So plan on visiting Puerto Rico this year, maybe as part of a cruise. Or, fly to San Juan and take a day trip to other parts of the island. When it comes to a first-timer’s guide to Puerto Rico, I have a lot of tips, and you have a lot of reasons to go for it!
1. You Don’t Need a Passport
Wondering if you need a passport to Puerto Rico? The answer is no, not if you are from the United States. Don’t feel badly for not remembering this from a long-ago social studies class, but Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the U.S.
After all, that’s why we were there for hurricane response, because Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. And the public lands there are our public lands to help protect and restore.
I brought my passport anyway, because I couldn’t imagine being so far from the mainland without it.
2. Confirm Your Lodging
The Puerto Rican tourism website, See Puerto Rico, noted that there are 121 open hotels. AirBnB is popular there too. You should not have a problem finding a place to stay in San Juan, and it might be just as hospitable as ever! However, here are a few things to check:
- If you have previously booked lodging, call or email the place directly and confirm that you are still able to stay. If they don’t answer one, try the other method because maybe their wired phone line is out, but they are able to email.
- Before booking or while confirming lodging, ask what happens when the electricity goes out. Will the water still run? Do they have a backup generator? Although it’s now reported that power restoration has come to 85% of the island, survivors are still reporting outages. The power was out for over a week when I was there! It didn’t affect me in a hotel with a generator, but some people I knew at an AirBnb across the street lost all the food in the fridge.
- Is mold a major issue for you? Some hotels were still airing out the carpeting when I was in Puerto Rico in November. Although it should all be dry by now, mold issues could linger. People who are highly susceptible to mold may want to talk to their doctors about visiting very humid climates anyway.
- Ask about amenities. Some swimming pools, beach access areas and gardens are still being rebuilt. There’s nothing like showing up with your ducky floaty to an empty shell of a swimming pool.
3. Beware Potholes and Expect Flat Tires
They were driving in circles since the street out front was practically a parking lot too with traffic. They looked at us in the space longingly, asking me in Spanish when I was leaving. They didn’t like my answer, which was, “¡Mañana!
4. Schedule for the Skies
You won’t want to miss Puerto Rican sunsets… and you won’t want to miss the sunrises either! If your work schedule keeps you occupied during both, make sure to take your break and catch at least one per day. If you are traveling for pleasure, make sure you are at a good viewing/photographing spot instead of being the wheel driving east at sunset.
As for sunrise, I know, it’s hard to get out of those cozy beds at higher end resort hotels. If you are in a hostel or couch-surfing, take advantage of the not-so-lingering circumstances and get out of bed early. If you are on a cruise ship, San Juan sunrises are amazing in the port.
I tried not to get caught in the torrential storms, but it can be incredible to watch them roll in from the shore. Whatever time of day, the skies around San Juan, Puerto Rico are perfect for enjoying the power, the ferocity, and the colors of the clouds.
5. Be Wowed By the Wildlife, Even in the City
Your voice matters!