Puerto Rico Travel Tips

Puerto Rico has a fairly high crime rate in some areas and it is wise to take some precautions with regards to your safety while on holiday here. If you do hire a car, always try to park it in a secure car park instead of in the road and do not leave any valuables in sight.

Parts of the island’s larger cities are not safe to venture into late at night. Women should avoid travelling alone at night. For the most part, the tourist centres, such as Old San Juan, are safe and tourists are rarely the target of crime. Be careful with your belongings when you head to the beach if you still want them to be there when you get back from a swim.

Emergency: 911

The currency in Puerto Rico is the US dollar. Coins are available in denominations of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1. Banknotes come in US$1, US$5, US$10, US$50 and US$100.

Exchanging money is very convenient in Puerto Rico, with banks and bureaux de change available across the island. Most visitors will find they can use all or most ATMs here, which can commonly be found in supermarkets, shopping malls, banks and business districts. Money can also be exchanged at the main airport in San Juan; however, as the currency is the US dollar, many visitors choose to change their money before they arrive.

As a US commonwealth, US immigration and customs laws and regulations apply in Puerto Rico. Firearms, weapons or medication must be declared on arrival in Puerto Rico. US citizens that are returning to the US mainland by air are not required to go through customs prior to boarding their flight.  

Electricity: 120 volts, alternating at 60Hz.

There are few health concerns for visitors to Puerto Rico; however, all the usual precautions should be taken to minimise the risk of sickness during your stay. Travellers should ensure they are up-to-date with standard vaccinations prior to arriving in Puerto Rico, with vaccination against hepatitis A recommended.  

The sun is the biggest threat in Puerto Rico and visitors should wear an appropriate sunscreen and not spend long periods in the sun if they want to avoid getting burnt. It is also advisable to drink plenty of water to minimise the risk of dehydration. Mosquitoes can also be an annoyance in Puerto Rico and it is advisable to carry a strong repellent with you if you want to avoid being bitten.

The tap water in Puerto Rico is safe to drink, but those heading out of urban centres would be wise to drink only bottled water. Should you fall ill during your stay or sustain an injury, medical facilities in the capital are very good. Both government and private medical care is available, but you must make sure you have comprehensive health insurance before travelling to Puerto Rico, as hospital care can be very expensive. For minor complaints, pharmacies are widely available, while supermarkets usually stock a good selection of medicines.

The Puerto Ricans are a friendly and laid back people, with politeness going a long way here. If you are friendly and sincere to the locals, you will find them happy to provide you with assistance in return.

People commonly kiss on one cheek when they are first introduced, with the exception of a male being introduced to another male, where a handshake would be the norm. Socialising and chatting to strangers here in shops is quite common in Puerto Rico, so don’t be alarmed if someone strikes up a conversation with you.

Puerto Ricans and visitors to the island do not have to pay federal taxes or import duties on commodities like gasoline or rum thanks to its commonwealth status. This can mean great savings for tourists who may want to take advantage of this by bringing plenty of alcohol back home with them.

It is standard to leave a 10 to 15 per cent tip after a meal in a restaurant if the service is not included in the bill, while it is not necessary to leave a tip in a cheaper roadside café, but letting your waiter or waitress keep the change will be much appreciated. Tipping porters is the norm, while tipping taxi drivers is optional, depending o the service.

The country code for Puerto Rico is +1. Broadband internet is widely available in  hotels and internet cafés in the larger towns and cities.

US nationals do not require a visa for Puerto Rico as the island is a US commonwealth. All other nationalities must have a passport that is valid for at least six months. Citizens of Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK are issued a 90-day tourist visa on arrivals; however, citizens of some countries are required to submit a visa application prior to their trip.