Best time to go to puerto rico: The Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico (By a Local)

The Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico (By a Local)

The best time to visit Puerto Rico is between December and April for fresh weather, empty beaches from locals, and to catch local festivals, but it is also the high season for tourists. Summer and fall are good seasons to travel cheaper and enjoy warmer beaches, so it all comes down to the type of vacation the traveler wants.  

Puerto Rico sports warm weather all year round so it’s always a great vacation spot, but each season offers different and exciting opportunities for travelers, so the time to visit depends on what you want your vacation to be like.

Besides knowing where to stay and what to do in Puerto Rico, figuring out when to visit is one of the most important travel planning decisions most visitors make. 

As a Puerto Rico local, I love different seasons for different reasons, and I believe you should know all about them so you can also pick your favorite season too. So let’s dive deep into all the details.

Table of Contents

• When is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico
  • When to Visit for Good Weather
  • When to Visit Puerto Rico for Cheap Prices
  • When to Visit for Warm Beach Days
  • When to Visit with Family and Kids
  • When to Visit for Surfing
  • When to Visit to Avoid Crowds
  • When to Visit to Catch Local Festivals
• Puerto Rico Month by Month
  • January
  • February 
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June, July, & August
  • September
  • October 
  • November
  • December
• Puerto Rico Weather, Climate, and Hurricane Season
• FAQs
  • What months are hurricane seasons in Puerto Rico?
  • Is December a good time to visit Puerto Rico?

Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Thank you!

When is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico

In general, Puerto Rico sports the best weather between December and April, with little precipitation and fresh temperatures, making it the peak season for international travelers escaping from the winter. The best season to visit is between April and June, to get good weather without the crowds of the busy winter season.

But, as you might not be looking for the same thing as everyone else out of your vacation, let’s break down the best season to visit Puerto Rico for different types of trips: 

When to Visit for Good Weather

So you don’t get surprised by sudden showers frequently, you can visit during the dry season that goes from December to April. During this season temperatures drop by a few grades and the weather is more pleasant.

When to Visit Puerto Rico for Cheap Prices

If you’re wondering about the best time to travel Puerto Rico on a budget, then you should consider visiting the island between August and November. This is the low season in Puerto Rico but it’s also part of the hurricane season. During this time, you can find cheap hotel prices even in the capital city of San Juan!

When to Visit for Warm Beach Days

The rainy summer is the high season for the locals and it sports a combination of heat and rain, with August as the rainiest month. The average daytime temperature is 89 degrees Fahrenheit and the beaches are better for swimming.

When to Visit with Family and Kids

If you’re planning to travel with your family you should consider traveling between December and February. The winter months are full of festivals and parties that the whole family will enjoy. See my guide to the best festivals in Puerto Rico for more details.

When to Visit for Surfing

Surfing is a popular activity in Puerto Rico, and is especially among the best things to do in Rincon and in Cabo Rojo.

The months between September and December are the best to find good waves to surf in Cabo Rojo and Rincon. In November, you can even enjoy the Rincon International Surfing Festival that takes place in Playa Domes.

When to Visit to Avoid Crowds

To avoid the crowds of the winter and spring break, but still get great weather, you should visit between mid-April and the early summer. Although it’s the start of the rainy season, it only rains for a while during the day. The fall is another great season perfect to avoid crowds and have the San Juan’s tourist attractions to yourself.

When to Visit to Catch Local Festivals

If instead of the beach, you’re looking to enjoy the lively local culture, you’ll be glad to know that Puerto Rico sports multiple festivals during the complete year. You can visit during January to catch one of Puerto Rico’s famous festivals: La Calle San Sebastian. You can read more about these below.

👉 Need Help Planning Your Itinerary? I’ve built a completely pre-planned Puerto Rico 7 day itinerary you could just copy!

Puerto Rico Month by Month

January

January forms part of the high season and attractions in Old San Juan and the rest of the island get crowded. You can enjoy fresh temperatures in the low 80°F and some of the best local festivals if you’re staying in San Juan. 

Check out:

• Three Wise Men celebrations – January 6
• San Sebastian Street Festival – mid-January
• Festival de la Novilla – third week of January

February 

February is great for visitors running away from the winter. The weather is fresh and the beaches warm enough to spend the day beach bumming. 

Check out:

• Ponce’s Carnaval – a week before Ash Wednesday
• Puerto Rico Open 
• Maricao Coffee Festival

March

March is the busiest month for Puerto Rico tourism. With Spring break and the Holy week, travelers flood the beaches of the island and the streets of San Juan. Prices stay on the high side of the budget, but the weather is nice to enjoy. 

