Did you know you can go through red lights after midnight in Puerto Rico? Or that we can thank the Taino people (from about 4000 years ago) for the words barbeque and iguana!?
Puerto Rico is a complex island filled with an intricate culture. The culmination of ideas between native Boriquens, the Spanish, Dutch, British, French, and now the United States, has created a truly unique culture. Despite its tragic history, people here are proud of who they are. Boriquens have a method of life worth getting to know and this post will help you get an understanding of what to expect when visiting for the first time.
Tip 1. You dont need to know Spanish
Areas for people who don’t speak Spanish can get by in
San Juan, Rincon, aguadilla, ponce, vieques, humacao, culebra
Puerto Rico’s native language is Spanish however, more than 50% of the population speaks English.
My first 2 days were in San Juan, Condado specifically. I was shocked at how little spanish I could practice there. In that area people will start off with English rather than Spanish My daily activities were led in english. It wasn’t until I explored outside of Condado where people would speak to me in spanish first and then english if I didnt get it.
This quality about San Juan and the other towns/cities listed above make it an attractive destination for those who want to practice spanish (or english)
Heres a side tip, even if a native speaks to you in english, just try to speak spanish. theyll appreciate the gesture and you can establish more of a connection to the community.
I am sure there are more municipalities and barrios where english is widely spoken.
If you want a true PR experience, learn some spanish and connect with locals. you’ll find waterfalls with pools you can swim in, the best restaurants, scenic outlooks, and friendship.
Tip 2. You need to re-learn how to drive
- Red lights and stop signs are generally not enforced. Be safe and cautious when going through lights and stop signs, regardless of hour.
Some people do prefer to begin earlier like 10 or 11 so its a good idea to look both ways at those hours even if you have a green light.
- Google maps is Unreliable. Addresses dont always work so when navigating to your destination, its more reliable to pin it. Or you get extra points for asking a local where the location is!
- Many roads are unmarked. Even some highway exits, are unmarked so you’ll need to pay extra attention while you’re on the road.
- Save extra time to get to your destinations especially during the morning rush and the evening rush The traffic in San juan is typical of a city. its comparable to Los angeles some days. It might be worth it to look if theres any large events to know if traffic will be worse than usual. There are a lot of events, all the time. Some mondays can feel like Saturday nights.
- Most people are on their phone. This is self-explanatory. Just watch out for those people
- Police cars usually have their lights on, doesnt mean you need to pull over. However, use context clues to see if they want you to get out of the way, or if you are their culprit!
- Driving in the mountains can be intimidating. Roads become juuuuust big enough for two cars. Take extra care with speed and turns on roads. You may have to squeeze past some traffic. Most roads are nicely paved though.
- Puerto Ricans talk with their horns. Beeping isnt always agressive, usually a “what up, im here, I see you, go ahead, or please go. Another way of communication is flashing headlights. If you’re a pedestrian and a car flashes their lights at you, they’re saying “you can cross I see you
Tips for Public Transportation
Public transportation outside of San Juan and Bayamon is nonexistent. The bus schedule is reliable in the wee hours of the morning but after 8 it begins to become unreliable. A bus will come though! it could be in 45 minutes or you’ll see it pass as you’ve already began walking to your destination.
Bus
I 100% recommend taking the bus despite its unorganized schedule! its 75 cents a ride, and if it doesn’t come, you’ll be able to explore streets full of beautiful street art, food trucks, food stands, local shops, and maybe there will be a block party that you will get invited to just for walking by.
Train
There is a Train system that only goes two ways. Forward and Backwards. It connects San Juan and Bayamon. Its called Tren Urbano. It is 1.50 for the regular fair but I’ve only used it after 10 pm and during that time there was no ticketing. So I assume its free later in the night!
The Ferry
There is the ferry as well! (here is the schedule on the website) Make good use of this as it, combined with the other two public transportation methods will get you anywhere you want to go in the city.
During Sanse (an incredible multiday festival) parking in Viejo san juan was 30 dollars and you also had to deal with an hour of traffic to drive 3 miles. Parking in Cataño was 10 dollars, no traffic, the ferry was 75 cents and on the way to viejo san juan, everyone was singing and clapping! This truly shows that the saying, “Its not the destination but the journey” rings true.
3. Puerto Rico is a Safe Destination
Puerto rico is safe other than the waves on the north coast or if you decide to hike during torrential rain. There are streets in San Juan which most people dont need to be going down though. (be cautious of Residencial Luis Llorens Torres, Calle Roosevelt, Calle Loiza, Calle 13 y La perla.) You will most likely not happen upon these places by accident anyway. If you go to La perla, dont take your phone out of your pocket. If you have your phone out, they will assume you’re collecting evidence. Best case scenario is you are told to delete your photos or you get your phone taken. I don’t need to tell you worst case.
