What to bring to Puerto Rico

The packing checklist

• REAL ID or passportA REAL ID-compliant license, passport or military ID. Without one, TSA's ConfirmID process costs $45 and isn't guaranteed.
• Cash App, verified for bitcoinInstall it, then complete the bitcoin verification in the app before you fly so you can pay merchants who take Cash App through riverArk.
• $100 in small billsOnes, fives and tens for parking garages, beach chairs, kiosks, públicos and tips.
• A card with no foreign feesPuerto Rico is domestic, so cards work as at home. Tell your bank you're traveling anyway.
• A rental with a generatorAsk your Airbnb or guesthouse before you book. Outages can last hours.
• Tire plug kit and 12-volt air pumpBuy them on the island right after you pick up your rental car. Potholes cause a lot of flats.
• Power bank and charging cableOutages still hit the island. A charged phone is your map, your ticket and your wallet.
• Mosquito repellentEPA-registered repellent for dengue season, which is most of the year.
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglassesStrong sun year-round. Leave sunscreen off before a bio bay tour.
• Water shoesRocky entries, reef and sea urchins at many beaches.
• Light rain jacketShowers are short and frequent, and El Yunque is a rainforest.
• Dry bagFor ferries, kayaks and boat trips.
• Ferry tickets, if going to Culebra or ViequesBook on the official Puerto Rico Ferry site. Weekend and holiday boats sell out.
• Travel insuranceEspecially for trips between August and October.
• Offline mapsDownload the island in Google Maps. Signal drops in the mountains and on Culebra.
• A few words of SpanishGracias, por favor, ¿cuánto cuesta?, la cuenta. English is common in San Juan, less so in the mountains.

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ID and entry

US citizens don't need a passport to visit Puerto Rico. Flights from the mainland are domestic, so you clear TSA, not customs. Since May 7, 2025, TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant license, a passport or another accepted ID for adults. Since February 1, 2026, travelers without one can pay a $45 fee for TSA's ConfirmID check, which covers 10 days of travel, adds time and isn't guaranteed. Visitors from other countries follow the same visa or ESTA rules as the mainland. TSA: REAL ID

Flying home: the agriculture check

Before you fly back, every bag is inspected by USDA at the airport. Many fresh fruits, vegetables and plants can't leave the island, including pigeon peas, sweet potato, plants in soil and handicrafts made from palm fronds. Avocado, banana, citrus, coconut, papaya, pineapple, coffee beans, cut flowers and canned goods are allowed. USDA APHIS

Phones and power

Most US mobile plans treat Puerto Rico as domestic, but check your carrier's coverage page before relying on it. Outlets are the same as the mainland, 120 volts with US plugs.

The grid is the weak spot. An island-wide blackout hit on April 16, 2025, and rolling outages from generation shortfalls continued through 2026, some affecting hundreds of thousands of customers. Most hotels have generators; many Airbnbs and small guesthouses don't. Make sure yours has a generator before you book, and keep a charged power bank with you. Metro Puerto Rico

Set up before you fly

• Cash App, verified for bitcoin. Businesses that take Cash App through riverArk let you pay from your dollar balance. Verification is done once in the app and takes a few minutes. Why and how.
• Uber. Works at SJU and across the San Juan metro area.
• Offline Google Maps for the whole island.
• Ferry tickets on the official Puerto Rico Ferry site if you're heading to Culebra or Vieques.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts turned on, for storm and flood warnings from the National Weather Service in San Juan.