Close your eyes and imagine a tropical island where the sun paints a watercolor palette in the sky and birds and frogs sing to put you to sleep. When I woke up, there was a blue ocean beneath my feet. You can sip water from fresh coconut and enjoy a snack on seafood-filled empanadas. You’re imagining the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico – a fascinating island with a rich cultural history and geography waiting to be explored
The best time to go to Puerto Rico
The best time to visit Puerto Rico depends on your island itinerary. The ‘tourism’ season is fall/winter (late October to April), when waves from the west coast lure surfers and rainforests come to life. The beach is more crowded, but all the shops, restaurants, bars and hotels are in full swing. Everything on the island is at your fingertips. Summer is a great time to relax without the nightlife and day trips. If you’re looking for your own beach with vacationing Puerto Ricans, go somewhere secluded between May and August. However, it is also the hottest month of the year.
What is the currency of Puerto Rico?
The Currency of Puerto Rico monetary unit is the US Dollar (USD) as it is a Commonwealth country of the United States of America. Simply put, the US dollar is the official currency used for PR. Puerto Ricans call the US dollar a ‘peso’ or a ‘dollar’ (simple as the Puerto Rican dollar). The dollar is made up of 100 cents, and the locals call it ‘centavos’ or ‘chavitos’. In Puerto Rico, a nickel or 5c piece is called a ‘pica’ or ‘velon’ and a quarter or 25c piece is called a ‘peseta’. The denominations of US dollar bills are $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Coins are denominated in 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c and 50c. You can use the exchange rate calculator below to change the exchange rate for another currency. Feel free to check the Puerto Rican exchange rate compared to other currencies with our online currency calculator.
Puerto Rico has several institutions that offer currency exchange services and branches from major banks in the United States, Canada, and Europe. ATMs located around Puerto Rico are connected to banking networks around the world. Bank hours are 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Most places accept credit cards, and some even accept travelers checks. Traveler’s checks are available in the following amounts: $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000. If you need to send money quickly, Moneygrams is recommended. With this service, money can be transferred to you from anywhere in the world within 10 minutes.
Different Foods and Drinks to Try in Puerto Rico
Local delicacies are available on every corner, every major road and everything in between. This is the best island for the always hungry – there is something to eat everywhere! Puerto Rican cuisine is varied, but the staples are hearty. The most famous is mofongo, made from fried plantain mash and served with seafood or meat. Of course, any dish can be served with abuelita-style rice and beans. Pinchos and empanadillas are roadside favorites, and it’s easy to tell which places the locals like, as queues can be long and stalls sell out early. It’s worth trying a few during your stay, as every place will have a classic dish. You can also find Thai, sushi, continental, Mexican, Indian, German and Italian cuisine in various cities on the island.
Culture of Puerto Rico
Before the arrival of the Tax Lien, the island was called “Borinquén”; they changed the name to Puerto Rico. (The burial site of conquistador and first governor Juan Ponce de Leon is said to be in San Juan.) You may hear native Puerto Ricans calling themselves “Boricua,” derived from the original island name. The indigenous Taino were present when the Spaniards arrived, and the Africans were brought to the island by the conquerors. The mixture of these three cultures gave way to a new identity: Puerto Rican. There are Puerto Ricans alive now, distant relatives of the original islanders. You can still find well-preserved hieroglyphs of Taino art in caves and rocks, and visit towns such as Loíza, which preserve today’s African heritage
