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Best Time To Visit Puerto Rico – Your Complete Guide

When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Believe it or not, there’s more than one right answer to this question.

If you’re looking for the answer, you’ve also come to the right place.

best time to visit Puerto Rico

We will be looking at all of the different seasons and discussing which season is the best time for you to visit this amazing Island.

So, without further adieu, let’s get started.

Why Should You Visit Puerto Rico?

things to do in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a breathtaking holiday destination that attracts thousands of tourists every year.

The island is breathtaking, to say the least, and it’s full of awe-striking sights that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

You’ll get to see everything from mountain views and waterfalls to forests and stunning beaches.

On top of its beauty, Puerto Rico also has a rich cultural history.

When visiting the island, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the native culture and learn more about how Puerto Rico became what it is today.

The Caribbean piece of paradise is also a great holiday destination for all of the adventure junkies out there.

There are plenty of thrilling activities to do on the island, each of which will blow your mind.

Did I mention that Puerto Rico has some of the best cultural cuisines that you’ll find around the world? It sure does.

You’ll get to dig into some of the native cuisines to get a taste of what Puerto Rico is all about.

I’m not sure about you, but this sounds like an epic holiday destination to me!


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When is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico?

Beautiful view of clear water

So, when is the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Believe it or not, there is quite a lot of debate around this topic.

For example, you’ll get to enjoy the beaches most in the summer. However, your beach days might be interrupted by rainfall.

Otherwise, you could visit when there is little or no rainfall. However, this will be during the peak season.

So, you can expect to knock elbows with quite a lot of other travelers. You could also try to visit during the off-peak season.

However, it may be cold during this time which would make your beach expeditions a little unpleasant.

So, let’s delve a bit deeper into this to determine when it’s the best time to visit Puerto Rico.

December to March

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Is December to March the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Well, that depends entirely on what you are wanting to do on your holiday.

December to March is the winter season in Puerto Rico.

So, if you plan on visiting the island during these months, it may be a good idea to pack some warm clothes.

Just because it’s winter it doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a great holiday. As a matter of fact, December to March is one of the peak seasons in Puerto Rico.

Plenty of travelers flock to the island during this time in order to have a lovely Christmas holiday.

Trust me, Christmas in Puerto Rico might just be the best Christmas you’ve ever had.

The downside to visiting Puerto Rico between December and March is the fact that your accommodation might be quite pricey.

I mean, you could expect hotels and rooms to have higher rates with so many tourists on the island.

On the upside, there are quite a few epic festivals and events that take place during these months.

Festivals 

In December, you can take part in the Nochebuena festival. This is the Puerto Rican version of a Christmas eve festival.

This festival is celebrated with lots of food, music, and Navideños which is the New Year’s Eve equivalent of Christmas carols.

Talk about starting the new year with a bang! In January, you can take part in the Fiesta de los Reyes Magos festival.

This is a religious festival that celebrates the three wise men in the Puerto Rican religious texts.

There is also the San Sebastián Street Festival which celebrates Saint Sebastian.

At this time, the streets are full of vendors that sell all sorts of crafts, jewelry, clothes, and other collectible goods that you can buy as souvenirs.

Fiesta del Acabe del Café takes place during the month of February and it’s an equally epic festival to attend.

This festival is for all of the coffee lovers out there.

Since the festival takes place toward the end of the coffee harvesting season, you’ll get to taste a variety of Puerto Rican-style coffees if you take part in the celebrations.

Another festival that you can attend in February is the Puerto Rico Open Festival.

From February to March you’ll be able to join the Casals Festival which is a musical festival that celebrates a local musician that goes by the name of Pablo Casals.

If you are visiting Puerto Rico in March, I highly recommend taking part in Carnaval de Ponce.

Here, you will see breathtaking and colorful parades fill the streets. It’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

You can also join Día Nacional de la Zalsa in March which is another music festival. However, the primary aim of this festival is to celebrate with salsa dancing.

So, be sure to pack your best dancing shoes.

Beach Time

Apart from all of these amazing festivals that you can attend during the winter season in Puerto Rico, I have some more great news for you.

For starters, there won’t be any rain getting in the way of your beach holiday. Yes, you might encounter some cold days.

However, since Puerto Rico is a beach island, the temperature isn’t likely to drop too low.

So, you’ll still be able to lounge on the beach or take a dip in the ocean. How awesome is that?

April- June

Beautiful view of ocean

Is April to June the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Well, April to June is the spring season in Puerto Rico.

So, you can expect to see flowers start blooming and new life coming back to the island.

The weather might not be as hot as it would be in summer, but it will be warm enough for you to get the perfect beach holiday that you were hoping for.

In Spring, you might encounter some windy weather conditions which is the only downside that I can think of.

Other than that, your holiday can still be packed with adventure and fun.

The great news is that since most of the peak-season travelers have departed from the island at this time, the hotel and room rates won’t be as expensive as it is from December to March.

It will be much more affordable which is why many people say that Spring is the best time to visit Puerto Rico.

One thing that you should be aware of is that June is one of the hottest months of the year on the island.

