There’s so much to see and do in Puerto Rico, it’s hard to know where to start. Whether flights to Puerto Rico are for business or pleasure, there’s something for everyone on the “Island of Enchantment.”
Travelers booking flights to Puerto Rico usually begin their journey in San Juan, one of the most modernized cities in Puerto Rico. Bars, discos and restaurants line the streets of San Juan and when the sun goes down, the city comes alive. San Juan has one of the best nightlife scenes in Puerto Rico; whether your flight leaves you here for one day or one week make sure to check out the nighttime scene. For the less active and more reclusive traveler, let the flight to Puerto Rico be the first step toward rest and relaxation. From golfing to sailing to sunbathing on one of Puerto Rico’s perfect beaches, the trip to this country is worthwhile all year round.
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Puerto Rico has a year-round, balmy, tropical climate. Average highs are in the upper 80s (F), and June to September is a bit warmer. Trade winds keep the coasts comfortable, and the mountains are much cooler than the coasts. The amount of rainfall varies. The rainforest, El Yunque, gets about 200 inches a year; the southwestern desert region gets about 37 inches. February and March are usually the driest months. Hurricanes were named for a Taino god, which is to say they are a common occurrence here. The hurricane season is generally June through November, with the highest risk in September.
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Peak Season:
The busiest tourist season is mid-December to mid-April. Rates are at their highest, and Puerto Rico flights and hotel reservations need to be made at least two to three months in advance.
Off Season:
The low season is late spring to late fall, and hotel rates can drop by 20 to 60 percent. Facilities tend to be open and resort shops often have summer sales. Keep in mind that during the off season some resorts offer fewer services and hotels do their construction and repair projects in the summer, but this is also the best time to find cheap flights to Puerto Rico. Throughout the year Puerto Rico has week-long patron saints’ festivals, during which you may need to make reservations.
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San Juan’s airport has taxis and buses to get you into town, and some hotels run courtesy vans. Puerto Rico is 100 miles long by 35 miles wide with some of the best scenery in the Caribbean. Although best seen by car, be aware that the locals drive erratically and that speeds are posted in miles and distances in kilometers. To see the island’s interior, and get a few thrills, take La Ruta Panoramica along the mountains. The panorama is dazzling but be prepared for passages with precipitous drops on both sides of the road and sections without dividers.
In a major city or resort you may not need a car. Sightseeing on foot is often fun and you can take a publico. Publicos are minivans that service most towns on the island. They don’t have set schedules, but you can flag one down. Publicos are identified by “P” or “PD” on the license plate.
Taxis are available in San Juan and major tourist areas. Tour buses and ferries are another option for getting around, as is chartering a boat or plane. There are also several airlines that fly to small airports in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands.
The following chart gives approximate travel times from San Juan (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and resorts in Puerto Rico.
| | Air | Road | Sea |
|---|
| Ponce | 0.30 | 1.30 | - |
|---|
| Mayagüez | 0.30 | 2.30 | - |
|---|
| Vieques | 0.30 | 0.45* | 2.00 |
|---|
| Fajardo | - | 0.45 | - |
|---|
Note: *As far as Fajardo and then by sea.
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- An urban city on the north coast, San Juan is the arrival point for most visitors. The main attraction is Old San Juan. Once enclosed by walls to ward off invaders, it is a trove of Spanish architecture and steep, cobblestone streets.
- East and west of San Juan are beautiful beaches, some with every amenity imaginable and others that seem to go on forever. Nearby El Yunque is a 28,000-acre rainforest with coqui frogs, miniature orchids, endangered Puerto Rican green parrots, and hiking trails.
- For something completely different, Rio Camuy Cave Park is a karst region with one of the world’s largest subterranean rivers. There are more than 200 caves and tours for tourists and advanced spelunkers.
- The center of Ponce dates from the late 17th century and has plazas, churches, colonial homes, fountains, an ancient cathedral, and charming town square. On the south coast, Ponce shows a less urban side of Puerto Rico and the beaches are less crowded.
- Western Puerto Rico, particularly the southwest, is where Puerto Ricans go for vacation. The terrain is varied, some places are desert-like and others lush forest. Many of the best beaches are in the southwest, include those on Gilligan’s Island and the Cabo Rojopeninsula.
- San German, Puerto Rico’s second-oldest city, is in the National Register of Historic Places for its architecture. The main attraction is the oldest church in the New World, built in 1606. The city is also know for its santeros who carve wooden figures of saints.
- The Guánica Dry Forest Reserve is a subtropical dry forest with unusual plants and animals and endangered species. The birdwatching here is excellent.
- La Parguera has swamps, channels, canals, and a bioluminescent bay (la Bahía Fosforescente) and some of the best diving on the island.
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All passport holders must have a destination or return ticket and documents necessary for further travel. Entry requirements for Puerto Rico are the same as for the United States of America. When arriving from mainland USA there is no immigration control.
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There is no immigration control for United States citizens arriving from the United States. However, U.S. citizens arriving in Puerto Rico from central or South American countries, or from Caribbean islands, require proof of United States citizenship or a birth certificate; those arriving from elsewhere should have a United States passport.
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