PR Loco
BienvenidosWelcome to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, minus the surprises.

Everything a mainland visitor needs before landing at SJU: what to pack, how to pay, how to get to Culebra, which beaches are safe to swim, and the handful of things that catch people out.

Calle Fortaleza, Old San JuanCalle Fortaleza, Old San Juan

Start here

Antes de irWhat to bringID rules, the packing checklist, and the apps to set up before you fly. DineroMoney and payingCash, cards, why ATH Móvil won't work for you, and paying with Cash App. TransporteGetting aroundAirport taxis, Uber, tolls, driving in kilometers, and the ferry to Culebra. PlayasBeaches and bio baysWhere to swim, where not to, rip currents, sargassum, and the glowing bays. El YunqueThe rainforestThe drive up PR-191, the tower, the waterfalls, Angelito Trail and the Las Paylas rock slides. ComerWhat to eatMofongo, lechón in Guavate, the Luquillo kiosks, and the piña colada argument. VerWhat to seeEl Yunque, the forts, Cueva Ventana, and when the island is busiest. Con niñosWith kidsCalm beaches, the science park, the forts with a Junior Ranger badge, and the rules on car seats. OjoStay safeWhat locals would tell you: where trouble starts, the laws that surprise visitors, and how to be a good guest.

Ten things people wish they had known

  1. Bring a REAL ID. No passport needed for US citizens, but TSA enforces REAL ID on flights to and from the island.
  2. Distances are in kilometers, speed limits in miles per hour, and gas is sold by the liter.
  3. ATH Móvil, the island's payment app, needs a Puerto Rico bank card. Mainland visitors can't use it. Carry small bills, and set up Cash App and get it verified for bitcoin before you fly. Verification is what lets you pay businesses that take Cash App through riverArk.
  4. Your rental car can't go on the ferry to Culebra or Vieques. Only island residents' vehicles board.
  5. The north coast is the open Atlantic. Rip currents are common. Swim at calmer beaches like Luquillo and El Escambrón.
  6. Power outages happen. Pack a power bank and keep your phone charged.
  7. Tips are never mandatory. Card screens suggest 15 to 25 percent, but a business can't force a tip on you.
  8. Use mosquito repellent. CDC lists Puerto Rico as a place with frequent or continuous dengue risk.
  9. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Travel insurance and a flexible plan are worth it from August to October.
  10. Fruit and plants are inspected when you fly home. Many fresh items can't leave the island.
A safe way to pay at small shopsBusinesses that take Cash App through riverArk let you pay from your phone. Ask “Do you take Cash App using riverArk?”, scan their code, and pay from your Cash App dollar balance. No card handed over, nothing to skim. See how it works.

Postcards

Yokahú Tower in El YunqueYokahú Tower, El Yunque Swimmers in a rainforest riverRío Mameyes Balconies on Calle FortalezaCalle Fortaleza Luquillo BeachLuquillo Beach Waterfall in El YunqueEl Yunque View from Yokahú TowerFrom the tower

Photos by their credited photographers, via Wikimedia Commons; credits in the footer of each page.