The Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico (By a Local)

👉 Jump to: Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico | By Month | Weather & Climate | FAQ

The best time to visit Puerto Rico is between December and April for fresh weather, empty beaches, and local festivals, but it is also the high season for tourists. Summer and fall are good seasons for less expensive travel and warmer beaches. But with year-round warm weather, Puerto Rico is always a great vacation spot.

Besides knowing where to stay and what to do in Puerto Rico, figuring out when to visit is one of the most important decisions to make, as each season offers something different.

As a Puerto Rican local, I love the different seasons for different reasons. I’m here to tell you all about them so you can also pick your favorite time to visit.

When is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico generally has the best weather between December and April, with little precipitation and fresh temperatures. However, this makes it the peak season for international travelers escaping frigid winters and you’ll be competing for hotels and beach real estate with plenty of others.

The best season to visit is between April and June, to get good weather without the crowds of the busy winter or summer seasons.

But, as you might not be looking for the same thing as everyone else out of your vacation, let’s break down the best season to visit Puerto Rico for different types of trips: 

When to Visit for Good Weather

If you want to avoid the season with daily rain showers, then visit during the dry season from December to April.

During this season, temperatures drop by a few degrees and the weather is more pleasant before the rainy season starts in May.

When to Visit Puerto Rico for Cheap Prices

If you’re wondering about the best time to travel to Puerto Rico on a budget, then you should consider visiting the island between September and November.

This is the low season but it’s also part of Puerto Rico’s hurricane season. During these months, you can find cheap hotel prices even in San Juan.

Just be sure to keep your eye on the weather. We usually know about a week in advance if the island is going to get hit by a hurricane, and though it doesn’t happen every year, it’s good to be on alert.

When to Visit for Warm Beach Days

The peak of the summer season, which goes from June to August (the season itself extends until September), is the high season for the locals. During these months, you’ll find a combination of heat and rain, with August as the rainiest month.

The average daytime temperature in coastal cities and urban areas is 85°F (though the humidity makes it feel much higher!), and Puerto Rico’s beaches have calmer water and low tides, ideal for swimming.

When to Visit with Family and Kids

For the best Puerto Rico family vacation, consider traveling between December and February.

The winter months are full of festivals and parties that the whole family will enjoy. Continue reading to see some of them, or check out my guide to the best festivals in Puerto Rico for more details.

When to Visit for Surfing

Surfing is a popular activity in Puerto Rico and is especially among the best things to do in Rincón. The months between October and February are the best to find good waves to surf in Rincón, Isabela, and Aguadilla.

If you’re a surfer, then check out my guide to surfing in Puerto Rico for more details!

When to Visit to Avoid Crowds

To avoid the crowds of the winter and spring breaks, but still get great weather, you should visit between mid-April and June. Although it’s the start of the rainy season, it mostly rains for a while during the day.

From September to November is another great period that’s perfect for avoiding crowds and having San Juan’s tourist attractions to yourself.

However, this is also the peak of the hurricane season, so you should keep an eye on the weather forecast and buy travel insurance before visiting Puerto Rico.

When to Visit to Catch Local Festivals

Any season is great to enjoy the local culture, as Puerto Rico has many festivals throughout the year around which you can plan your itinerary.

Visit during January to catch one of Puerto Rico’s famous festivals: La Calle San Sebastian. You can read more about these below.

Puerto Rico Month by Month

January

January forms part of the high tourism season, and attractions in Old San Juan and the rest of the island get crowded with tourists escaping the harsh winter of their countries.

You’ll enjoy refreshing temperatures in the low 80°F and high 70°F degrees, and some of the best local festivals if you’re staying in San Juan. 

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🌟 Epiphany Day – Celebrate January 6 with parades, performances, and food, especially in Juana Díaz!
• 🎉 San Sebastian Street Festival – The official end of the holiday season with a 4-day festival with live entertainment and parades
• 🐄 Festival de la Novilla – Parade featuring a decorated heifer celebrating Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots, with music, food, and traditions.

February 

February is great for visitors fleeing cold winters. The weather is fresh and rainfall is scarce, which means you can visit Puerto Rico’s waterfalls and rivers without worrying about flash floods.

While the conditions at the coasts aren’t great for swimming and riptides are common, it is hot enough to spend the day beach bumming.