Check out:

• Feria Dulce Sueño
• Dia Nacional de la Salsa
• Good Friday and Easter – in March or April

April

From mid-April onwards, Puerto Rico starts its off-peak season. The winter crowds leave the island and hotels start advertising lower rates. During this month, you can visit the best beaches in Puerto Rico that sport warm and pleasant temperatures.

Check out:

• Saborea Food Festival
• Rincon Film Festival

May

May is a great time to avoid the crowd and get good hotel prices. Although it’s one of the rainiest months of the year, showers last shortly and you can take advantage of the warmer weather. You can try doing some of the best things in Puerto Rico like swimming in Flamenco beach, scuba diving, or snorkeling in one of Puerto Rico’s healthy coral reefs. 

Check out:

• Campechada – Puerto Rican art festival

June, July, & August

June and July are the peak season for locals but the off season for international travelers, as the hurricane season starts, with a brief exception in early July. It’s the season for the warmest temperatures of the year and the best beach tides. It’s also honestly the preferred beach season by Puerto Ricans!

Check out:

• Noche de San Juan – June 23
• Loiza Carnival
• Aibonito Flower Festival – Late June
• Festival del Juey
• Fiestas de Santiago
• Pineapple Festival
• International Billfish Tournament August

September

September is the best month to travel on a budget as tourism in Puerto Rico plunges. Since it is the peak of the hurricane season, hotels lower the rates and you can find special deals on all kinds of activities. Just be sure to stay on top of the forecast to make sure your trip to Puerto Rico is safe!

Check out:

• Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate

October 

In October, the temperatures start to feel fresher but the tides on certain beaches get stronger. The risk of bad weather is high, but you can still travel on a budget during the shoulder season.

Check out:

• Festival del Cine Internacional de San Juan
• Le Lo Lai Festival – Tuesdays in Fort San Cristobal
• Halloween parties and concerts

November

This is the last month before the high winter season hits. Historically, very few hurricanes hit the island during November and the temperatures are fresh and enjoyable. 

Check out:

• Festival Nacional Indigena – Last week of Nov, celebrating Puerto Rico’s indigenous roots
• Rincon Film Festival
• Calle Loiza Culinary Fest
• Queer FilmFest
• Puerto Rico Discovery Day – commemoration of the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the island
• Thanksgiving

December

Traveling during the holiday season is expensive as the high season hits, but it’s worth the price. Besides sporting fresh temperatures, December is also a month of festivities, special Christmas dinners, and local festivals with live music, ideal for visiting with family and kids. 

Check out:

• Hatillo Masks Festival
• Bahia Urbana Navitown
• Plaza Las Americas Christmas activities
• San Juan Christmas Boat Parade – mid December
• Old San Juans White Christmas Festival
• Christmas Eve celebrations

Puerto Rico Weather, Climate, and Hurricane Season

Puerto Rico sports warm and humid tropical weather. The average annual temperature is between the mid 80’s and 90’s degrees Fahrenheit, but humidity affects the overall heat sensation. 

It rains all year, but the driest months are between December and March. 

Like other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is affected by the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November, when tropical storms and hurricanes are a risk to the island. Read my full guide to hurricane season in Puerto Rico if visiting during this time.

Hurricane season is just a Puerto Rico fact of life. But, it doesn’t mean hurricanes will affect the island directly every year. And, if you pay attention to the NOAA’s hurricane center, you will know with enough time to take precautions.

As always, it’s helpful to get travel insurance covering Puerto Rico. Travel Lemming loves World Nomads because they are one of the most trusted insurers globally, but be sure to compare policies.  

FAQs

What months are hurricane seasons in Puerto Rico?

The hurricane season in Puerto Rico starts in June and finishes in November. The peak of the season is between September and October. Hurricanes won’t always affect the country. The last hurricane to land on Puerto Rico was Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Is December a good time to visit Puerto Rico?

December is a good time to visit Puerto Rico if you want to enjoy the culture, the lively Christmas in Puerto Rico, and local festivals, but December is a high season for traveling, and most attractions get crowded. 

***

I hope this helped you find the best season to visit Puerto Rico. Whatever your preference may be, the island is open to be your escaping paradise all year round!

👉 Before you leave, be sure to check out my guide to the top 33 Places to Visit in Puerto Rico.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave feedback after clicking submit)

Help us help you travel better!

Your feedback really helps . ..

What did you like about this post? Or how can we improve it to help you travel better?

Best time to visit Puerto Rico

Why shiver at home? With beautiful beaches, bioluminescent bays, steamy forests and a rich history that’s perfect for enjoying in the sun, Puerto Rico is a snow bird’s picture-perfect haven.

Fall is hot, tropical and quiet – a calm breathing space before sun-seekers flood in for the busy winter season. For most fall visitors, the risk of tropical storms is trumped by the peace and quiet on the beaches.

