Are you planning a trip to Puerto Rico and wondering when it is best to visit the city? No doubt, Puerto Rico is one of the best Caribbean destinations, famous for its beautiful beaches, landscape, culture, and warm people. Hence, to help you decide on the best time to enjoy and explore all of those, we have compiled a monthly list of the best times to visit Puerto Rico based on the different weather patterns experienced in the city, activities to do, and other things. So no matter what type of traveler you are, there is a perfect month for you below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What are the best months to go to Puerto Rico?
You can visit Puerto Rico all year, but some months are better than others. That is from mid-April to June, just after the busy winter season and before the rainy summer. Also, the spring weather is pleasant, making this another perfect time to explore and enjoy Puerto Rico.
What months is hurricane season in Puerto Rico?
June 1st to November 30th is when the hurricane season begins in Puerto Rico. Then we have September, the peak of the season and the month with the most cyclone activity. However, Puerto Rico is not always directly affected by cyclone activity.
What is the rainy season in Puerto Rico?
The rainy season in Puerto Rico lasts from April to November. During this time, the island's topography causes rainfall to vary greatly, across the island, with the annual averages ranging from 29.32 inches (745 mm) on Magueys Island to 171.09 inches (4,346 mm) in Pico del Este.
What is the hottest month in Puerto Rico?
The hot months in Puerto Rico are from November 19 to March 23, with daily high temperatures of more than 84 °F. However, January is by far the hottest month in Puerto Rico, with average highs of 88°F and lows of 70°F.
Is Puerto Rico expensive to visit?
Puerto Rico is not a cheap destination in comparison to other Caribbean islands, but solo travelers can spend a week in San Juan for $700 and couples can spend $1,200. Also, travelers with tight budgets can cook their own meals and travel during off-season periods to save cost.
How many days do you need in Puerto Rico?
Longer trips, such as two weeks, are recommended to see the coast, the central area of Puerto Rico, and the surrounding islands and cays.
Puerto Rico in January
January in Puerto Rico is peak season. If you stay in San Juan this month, you can enjoy cool temperatures in the low 80s and some of the best local festivals. A trip to Puerto Rico in January allows you to participate in the island's biggest annual celebration. Additionally, the unofficial end of the holiday season is marked by La SanSe, a four-day party on the streets of Old San Juan. Also, during this time, the town's plazas serve as a stage for artisans, live music, dance, and performances during the day, while the real party starts in the evening. You are sure to have a blast in Puerto Rico this month!
Puerto Rico in February
February in Puerto Rico is relatively cool, with an average temperature of 17 °C. Temperatures this month reach 20 °C during the day before dropping to a pleasant 14 °C in the evening. While the rest of the northern hemisphere is layering up, February in Puerto Rico is typically warm and sunny. The weather will be nearly perfect. Although the weather is pleasant, the island can become quite humid, and there is the possibility of rain. Lastly, there are tons of activities to engage in this month as well, so be prepared to have a great time.
Puerto Rico in March
March is Puerto Rico's least rainy month, with only 12 days of rain on average, and with highs of 85°F, it ranks among the top 5 spring break destinations. The sun shines for more than 9 hours each day, and temperatures remain warm in the mid-70s F throughout the night. With a water temperature of 79°F, the sea invites you to dive in and cool off during the heat of the party! Also, March is the busiest month for tourism in Puerto Rico. During this time, the beaches and the streets of San Juan during Spring Break and Holy Week are crowded, resulting in skyrocketing prices.
Puerto Rico in April
In April, the weather in Puerto Rico is ideal for a relaxing beach vacation. The high temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water temperature is around 79 degrees Fahrenheit. With an average of 13 rainy days, this month is ahead of the rainy season. The sun shines for nine hours per day, and the rain is usually light. Temperatures in the upper 70s F are also pleasant at night, and no hurricanes are expected this time. In addition, by mid-April, Puerto Rico begins its off-season. Hotels begin to advertise lower rates as the winter crowds depart, making this month a perfect time to visit Puerto Rico's best beaches and enjoy warm and pleasant temperatures at a low cost.
