Puerto Rico, also called the “Land of the Valiant Lord” by the locals, is a territory of the US and a beautiful place to visit. This tropical destination has many tourist attractions because of its rich history and culture.
If you’re planning to visit Puerto Rico soon, you’ll need to keep a lot of things in mind to have a smooth visit. From packing to travel documents to moving around the place, here are fourteen tips for you to have a pleasant experience while visiting this beautiful island.
- Plan Your Packing Carefully
Whether it’s Puerto Rico or somewhere else, it’s essential that you pack according to the location. This includes clothes, sunscreens, mosquito repellent, shoes according to occasions and locations, accessories, etc.
To make sure that you don’t miss anything, you can prepare a packing list for Puerto Rico according to the season, the locations you will be visiting, and other relevant factors. This will save you a lot of time later, as you’ll be packing everything following the checklist without having to think or be confused.
- Check the Validity of Your Travel Documents
If you’re a US citizen, then you don’t need to worry about your passport, as US citizens can visit Puerto Rico without any. You can just carry a valid identity document like your driver’s license.
And if you’re not from the US, then you’ll need to carry your valid passport and perhaps even a visa. Keep your travel documents handy, and be clear about the intention of your visit.
- Better to Stay in Local Inns
You may have the intent to stay in a fancy hotel when you visit Puerto Rico. Here’s a good tip for you: ditch the hotels and stay in a local inn.
Local inns are mostly out of the bustling tourist spots, which means you won’t find the crowds and the noise you’ll normally see in hotels. Besides, you’ll have more attention from the staff than you will in hotels.
- Plan According to Their Seasons
Puerto Rico is a tropical location, so there will always be some rain somewhere on the islands, no matter which time of the year you visit. Be careful not to visit these places during the hurricane season, which typically lasts from June to November.
The best time to visit Puerto Rico is mid-April to June, after their peak winter season and before their summer. You’ll get good deals everywhere, and enjoy the perfect climate and tourist spots without much crowd.
- Plan Ahead What You Want to Do There
Planning your itinerary in Puerto Rico ahead of time can save you a lot of time and help you plan your expenses carefully. Besides, where you’ll go depends a lot on how long you’re staying there.
If you’re visiting for a very short time, then stay in Old San Juan, as it’s dense with tourist attractions, including beaches. You also need to determine what you’re interested in experiencing the most – whether it’s the food, the culture, or the history.
Puerto Rico also has ancient caves, salt flats, mountain peaks, bioluminescent bays, rivers, and canyons. You have a lot to explore here!
- It’s Not a Cheap Destination
Puerto Rico is not a very budget-friendly destination like most of the islands in the Caribbean. But if you can spare the money, it’s a destination well worth the cost!
Their currency is US dollars, so plan your currency conversion accordingly. Staying with a local family will save you a lot. Besides, the people here are accommodating, so they’ll be happy to help you with whatever you need.
- Their Official Language is Spanish
Usually, you’ll find English-speaking people in the tourist areas of Puerto Rico. However, it’s a dominantly Spanish-speaking nation, so learning and speaking some basic Spanish will help you. You can book inns and cars, or even order food in Spanish fluently, and you’ll get much more preference from them compared to other tourists.
- Know Their Etiquettes Properly
When visiting a new place, knowing their culture and etiquette, and following them properly helps a lot. Puerto Ricans are very hospitable but sensitive at the same time. So, it’s crucial that you speak carefully and with respect, especially about politics.
You also need to be careful about beach habits as well. The waves on their beaches have rip currents, and you can also see some places with whirlpools. They also don’t have lifeguards. If you’re traveling with kids, it’s important that you teach them beach safety and etiquette.
- Dressing Appropriately is Appreciated
Puerto Ricans have strict cultural norms for dressing, so it’s better to dress up modestly and mindfully. You’ll even notice employees here dressed very formally in suits even in the summer heat.
If you’re going to the beach, you can’t put on your swimsuit and start for the beach. You need to dress up and carry your swimsuit and flip-flops in a bag. And if you’re planning to visit a restaurant afterward, you need to carry appropriate clothes for that too.
- It’s Actually a Few Islands
Puerto Rico is a collection of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It has one main island, four small islands, and hundreds of islets. This means you have a lot of island hopping to do.
Besides, you need to get out of the metropolitan cities in Puerto Rico and get to the countryside and the lesser visited islands. This way, you can experience authentic Puerto Rico.
- Renting a Car Can Help You
Although you may want to travel using local transport, renting a car for your entire trip or for the span you’ll be staying in one location is a better choice. Traveling will be much more flexible for you.
You can go off-route and visit the countrysides, which you can’t achieve with local transport in the metro cities. Besides, you can carry your belongings easily in a car.
- Don’t Miss Out on Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine
When you go to a new place, tasting their cuisine is the way to go. That’s why, instead of visiting commercial places to eat, you should visit the local restaurants and bakeries in Puerto Rico.
It won’t just allow you to taste their local dishes. You’ll also be supporting these small businesses, contributing to driving their economy better. The owners of these places will also be happy to serve you their cuisine, through which you can taste their culture better.
- The Legal Drinking Age is 18
You read that right! Unlike most places in the world, the legal age for drinking is eighteen! That makes for an excuse for people about to turn eighteen to visit Puerto Pico and celebrate their birthdays.
So if you’re still not twenty-one but at the end of your teens, don’t worry. You can have your first drink in Puerto Rico and get the chance to tell that story for the rest of your life!
- Better Not to Roam at Night
Even though you may want to move around Puerto Rico at night, it’s wise to control that desire. A lot of petty crimes happen in urban areas at night, including pickpocketing and stealing valuables from a pedestrian.
Besides, you should not bring anything flashy or expensive to the beach. Petty thieves roam around in crowded areas, and you may not even realize when you’ve lost your valuables or even your entire bag.
Conclusion
No matter which part of the world you’re traveling from, the first major thing that will help you have a pleasant experience in Puerto Rico is knowing and respecting the culture of the country. And as always, you should create a detailed itinerary (consisting of all the locations you want to visit), a packing list, and a budget – all of which can lead to an amazing and relaxing time in Puerto Rico.
We hope you have a pleasant tour, and come back with pleasant experiences.
