Things to know before visiting Puerto Rico

Language

The official languages of Puerto Rico are both Spanish and English. Spanish is the predominant language, but it is super easy to get around with English since nearly everyone in Puerto Rico speaks it fluently. However, something to note: Puerto Rican Spanish is much different- it is very fast with its own dialect and slang!

Currency

Puerto Rico uses USD.

Cash

Credit cards and Apply Pay are accepted in most places (besides Amex), but for more locally owned shops or tiendas on the side of the road- they only take cash or ATH (which is like a Puerto Rican Zelle).

Tipping

Tipping is your typical US 20%.

Water

Locals drink the water from the tap but a lot of restaurants give bottled water instead.

Weather

The weather is tropical- hot, humid and wet. The temperature is typically between 75–85°F (24–29°C) along the coasts, and cooler in the mountains.

There aren’t dramatic seasonal swing. Instead, Puerto Rico has two main seasons — a dry season (December–April) and a rainy season (May–November).

The northeast (especially the El Yunque rainforest) is the wettest part of the island, while the southwest is drier and more arid.

Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the peak threat in August–October.

Electricity

The electricity in Puerto Rico is 120 volts- the same as the US.

Wifi

Puerto Rico is fully 5G capable. In San Juan and the rest of the major cities, network coverage is excellent. The more remote you travel into the mountains, the less connected you will be.

I hope this helps & you enjoy Puerto Rico as much as I do!