The best beaches, things to do, places to eat and stay, plus live weather, sea conditions and island news, all in one place.
U.S. Coast Guard seized 489 pounds of cocaine from a fast boat in the Atlantic Ocean north of the island and transferred the suspects to federal authorities in San Juan.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from several published reports and official statements. Every story lists and links its sources.
P. Hughes / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Residency, the first 90 days, and what a decree does not do for you.
Betxypr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Power, IVU and the car excise, each figure dated and sourced.
JacksonvilleDistrict / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Who Dorado, Condado, Ponce and Rincón actually suit.
What the 4% rate, the six-year non-residency rule, and a decree actually require before you move. A long-form guide, not a slogan.
Read the guideEach tool runs on published data and tells you where the numbers come from.
jamidwyer (Flickr) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0San Juan weather, sea temperature, earthquakes and the tropics on one page.
Doreeno from San Jose, USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Every official holiday through 2030, with countdowns and a calendar file.
NOAA/NASA / Wikimedia Commons · PDActive Atlantic storms from NHC, the outlook and a prep checklist.
NOAA/NASA / Wikimedia Commons · PDActive storms, distance from San Juan and NWS alerts for Puerto Rico.
Breezy Baldwin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Every Ceiba departure, fares and boarding rules from the official itinerary.
Nils Huenerfuerst / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Add up your quotes with the official room tax and ferry fares.
JacksonvilleDistrict / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Where to check power and water outages live, and the latest stories.
Luis Ramos / NOAA / Wikimedia Commons · PDModeled waves, swell and water temperature at 12 beaches.
Betxypr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Add or remove Puerto Rico's 11.5% sales tax, with the reduced rates.
Yarfpr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Distance and drive time between any two of the 76 mainland towns.
Daderot / Wikimedia Commons · PD100 phrases for visitors, with the boricua expressions you'll actually hear.
P. Hughes / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Residency, taxes, the 2026 Act 60 changes and the practical steps.
Most trips begin in San Juan, a city founded in 1521 and the oldest European-founded city under US sovereignty. From there, the island opens up in every direction: El Yunque and the Fajardo and Vieques bio bays to the east, surf towns to the northwest, and the Caribbean coast around Ponce to the south.
The main island has about 3,424 square miles of land, and a full drive around the coast takes about 7 hours without traffic, yet it packs a rainforest, a dry forest, karst caves, three glowing bays and two island municipalities off its east coast. Each picture opens a full guide.
Tap any municipality to see its 2020 Census population, density and drive time from San Juan, or jump to a destination guide from the pins.
Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. armed forces since World War I.
Federal & Puerto RicoColumbus reached the island on November 19, 1493, on his second voyage.
Puerto Rico holidayFourth Thursday in November; often turkey stuffed with mofongo ("pavochón").
Federal & Puerto RicoPart of a holiday season that runs from late November into mid-January.
Federal & Puerto RicoShort answers to the questions people ask most about Puerto Rico. Each links to a full guide with its sources.
Yes, it is a US territory, not a state. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917, and US citizens do not need a passport to visit.
The currency is the US dollar. Spanish and English are both official languages, but Spanish dominates daily life. The drinking age is 18.
Yes, for most visitors who take normal precautions. The usual problems for travelers are petty theft, rip currents, heat and mosquitoes.
Uber and Lyft both operate, and both serve the San Juan airport. Driving the full coastal loop takes about 7 hours without traffic.
It is warm all year. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so check the tropics before you travel in those months.
Puerto Rico has three glowing bays. Mosquito Bay on Vieques is the world’s brightest, according to Guinness World Records. Go near the new moon.
