Puerto Rico
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system — 29,000 acres of waterfalls, coquí frogs and mist an hour from San Juan — and pairing it with a reef is trivially easy.
- Best forBeach lovers · Wildlife & nature · Foodies
- In January29°C · 14 rainy days · sea 27°C
- Ideal stayA week or more
- Approx. flying time~7h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyUSDUS dollar
- LanguageSpanish and English
- Local time07:105h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+1
Why go
An island the size of a small European country, with a Caribbean coast, an Atlantic one and mountains down the middle. San Juan holds five hundred years of Spanish colonial building behind sea walls; an hour east, El Yunque drips in the only tropical rainforest in the United States forest system. Because it is a US territory the practicalities are easy, and Spanish and English are both everywhere.
Ten days lets you combine the capital, the rainforest, a bioluminescent bay and a couple of days on Culebra or Vieques, reached by ferry or a short flight. Roads are good and a hire car is the sensible way to do it. December to April is dry and outside hurricane season, which runs June to November and peaks in late summer. Prices and crowds are highest around Christmas and Easter.
- Ideal stay
- A week or more
- The vibe
- Tropical, historic, easy-going
From our guides
Snorkel from Culebra's Flamenco Beach, regularly voted among the world's best, or kayak the bioluminescent bay at Fajardo after dark. Reserve El Yunque and bio-bay slots online days ahead. December to April is the dry, hurricane-free season.
Featured in Ten lush rainforest-and-reef escapes for nature lovers
Things to do
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Old San Juan
Blue cobbles, painted facades and two enormous forts, El Morro and San Cristóbal, guarding the harbour mouth. Walkable in a morning, better over two.
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El Yunque National Forest
Waterfalls, river pools, lookout towers and a soundtrack of coquí frogs. Entry to the main road corridor requires a reservation.
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Flamenco Beach, Culebra
A wide arc of white sand with clear shallow water and a pair of rusting tanks at one end. Reached by ferry or light aircraft from Ceiba.
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Bioluminescent bays
Mosquito Bay on Vieques and the lagoon at Fajardo glow when the water is disturbed. Kayak trips book out, and moonless nights are best.
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Ponce and the south
The second city, with a distinctive red and black firehouse, a good art museum and a drier, quieter stretch of coastline.
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Mofongo and lechón
Mashed green plantain with garlic and pork crackling, plus the roadside roast pork of the Guavate corridor up in the mountains.
Getting there
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Fly to
San Juan (SJU)
Nearest airport to Puerto Rico, about 56km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To San Juan
Ponce (PSE) on the south coast takes only a handful of flights, so almost everyone lands at San Juan (SJU), 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from Old San Juan.
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On the ground
Getting around
El Yunque is about an hour east of San Juan by car and Fajardo a little further for the bioluminescent bay, while Culebra is reached by ferry from Ceiba or by a short hop in a light aircraft.
Public transport: San Juan has buses and a short metro line, but the rainforest, the bio bay and the ferry ports are hard work without a hire car.
Flights
Los Angeles Puerto Rico
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Roughly 7h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 29°C in January to 32°C in June. Driest January to April; wettest in October, with rain on about 22 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January29° · rain 14 days · sea 27°Warm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2015–2024 at San Juan (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
City hotels and beach resorts around San Juan, guesthouses and holiday rentals elsewhere, plus eco lodges near the rainforest. American chains are well represented on the coast.
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Best base overall
Old San Juan
Blue cobbles, Spanish forts and the best eating, walkable end to end and an hour from El Yunque. Weekend street noise is real and parking is a genuine headache.
Find stays in Old San Juan -
Best for couples
Condado
Beachfront towers and smart restaurants a short taxi from the old city, with swimmable sand and a busy bar strip. Rates here are the island's steepest.
Find stays in Condado -
Best with children
Isla Verde
The broadest and calmest city beach, minutes from the airport, lined with big hotels that run pools and kids' clubs. The area itself is more strip than neighbourhood.
Find stays in Isla Verde -
Best value
Fajardo
On the east coast beside the bio bay and the Culebra ferry, with guesthouses well under San Juan rates. A hire car is essential, as little is within walking distance.
Find stays in Fajardo
Worth knowing before you book: December to April is peak and Easter week sells out islandwide. Resorts add a daily facility charge on top of the room rate, so check before you compare prices.
Search everything else in San Juan by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Entry
- Puerto Rico is a US territory, so US entry rules and ESTA or visa requirements apply. The currency is the dollar.
- Book ahead
- El Yunque reservations and bioluminescent bay kayak trips both sell out days in advance in peak season.
- Driving
- Hire cars are the practical option. Signs are in Spanish, distances are in kilometres and speeds in miles per hour.
- Timing
- Hurricane season runs June to November. Insurance covering weather disruption is worth having in late summer.
- Safety
- Tourist areas are straightforward, but rip currents on north-coast beaches are a genuine hazard. Swim where other people are.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico?
Daytime highs run from about 29°C in January to 32°C in June. Driest January to April; wettest in October, with rain on about 22 days. The sea is warmest in October at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
How long should I spend in Puerto Rico?
Our suggestion: a week or more.
How do I get to Puerto Rico?
Ponce (PSE) on the south coast takes only a handful of flights, so almost everyone lands at San Juan (SJU), 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from Old San Juan.
Do I need a car in Puerto Rico?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. San Juan has buses and a short metro line, but the rainforest, the bio bay and the ferry ports are hard work without a hire car.
What currency and language are used in Puerto Rico?
Currency: US dollar (USD). Language: Spanish and English. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Puerto Rico best for?
Best for beach lovers, wildlife & nature and foodies. In a phrase: tropical, historic, easy-going.