Is Puerto Rico Safe for Travel?

Planning a trip and wondering if Puerto Rico is safe for travel right now?

With the ongoing health crisis and other online information suggesting otherwise, it’s a smart question to ask. But, as a local, I can tell you Puerto Rico is generally very safe for travel.

Since I know travelers can have different concerns about safety in Puerto Rico, I’ve put together some tips and advice about safety in Puerto Rico. I hope it helps you to comfortably explore all the many beautiful places to visit in Puerto Rico.

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Is Puerto Rico Safe?

Puerto Rico is generally safe for travelers that take appropriate measures regarding the ongoing pandemic. Travelers should take note of the hurricane season when they’re planning their trip and take normal precautions to avoid pickpocketing and robbery, the most common crimes affecting visitors in Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Rico is relatively safe for visitors, as it has a lower crime rate than many other regions in the United States. It’s one of the safest Caribbean islands. Much of the violent gun crime in Puerto Rico relates to drug trafficking and gang activity, which doesn’t usually affect travelers. 

The most common crimes in Puerto Rico are pickpocketing and robbery, which you can prevent by not leaving valuables visible in a car, keeping important documents at your hotel safe, not wearing expensive jewelry, and visiting beaches and attractions during the day.

When you visit Puerto Rico, you should be more worried about the weather than the criminality. The island sports a yearly hurricane season from June to November, with September as the most active month. 

There isn’t any way to predict when hurricanes are going to impact Puerto Rico or how strong they’re going to be with months of anticipation, which is why you should protect your trip with travel insurance if you’re visiting during the high-risk season. 

Things to Know About Safety in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Travel Advisories 

Though Puerto Rico is generally safe, different governments such as the UK Government and the Canada Government have issued travel advisories for the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides the health travel advisory, there is an advisory about the risk of terrorism in the United States. This risk is relatively low in Puerto Rico, which isn’t a state but a non-incorporated territory. You might encounter demonstrations and protests occasionally in Puerto Rico. In that case, travelers should monitor local media and avoid demonstrations.

As for crime, petty crime and robbery is the most common type of crime and tourists should take commonsense precautions to protect their belongings.

Safe Neighborhoods and Areas in Puerto Rico 

Puerto Rico is relatively safe for tourists and travelers as long as they stay out of dangerous areas. Common tourist-friendly areas in San Juan include Old San Juan, Isla Verde, Condado, Ocean Park, Hato Rey, and Miramar. Visitors should avoid areas like Puerta de Tierra, El Parque de las Palomas, Piñones, and La Perla at night.

Other great areas for tourists are Rio Grande, Fajardo, Ponce, Cabo Rojo, Vieques, Culebra, and Rincon. But, that doesn’t mean tourists should limit themselves to those parts of the island. Both the locals and the government encourage travelers to step out of Old San Juan to visit other parts of the island. See my list of the best small towns in Puerto Rico for ideas!

👉 Looking for a safe place to stay? Check out my guides to where to stay in Puerto Rico and, more specifically, the best areas in San Juan to find the best and safest neighborhoods to stay in for visitors.

Covid-19 Safety in Puerto Rico

Like most global destinations, Puerto Rico continues to grapple with the effects of the covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the Puerto Rican government has led a widely lauded effort to increase the vaccination rate to one of the highest in the United States.

This graphic summarizes the current covid situation in Puerto Rico:

International travelers can enter Puerto Rico either by providing proof of vaccination. In March 2022, Puerto Rico dropped its mask mandate. Masks are still recommended for many people and situations.

Puerto Rico used to require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, concert halls, and theaters. As of March 2022, those requirements are also dropped (at least at the island level). I recommend following the Health Department of Puerto Rico Website and the CDC to keep up to date with the evolving situation of the country.

Crime in Puerto Rico

The crime rate in Puerto Rico is relatively low in comparison with other places in the United States. However, both locals and tourists alike could be victims of petty theft like robbery and pickpocketing. 

Violent crimes in Puerto Rico are often related to caserios, Puerto Rico’s public housing buildings, and dangerous neighborhoods where gangs operate. Both American tourists and international travelers should avoid these areas as a general safety rule. As long as you stick to the popular places to go in Puerto Rico, you are likely to be just fine.

Common Scams in Puerto Rico

There are relatively few scams in Puerto Rico. Still, you should always keep your eyes open for the following common scams when traveling to Puerto Rico:

🚕 Taxi scam – Taxis scams take place when the drivers don’t turn on the meter, take longer routes to charge more, or claim they don’t have change when you pay in cash. Research the route using GPS systems, know the local taxi tarrifs, and always ask the driver to turn the meter on.

🚗 Rental car scams – Since the rental car industry is big in Puerto Rico, it’s not uncommon to see scams related to car rentals. If you’re renting a car in Puerto Rico, you need to watch out for excessive toll pass fees, inflated deposits, and hidden charges for things like cleaning the sand from your car. Discover Cars is a great search engine for reputable agencies, since it allows you to easily see and compare customer reviews for each operator.

🗺️ False guides – A local may approach you claiming to be a guide that can take you to special places. He’ll then proceed to take you somewhere where he gets a commission for bringing clients. You will never know about the commission but you will pay a higher price for what you buy to cover that commission fee. 

💰 Pickpockets – Pickpocketing occurs in many countries of the world and Puerto Rico is no exception. Pickpocketers could snatch your items away while distracting you or by bumping into you. Always be aware of your belongings and pay attention to your surroundings.

Hazardous Weather and Natural Disasters

People who travel to Puerto Rico can experience hazardous weather and natural disasters depending on what season they visit Puerto Rico.