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🥶 Festival de Frío (Cold Festival) – End the cold season with music, traditions, food, and artisans on February’s last weekend.
• ☕ Fiesta del Acabe del Café – Maricao coffee harvest celebration with local brews, live music, artisan kiosks, food, and culture.
• 🐎 Feria Dulce Sueño – Annual Paso Fino horse fair in Guayama, showcasing equestrian competitions.

March

March is one of the busiest months for tourism in Puerto Rico. With spring break and Holy Week, travelers flood the beaches of the island and the streets of San Juan. Prices stay on the high side of the budget, but the weather is nice to enjoy. 

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 👹 Ponce’s Carnaval – Week‑long carnival featuring colorful vejigantes, parades, and Burial of the Sardine right before Ash Wednesday.
• 💃🏻 Dia Nacional de la Salsa – Showcase your salsa moves at this music festival where pros and amateurs gather to dance.
• ✝️ Good Friday and Easter –  Between March and April, catch processions, theater plays, and Easter egg hunting games during this weekend.
• 🎪 Circo Fest  – Colorful street festival in Old San Juan with circus acts, international performers, music, and free shows.
• 🍹 Taste of Rum – Connoisseurs sample all kinds of drinks in this rum festival with over 40 rum brands.
• 🍊 Festival de Las Marías en Honor a la China Dulce – Sweet-orange festival in Las Marías featuring desserts, drinks, and dishes prepared with the fruit. 
• 🏌🏻 Puerto Rico Open – Annual PGA Tour golf tournament in Rio Grande featuring top players, oceanfront views, and island hospitality

April

From mid-April onwards, Puerto Rico starts its off-peak season for international travelers.

The winter crowds leave the island and Puerto Rico’s hotels start advertising lower rates.

During this month, you can visit the best beaches in Puerto Rico to enjoy warm and pleasant temperatures and waves under 5 feet.

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🐢 Festival del Tinglar en Luquillo – Coinciding with turtle nesting season, this festival celebrates and promotes the conservation of leatherback turtles.

May

May is a great time to avoid crowds and get good hotel prices.

Although it’s one of the rainiest months of the year, showers don’t last long, and you can take advantage of the warmer weather.

Indulge in many local watersports opportunities, including scuba diving or snorkeling in Puerto Rico. This is also the last month before the high summer season for locals.

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🌱Festival del Huerto Casero – Take workshops, dance to live music, or run a 5K at this Gurabo gardening festival.
• 🥘 Festival del Fricasé – Eat all you can at this food festival celebrating Puerto Rico’s beloved chicken stew, fricasé.
• 🍍 Festival de La Piña Paradisiaca  – Taste pineapple treats, dance to local music, and enjoy family-friendly activities at this vibrant festival.

June, July, & August

June and July are the peak season for locals and cruise travelers.

It’s the season for the warmest temperatures of the year and the best beach tides, which is why it’s the preferred beach season by Puerto Ricans!

It’s also the beginning of the hurricane season.

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🌊 Noche de San Juan – Celebrate June 23 by diving backwards into the ocean at midnight to cleanse bad vibes.
• 🍲 Saborea Food Festival – Enjoy tastings from local chefs and restaurants in this annual culinary festival now celebrated in June.
• 🌻 Aibonito Flower Festival – Shop for flowers and fruit trees, enjoy live music and join fun family-friendly gardening workshops.
• 🦀 Festival Jueyero de Guánica –  This all-crab festival features delicious crab dishes, races, and contests in a family-friendly atmosphere.
• ✝️ Fiestas Tradicionales en honor a Santiago Apóstol – Colorful late‑July celebration in Loíza honoring Santiago Apóstol, with vejigantes, bomba music, processions, and parades.

September

September is the best month to travel on a budget as tourism in Puerto Rico drops significantly, with fewer local and international visitors.

Since it is the peak of the hurricane season, hotels lower the rates and you can find special deals on all kinds of activities.

Just be sure to stay on top of the forecast to make sure your trip to Puerto Rico is safe!

👉Some festivals to check out:

• ✝️ Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate – Join the pilgrimage, climbing 75 steps on your knees to the cathedral.
• 🏊🏻‍♀️ Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce – The Caribbean’s oldest open-water swimming competition through Ponce’s Bay is held on September’s first Sunday. 
• 🎞️ Puerto Rico Film Festival in Mayagüez (PRFF) – Started in 2009, this festival showcases short films and full-length features by international directors and storytellers.
• 🎞️ Festival del Cine Internacional de Puerto Rico (FCIPR) – Watch 40+ films from 20 countries, with panels and workshops during this San Juan film festival.