With that being said I have been to several of these places and the culture is rich and it has its own unique bubble. La perla especially is one of a kind place where you’ll experience things you can’t experience anywhere else on the island.
All places are generally safe if you aren’t looking for trouble or illegal goods. Staying on the street from 11pm to 4am at night without a purpose is generally not a good idea. Common sense.
Tip 4. Get out of San Juan!
free to visit
Mosquito Bay
Mosquito Bay to me doesn’t sound very attractive but this is a destination and experience you can’t miss. is where you can experience bioluminescence! Try to go on a night when the moon won’t be very bright.
This is on an island called Vieques. It’s a well-traveled destination for tourists as well as locals. Its easily accessible through a Ferry.
Bomba
Bomba is a must have experience if you want a taste of the culture that Puerto Rico offers. It is African inspired dance, drums, with singing and chanting. This experience can be very personal due to the fact that people (could be you) go up to dance for the drummers. Out of the drummers there is one that will drum based on how you move, rather than the other way around. It allows for amazing crowd involvement and understanding its history will make you appreciate it all the more so. This happens in San Juan, Cataño, Piñones, Rio Piedras, and other places across the island.
The Northwest Coast
There are amazing ocean towns there with great ocean food on this part of the island. This part of the island is known for surfing. so don’t be afraid to take part in the local culture.
Charco Prieto
This is Just one of over 500 waterfalls on the island. It is in the Bayamon/Naranjito area. It is a beautiful, semi-challenging hike to a waterfall you can swim in. This is a must-have experience!
Las Paylas
A Natural water slide in El Yunque. The water has naturally carved out smooth slides on a rock face for our enjoyment. As always, be careful and don’t go while its raining, it can increase water flow and cause unexpected problems. This is another experience I believe you need to take part in.
Ponce
Ponce is on the Southern part of the island and is the first town created by a European settler. beautiful museums, buildings and art.
El Yunque
Of course, this needs its own category. I have to mention that this is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. It is truly a one-of-a-kind place that if you have a US passport or ID, you should think of visiting.
Camuy caves
It’s an expansive cave system that is a very unique addition to the already expansive nature of the island. (They’re some of the largest on earth)
Mariposario de Vega Baja en el trece
It’s a butterfly garden! There are some paid experiences but meandering is free. There are many information panels to learn about the plants and insects that populate the island.
Im not a fan of Christopher Columbus but there is a statue of him in Arecibo and its the 4th tallest statue in the world. When I mentioned a tragic past, he may or may not be a part of that. Crazy huh?
Tropical Agriculture Research Station
This is another beautiful place to go for a walk and learn about the environment.Paid Experiences
La Ruta del Lechòn
Vaca Negra
Vaca Negra, or Black Cow in English, is a place that makes aged cheeses as well as other dairy products that involve some sort of microbial element. I mention this as an experience because you can go there and make your own cheese with them and you can bring a friend or your partner along. Alongside your work, you’ll have a charcuterie board as well, showcasing the cheese that you were involved with. If you’re intrigued, here is their website. They’re located in Arecibo, about an hour drive from San Juan
Tour the Bacardi Factory, Experience the Rum Culture
Puerto Rico is known for its rum, and Bacardi is a small part of the rum culture. There are brands such as Don Q, Palo Viejo, Ron Llave and several more. The Bacardi Factory tours stand out because there is a rum that is only made in the factory, and that is the only place you can try it in the world as they don’t sell it anywhere!
Coffee Tours
The coffee tour mentioned below is the called Hacienda Buena Vista. The property is located near Ponce, a southern city. I mention them because outside of coffee, they also offer cocoa experiences aswell so it can be a 2 in one trip. Throughout the year they have several festivals for tasting an assortments of goods sourced from the island. If chocolate and Coffee is your thing, you must come here!
Tip 5. Explore San Juan
San Juan has hundreds of things to do so while you’re here theres no reason for it not to be action-packed. For the sake of this post, I will limit it to a handful. Once you are here, you’ll naturally come across many I don’t mention. Especially if you took my tip of doing a mix of walking and taking the bus.
Cementerio Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis
Going for a walk in one of the most notable cemeteries in Puerto Rico isn’t for everyone, especially when it’s labeled as a ghost tour. Despite what some may think, this is a place where you can see the love and attention for those who have passed. It’s a beautiful place and if you’re in Viejo San Juan already, this is a short walk away.
La Placita de Santurce
La Placita during the day is a quiet market filled with people who sell produce, meals, and handmade items. However, during the night you would never imagine it turns into one of the hottest nighttime destinations in San Juan! This is the party destination that you’ve been looking for.
La Factoria
Another place for a night out is La Factoria. This is a very unique bar and I wont reveal the secret about it here but you can read about it on this post. I will say it has something for everyone. Be curious and it will open up the right opportunities for you. Here is a review of the bar.