No holiday time till the spring? Don’t worry – the rest of the year is a good time to visit Puerto Rico too. The busy festival calendar means there’s always something happening on the island, and Puerto Rico’s salsa beats and lip-smacking cuisine are ever-present – the scent of slow-roasted pork fills the air throughout the year.

It never gets cold here, but it’s worth paying attention to weather forecasts during the June to November hurricane season. As elsewhere in the Caribbean, the actual risk of a hurricane passing overhead is very real, and tropical storms often come with the territory. Here’s our guide to helping you decide the best time to visit Puerto Rico. 

Shoulder Season (September to mid-December and mid-April to May) is the best time to avoid crowds

On either side of the crowded high season, Puerto Rico’s tourist infrastructure takes a breather to regroup. There isn’t a significant drop in prices or services, but the crowds thin, the beaches calm, and temperatures simmer, making fall and spring very pleasant times to visit the island, passing storms notwithstanding. 

A September visit provides a chance to drop in on the Fiesta Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate in Aguas Buenas; live music and street food make for a lively atmosphere and the mountain setting is lovely. However, this is also the peak month for hurricanes. Many travelers prefer to wait till the storm risk falls in October, or visit in spring, avoiding the hurricane season completely.  

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

High Season (December to April and July) is the best time to relax on the beach

Carnaval is just one of many festivals and celebrations taking place during high season in Puerto Rico © Bob Krist / Getty Images

December is the start of peak season in Puerto Rico as large numbers of Americans flee the cold to find refuge in Puerto Rico’s sun, sand and surf. Hotel prices rise considerably and the country comes alive thanks to a host of seasonal festivals and events like Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), Carnaval, and Semana Santa.   

The weather is warm, but cooler than during the sticky summer, making this a great time for trekking in the island interior. A second high season picks up in hot, sultry July when local families fill beach towns, but it’s not a full-on as the winter rush. July’s Fiestas Patronales de Vieques and Fiesta de Santiago show off different sides of Puerto Rico’s cultural melting pot.  

Low Season runs June to September and is an ideal time for budget travelers

The popular Rincón Surfing Festival takes place in November © James McGraghan / 500px

Hurricane season technically runs from June through November, but August and September are peak months for storms. You’ll be able to find discounted packages, but keep an eye on the weather forecasts and take out travel insurance just in case. As a whole, the island slows down, but there are still events to enjoy like the Rincón Surfing Festival, the Puerto Rico Queer Filmfest and the Jayya Indigenous Festival.  

January is a good time to escape your winter blues

Travelers looking to escape the cold find balmy solace in Puerto Rico, where temperatures hover around 83°F (28°C), and where the Christmas after-party rumbles on.
Key events: Dia de los Reyes, Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, Whale watching.  

February is one of the driest times of the year

Though the mountains are coolest during this time of year, temperatures stay fairly consistent along the coast. It is also one of the driest times of year, with only rare, brief, afternoon showers.
Key events: Carnaval, Festival Casals, Maricao Coffee Festival. 

Many tourists return home in March, leaving many attractions in Puerto Rico virtually empty © Artifan / Shutterstock

March means less crowds

Snowbird tourists return north, but Puerto Rico’s weather remains remarkably beautiful, with warm temperatures and little rain. This might be the slowest month for tourism all year, leaving many attractions virtually empty.
Key events: Feria Dulce Sueño, Emancipation Day. 

Check out an international film festival in April 

Trade winds bring a bit more precipitation to the north coast, though rainfall is mostly in the afternoon and temperatures continue to rise.
Key events: Semana Santa, Rincón International Film Festival. 

May is the start of harvest season

Many small agricultural towns of the south celebrate the arrival of spring with the fruit of their harvests – including a delicious assortment of coconut, mango, shrimp and oysters.
Key events: Feria Internacional de Artesanía, Semana de la Danza. 

June kicks off summer vacation

Puerto Ricans switch to summer mode, with shorter working hours and time off from school. The summer tourist season – when road-tripping locals join foreigners – swings into high gear.
Key events: Festival del Juey, Fiesta de San Juan Bautista, Festival de Flores, San Juan Pride.

July brings hot temperatures and beach crowds

Searing-hot temperatures drive Puerto Rican families to the beaches in droves. This is high season for sun-seeking locals, so expect plenty of company on the sands.
Key events: Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, Fiestas Patronales de Vieques, Fiesta de Santiago. 

August is the start of hurricane season

The tropical rains start to fall during the start of the peak of the hurricane season, but the parties continue every weekend nonetheless.
Key events: Bomba y Plena, San Juan International Billfish Tournament.

September is an important month to monitor weather 

Tourism in September can be seriously disrupted by tropical storms and worse, the month being the most likely time for a big one to hit. Travelers should keep a very close eye on the weather.
Key event: Fiesta Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate.

