Passport/Visa Requirements: All U.S. citizens, which includes Puerto Ricans, must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.
Beginning 1 June 2009, passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure.
Passports are not required for U.S. citizens traveling to and from Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth.
Citizens of Australia, Canada and the U.K. must take proof of citizenship (either a passport or a certified copy of a birth certificate accompanied by photo ID).
Languages: Spanish, English.
Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant).
Time Zone: 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.
Telephone Codes: 787 and 939, area codes. The area code must be dialed for all phone calls.;
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Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the U.S. and uses the dollar. Banks are generally open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4 pm and Saturday 9 am-noon. ATMs can also be found throughout San Juan and elsewhere on the island.
There is an island-wide tax of 5.5% on goods and services. Most municipalities have an additional tax that varies by municipality. San Juan's tax is 1%. The total tax in San Juan is 6.5%.
Lodging taxes are also imposed in Puerto Rico. Hotels with a casino have an 11% room tax, hotels without casinos charge 9%, and there is a 7% room tax at small inns. In addition, hotels in San Juan have an additional tax of US$3-$5 per room, per person.
Generally 15%-20% is adequate, but tip more if service warrants. In tourist areas, some restaurants charge a 10%-17% service fee, so check your bill before tipping.
Puerto Rico's climate is very pleasant, with an average temperature of 83 F/23 C in the winter, 85 F/29 C in the summer and year-round sea breezes. Temperatures are slightly cooler in the mountains during both summer and winter. Average humidity is 55% during the day and 80% at night. The rainy season hits its peak in August, and hurricane season is June-November.
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Weather forecast not available at this time.
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Attire should be suited to the warm, tropical weather, such as cottons and linens for both men and women. Dress comfortably during the day and wear plenty of sunscreen, especially if you are out in the sun a lot. Business attire is conservative, with men wearing suits and ties and women in suits, dresses or slacks. Evening wear is usually dressy. Local women generally wear tighter clothes, brighter colors and more jewelry than their U.S. mainland counterparts, and the local men almost never wear jeans or shorts out at night. Most nicer restaurants and clubs enforce a strict dress code.
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There are some Internet cafes in the San Juan metro area that provide access, and most hotels and some restaurants offer Wi-Fi access for patrons.
With convenient locations in the tourist sectors of Condado and Isla Verde, this cafe charges US$3 the first 20 minutes and US$2 each additional 15 minutes. Open Monday-Saturday 9 am-10:30 or 11 pm, Sunday 10 am-10:30 or 11 pm. 1128 Ashford Ave., Condado, and 5980 Isla Verde Ave., Isla Verde, San Juan. Phone 787-724-4033 (Condado) or 787-728-4195 (Isla Verde). http://www.cybernetcafepr.com.
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The branch most convenient for visitors is located behind the Sheraton Hotel. Open Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm, Saturday 8 am-noon. 100 Paseo de Colon, Old San Juan, San Juan. Phone 787-724-2098.
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The only English-language daily newspaper on the island is
The San Juan Star, which carries local news as well as extensive news from the U.S. This paper is a helpful resource for theater, sports events and movie listings.
Caribbean Business is an English-language weekly business newspaper.
San Juan City magazine also carries feature stories about the island and is another good resource for listings.
Que Pasa is the Puerto Rico Tourism Co.'s official tourist guide (published in English and Spanish) with listings of accommodations, maps, points of interest and restaurants, as well as other interesting island information.
Bienvenidos and Places To Go are other tourism and entertainment guides that list the island's trendiest spots to visit and the newest things to do. If you can read Spanish, you'll also want to pick up local daily newspapers, El Nuevo Dia, El Vocero or Primera Hora. You can find English-language periodicals such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Time and Newsweek at most newsstands.
Phone service in Puerto Rico is the same as on the U.S. mainland. In San Juan, you can use prepaid calling cards for pay phones, which are widely available at newsstands, convenience stores and drugstores. The area codes for the entire island are 787 and 939. The 10-digit phone number (including the area code) must always be dialed from anywhere on the island, even San Juan. Calling the U.S. from Puerto Rico is like calling from any other state; dial 1 (when necessary), followed by the area code and phone number.
Many of the major cell-phone service providers offer service in Puerto Rico, including Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. Reception in the San Juan area is pretty good, depending on where you are.
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The best way to get around Old San Juan is on foot. The streets are narrow and congested, and there's almost no parking. But if you want to see other parts of the city and go to the beach, you'll need to rent a car, hire a taxi or join a tour group. Public transportation is available, but you'll need a working knowledge of Spanish and extra time to get from one end of the city to the other.
Puerto Rican law requires drivers and passengers or scooters or motorcycles to wear both a helmet and a reflective belt.
There are approximately 20 airlines serving the Puerto Rican market and connecting the island to more than 50 destinations in the U.S. mainland, the Caribbean and Europe. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is about 7 mi/11 km east of the city center (phone 787-791-3840 or 787-253-5678; http://www.prpa.gobierno.pr). It's the biggest and busiest in the Caribbean. The airport has undergone several renovation projects and expansions, and there are now self-service check-in kiosks, as well as Internet service, shops and restaurants inside the terminals—and there are even slot machines in a casino at the airport hotel. Terminals are B, D and E are operating normally; Terminal A is closed; and Terminal C is under construction and not in operation.