So is Puerto Rico safe from hurricanes right now? And how safe is Puerto Rico from other natural disasters? Like anywhere, it depends.

Here are a few things to know about Puerto Rico’s weather hazards:

⛈️ Hurricanes – Puerto Rico’s hurricane season run from June to November is one of the most important things to know about Puerto Rico. During this period, the country is more likely to get affected by tropical storms and hurricanes, but the season doesn’t mean a hurricane will hit Puerto Rico. The last hurricane that landed on Puerto Rico was Hurricane Maria in 2017. Hurricanes usually take a week to reach the island, which means you have to make the necessary adjustments to your trip according to the weather warnings.

⛰️ Earthquakes – Visitors can also experience earthquakes and small tremors in Puerto Rico. Since the Earthquakes of January 2020, telluric movements are more frequent on the island, but they are mostly unnoticeable.

🌡️ Temperature – Puerto Rico sports high temperatures almost all year, with an average temperature of 87°F(30°C), which combined with the humidity, increases the sensation of heat. You should always stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.

☁️ Air pollution – The air quality changes frequently in Puerto Rico for environmental factors. Sometimes there is a high concentration of spores or a cloud of dust coming from the Sahara desert. If you have respiratory conditions, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the local weather forecast and keep your medications with you.

☁️ Rip tides and swimming conditions – Many famous beaches in Puerto Rico are dangerous to swim in for their rip tides. Beaches like Playa Peña in Old San Juan and Playa Jobos in Isabela are home to numerous drowning incidents every year. If you’re visiting a beach with rip tides, ask the locals about the safest beach areas and if you get caught in one, swim parallel to the beach until you get out of the current.

👉 Local Tip: Puerto Rico, like other Caribbean islands, sports popular destinations with beaches for the family, beaches for couples, and beaches for solo travelers. If you want to find the best for your taste, check out my guide to the 19 top beaches in Puerto Rico. 

Female Travel Safety

If you’re wondering “is it safe to travel to Puerto Rico right now for solo females?”, here is my answer:

San Juan and Puerto Rico in general are safe for women traveling in groups or solo female travelers. Although they might face some catcalling, men usually won’t make any physical approach. Women visiting Puerto Rico should follow the general safety tips that apply when visiting any other country.  

Some common travel safety tips include not walking alone at night in solitary areas, supervising their drinks when in a public place, not telling just anybody about where they’re staying, and not accepting any stranger’s invitation to accompany them to unknown places. San Juan is particularly a safe city for women traveling solo.

For women who travel alone frequently, safety is always a priority. The Self-Defense Keychain Set for Women and Kids is a great way to have some peace of mind and feel safer while visiting a foreign country.

Other Health Precautions

Besides taking precautions against COVID, you should take measures against Dengue fever and Zika. For its location and weather, Puerto Rico has a large population of mosquitoes, especially on the beach and areas with a lot of vegetation like El Yunque National Forest. 

Puerto Rico Drinking Water Safety

While there might be other destinations in the Caribbean where tourists can’t drink water safely, it isn’t the case with Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States and follows the drinking water safety standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1974. If you still feel insecure, you can always buy bottled water instead.

5 Puerto Rico Safety Tips

Tip #1 – Learn Some Basic Spanish

Although most Puerto Ricans in San Juan and other touristic areas understand and speak some English, if you visit any rural area it might be hard to communicate with the locals. To prevent any misunderstanding, I recommend you learn some basic Spanish phrases and words.

Tip #2 – Prepare for Some Crazy Traffic

American travelers will feel familiarized with the style of driving in Puerto Rico, but international travelers should know that it’s hard to follow signs around the island’s roads, and there will be occasions when you won’t find any. Some traffic lights still don’t work after Hurricane Maria and roads around both urban areas and rural areas are home to countless potholes. 

Don’t get scared if Puerto Ricans honk at you. Honking is very common among locals, and it’s usually a way of indicating to the front car the traffic light has changed. 

Tip #3 – Lock Your Car Doors

Either out of habit or because of distraction, sometimes tourists leave belongings in their car rental. As a safety rule, whenever you visit an attraction or park in Puerto Rico, make sure to empty your car of valuables or if you need to, lock them up in the trunk and always lock your car doors. Otherwise, you could come back from your day trip to a broken window.

Tip #4 – Take Care of Your Belongings

One safety mistake people make when traveling is taking their important documents in a backpack while they take a walking tour. Leave your important documents locked up in your hotel safe.

If you feel uncomfortable, then consider wearing a money belt and distribute your documents between your different pockets. And if you have a bag never leave it unattended, not even at one of Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches.

Tip #5 – Don’t Wander at Night Alone

In Puerto Rico, most crimes committed happen during the night. Although there are areas where there is active nightlife, like Condado, the nearby deserted streets and areas like Condado Beach can be dangerous if you’re walking alone. You should always stay in well-lit areas. If you’re alone, avoid transiting dark zones at night or into places you don’t know.

Puerto Rico Safety FAQs

🛑 WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO TO PUERTO RICO – If you’re going to Puerto Rico, you definitely don’t want to miss my local’s list of the best activities and things to do in Puerto Rico. It’s packed with top tourist spots, fun points of attraction, and hidden spots only locals know about.

You’ve reached the end of the safety guide to Puerto Rico. I hope I’ve answered your biggest concerns about “Is Puerto Rico safe to travel?”. 

Don’t forget you can get travel insurance with World Nomads, so you only have to worry about anything else but to enjoy your trip.

If you still have any fear or doubts, feel free to write them in the comments and I’ll help to clear them out!