San Juan Flights and Travel Guide

Visitors booking flights to Puerto Rico are in for a cultural awakening. San Juan is one of the oldest cities in the Americas, and is one of the most diverse cities in Puerto Rico. Old San Juan hasn’t let go of its Spanish ancestry. Cobblestone streets and charming buildings (some date back as far as the 16^th century) line the central part of Old San Juan. Just on the other side of Old San Juan is a more modern section of the city. Flanked by expressways and beachfront resorts, the downtown San Juan district has built itself up to one of the most traveled-to resort areas in the Americas.

Travelers booking flights to San Juan get the best of both worlds – on the one hand, a city rich in history and devout to its ancestry. On the other hand, San Juan is a modern city bustling with diversity and distinction. Whatever the reason for flying to San Juan, it’s sure to be memorable.

Find flights to San Juan

Back to top

San Juan Climate

Back to top

When to Fly to San Juan

San Juan welcomes most tourists during the winter and early spring. Booking flights to San Juan during this time might be expensive, but if you plan ahead and book San Juan flights and accommodations in advance you're likely to get a good deal.

The pre-Lenten Carnival attracts many visitors, with its parades, music, beauty pageants, and parties all over the island. Easter week is another busy time, as is the entire period when colleges have spring breaks.

In addition to the Carnival festivities, there are patron saints’ festivals throughout the year, with week-long celebrations.

Peak Season:

Mid-December to mid-April is the busiest — and most expensive — time of the year. Throughout the island, but especially in San Juan, prices are considerably higher during this period.

Off Season:

Summer and fall are quieter and less expensive times to take cheap flights to San Juan. And there are two annual events for music lovers. The Pablo Casals Festival takes place in early June. The Festival of Puerto Rican Music is held in November, with venues in both San Juan and elsewhere on the island.

Find flights to San Juan

Back to top

Getting Downtown San Juan

Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU)
Distance: 9 miles east of San Juan
Drive time: 25 mins

San Juan flights arrive and depart from Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín, the city's only airport just 9 miles from the city. Some hotels provide free shuttle service; check before you go. Otherwise, the best options for getting into town are rental cars and “publicos”—public vans. A number of rental companies are available at the airport. Look for rental car discounts when you book your San Juan flight. And there is a terminal for publicos there.

Back to top

Getting Around San Juan

Most of the big hotels along the Condado and Isla Verde operate free shuttles into Old San Juan. And in Old San Juan, the only way to travel is by foot or on one of the free trolleys that traverse the historic district. Bus service is good in town but variable elsewhere. There are plenty of taxis. However, for a taxi ride to other parts of Puerto Rico, you need to negotiate the fare with the driver, usually a flat rate. If you rent a car, by sure to equip yourself with good maps. Highways are well-marked, but minor roads often are not.

Back to top

San Juan Insider Information

• One venue for Puerto Rico's Latino chic is surprising — the Museo de Arte. Some Puerto Ricans come to the art museum at least once a week, and not just for its fine collection of Puerto Rican art. They also come for productions in the 400-seat theater. And trendy locals can be seen strolling the museum’s lovely five-acre garden.
• San Juan has done a great job of adapting old buildings to new uses. La Princesa, for centuries one of the most feared prisons in the Caribbean, now houses the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. It features an exhibit of art by Puerto Ricans, which is free to the public.
• Another example of reuse is the 19^th century insane asylum, the Antiguo Manicomio Insular, which is now the home of the Puerto Rican Academy of Fine Arts, with its lovely courtyard fountains surrounded by elegant iron fences.
• One of the largest cave systems in the world is Camuy Caverns. Visitors explore the cave by trolley and on foot, over ramps and bridges. You can walk down the 205 steps into the Spiral Sinkhole and view the petroglyphs etched in the wall of Cathedral Cave by ancient Tainos, Puerto Rico’s original inhabitants.
• In addition to the beaches, Puerto Rico has many golf courses and tennis courts. There is some good bicycling as long as you avoid the main streets and roads. For biking, walking, or jogging, check out the boardwalk at Parque Lineal Marti Coli, with a stretch of nearly two miles along Cano de Martin Pena; eventually, the total length will be nearly 12 miles, from the old city to Rio Piedras.
• For spectacular natural beauty, visit El Yunque, a cool, semi-tropical rain forest in the mountains at the eastern end of the island. The rain descends in rocky rivers with many waterfalls and pools. At higher elevations, the water is clean enough for drinking and swimming. You will find unique plants and animals, including the lovely endangered emerald green Puerto Rican Parrot.
• San Juan remains true to its old school roots. It’s hard to find information about San Juan online, as very few attractions are on the Internet. Take an up-to-date guidebook with you on your flight to San Juan and read up on the city's history and tourist attractions before you arrive.

Find flights to San Juan

Back to top

San Juan Airports

Back to top