Puerto Rico Trip: 11 Things You Must Know Before you Travel (2023)

FAQs

What are 3 things Puerto Rico is known for? ›

Puerto Rico is the world's leading rum producer; 80% of the rum consumed in the United States hails from the island. There is a counted number bioluminescent bays in the entire world. Puerto Rico is home three bioluminescent bays.

Bring U.S. cash, since the airports do not accept checks, debit cards or credit cards for this exit fee. The exact amount changes according to the current exchange rate between the Puerto Rican peso and the American dollar, but typically varies between $50 to $70, according to the U.S. Department of State.

How much should I budget for a trip to Puerto Rico? A week's expenses in Puerto Rico for two people can range between $1,200 and $2,300. Visitors should always budget $200 or $300 more in case of any emergency.

1. Old San Juan (San Juan Viejo) Walking the streets of Old San Juan, with its lovely colonial architecture and imposing forts, is like stepping back into another era. This is one of the best places to visit in Puerto Rico, so make sure you allow some time on your itinerary for this city.

The vibrancy of Puerto Rican culture comes alive in its dishes, a celebration of flavors that visitors have the opportunity to indulge in. Some of the favorites are mofongo, tostones, pasteles, arroz con gandules, tembleque, and coquito.

Arroz con habichuelas is Puerto Rico's staple food. It's eaten almost daily in local households, and it's simply white rice with a side of red or pink beans. The dish is made complete with meat, often chicken.

Can you put toilet paper in the toilet in Puerto Rico? ›

When using public facilities, plumbing issues require toilet paper be disposed of in trash receptacles instead of being flushed, which can make for an odorous experience. And if you think restaurant service is slow on the main island of Puerto Rico, you haven't seen anything yet.

A: If you're traveling to Puerto Rico as an American you don't have to use an international plan—US cell phone plans work exactly the same in Puerto Rico as they do on the mainland. Most major carriers (including Verizon and AT&T) don't charge roaming for voice and text service.

Illegal appropriations are the most common property crimes in Puerto Rico. Up to 8,041 crimes classified as illegal appropriations were recorded in the island nation in 2021, down by almost half from 14,219 occurrences in 2019. In addition, over 2,400 breaking and entering crimes were reported in 2021.

The food and drink standards in Puerto Rico are comparable to those of mainland United States. The tap water is safe to drink as it is filtered and treated at the source.

San Juan water meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. We continuously monitor and test your water to ensure quality. Check out our Consumer Confidence Report to see for yourself.

What should I pack for a week in Puerto Rico? To stay in Puerto Rico for a week, visitors should pack comfortable and fresh clothing for the heat. A Puerto Rico packing list should always include flip flops, swimwear, shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers.

For evenings, dress is casual; ladies tend to wear short summer sundresses – and take a pashmina as just after a downpour it cools very quickly, but only temporarily. A few well-chosen pieces of costume jewelry will transform any outfit.

Tipping in Puerto Rico is just as common as in the U.S. It is part of the service economy and taxation system. Tipping is generally the same as it would be here in the United States. Gratuity may be included in bills in restaurants for parties of six or more.

What is the main dish in Puerto Rico? ›

While mofongo may be the unofficial cuisine staple in Puerto Rico, arroz con gandules (Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas) is the island's national dish.

The best Puerto Rican breakfast foods include Mallorca, quesito, café con Leche, tostada, pan de agua, Revuelto, and many native fruits. These breakfast foods help to show some of the culture and flavoring of Puerto Rico and are sure to delight your senses while visiting the country.

Its nickname is "Isla del Encanto," or "Island of Enchantment," and on the surface, Puerto Rico seems to fulfill every paradisiacal promise made about it by glossy travel magazines.

Lunch and dinner generally begin with sizzling-hot appetizers such as bacalaitos, crunchy cod fritters; surullitos, sweet plump cornmeal fingers; and empanadillas, crescent-shaped turnovers filled with lobster, crab, conch, or beef. Soups are a popular beginning for meals on Puerto Rico.