Keep in mind that the drive between the airport and Old San Juan takes at least 30 minutes in regular traffic (and as much as double that in rush hour). The airport check-in areas are often congested, and U.S.-mainland-bound travelers are required to put their luggage through a separate U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection before check-in. The inspection machines are at Terminal B and Terminal E. Passengers will not be able to check luggage without first obtaining the UDSA sticker of approval. Be sure to arrive with plenty of time to spare.
Isla Grande Airport, a mile/kilometer south of the port, handles general aviation and charters within the island and to other Caribbean islands. Phone 787-729-8731.
Connecting Transportation
Best way:
The easiest and safest way to get to and from the place you're staying—if there is no hotel-sponsored shuttle—is to catch a cab. Puerto Rico Tourism Co. personnel at the Luis Munoz Marin Airport and at the piers where the cruise ships dock provide vouchers for taxis to ensure tourists are not overcharged (US$8-$19, depending on the destination).
Other options:
There's public bus service between Luis Munoz Marin Airport and San Juan. Major rental car companies maintain offices at the airport.
You will not need a car if you plan to stay primarily in the city. If you're undaunted by heavy traffic, signs in Spanish and aggressive drivers, a rental car may be useful for exploring the beaches, rain forest and areas outside San Juan. Most international rental car companies have offices in San Juan. There are also several local firms, which may have lower rates. The highways are generally in good condition—be aware that some roads in the interior of the island are narrow and steep and that many of Puerto Rico's expressways are toll roads, so keep change handy.
This ferry operates a line from the tourist dock in Old San Juan to Catano, the home of Bacardi Rum. The ferry ride is seven minutes long, and the service is offered 6 am-10 pm with departures every 15 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours and departures every half-hour the rest of the day. The last ferry departs from Catano at 9:45 pm and Old San Juan at 10 pm. A ticket costs less than US$1 each way. Phone 787-729-8714.
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This bus service offers air-conditioned coaches that tend to be crowded and infrequent, but they do cover the greater San Juan area. The most popular routes run along Avenidas Ponce de Leon and Fernandez Juncos toward Old San Juan, as well as up and down the Condado hotel strip on Ashford Avenue. Daily 5 am-10 pm. Tickets are US$0.75. Phone 787-250-6064 or 787-767-7979. http://www.dtop.gov.pr/ama/ama.htm.
This service costs slightly more than AMA's service, but you'll still rarely pay more than US$1. Buses run every 15 minutes 6 am-midnight. The most popular routes run along Avenidas Ponce de Leon and Fernandez Juncos toward Old San Juan. Stops are marked by yellow signs.
The island's first rail-transit system runs in the San Juan, Bayamon and Guaynabo metropolitan areas. The system has 16 stations, including stops in Rio Piedras, Bayamon (near the Loubriel stadium) and in Hato Rey adjacent to the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. Daily 5:30 am-11:30 pm. One-way tickets are US$1.50 adults, US$0.75 children and seniors. Toll-free 866-900-1284 for automated recording.
Taxis are readily available and are generally the easiest and fastest way to get around San Juan. Although the cabs are metered, there is a special flat rate for trips to so-called Tourist Zones, which include the airport, Old San Juan, beaches, Condado, Isla Verde, and the central shopping and restaurant areas. Make sure the driver quotes you the rate in advance—usually US$10-$16 depending on your destination. You can also ask to see the laminated rate sheet that drivers are required to carry in their cabs, or you print out of the rates by visiting http://www.gotopuertorico.com/puerto-rico-transportation.php.
This system of open-air public cars provides relatively cheap transportation. Be forewarned, however, that for most downtown and old city locations it's easier to walk, and most public-car drivers do not speak English. The vehicles are slow and service is unreliable, but they do serve the airport and most town plazas. In San Juan, the public cars' main starting point is in Plaza Rio Piedras. Tickets are US$0.50-$1. Phone 787-765-7733.
In the Old City, trolley cars operated by the city government make rounds to and from stops at La Puntilla and Covadonga (in front of the piers) parking lots. Daily 7 am–7 pm. Free. Phone 787-723-7080.
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This nonprofit tourism office organizes meetings and conventions, but it also provides valuable tourism information to individual visitors. It is conveniently located in a high-rise office building near Pier 1. 500 Tanca St., Suite 402, Old San Juan (Ochoa Building), San Juan. Phone 787-725-2110. http://www.meetpuertorico.com.
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This government-sponsored tourist office provides visitors with all types of vacation, business and convention information. Additional information kiosks are located at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (phone 787-791-1014) and in La Casita (phone 787-722-1709), a small yellow house near Pier 1 in Old San Juan. Open daily 8:30 am-8 pm. 2 Paseo de la Princesa, Old San Juan (central office), San Juan. Phone 787-721-2400. Toll-free 800-866-7827. http://www.gotopuertorico.com.
The San Juan city government tourist office provides information about what's happening in the capital. Open Monday-Saturday 8 am-4 pm. Phone 787-721-6363. http://www.sanjuancapital.com.