October welcomes a number of street parties in Puerto Rico © J Erick Brazzan / Shutterstock

October commemorates patron saints

Though this is the slow tourist season, the island’s typical assortment of parties for patron saints are scattered throughout the month. The lack of crowds makes this a great month for a visit.
Key events: Día del Descubrimiento de América, Festival de Cine Internacional de San Juan. 

November is the start of holiday season

American tourists begin descending on the island as the weather turns cold in the north. Puerto Rico also sees many native sons and daughters return to the island for the holidays.
Key events: Rincón Surfing Festival, Calle Loíza Culinary Fest, Jayuya Indigenous Festival, Winter League Festival, Puerto Rico Queer FilmFest, Thanksgiving.

Christmas celebrations occur throughout December 

Twinkling lights make central plazas sparkle as Puerto Rico gets geared up for Christmas. Near the end of the month, every town celebrates the Nativity.
Key events: Hatillo Mask Festival, Las Mañanitas, Waves in the West.  

Introducing Puerto Rico

You might also like:
How sustainable tourism is thriving in Puerto Rico 
San Juan’s hottest new restaurants and bars 
Exploring the family-friendly side of San Juan 

Rico – Mr. Marat: life through the viewfinder – LJ

In the past year, I traveled a lot. However, I planned only one big trip in advance, six months before the actual start – a trip to the USA and the Caribbean. Puerto Rico, the smallest island in the Greater Antilles, was the highlight of my journey. And I could not even imagine that this place would be so cool. In less than three days, I tried to explore the island as comprehensively as possible. I suggest you plunge into my journey through this really amazing island 🙂
ATTENTION! Under the cut there will be a lot of letters and photos!

Friends! At the beginning of my post, let me say a few words about the situation that arose in the rental office 🙂
(======English version=====)
Rico, City of San Juan, delayed 3 hours. Arriving almost in the evening, I flew out of the airport building like a bullet and ran to the rental office, where I booked a mini-car for my trip.
Somehow opening the door to the rental office and not having time to take a step, I got hit on the back by her with all my dope.
– Excuse me, señor, the door is new, the door magnet is very strong – from behind the counter, the sweet face of God’s dandelion, an old woman, appeared from behind the counter, which won her over from the first second.
Standing in line, I began to examine with curiosity the principle of this door. It slammed shut with the same swiftness as a mousetrap door. With a sad squeak, visitors escaped from the door that was attacking them, but it was far from always possible to escape. The door overtook the fugitives and pushed them in the back.

When it came to me, the old woman asked for my documents. This is where it started!
– Oh, señor, you are only 21 years old! We do not rent cars to persons under 25 years of age!
-This cannot be, I read the agreement, and persons over 21 can drive a car!
-Wait a second, I’ll be right there! – the old woman left for a meeting, and I began to doubt that they would give me a car today. Indeed, in many offices a car is not given to persons under 25 years old. When looking for a car in Puerto Rico, I was refused almost everywhere.
The heart-grabbing pause lasted about 5 minutes, after which the face of the old woman appeared in front of my face again.

-Senior, indeed, you can drive a car from the age of 21. I’m sorry, I’m new here. Give me your national rights!
– National? I have only international rights, as it should be!
-Wait, I’ll be there soon!-and the old woman again retired to the bowels of the rental office. People behind me began to go on a rampage and throw lightning bolts at the back of my head with their eyes, and I was sad that her advanced age had deprived me of any hope that she would ever grow wiser.
After another 10 minutes, the old lady reappeared.
– Excuse me, señor, give me your international ID!

When it came to the design, I decided to ask:

– Excuse me, will the navigator be included?

Life appeared in the old woman’s eyes. Her eyes began to radiate warmth, light, and other utilities.
– No, sir, but you can purchase it additionally for $30 per day!
My eyes dimmed from such astronomical sums, but I couldn’t help but take the navigator, otherwise I would definitely get lost, or, even worse, I would die from the arrows of the native inhabitants of Puerto Rico hiding in the mountains. As it turned out later, I could well do without it .. After 2 hours, the Navigator began to act up so that, it seemed, a little more, I would find myself in Mordor not far from Mount Doom. I had to navigate the map.