If you like piña colada, you should know the famous tropical drink was invented in Puerto Rico! The sweet mix of coconut cream, pineapple juice, white rum, and ice was born in San Juan, but the identity of its creator is still an unresolved controversy on the island.

The most popular desserts in Puerto Rico include flan de queso, arroz con dulce, and tembleque. Although coquito is more like a drink, it's also very popular among Puerto Ricans, particularly during the holidays.

Vibrant colors, bright whites, and flaring skirts all paint a picture of traditional Puerto Rican fashion. Despite the trends that unite traditional Puerto Rico clothing, there are two distinct styles—Jíbaro and Bomba. Both reflect native Taíno traditions as well as outside influences.

Many fruits are eaten in the Puerto Rican diet and include papaya, mango, guava and coconut. Older Puerto Ricans in the States eat a lot of bananas and oranges, since the other fruits are not readily available. A typical dessert is called arroz con coco, and is made with rice and coconut. Many desserts include coconut.

How much cash can you carry to Puerto Rico? ›

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts in excess of US$10,000 or equivalent should be declared at customs.

You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.

Feral Dog, Wild Dog (Eng.), Perro Salvaje (Sp.), Canis familiaris (Sci.), Native to Puerto Rico; introduced exotic species in the El Yunque NF.

The Puerto Rican Racer is the second largest Puerto Rican snake, and its venomous bite is mildly poisonous.

As mentioned above, PR is US territory. It uses the same banking system as the mainland US. Therefore, feel free to bring the form of payment you prefer (except travelers checks), and if you run out, then use the ATM machines or use credit cards.

Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, locals are American citizens, and American travelers can enter the Island without carrying a passport. Nor do U.S. travelers require international calling plans for their phones. The currency used in Puerto Rico is the U.S. dollar.

By completing the Travel Declaration Form, you must provide evidence of a completed vaccination cycle or instead, a negative molecular or antigen test result to detect COVID-19 carried out within the period maximum of 2 days before arrival on the Island or within the 48-hours period after arrival in Puerto Rico.

If you are a traveler from an international destination, you must present a negative result of a molecular or antigen test for COVID-19 carried out a maximum of one (1) day before boarding the plane to Puerto Rico.

All inbound visitors to Puerto Rico must show certification of a negative molecular (PCR) COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival or self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

For a week stay $200-300 cash should be enough. Most places accept credit cards; some small vendors may have a cc minimum amount of $10 (to cover POS charges). You will likely need small amounts (ex $3, $4 etc) for items like water, ice cream and snacks.

Is it worth vacationing in Puerto Rico? ›

If “unforgettable” is how you want to describe your vacation, Puerto Rico should is your place. Puerto Rico's combination of rich history, colorful culture, astonishing scenery, immaculate attractions, warm people, and fascinating cities make this Caribbean gem a world-class destination.

If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will NOT be allowed to board a flight to the United States, unless you meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC's Amended Order.

Latest vaccine news in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi has issued an Executive Order (EO) requiring all private sector employers with at least 50 employees to adopt COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements.

The cost is $139, which includes $100 for the independent laboratory that processes your test and $39 for your MinuteClinic visit.

lots of shorts! – With an average of 85°F to 95°F, it is likely you will want to wear shorts every day – plus, it's time to tan those legs! Still, pack one pair of long pants/jeans for any casual occasion. Sandals – You'll see it's quite common to see people walking the city with their sandals/flip flops.

Of course. All banks in Puerto Rico are FDIC insured and Banco Popular (the largest bank and the one with most ATMs and POS) is also insured by the U.S. Federal Reserve. So, ATMs of any major bank in the U.S. will be accepted. Visa and MC are accepted basically everywhere.

The best time to visit Puerto Rico is from mid-April to June, right after the busy winter season and just before the rainy summer. Spring weather is also very pleasant, barely escaping the mid-80s on most days.

Tipping throughout Puerto Rico is very common, just like in the USA, so be expected to tip when visiting salons, spas, and other service industries. Normally the rule of 15%-20% of the total bill is the general rule.