This means that you can catch that perfect beach tan, ride the waves, go snorkeling or take a dip in the ocean.

Just be sure to bring along some sunscreen so that you don’t end up looking like a walking tomato.

There are plenty of exciting things to do in Puerto Rico during Spring. You can visit the black sand beach or see the Cascada La Mina waterfall.

Spring Festivals

On top of that, Puerto Rico also has a lot of Spring festivals.

If you’re visiting the island in April, you can take part in the Saborea festival.

This festival was initially created to bring tourists back to Puerto Rico after a destructive hurricane hit the island.

If you like food, you are going to love the Saborea festival. This is primarily due to the fact that the entire festival revolves around food.

You’ll get to taste a variety of authentic Puerto Rican dishes that you won’t be able to find in your own country.

In the month of May, you can take part in the La Campechada festival. This is one of my personal favorite festivals in Puerto Rico.

It revolves around celebrating the performing arts scene on the island. You’ll get to see live music and artists performing poetic pieces.

This will be a cultural experience of epic proportions.

Festival de la Piña Paradisíaca is another great festival to attend during the spring season and it takes place in June.

This is a pineapple festival that takes place every year. So, get ready for some fruity fun.

You don’t have to worry too much if you miss out on Festival de la Piña Paradisíaca.

Puerto Rico Restaurant Week

There is another festival that takes place in June that is none other than Puerto Rico Restaurant Week.

During Puerto Rico Restaurant Week you’ll get discounts and more than 20 different restaurants in Puerto Rico.

Competitions are also hosted during this time. So, if you’re feeling lucky, you might even walk away with a prize.

Noche de San Juan is also a festival that takes place in June. This festival celebrates the eve of the official St John’s celebration.

You’ll get to see giant bonfires with natives dancing all around them. This will also be an experience that you won’t soon forget.

From the end of June to the beginning of July, you can enjoy the Aibonito Flower Festival.

In case the name hasn’t given it away already, you’ll see plenty of beautiful flowers flying around during this festival.

It will be absolutely mesmerizing.

With such great weather, cheap accommodation rates, and epic festivals, Spring might actually be the best time to visit Puerto Rico.


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July- September

Aerial view of Puerto Rico

Is July to September the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Let’s delve a bit deeper into these months to find out.

In my opinion, July to September is not the best time to visit Puerto Rico.

This is primarily due to the fact that the hurricane season takes place during these months.

So, you might be unlucky enough to get caught up in a natural disaster if lady luck isn’t on your side.

That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to run into a hurricane. As a matter of fact, it’s very possible that there won’t be any hurricanes during these months.

However, this is a risk that you’ll need to be willing to take if you want to visit Puerto Rico between July and September.

There is an upside to visiting Puerto Rico during these months.

For starters, due to the hurricane risk, this is considered to be the off-peak season.

Yes, not too many travelers want to risk their holiday being ruined by a gigantic spiral of raging wind.

This means that you won’t be knocking elbows with too many travelers on your holiday.

On top of that, the hotels and rooms will come at a much more budget-friendly price.

Thus, July to September is the cheapest time to visit Puerto Rico.

So, it might be worth risking running into a hurricane after all if you’re looking to save some money or travel to Puerto Rico without putting too much of a dent in your pocket.

The Aibonito Flower Festival is the only festival that takes place during this time.

However, there are plenty of other activities that you can engage in. Let’s take a look at a few of the best things to do.

Things to do in Puerto Rico in Hurricane Season

best time to visit Puerto Rico

www.shutterstock.com/Infinite_eye

1: El Yunque

El Yunque

El Yunque

You can go hiking through El Yunque which is a piece of paradise, to say the least. El Yunque is full of beautiful mountain views.

You’ll get to see some stunning waterfalls and you’ll get to explore the rainforest. You might even run into some wildlife on the way if you’re feeling lucky.

This is one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico excluding the stunning beaches. The greatest part is that there’s a hiking trail that suits all skill levels.

So, you don’t have to be a fitness junkie to hike through this paradise.

2: Toro Verde Adventure Park

best time to visit Puerto Rico

If you’re an adventure junkie, you can also go on an epic adventure at Toro Verde Adventure Park.

Here, you’ll get to glide from treetop to treetop on a zipline. Don’t worry, the experience is completely safe and you’ll be guided by trained professionals.

You’ll also get to see breathtaking views from a bird’s eye view. Talk about an exciting experience!

3: Museo Castillo Serrallés

Museo Castillo Serrallés

Museo Castillo Serrallés

You can visit Museo Castillo Serrallés which is a museum that is situated inside a beautiful large mansion.

The mansion is composed of beautiful architecture that will leave you standing in awe.

There are also plenty of interesting exhibits inside the museum that you can stroll through.

This is an especially great activity if it is too windy outside. You’ll be covered and protected from bad weather the entire time.


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4: Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud

best time to visit Puerto Rico

If you’re looking for a historical experience, be sure to make a pit stop at Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud.

This is an ancient chapel that was built in the 1800s. It is a beautiful architectural structure that’ll teach you more about Puerto Rico’s religious history.