Then the old woman, wagging her spine politely, led me to the car. Politely saying goodbye to her, I looked at the clock – already 7 pm! You need to choose, either go looking for a hotel, or go to San Juan and see its beauty. In the end, I decided to head into the belly of San Juan. It is here, in the capital of Puerto Rico, that the Caribbean cruise ends, and I was not lucky – the day of my arrival coincided with the day of unloading passengers on land. San Juan was filled with thousands of tourists who swept everything from store shelves to the delight of sellers. I can’t express how much I dislike being in the epicenter of the tourist frenzy, so trying to fight off the main flow, I went to the El Morro fortress, the main attraction of San Juan. The fortress, like a fortress, dotted with tourists, did not impress me at all. Meanwhile, it was already quite dark. I was pleasantly pleased with the lawn near the fortress – it was very cozy here, and the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean pleasantly blew and invigorated me

Listening to the tourists’ speech, I smiled – I didn’t hear Russian speech anywhere. Puerto Rico is not a very popular destination for Russian tourism, here most of our compatriots will not be very interested – there are few beaches here, strict laws, and even a US visa is needed. Although Puerto Rico is not an integral part of the United States, the visa requirements are the same here. Although the majority of the population prefers to communicate in Spanish, the national currency is the US dollar. The status of Puerto Rico is interesting. Negotiations are underway to make Puerto Rico the next US state. I guess Puerto Rico will soon become one. Let’s go back to El Morro Fortress! View of San Juan and the Atlantic Ocean:

After that, I hurried to the hotel – I needed to gather my thoughts, sketch out an extensive plan of action for tomorrow and at least get some sleep. When I arrived at the hotel, I almost confused it with an ordinary residential building. Once inside, I spoke with the owner of the hotel, Alejandro, who adjusted my plan of action. He was very surprised when he learned that I was going to explore not only San Juan, but the whole island. 90% of tourists who find themselves in Puerto Rico cannot even imagine that ALL the most interesting is outside of San Juan. Since Alejandro ran everything related to his own hotel, he asked me:
-Where did you park?
– A couple blocks from here. Couldn’t find a closer location.
A blush suddenly appeared on his cheeks. He became very ashamed.

-We have a parking lot.. It’s just.. you will need to try a little to park there.. It’s better to park your car there.. We often break car windows.. And they won’t do anything there, because they know that it’s mine place…

Alejandro seemed to be looking into the water. Parking he called a small spot near a busy intersection, where each driver, beeping furiously, made his way forward. Parking there is like doing the feat of Hercules. What would he do if he was ordered to park on the death spot? The Augean stables would have seemed like flowers to him ..
Starting the car with trembling hands, I hesitantly trudged towards this patch. Death was breathing down my back, death with a scythe was already sitting in the back seat:
– Well, my friend, maybe you can step on the gas, huh?
Frankly, I’ve never been so nervous. Cars rushed by at the speed of a cannonball, completely without looking around. And finally, there was a free “pocket”. In my opinion, I even crossed myself and a BULLET drove into this patch, almost hitting a lamppost. I parked crookedly, but I survived. Arriving in the room, I fell into a dead sleep, so that the next day I could start my amazing adventure through the truly incredible expanses of Puerto Rico.

When I woke up at 7 am, the first thing I did was look out the window. Charged a powerful downpour. Not as powerful as in the Dominican Republic when my low beam headlights stopped working and I had to drive in almost total darkness, but still it did not bode well. But in the Caribbean, the weather changes at a catastrophic rate, so, charged with enthusiasm, I moved to the main point of my trip – the Arecibo observatory. Nestled in the mountains of Puerto Rico at an altitude of 497 meters, the radio telescope is trying to pick up signals at a distance of 10 billion light years, as well as find extraterrestrial life forms. The scale is really amazing – the diameter of the telescope is as much as 305 meters !! This is the world’s largest single aperture telescope!

A truly incredible sight. This is where “Golden Eye”, “Contact” with Jogie Foster and one episode of “The X-Files” were filmed. A real treat for sci-fi fans like me. Falling into ecstasy from contemplating this radio telescope, my beloved Carbon Based Lifeforms even composed a track of the same name, which I listened to all the time that I was at the observatory.

The complexity of the design and at the same time its sensitivity is striking – it can pick up signals even at the edge of the universe! Scientists use it to study pulsars, and in their souls there is a hope that someday they will receive a signal from a UFO.

These are the goodies that hide in the bowels of Puerto Rico. A unique and mesmerizing sight. In the meantime, it’s time to continue your journey – there are a lot of plans, but it’s evening early. Everything must be done in time

The road to Arecibo was difficult – it constantly twisted and went either uphill or into the forests. Sudden turns forced to be constantly on the alert. It is only in the circle of Puerto Rico that there is a continuous highway, in the center of the island the roads are much narrower and more dangerous
. And given that it was on the islands that I began to learn how to drive, sometimes it was really scary. The photo shows a wide section of the road, a rather rare occurrence in the central part of the PR.

Leaving Arecibo, I noticed an abandoned shop that used to sell various alien-themed souvenirs. I don’t know why, but the Arecibo observatory is not the most popular place, and there are very, very few tourists there. By the way, I met a lot of abandoned objects, ranging from gas stations to radio telescopes.

