Puerto Rico

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by the United States
• Capital: San Juan
• Currency: US dollar (USD)
• Languages: Spanish and English, both official
• Main airport: SJU — Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, serving San Juan
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; the island is a US territory, so no passport is needed for US citizens

Overview

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic. Because it is a US territory, it uses the US dollar and US citizens do not need a passport to travel there. It offers a compact mix of colonial history, rainforest, and beaches, plus the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra.

Airports

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan is the island's main gateway and the busiest airport in the Caribbean. Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla serves the west, and Mercedita Airport (PSE) in Ponce serves the south. Eugenio María de Hostos Airport (MAZ) in Mayagüez has limited service. San Juan, Aguadilla, and Ponce receive nonstop flights from the US mainland.

Main cities

San Juan is the capital and the main destination, with the historic district of Old San Juan in its north. Ponce, on the south coast, is the island's second city, known for Plaza Las Delicias and the Ponce Museum of Art. Mayagüez is the western port city, and Rincón nearby is a well-known surfing town. Fajardo, on the east coast, is the departure point for ferries to Culebra and Vieques, and Caguas is a large inland city.

Places to go

El Yunque National Forest, east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system. Old San Juan contains the forts of El Morro and San Cristóbal and the cobbled streets of the colonial city. On Culebra, Flamenco Beach is a long, sheltered white-sand beach, and Vieques has Mosquito Bay, a bioluminescent bay. Rincón's beaches are surf destinations, while the Guánica Dry Forest and the La Parguera bioluminescent bay lie in the southwest. Caja de Muertos, an island off Ponce, is a protected nature reserve.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Puerto Rico, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked