Puerto Rico · SJU
Flights to San Juan
The Caribbean without the international-travel overhead, for US travellers
Puerto Rico is a United States territory, and for anyone travelling from the mainland that changes the whole shape of a Caribbean trip. No passport, no immigration queue, the US dollar, and mobile phones that generally work on domestic plans.
San Juan itself is more than a gateway. Old San Juan is a walled colonial city with two enormous Spanish fortresses and streets of pastel buildings, and it sits half an hour from a rainforest national park and some of the better beaches on the island.
Getting to San Juan
Airports
Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU) is the busiest airport in the Caribbean, arranged as connected lettered concourses. It is around 15 km from Old San Juan.
Flight time
Roughly 3h 45m non-stop from New York, about 2h 45m from Miami, near 4h from Boston and around 2h 45m from Orlando.
Into the city
Fifteen to twenty-five minutes to Condado, twenty to thirty to Old San Juan. Fixed-rate taxis operate from an official stand and ride-hailing is available from designated pickup areas.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Peak season
December to April
Warm, drier and the height of the winter escape from the mainland. Prices and crowds are at their highest, particularly around Christmas and the January festival of San Sebastián.
Hurricane season
June to November
Hot and humid with the Atlantic hurricane risk peaking in September. Rates are lowest and the island is quietest, and travel insurance genuinely earns its cost in this window.
Shoulder
May and early June
Warm and largely pleasant before the heaviest part of the season, with noticeably lower rates than the winter peak.
Good to know
- Currency
- US dollar
- Passport
- Not required for travel from the United States
- Airport to Old San Juan
- 20–30 minutes
- Language
- Spanish and English, both official
- Time zone
- Atlantic Standard Time, no daylight saving
- Power
- Type A and B plugs, 120V — same as the mainland
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
It is a domestic flight from the mainland
No passport, no customs declaration in the usual sense, and no immigration queue. You need acceptable identification such as a REAL ID-compliant licence. Travellers arriving from other countries need the usual US entry documents.
Rent a car if you are leaving San Juan
El Yunque rainforest, the west coast surf towns and the south are all worth the trip, and public transport outside the capital is limited. A US licence is valid and driving is on the right.
The bioluminescent bays need a dark night
The bays at Fajardo, Vieques and La Parguera glow brightest around a new moon. Booking a tour on a full moon is a common disappointment, so check the lunar calendar before choosing the date.
Other destinations
FAQ
San Juan — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
Do I need a passport to visit Puerto Rico?
Not if you are travelling from the United States, because Puerto Rico is a US territory and the flight is domestic. You need acceptable identification such as a REAL ID-compliant licence. Visitors from other countries need standard US entry documents.
What currency is used in Puerto Rico?
The US dollar. Most US mobile plans also treat Puerto Rico as domestic, so there is no roaming charge, which removes two of the usual frictions of Caribbean travel.
When is the best time to visit San Juan?
December to April is drier and the most popular, with the highest prices. May and early June offer good weather at lower rates. June to November carries hurricane risk peaking in September.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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