Deepening into the depths of the island, I soon came to another interesting point – Ventana Cave, where enterprising locals began an active sale of impromptu tickets. Having paid $5 for entry and another $2 for renting a flashlight, I signed the paragraph “in case of death, the administration is not responsible” and went to explore the caves. Somewhere it was necessary to crawl down the rope, somewhere – to make your way in the darkness through the caves. Good thing I took a flashlight. Many other tourists neglected him and then, swearing at life and at themselves, broke their spines, stumbling in the dark on stones

After a few minutes of wandering, I felt a breath of wind, and after a couple of moments I was speechless – a hole in the cave opened up a stunning view of the surroundings

I was lucky that I was here, and doubly lucky that I arrived here at 10 in the morning, there were very few people, and I, in company with local Puerto Ricans, admired the view. Indescribable beauty! The shot was taken on an iphone 🙂

How beautiful our planet is! I was triple lucky that I was born at the “right” time. If I had been born a hundred years later, most likely, I would not have seen such beauty – the human factor inexorably harms nature

Ventana Cave is not the only cave nearby. There are a couple of other, but less interesting, caves

Typical Puerto Rico – hilly and verdant area

The next point is Rio Camuy National Park – a place that is much more popular than Ventana Cave, rich in beautiful caves and underground rivers. I was curious why tourists ride here with such a desire. The main attraction of the park is the Shark Cave, so named because of the stalactites resembling a shark’s mouth. Beautiful, but Ventana is cooler 🙂

On the way to another cave, I came across picturesque bridges:

In general, the park was not particularly impressive, and I did not understand why many tourists prefer it. Perhaps they just don’t know about the existence of Ventana Cave, which is not very popular on the Internet

Considering that the navigator began to let me down as soon as I got behind the wheel, I very often drove to the wrong place. Parking the car in places not intended for this, I frantically tried to get on the right route, guided by the map

Here is the card itself. The area of ​​the island is 9800 sq. km, from the most western point to the most eastern point, a little more than 2 hours by expressway. The situation is different, if you want to go from north to south, you will have to wind through endless mountain roads. Accurately in the center of the island is divided by the so-called road of death, along which I swept the next day. More details later 🙂

It was decided to meet the sunset on the shore. Riding along the eastern tip of the island, I soon came across something resembling a beach – you could see the ocean behind the fence, and thousands of palm trees stood on the coastline. Finding a hole in the fence and being on the territory, I suddenly realized that this beach was abandoned. The building, resembling a hotel, has long collapsed, the ground is overgrown with grass, and a few visitors were playing volleyball and badminton. It’s amazing how many things are completely ignored here. In the Dominican Republic, a luxury hotel would have been built here long ago, and the beach would have been dotted with a host of inquisitive tourists. Probably for this reason, I began to fall in love with Puerto Rico, here they don’t try to make money on beach tourism, and tourism itself is not very developed here. The vast majority of tourists settle in San Juan

Another unhealthy wind turbine fetish of mine. In Puerto Rico, I met thousands of windmills! Just some kind of fairy tale.

After sitting alone on the shore and listening to suitable music, I did not notice how dark it was and it was time to move back to the room, considering that the path was long. Approaching the hotel, I met Alejandro – he guiltily looked after me, and his ears and cheeks were tanned – he was very ashamed. Arriving in the room and re-walking through the moments of today, I fell asleep with a satisfied smile. I definitely liked it here. The next day was fraught with no less beauty! Early in the morning, I decided to take a ride along the “road of death” – that same old woman in the rental office dissuaded me from this road. But I was too curious to ride on it. Already in close proximity, I saw this picture:

Yes, yes, friends, all this turned out to be abandoned. And a pile of metal on the left, and a KAMAZ, and a small excavator, and cars, and even (!!) a radio telescope. I was surprised at their integrity – some cars were not even touched, the plate was not dismantled for scrap. Miracles!

Having entered the road of death, I roughly understood why the locals call it that. On my way, I met 7 (!!!) tow trucks that took out the remains of damaged cars. In many places the roads were very narrow, they had no fences, and yet this road passes through the highlands! Constant and unexpected repetitions will make anyone nervous. Anyway, carefully winding through the endless turns, I arrived at the central point of Puerto Rico, the place Villalba. You can see how the mountains are hidden in the clouds. very high!

