When thinking of the best time to travel to any given country, you’re likely looking to find out when the weather is best or what season is ideal. Puerto Rico is a curious case, as we don’t really have what people traditionally know as “seasons”. I like to joke that we have “hot” and “somewhat less hot“. While that comment is a bit tongue in cheek, depending on what you’re looking for, there’s definitely a …
Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico
The overall climate in PR is warm year-round, with the summer months being hotter and more humid due to rainfall. Essentially, PR is the textbook definition of tropical climate. The warmest time of the year is also the peak of hurricane season, which goes from June to November.
The heat lets up a bit around the end of the year with the coolest months being January and February. The winter tends to be drier, which, combined with colder climates in the US and other northern countries, makes it the high season for tourism.
Spring (March to May)
- Best for dodging the crowds. The boom of winter tourism is starting to die down around this time of year, but the sweltering heat and unpredictable rain of the summer months haven’t quite set in yet.
- As stated above, spring weather is quite pleasant. The mugginess of summer is still a few months away, and temperatures hover around the mid-80s F (low 30s C).
- Annual events and festivals you may attend include:
- Medio Maraton San Blas: A half marathon held in Coamo. Sometimes held in early March, sometimes in late February.
- El Dia Nacional de la Zalsa: Takes place in March. A celebration of all things salsa with tons of performers. Usually held in San Juan.
- Festival Claridad: A Festival hosted by a local newspaper with plenty of music, food, and artisans selling their products. Takes place between April and May. Usually held in San Juan.
Summer (June to August)
- Best for great deals! Because this is the low season, you can find great deals on places to stay while here.
- These are the hottest months of the year. If you are coming during this time, you may leave your sweater at home. It’s also the rainy season. Combine that with the heat and you get a recipe for humidity constantly above 80%. This means the heat can feel more intense than it actually is. Be sure to stay hydrated and pack light clothing. This is also the first half of hurricane season so you’ll want to keep an eye out for storms being announced and be ready to change your plans accordingly.
- Annual events and festivals you may attend include:
- El Festival de las Flores: This 10-day festival takes place in Aibonito starting the last Friday in June.
- Noche de San Juan: Also known as St John’s Eve. While this event is not exclusive to PR, no one celebrates it like us. Head to your nearest beach, and at the stroke of midnight, take 3 backward plunges into the sea to rid yourself of all bad juju!
- Piña Colada Festival: Held during the first week of July in San Juan. Enjoy a festival honoring a drink that was born right here on the island.
Fall (September to November)
- Fall is best for cheap flights. It is the back half of hurricane season, and it tends to be the most active. However, this is also the time of year when flights are the cheapest.
- The hot and humid weather from summer lingers on into the beginning of fall, but by November, you will start to feel the cooler temperatures that come with the dry season start to creep in.
- Annual events and festivals you may attend include:
- La Campechada: A culture and arts festival named for and in honor of Jose Cameche y Jordan, an 18th-century painter considered by many to be the best artist of the rococo period in the Americas. The date moves around from year to year, but it’s usually in October or November in Old San Juan.
- Festival Nacional del Plátano: This festival takes place in Corozal at the end of October. We love plantains here in PR, and this festival showcases artisans, music and entertainment, and experts who prepare this delicious food.
Winter (December to February)
- Best for getting away from the cold. Let’s face it. This is the main reason winter is the high season. Hurricanes are no longer a concern, and the climate is still nice and warm. Most folks find coming to PR in the winter to be a no-brainer.
- Because the rainy season is mostly behind you the humidity is down to the 70% range. Given that the actual temperature is normally lower as well, winter is generally considered the most pleasant weather experience in PR.
- Winter is the time of year with the most to offer when it comes to festivals and events:
- Christmas in PR is unlike anywhere else in the world. You need to experience it for yourself.
- New Year’s is also quite the event here. From Distrito T-Mobile to el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, to a myriad of hotels, there’s no shortage of places to ring in the new year.
- Three Kings Day: A holiday commemorating the visit of the three wise men.
- Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián: a street festival that serves as the closing of the Christmas season in PR.
- El Carnaval de Ponce– Takes Place in February. It’s the oldest carnival of its kind in PR. There are parades, costumes, food, and music… Think Mardi Gras(a big party just before Lent), but a bit more family friendly.
Conclusion
There’s a reason it’s called the “high season”. If we go by folks voting with their dollar, then the best time to visit is the winter. If you ask this writer, though, there’s no wrong time to visit Puerto Rico. You’ll always find something to do and somewhere to go.
As someone who likes to save money wherever he can, I would find myself more inclined to come in the summer or fall when it’s most affordable to visit. Hurricane season might be a concern, but take it from a local, they only make landfall every so often.
No matter when you decide to come, one thing is certain. Your visit to Puerto Rico is one you won’t soon forget!