This is another experience that you simply cannot afford to miss out on.

5: Carabalí Rainforest Park

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Are you an adventure junkie like I am? If you are, be sure to stop by Carabalí Rainforest Park. There are a few awesome things that you can do here.

You can either go on a ziplining adventure or you can go go-karting through the rainforest. I’m not sure about you but that sounds like an epic adventure to me!

6: Las Cascadas Water Park

best time to visit Puerto Rico

If the weather is warm enough and you’re not caught up in a hurricane, be sure to stop by Las Cascadas Water Park for a splashing adventure.

This is the biggest water park in Puerto Rico. It has more than 20 different slides for you to glide down.

On top of that, it has a lazy river where you can sail gently on a tube. This is an especially great activity if you are traveling with young children.

7: Juan Diego Falls

Juan Diego Falls

Juan Diego Falls

Lastly, the Juan Diego Falls is another experience that you simply cannot afford to miss out on.

These are majestic waterfalls that crash into raging pools below. If the weather allows for it, you can also take a dip in the pool.

So, although there might not be a lot of festivals in Puerto Rico between July and September, there are still plenty of other interesting activities for you to enjoy.

Remember, that this is the cheapest time to visit Puerto Rico which could potentially make it the best time to visit Puerto Rico.

Especially if you don’t want your holiday to put too much of a dent in your pocket.

However, you will still need to take into consideration that you might encounter bad weather or hurricanes during this season.

This means that you can either have an epic and affordable holiday or a disastrous one. Are you willing to take the risk?

October- Mid-December

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Now, we know about hurricane season, spring, and winter in Puerto Rico.

However, in October to mid-December the best time to visit Puerto Rico? Let’s take a closer look. October to mid-December is the fall season in Puerto Rico.

As we all know, fall can be quite a sight to behold. You’ll see colorful leaves floating through the air and laying on the ground.

The temperature also won’t have reached winter temperatures yet. It also won’t be as hot as it would be in summer.

The greatest part is that this still isn’t the peak season. That means that you won’t have to wait in long lines or knock elbows with too many fellow travelers.

On top of that, the accommodation will also be a lot cheaper since there won’t be a lot of competition when it comes to booking the perfect room.

Since it is Fall, you’re also not likely to encounter a lot of rain. This means that you can have your beach holiday without having too much noise around you.

How awesome does that sound? Fall in Puerto Rico certainly gives Spring a lot of competition when it comes to deciding on the best time to visit Puerto Rico.

Now, unfortunately, there aren’t any festivals that take place in Puerto Rico during the fall season which is one downside.

However, I believe that there are plenty of upsides to visiting in the fall. Besides, there are still a few amazing things that you can do.

Let’s take a look at a few of them.


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Things to do in Puerto Rico in Fall

best time to visit Puerto Rico

1: Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Visiting the Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico in the fall.

This is an ancient lighthouse that overlooks the beautiful ocean waters that surround it. I

t is also a historical landmark in Puerto Rico which gives you something to cross off your bucket list.

2: Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas

Do you enjoy history? If you do, I highly suggest that you make a pit stop at Plaza de Armas.

This is an old town with historical architecture that you won’t see anywhere else. The town also has a large fountain in the middle of it.

You could always toss in a coin and make a wish. Who knows? Maybe you’re lucky enough for your wish to come true.

3: Jardín Botánico y Cultural William Miranda Marín

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Jardín Botánico y Cultural William Miranda Marín is another one of the beautiful places to visit in Puerto Rico.

This is a botanical garden that’s unlike everything you have ever seen before. The garden is home to an old sugar mill and contains beautiful plant life.

You’ll get to see the most beautiful flowers and lush trees.

This is also a great place to unwind if you’re looking for some serenity.

4: Museo del Niño de Carolina

best time to visit Puerto Rico

Are you traveling with little children? If you are, you simply have to take them to Museo del Niño de Carolina.

This is a museum that has been designed for kids. The museum offers a great educational experience that’ll keep your little ones entertained for hours.

They can play around and learn new things with the interactive exhibits that the museum has to offer.

There’s even a go-karting track for older children who need to test their need for speed.

5: Reserva Marina La Cueva del Indio

Reserva Marina La Cueva del Indio

Here’s one for everyone who wants to have a truly unique experience in Puerto Rico.

Reserva Marina La Cueva del Indio is an ancient cave that is situated close to one of the island’s pristine beaches. The cave is beautiful and mysterious.

It’s also quite spacious which means that you’ll have plenty of room to explore.

Once you enter the cave, you’ll see ancient rock art that was painted by natives centuries ago.

This will give you a true experience of Puerto Rican history and culture from back in the day.


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Conclusion On The Best Time To Visit Puerto Rico

So, when is the best time to visit Puerto Rico? In general, most people believe that it’s best to visit Puerto Rico during Spring.

The weather will be lovely, you won’t encounter too much rainfall, and accommodation will be cheaper than it would be during Winter.

Hurricane season probably isn’t the best time to visit Puerto Rico. However, the majority of people prefer to visit the island in Winter.

So, at the end of the day, this is a decision that you’ll have to make for yourself.