No longer surprised by the abandoned volleyball courts and houses, on the other side I saw an impressive panorama of the island. The ocean was visible in the distance, and right in front of me was an observation deck behind a fence. the territory was closed, but nothing prevented us from jumping over the fence. Forgive me, law-abiding Puerto Ricans.0003

Speaking of motorways – the roads are not good, but very good – nothing prevents you from driving under 160 km / h. Although in some places I got into very big traffic jams, where I could stand for 2 hours. The population in Puerto Rico is growing, plus all sorts of curious tourists like me add to the problems

Mountain villages have some indescribable charm. Whenever I got confused and asked for directions from the gornha of the inhabitants, they gladly helped me. Puerto Ricans are very kind and polite people, they love tourists. Tell them that you love Puerto Rico and that’s it, their love for you will be boundless

After spending almost the whole day on the death road, and not finding the entrance to the El Yunque rainforest, I had a bite to eat at a Burger King and went to sleep. The next day I had to vacate the room and go to the other end of the city, to the city of Aguadilla, from where I was supposed to fly to New York. But before that, I decided to visit a couple more interesting places. Not far from the city of Arecibo, a real treasure was hidden – the Cave Del Indio, located on the territory of the cottage, the owner of which quickly realized what was happening and decided to organize excursions there. After paying $1 for parking and canceling the tour, pretending to be a repeat visitor, I decided to explore the cave and surroundings myself

To say this place is amazing is an understatement. A must to visit! I was lucky enough to visit the Del indio cave itself, because it is often flooded

Looking at these letters, I felt like an archaeologist who had just found the cradle of mankind

There were only 3 tourists on the entire territory of the complex – me and two Canadians. This allowed me to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the place – I was not rejected by crowds of tourists, their conversations

Walking a little further, you could continue walking along the rocky shore

House on the ocean – what could be cooler? Especially when there is such a beautiful cave nearby. Just fantastic!

You have to look under your feet all the time – somewhere there are cliffs, somewhere – sharp stones

Approaching Aguadilla, I came across another abandoned beach. The buildings on the shore were once hotels. I parked my car and went to Pier

I don’t know what happened to him, but he didn’t look good. 3 fishermen were fishing and I found incredible peace here. Hastily turning on atmospheric music, I sat down on a stone and looked into the distance. Somewhere out there, across the ocean, my friends and relatives are waiting for me. Somewhere out there, thousands of kilometers away, is my usual life. Somewhere there lives that Marat whom you know. Being on this pier, I felt really alone. I, a lover of metaphors, immediately came up with a bunch of associations – for example, sooner or later we all find ourselves on an abandoned pier completely alone. The Caribbean trip exhausted me, and I wanted to go home. But at the same time I was happy – this journey happened, although not quite the way I wanted, but still. A journey that I spent a lot of time and effort on. It has come to an end. Looking back at the moments that only recently entered my history, I realized that all this was not in vain. The trip filled me with energy and desire to live. And that means my trip was a success!

Arriving at midnight, I didn’t meet ANYONE at the airport building. A slight panic seized me. Subsequently, it turned out that all flights at this airport begin after three in the morning! And employees of the airport and airlines come two hours before departure. Incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it!

When I gave the car away, I chatted with the distributor. He was very happy that I liked Puerto Rico. “Be sure to write only good things about us!” he said. Why not write here? This is quite possibly the BEST place I have ever been in my entire life.

What did I like about Puerto Rico?
– the attitude of local residents to tourists. No one is trying to deceive anyone and impose their services, as was the case in the Dominican Republic.
– relative cheapness of accommodation and food
– A HUGE number of interesting places
– scenic roads
– beautiful nature
– Arecibo observatory
– endless beautiful caves
– a unique atmosphere that cannot be missed
– few tourists outside of San Juan
– and many others.

Should I fly to Puerto Rico? Yes, if you are willing to study, explore and enlighten! Definitely!

For dessert, a couple of bonus shots:

Puerto Rico will forever remain in my heart as a place of incredible energy and beauty. I will definitely go back there again.
Reader, if you are still here, then thank you for your patience, that you read and watched the post to the end. See you soon 🙂

Puerto Rico attractions and beautiful places

Starting from the tribes of the Taino Indians, the discovery of lands by the navigator Christopher Columbus, the capture by the Spanish conquistadors to the association of a voluntary union with the United States. Heaven on earth – Puerto Rico.

Going on a long journey to the shores of the island, every wanderer will find entertainment here. Luxurious beaches and a huge number of hotels with one of the best services in the Caribbean, neon nightlife of the island, architectural monuments and national parks.

The state is small, but the number of iconic places rolls over:

Old City of San Juan

The first tourist meets the city of San Juan. The capital of Puerto Rico is famous for its architectural masterpieces. It is better to choose the old part of the city for inspection. Beautiful multi-colored houses in the colonial style, narrow and cobbled streets with a blue tint, reminiscent of Spain.

In the western part of the city there is a majestic fort – San Felipe del Morro . The defensive fortress of the 16th century protected the lands of the island from European invaders. The greatest building has been perfectly preserved unchanged and attracts with its emerald lawns, landscapes of the sea.

