A little more
Puerto Rico.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Puerto Rico: what to know before you go

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and US territory with a strong Spanish-speaking culture, a colonial old town, rainforest, bioluminescent bays and beaches on every coast. Travel is easy for visitors used to US conventions, and the food and music are distinctly Puerto Rican. It suits beach holidays, road trips and long weekends alike.

Where to go

• Old San Juan. A walled colonial city of blue cobblestones and painted houses.
• El Yunque National Forest. The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, east of San Juan, with waterfalls, swimming holes, observation towers and the call of the tiny coquí frog.
• Bioluminescent bays. Puerto Rico has three bays where microscopic organisms make the water glow when disturbed.
• Culebra and Vieques. Two small islands off the east coast with quieter beaches.

Best time to visit

Mid-December to April is the most popular season, with dry, sunny weather and the highest prices. May and June and the late autumn are quieter and still warm.

Staying online in Puerto Rico

Coverage is good in San Juan and most towns, with 4G and 5G networks similar to the mainland US. Signal can be weak in the central mountains, in parts of El Yunque and on stretches of the islands of Vieques and Culebra. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and restaurants. US phone plans usually work as at home; for visitors from elsewhere, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.