San Juan

Currency

Puerto Rico is a US territory and uses the dollar, so no exchange is needed from the US. Tipping follows US convention at 18-20%, and prices exclude sales tax.

ATMs & cards

Banco Popular, FirstBank and Oriental machines are widespread and reliable. Avoid the standalone machines in Condado bars and clubs, which charge heavily. Decline conversion.

Puerto Rico uses the US dollar, so this is a surcharge problem rather than an exchange one — bar machines charge $5 or more.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

Old San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde are comfortable for visitors. Some outer neighbourhoods are best avoided. Hurricane season runs June to November and is worth insuring against; power infrastructure remains fragile.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

No vaccinations are required for entry from Europe or North America.

Worth having

• Routine vaccinations up to date
• Hepatitis A

Getting treated

US territory, so the system and the pricing are American: good hospitals, and bills that make insurance essential. Note that many European travel policies treat this as the US for cover limits.

Dengue is endemic.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

Mofongo is the dish to seek out. Skip the cruise-terminal restaurants and eat in Santurce, where La Placita turns into an open-air party on Thursday and Friday nights.

Getting around

• Walking — Old San Juan is small, cobbled and entirely walkable
• Rental car — the practical way to reach El Yunque and the west coast
• Uber — widely available and reasonably priced in the metro area
• Tren Urbano — a single metro line, useful for a few routes only
• Airport: 15 minutes to Condado, 20 to Old San Juan

Must-see

Things to do

• Tour El Morro and San Cristobal forts
• Wander Old San Juan’s painted streets
• Hike El Yunque rainforest
• Kayak the Laguna Grande bioluminescent bay
• Eat and drink at La Placita
• Surf or swim at Isla Verde

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Spanish (Latin American)

• HelloHolaOH-la
• PleasePor favorpor fa-VOR
• Thank youGraciasGRA-syas
• Yes / NoSí / Nosee / no
• Excuse meDisculpedees-KOOL-peh
• How much is it?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta
• The bill, pleaseLa cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta
• Cheers!¡Salud!sa-LOOD

The c and z are said as an s here, not the Spanish "th" — gracias is GRA-syas.

Religion

Catholic

Catholic majority with a large Protestant minority, and the US separation of church and state applies.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Greet with buenos días — Spanish is the everyday language despite the US connection
• Tip 18-20% as on the US mainland
• Try the local rum and mofongo rather than defaulting to familiar food
• Respect that Puerto Rican identity is distinct; it is a point of real pride

Don't

• Do not assume everyone speaks English, particularly outside San Juan
• Do not treat the island as simply part of the US mainland in conversation
• Do not raise the statehood question casually — opinions are strong and divided
• Do not underestimate hurricane season or the fragility of the power grid