Bacardi plant – intoxicating delight

Not far from San Juan, a factory for the production of the world famous rum Bacardi settled. The creator of the brand Spaniard Facundo Bacardi in the middle of 19centuries brought an unpopular and sharp drink to a new level. Using new technologies and storage methods, rum has acquired softness and a unique taste.

El Yunque National Park

Just 50 kilometers from San Juan is a marvelous corner of natural origin – El Yunque National Park. The flora and fauna here are very diverse: hundreds of species of ferns and mangrove trees with an unusual root system, 60-meter half-century trees, a special type of frogs that make bizarre sounds of birds singing.

Waterfalls, morning mist caused by heavy rainfall, lost paths make El Yunque Park a special, enchanting place.

Togo-Negro Reserve – jungle in the mountains

Toro Negro Biosphere Reserve is a two-hour drive from El Yunque. On the slopes of the highest point of Puerto Rico (the mountain peak of Cerro de Punta), an area of ​​evergreen forests has settled. A great place for walking, swimming in the mountain lake Lago Guineo and an exciting journey into the jungle.

Arecibo Observatory

Continuing to explore the island from the inside, 60 kilometers from the Toro Nego nature reserve, it is worth visiting the city of Arecibo. An unusual place is the research center of the US National Science Center for Astronomy.

The territory of the observatory is lost in the mountains among the jungle and is a plateau with a huge installation similar to an alien shuttle. Inside the scientific center, interactive excursions are held on the topic of the operation of the radio telescope and the structure of our universe. The observation deck makes it possible to appreciate the huge scale of the device.

Rio Camuy caves – diving into another dimension

To the south of the city of Arecibo (18 kilometers away), the National Park Kaver-nas del Rio Camuy opened the door for tourists. Here is the largest cave system in the world. It was created thanks to the Kamuy River, which carries its waters deep underground into the Atlantic Ocean and over the course of many years washed out more than 200 caves .

Only a few are open to the public. Visitors can descend in a special trailer into the well of the cave, admiring the abundant vegetation that covers the walls. Excursion programs allow you to be amazed by the scale of one of the halls more than 20 meters high, to raft down the underground river. The cave system has not been fully explored and keeps many secrets beyond the control of modern man.

Mona Island for adventure

The lost tiny island of Mona is a natural cradle untouched by man. The territory was a pirate haven and in the first half of the 20th century, the treasures of an English corsair were discovered here.

The island boasts an abundance of wildlife: huge iguanas, turtles, wild boars and goats. There is no permanent population in this area, so the wanderer who arrives feels like Robinson Crusoe.

Flamenco Beach – turquoise expanse

From the city of Fajardo (17 kilometers from San Juan) you can go to the island of Culebra, which owns the most amazing Flamenco beach.

Snow-white sand, water of different shades, rocky shores envelop the sea possessions. Culebra is the place of the best beach holidays, water sports. Campsites, a wide range of hotels, excellent service make this area the beach capital of Puerto Rico.

Blue Beach

The second largest island in Puerto Rico is Vieques. This is a place for lovers of snorkeling (scuba diving with a snorkel and fins). Pleasant solitude, acquaintance with the amazing underwater world: coral reefs, schools of fish of an unusual color, giant stingrays.

Puerto Mosquito Bay – fantastic shimmering waters

The southern part of the island of Vieques holds a certain secret. The marvelous beauty of Mosquito Bay impresses guests with its peculiarity. At night, the sea surface is all lit from the inside. This happens due to the presence of millions of microorganisms capable of photosynthesis. Kayaking along the bay gives you the opportunity to see a non-trivial spectacle: thousands of bright lights of water expanses and stars in the sky merge together.

Turtle Island

Small, just over 1 kilometer in length, the coral uninhabited island of Culebrita (you can get there from the island of Culebra by water taxi or by renting a yacht) offers its guests to soak up the sun on the pristine Turtle Beach, admire underwater landscapes, watch the inhabitants of the island: sea turtles, brown pelicans and bizarre birds that emit a unique song.

Climbing along a narrow path deep into the island, the traveler faces a huge abandoned lighthouse, which was previously used by pirates.

Going down from the lighthouse to the bay, a wonderful picture opens up: a narrow bay, so-called bathtubs formed between the stone blocks, allowing you to feel like in a jacuzzi.

The atmosphere of the island completely immerses in relaxed natural comfort.

Whale walk

Between February and March in Puerto Rico in the Rincon region (140 kilometers from San Juan) there is a unique opportunity to see an endangered species of mammals – huge humpback whales. The owners of the sea distances often grow up to 15 meters in length and weigh almost 50 tons. It is in the western part of the island that their migration route passes.

In these places, whales are not afraid of humans and perform indescribable acrobatic stunts, astounding tourists from all over the world.

Lighthouse Rincon

While in Rincon, it is worth making an ascent to the lighthouse.