FAQs

About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth with U.S. citizenship. Puerto Rico lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is the easternmost and smallest of the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico has more fascinating places to go than any other island in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico is 110 miles long and 35 miles wide. Puerto Rico rises 4,390 feet at the highest point (Cerro Punto) along its Central Mountain Range With beaches, mountain forests, historic sites, eco parks, restaurants, cultural events and nightlife venues. You can visit the El Yunque National Forest, coffee farms, Rio Camuy Cave Park, the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo and more. Historic Old San Juan is a few minutes from the La Concha as well as fine dining, shopping and more.

Travel to Puerto Rico
Please visit Puerto Rico Tourist and Travel Information for information about travel to Puerto Rico from your country of origin. Visit the website at http://www.topuertorico.org/tinfo.shtml

Visiting San Juan
San Juan is the unofficial capital of the Caribbean for everything from nightlife and dining to historic sites and shopping districts. The north coast is also known for a more rural landscape of small towns and protected bathing beaches. Old San Juan is renowned as one of the oldest and best preserved historic districts in the New World and ranks today as one of the most popular of the World Heritage Sites.

San Juan is a popular port to begin a cruise of the Southern Caribbean.

Climate
Puerto Rico enjoys a summery tropical climate. Temperatures average 82 degrees F., (29 degrees C.) in winter and 85 degrees F. (29 degrees C) in summer and the trade winds provide constant breezes.

Language
Puerto Rico’s official language is Spanish but both Spanish and English are widely spoken.

Time Zone
Puerto Rico is on Atlantic Standard Time which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time.

Banks, Currency, Credit Cards
Several major U.S., Canadian and European banks have branches on the island. Most banks tend to be open weekdays from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and some are open Saturday mornings. A few branches have extended hours. ATM machines (called ATH in Puerto Rico) are readily available and accept many U.S. Cards. The currency is the U.S. dollar. Such international credit cards such as American Express, Diner’s Club, Carte Blanche, Discover, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted for accommodations, dining and shopping.

Tipping practices are similar to those found in the US. Some hotels and restaurants add a 15% or 17% service charge to the total bill, so be sure to check your bill. Suggested tipping is 15-20%. The new Sales and Use Tax applies to restaurants, so be sure to exclude the tax when you calculate your tip.

Electrical Power
Voltage (110 volt, 60 cycle) is the same as the continental U.S.

Making Phone Calls
Puerto Rico has two major area codes 787 and 929. The area code is used for all phone calls. With most cellular phones, you do not need to dial 1. The Puerto Rico Telephone Company is the primary telephone company on the island, but other companies are also available. They offer virtually all of the services provided in the U.S. Contact your cellular company for complete information about availability on your device.