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Explore Puerto Rico, the Heart and Soul of the Caribbean, with its rich history, culture, food, and nature. Find out how to plan your trip, where to go, and what to do in this sun-kissed paradise.
Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Of these five, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round.
- 0.1%
- 49.8%
- 7.0%
- 17.1%
Learn about the history, culture, and natural beauty of Puerto Rico, an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. Explore its diverse attractions, from beaches and festivals to food and music, and join the Boricua spirit of joy and hospitality.
- Check The Visa Rules and Passport Requirements
- Rent A Car For Long-Distance Road Trips When Traveling in Puerto Rico
- Don’T Expect to See The Whole Island in One Trip
- Pack Bathing Suits and Your Sunday Best
- Buy Tickets Ahead For Tours and Attractions
- Don’T Expect Everyone to Speak English
- Discuss Politics with Care
- Be Ready to Sample The Full Range of Puerto Rican Cuisine
- Be Ready For The Real “Island Time”
- Be Aware of The Hurricane Season
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While Puerto Rico is its own country, and local laws and customs differ from those of the United States, the island is still a Commonwealth of the USA. This means US citizens don’t require a passport or a visa for entry. Flights from the US are considered domestic, so you won’t go through customs when you arrive on the island and you won’t need to ...
When planning a trip to Puerto Rico, it's necessary to know that public transportationoften falls short. Keep this in mind when planning how long you want to stay. The bulk of the San Juanmetropolitan area – comprising the municipalities of San Juan, Bayamón, and some parts of Carolina – is served by buses run by Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuse...
Puerto Rico is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, but don't let that fool you – the geography is anything but small in scale and there are many things you'll want to do while you're there. The island has a surface area of 3515 sq miles, and white, sandy beachesare only one of the natural wonders you’ll experience in Puerto Rico. Visitors can marvel ...
As a former Spanish colony, Puerto Rico was left with a legacy of Spanish colonial practices, including widespread Catholicism, also common in other nearby Latin American countries such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Puerto Ricans tend to be quite conservative when it comes to dress codes and the places where these appl...
If you’re planning to join a snorkeling trip, go on a catamaran tour, or eat at the 1919 Restaurant in the Vanderbilt Hotel, book your spot ahead of time. Trust us, planning ahead will be a game-changer.
Regardless of Puerto Rico’s modern political status, Spanish remains the language most widely spoken on the island. While you’ll find plenty of Puerto Ricans who speak near-perfect English, you're most likely to meet these people in the metropolitan area and peripheral cities such as Caguas, Bayamón, Guaynabo, Carolina, and Trujillo Alto. Even in O...
Conversations about the island's political situation can get heated and emotional – the subject of the islands' status is a controversial one, and Puerto Ricans' views vary widely. The best approach is to come to these conversations with an open mind and remember that Puerto Rican politics and US politics are incredibly different. There's much to b...
Don’t let the tasty street snacks –pernil (roast pork), alcapurrias (stuffed, fried fritters), and bacalaitos(codfish fritters) – steal all your attention. While these traditional and delicious foods are prevalent, Puerto Rican cuisine is vast and complicated, with influences that range from West Africa to Spain and Asia. You’ll find vegetarian-fri...
It’s tempting to think of Puerto Rico as a laid-back escape where the majority of the time is spent going to the beach or hanging around in the sun. The reality is that the island is centered on a busy, metropolitan city, with people rushing to work early in the morning, and traffic jams at the end of long workdays. If you need to do any errands, p...
Hurricane season in the Caribbeanruns from June 1 to November 30, and while Puerto Rico isn’t typically hit by hurricanes, when they do hit, they can be devastating. When booking hotels and plane tickets during hurricane season, always check with your airline about their natural disaster policies. If you get stuck in Puerto Rico during a hurricane,...
Learn about visa rules, car rental, dress codes, tours and more before you visit Puerto Rico. Discover the island's natural wonders, culture, food and nightlife with Lonely Planet's expert advice.
- 1 to 2 hours. TIME TO SPEND. This south Vieques beach might not sound like much, but it's one of travelers' favorite experiences in Puerto Rico.
- Free, Neighborhood/Area, Sightseeing. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND.
- Address: 501 C. Norzagaray. Historic Homes/Mansions, Sightseeing. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day. TIME TO SPEND.
- Free, Neighborhood/Area, Sightseeing. TYPE. Half Day to Full Day. TIME TO SPEND.
Nov 10, 2023 · Discover the island's hidden beaches, historic cities, rainforest, and bioluminescent bays. From San Juan to Vieques, here are the top destinations in Puerto Rico for your next trip.
3 days ago · Puerto Rico, self-governing island commonwealth of the West Indies, associated with the United States. The easternmost island of the Greater Antilles chain, it lies approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of the Dominican Republic, 40 miles (65 km) west of the Virgin Islands, and 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of the U.S. state of Florida.
