous La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan with an expert guide.
- San Juan Guided Snorkel Tour
- Flavors of San Juan Food Tour
- Such a fun way to try delicious Puerto Rican cuisine,.
- Guided LED Night Kayak Excursion in Condado Lagoon
Day Trips:
- Day Tour in El Yunque Rain Forest with Transportation
- Another great El Yunque hiking and swimming option.
- Culebra Day Trip by Catamaran from Fajardo (Transportation from San Juan)
- Journey to one of the other islands in PR – it’s known for its beautiful beaches.
- ATV Adventure Hacienda Campo Rico
- This tour is about 2 hours, so it’s a great morning or afternoon activity.
7: Get Packing!
Puerto Rico consistently has temperatures in the 80s-90s with high humidity, so pack for warm weather. If you’re staying in a hotel, you may want a sweater for the air conditioned lobby, but besides that you likely won’t need one.
One thing to keep in mind when visiting Puerto Rico is that during the warmest, most humid months, re-wearing clothes isn’t always possible. I always try to pack in just a carry-on, and I’ve made the mistake more than once of planning to re-wear outfits on my trips to PR without having access to a washing machine.
Trust me when I say that when it’s that hot and humid and you’re outside all day, you likely won’t want to be re-wearing many of your outfits.
For shoes, I recommend sandals as well as sneakers, especially if you’re planning on doing any hiking or adventurous activities (like ATV riding).
Other items to pack for Puerto Rico:
- A portable charger
- Wrinkle release spray (this stuff is amazing)
- Teva type sandals (great for getting wet)
- Lots of sunscreen
- Sunhat
- Lightweight long sleeve shirt
FAQ: Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico
- Do I need a passport to visit Puerto Rico?
- If you’re from the US you do not need a passport to visit Puerto Rico. Travelers visiting the island from other countries will need a passport.
- Is English widely spoken in Puerto Rico?
- English and Spanish are both official languages in Puerto Rico. However, Spanish is more common and is spoken at home by the vast majority of Puerto Ricans.
- Most people working in the tourism industry speak English, but don’t be surprised if some don’t.
- Which currency does Puerto Rico use?
- Puerto Rico uses the US dollar.
- Is tipping customary in Puerto Rico?
- Yes, the tipping culture is similar to the rest of the US. For example, tipping 18-20% in restaurants is common.
- Do US cell phones work in Puerto Rico?
- Yes, your US cell plan will work in Puerto Rico with no additional charges. The strength of your cell signal may vary, but I’ve had good luck all over the island with AT&T.
So there you have it, all of the steps for planning a trip to Puerto Rico! If you have any questions about planning your Puerto Rico trip, please let me know in the comments.
Also check out my other Puerto Rico guides for itineraries, restaurant recommendations and more!
- Epic 48 Hours in Old San Juan: The Best Things to Do and See
- The 16 Best Things To Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Ultimate 7 Day Road Trip Around Puerto Rico
If you found this post helpful, please share it on social media. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad for more Puerto Rico photos and mini-guides.
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♡Kate
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