Puerto Rico in May
In May, the average temperature in Puerto Rico is 20ºC. With highs of 22ºC, it's warm without being oppressively hot, ideal for sightseeing or relaxing on the beach. Temperatures are also pleasant at night, dropping to 17oC after sunset. In May, Puerto Rico receives only a millimeter of rain and has nine hours of sunshine per day. If you want to go swimming, the Atlantic Ocean is a pleasant 20oC this month. Around this month, things heat up! Expect lots of family-friendly activities, plant sales (especially around Mother's Day), food and drink festivals, and dancing and music events.
Puerto Rico in June
In Puerto Rico, June is best for taking a trip to the beach. That is because it has the highest annual temperature of 89 °F and a water temperature of 82 °F. This weather is ideal for beach time, which many tourists do not hesitate to utilize. The sun shines for nearly nine hours daily, and the temperature drops to 78 °F in the evening. June also marks the beginning of hurricane season, so be prepared. Lastly, this month also has its fair share of entertaining events to experience, like Puerto Rico Restaurant Week, National Salsa Day, Noche de San Juan, the Aibonito Flower Festival, and Pride Festivals held in June.
Puerto Rico in July
Just like the previous month, July in Puerto Rico is still hot, and the hurricane season hasn't ended. The average temperatures experienced this month range from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius. A heavy downpour occurs once daily this month, but that should not discourage you from visiting Puerto Rico this month, as there is plenty to do on the island regardless of the weather. July is probably the busiest month in Puerto Rico because there are so many holidays this month. Locals take a vacation in July and combine with tourists, most of whom spend their summer vacation on the island. Hence, July will be busy with many events, especially on weekends and holidays.
Puerto Rico in August
Puerto Rico in August is still hot, but the last two weekends are the final summer fling before school resumes and when things settle down. However, it is still "summer" weather here, so you can still enjoy the summer weather but with fewer crowds. Also, water activities will still be busy since people are trying to stay cool during the "dog days" of summer! Lastly, a few towns have patron saint festivals or other special celebrations, so get ready for lots of music, food, and fun!
Puerto Rico in September
September is the hottest of Puerto Rico's four summer months. The average temperature is 84 °F, with 8 hours of sunlight daily. September is also peak hurricane season, so plan some indoor activities. Even though it is hurricane season, you can still visit if you are on a tight budget, as you can get good discounts on flights and hotels during this period since there are fewer crowds. But keep an eye on the weather forecast to ensure a safe trip to Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico in October
October in Puerto Rico is the last lap of the off-season before the peak season begins again. The days in October are typically hot, with an average daily high temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and balmy evenings, so visitors should pack light and cool clothing. Although October is slow, there are still plenty of fun things to do this month, including town festivals, Halloween hauntings, and Oktoberfest festivities. But perhaps the best thing of all is to spend some time alone on one of the many beautiful beaches.
Puerto Rico in November
The weather in Puerto Rico begins to cool down in November, as the temperature during the day drops to around 30 °C (86 °F) this month. At this time, the weather is ideal for strolling around the city, hiking, and swimming. Lastly, just like other months, there are activities to keep you entertained.
Puerto Rico in December
The weather in December is warm and sunny, with little or no rain, and it isn't too humid, especially near the end of the month. It's a good time to visit some of the island's many attractions. However, Puerto Rico provides more than just tourist attractions. If you plan to visit Puerto Rico in December, Christmas is the island's true marathon festival, beginning around December 15 and lasting until January 6 or later. The Festival del Petate showcases home decor artisanry based on the petate tree, a palm tree that grows in Sabana Grande's Susa State Forest, and La Feria transforms the Hiram Bithorn Stadium into the island's largest carnival. You are sure to have a blast this month!
Conclusion
And there you have it: the best times to visit Puerto Rico. We hope you were able to choose the best month to visit Puerto Rico based on your weather preferences and travel objectives. Do you have any additional information? Or did we overlook something? Please leave your feedback in the comment section below.