Museo De Arte de Puerto Rico
(With free Admissions on Thursdays) This is a museum with inspiring pieces of art on the inside and the outside. Every day of the week it’s free to wander around the property during open hours. There are many sculptures, statues, and other kinds of art around the museum. You’ll definitely want to explore there if weather permits! There are 4 floors of things to ponder and they even have free events on the main floor. I have only been to their dance classes but there are others as well. Just be on the lookout!
Tip.6 Explore the food scene
Comida Criolla (Creole Food) is as unique as its history as it blends Spanish, African, and native Taino foods and spices to create a truly special and diverse range of foods. From traditional foods like mofongo and tostones to drinks like coquito or pinchorro, It has something for everyone.
I will mention a couple of restaurants worth exploring in this post but I mention more places to explore in my article “The best free and low-cost options for travelers in Puerto Rico”.
First, let’s mention the Jones Act. (Here is a link to read about how it affects Puerto Rico from Vox) It is a nearly 100-year-old “regulation that requires that goods shipped from one American port to another be transported on a ship that is American-built, American-owned, and crewed by US citizens or permanent residents.”
This has hurt Puerto Rico in many ways, especially during a crisis but one constant struggle other than creating an inflated price for Boriquens, is the need for great fresh produce. If it isn’t grown on the island, it must go through a longer-than-normal process, going between US ports. This means that fresh produce you can get in large grocery stores won’t be as fresh as things you would get in the 50 states. Thats why you should get your produce from local stands, it helps support small businesses! I also believe you can grasp a wider sense of a culture if you can cook with native ingredients. Now that thats been mentioned. Here are some Food tips and destinations worth exploring.
The Best Places to get Mofongo
El Sabor de Reina, Bebo’s Cafe, Restaurante Raíces, Perras K-lientes
These are also places to get genuinely good Criollo food all around. You could also probably get by with only speaking English. No language barrier can keep you from good food!
Restaurants are open at weird times.
When looking for a place to eat outside of San Juan, if its a weekday, you may find that many restaurants are closed especially in Naranjito. There is always an option open you just need to search fo it.
The Best Overall spot for food
San Juan’s Lote 23
This is a unique spot as it’s a plot in the city with around 10 food trucks at all times. I haven’t tried them all personally but each comes with its own cuisine so you can find whatever you’re craving in one place.
Try the $8 lunches
If you see a sign that says $8 Almuerzo you need to give it a try. It will most likely be native Criollan food served with an astounding proportion. I mention this as a budget traveler with quite an appetite. Those 8 dollar lunches will provide you enough food for two meals.
Loiza, Loquillo, and Piñones
These are places that have something in common. They all offer delicious fried food on the beach. the coast is covered with windows housing fried goods. Try an alcapurria! They’re fried yuca fritters with delicious fillings. They have stuffings such as crab, lobster, chicken, beef, and some are filled with a fish that was the catch of the day. most of the time they should only cost you 2 dollars. Sometimes they’re only a dollar! if theyre above 4 don’t even bother!
Tip.7 Cash is King
Many restaurants and even some grocery stores will only accept cash. The fried food destinations on the beach have a low chance of taking your plastic.
Tip 8. Tap Water is Safe to Drink
The most populous cities have constant testing of their water quality and as a result you are more likely to get sick from any of the large food chains here. I have found that tap water in San Juan tastes a little strange to me so I decided to use a water filter for my time there.
Tip 9. Outside of San Juan Blackouts Happen Frequently
During the first month of staying in Naranjito, there were countless blackouts so preparation of food became a little difficult. If you’re staying long term, have a plan on hand to eat if power goes out. There are similar issues with the water supply aswell. If you’re staying longer then have a clean water supply. a few gallons should suffice as municipalities usually get the water working within 24 hours.
Tip 10. The Best Time to Visit is December-April
Price-wise for flights its August – November which is also hurricane season! I wont reccomend coming here during that time just to save 60 bucks. The best time weather-wise is December-April. It’s also not much more expensive than the slow season and you’ll be able to enjoy your time without the fear of your accommodation needing drastic repairs while you’re there. Puerto Rico is always shorts and t-shirt weather if you come from the north.
Conclusion
That concludes the most essential tips and tricks for traveling to Puerto Rico. I believe with this post, you’ll be able to easier navigate the culture and the atmosphere that Puerto Rico has to offer. While this doesn’t have everything you could know in it, I do believe that there’s overwhelming excitement and joy in entering a new place and not knowing everything about it. Now go explore and absorb the beautiful world that’s in front of you! If you’re curious about more things budget travel-related, please check out my other posts as I’m sure they have something that will help you along your path. Now go explore the beautiful world in front of you!
