Puerto Rico holidays: Old San Juan, the rainforest and Vieques
Colourful colonial streets in Old San Juan, rainforest an hour away and bays that glow blue at night. Puerto Rico is the Caribbean with American infrastructure and a Latin soul.
Old San Juan
Photo: Zixi Zhou / Unsplash
Puerto Rico at a glance
The streets of Old San Juan are paved with bluish stones, the houses are yellow, pink and turquoise, and from the El Morro fortress you look straight out to the Atlantic. Puerto Rico is a US territory in the north-eastern Caribbean. That means US entry rules and the dollar, but Spanish, salsa and mofongo.
For more islands, see our Caribbean guide.
What to see
Old San Juan
The El Morro and San Cristóbal fortresses, colonial streets and bars where the salsa starts late. Condado and Isla Verde have beaches and hotels.
El Yunque
The only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system, with waterfalls and trails an hour from San Juan.
Vieques and Culebra
Two small islands east of the main island. Flamenco Beach on Culebra is one of the Caribbean's most beautiful beaches, and Mosquito Bay on Vieques glows blue at night thanks to plankton.
Fishing and diving
Puerto Rico is known for tarpon fishing. Read more about tarpon fishing in Puerto Rico.
El Yunque
Photo: Anahi Martinez / Unsplash
When to go
December to April: the driest and most settled. Peak season.
May to November: hotter and wetter, with hurricane season from June to November.
Good to know
Entry follows US rules. UK citizens need an ESTA.
A hire car gives most freedom, but traffic around San Juan is heavy.
Ferries and small planes serve Vieques and Culebra.
Where to stay
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, west of San Juan is the island's luxury choice, and the Condado Vanderbilt is the city classic. A dedicated Puerto Rico hotel guide is on the way.
Frequently asked questions about Puerto Rico
Do I need an ESTA for Puerto Rico?
Yes. Puerto Rico follows US entry rules.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico?
December to April brings the most sun and least rain.
What currency is used in Puerto Rico?
The US dollar.
What is Mosquito Bay?
A bioluminescent bay on Vieques where plankton glow blue when the water moves. It is best around the new moon.