7 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico
Use your travel dollars for good. 💸
When Hurricane Maria’s 155 mph winds hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, it was the worst storm the island had seen in over 85 years. With streets flooded and power taken out across the island, Hurricane Maria absolutely devastated this beautiful corner of the globe.
But now, slowly and surely, Puerto Rico has begun to rebuild. And, to reopen to tourists. Though parts of the island are still without electricity, most of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are open and welcome to travelers from around the world — and now is the perfect time to visit.
We put together a list of 7 reasons why you should plan a trip to Puerto Rico right now, and we hope you take them to heart.
1. Support Puerto Rico with Your Travel Dollars
The first (and we think the most important) reason to plan a trip to Puerto Rico is to help support this island. Since so many people and businesses in Puerto Rico depend on tourism income – which has significantly dropped after the hurricane – travel to Puerto Rico right now can do a whole lot of good in helping communities rebuild faster. By traveling to Puerto Rico now, you can travel happily knowing that your travel dollars are helping people in Puerto Rico keep their jobs, support their families, and rebuilt the island during such a difficult time.
2. Passports Aren’t Required for Americans
If you, like many of our readers, travel with an American passport — gwe’ve got great good news. U.S. citizens don’t actually need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico, making planning a trip there all that much more convenient.
3. Most of Puerto Rico is Open for Business
While it’s true that certain parts of the island are still closed or without power, most of Puerto Rico is open for business. All of Puerto Rico’s major airports are now fully open, with dozens of flights arriving every single day. Thousands of hotels and restaurants have re-opened their doors, giving travelers plenty of choices for where to dine and where to sleep. While some sights are closed (such as El Yunque National Forest), there are over a hundred activities across Puerto Rico, like jungle hikes, bioluminescent kayaking, zip lining, that are still open!
4. Warm, Sunny Weather
Not to be forgotten – while most of North America is still dealing with cool temperatures, the weather is warm, sunny, and truly beautiful in Puerto Rico. Dry season lasts until April, and even after then rain tends to come in short afternoon bursts, with the rest of the day being sunny and pleasant.
6. All of the Food
If you’ve been to Puerto Rico, you know it’s hard to forget the incredible food. With local favorites like mofongo (deep-fried, mashed plantains) and alcapurrias (taro fritters), you can count on plenty of flavor and diversity in Puerto Rico’s food culture. Alongside that, you’ll find an abundance of local, fresh fruit. Some of our favorite spots? Santaella and Mario Pagan Restaurant, both in San Juan, Did we mention that Puerto Rico is also the birthplace of the Pina Colada? You really can’t go wrong here.
7. Incredible Architecture
With a rich history and colonial architecture, Old San Juan is the perfect spot for wandering. Think fortresses dotting San Juan (like El Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal), brightly coloured facades and winding streets. You’ll find Old San Juan to be mostly fully operational, with electricity and plenty of stores, restaurants and hotels open and ready for travelers.
Use your travel dollars for good. With spectacular beaches, colorful Old San Juan, incredible food, and so much more, Puerto Rico is back and the perfect place to visit in 2018.
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