Caribbean · Territory
Puerto Rico: Travel Guide & Requirements
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a territory in Caribbean with its capital in San Juan. It has a population of 3.2 million (#134 in the world) and covers 9,104 km². The official languages are English and Spanish. The currency is the United States dollar (USD, $).
Where is Puerto Rico? Map of Puerto Rico
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.
- Region
- Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.25° N, 66.5° W
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 501 km
- Puerto Rico
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Puerto Rico showing San Juan (capital) and the largest cities: Ponce, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Fajardo and Guayama.
Before you go
8 things to know before you travel to Puerto Rico
- Best time to go: December to March — when daytime highs in San Juan are around 27–28°C.
- Money: the United States dollar (USD) — 1 euro is about 1.1222 USD.
- Plugs: type A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz — low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: English and Spanish are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 25 mph in built-up areas, 45 mph outside built-up areas and 65 mph on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC-4 in San Juan.
- Capital: San Juan. About 3.2 million people live in Puerto Rico.
Key facts
Puerto Rico at a glance
Languages spoken: Spanish, English
Geography & history
About Puerto Rico
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left o…
Read the full history
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Climate
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Highest point
Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; hurricanes
National symbols
Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Puerto Rico
The default speed limits in Puerto Rico are 25 mph in built-up areas, 45 mph outside built-up areas and 65 mph on motorways. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- SPEED
LIMIT2525 mphBuilt-up areasTowns and cities - SPEED
LIMIT4545 mphOutside built-up areasCountry roads - SPEED
LIMIT6565 mphMotorwaysMotorways / freeways
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Road deaths (2021)12.5 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Weather
Best time to visit Puerto Rico
The best time to visit Puerto Rico is December to March, when daytime highs in San Juan are around 27–28°C. April to July and November are also a good time to go. August is the warmest month (30°C by day), February the coldest (23°C at night), and September the wettest with about 162 mm of rain.
- Jan27°C23°C
- Feb28°C23°C
- Mar28°C23°C
- Apr29°C24°C
- May29°C25°C
- Jun30°C26°C
- Jul30°C26°C
- Aug30°C26°C
- Sep30°C26°C
- Oct29°C26°C
- Nov28°C25°C
- Dec28°C24°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Puerto Rico
Plugs & sockets
120 V, 60 Hz · Low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
United States dollar exchange rates today
Puerto Rico uses the United States dollar (USD, $).
What other currencies cost in USD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Puerto Rico ranks
How Puerto Rico compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Puerto Rico
64 airports and airfields — 1 large, 8 medium and 11 small, plus 41 heliports. 9 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Puerto Rico has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 501 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: San Juan (2.4 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Export partners
Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)
Top exports
packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Puerto Rico
News
Latest travel news about Puerto Rico
Frequently asked questions about Puerto Rico
Where is Puerto Rico?
What is the capital of Puerto Rico?
What language is spoken in Puerto Rico?
What currency does Puerto Rico use?
What is the calling code of Puerto Rico?
Does Puerto Rico have land borders?
What is the speed limit in Puerto Rico?
When is the best time to visit Puerto Rico?
What plug type does Puerto Rico use?
How many airports does Puerto Rico have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.