October

In October, the temperatures start to feel fresher, but beach waves grow higher, and rip currents make swimming risky. On the flip side, it’s prime time for surfing, especially on Puerto Rico’s west coast.

While the risk of bad weather is high, the shoulder season means you can still travel on a budget.

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🥥 Festival del Coco – Enjoy coconut-based drinks, dishes, and desserts, plus local crafts, bomba dancing, and live shows.
• 🐐 Festival del Cabro – A family-friendly event in Cataño with goat-centered dishes, contests, and exhibits.
• 🎃 Halloween parties and concerts

November

This is the last month before the high winter season hits. Historically, very few hurricanes hit Puerto Rico’s archipelago during November, and the temperatures are fresh and enjoyable. 

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 🏹 Festival Nacional Indigena – Last week of Nov, celebrating Puerto Rico’s indigenous roots
• 🍲 Calle Loiza Culinary Fest – This culinary festival features 100+ food vendors, music stages, and artisans on Loiza Street.
• 🗺️ Puerto Rico Discovery Day – Commemoration of the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Puerto Rican archipelago.
• 🦃 Thanksgiving – Family gathers at Puerto Rican households to give thanks and start the holiday season.
• 🖼️ Campechada – Multi-day arts festival honoring Puerto Rican artists with theater, music, dance, and cultural exhibitions.
• 🐟 International Billfish Tournament – Running for 72 consecutive years, this fishing tournament attracts top anglers worldwide to San Juan’s waters.

December

Traveling during the holiday season is expensive as the high season hits, but it’s worth the price.

Besides sporting fresh temperatures, December is also a month of festivities, special Christmas dinners, and local festivals with live music, ideal for visiting with family and kids. 

👉 Some festivals to check out:

• 👹 Hatillo Masks Festival – On December 28, Hatillo’s streets flood with handmade masks, costumed parades, themed carts, and music.
• 🥃 La Feria Bacardí – A weekend festival in Cataño with 100+ artisans, trovadores, food kiosks, music, and holiday spirit.
• 🎅Navitown – Seasonal-themed park with carnival rides, North Pole parades, live shows, and lots of Christmas fun.
• 🎄 Plaza Las Americas Christmas Festivities – From snowfall to Christmas parades, the Caribbean’s largest mall offers daily holiday fun for everyone.
• 🛥️ San Juan Xmas Boat Parade – From San Juan or Cataño, see festive lighted boats glide across San Juan Bay.
• 🎄 Christmas Eve celebrations

Weather, Climate, and Hurricane Season

Puerto Rico has warm and humid tropical weather. The average annual temperature is between the mid 85s and 90s degrees Fahrenheit, but humidity affects the overall heat sensation, making it feel a lot higher, especially during the summer. It rains all year, but the driest months are between December and April. 

Like other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is affected by the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November. During this season, tropical storms and hurricanes are a risk to the archipelago. Read my full guide to hurricane season in Puerto Rico if you’re visiting during this time.

Hurricane season is just a Puerto Rico fact of life. But, it doesn’t mean hurricanes will affect the island directly every year. And, if you pay attention to the NOAA’s hurricane center, you will know with enough time to take precautions.

FAQs

What months are hurricane seasons in Puerto Rico?

The hurricane season in Puerto Rico starts in June and finishes in November. The peak of the season is between September and October. Hurricanes won’t always affect the territory. The last hurricane to land in Puerto Rico was Hurricane Fiona in 2022, but Tropical Storm Ernesto in 2024 caused considerable damage on the east coast.

Is December a good time to visit Puerto Rico?

December is a good time to visit Puerto Rico if you want to enjoy the lively Christmas in Puerto Rico and local festivals. However, December is a high season for traveling, and most attractions get crowded. 

When is the high season in Puerto Rico?

The high season for international travelers is between December and February as many crowds are fleeing the winter season. The high season for locals is between May and August.

What is the best month to go to Puerto Rico?

The best months to go to Puerto Rico to enjoy warm weather and beaches are between March and May. This is the shoulder season between the high winter and summer seasons. Temperatures are fresher than in summer, and beaches are mostly safe for swimming.

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I hope this helped you find the best season to visit Puerto Rico! Before you leave, be sure to check out my guide to the top 41 Places to Visit in Puerto Rico.