Puerto Rico is a US territory in the Caribbean, and its visitors split their time between the forts and painted streets of Old San Juan, the beaches of the north coast, the El Yunque rainforest and the smaller islands of Vieques and Culebra, many arriving on a cruise. For travellers from the mainland US, most phone plans work there without international roaming charges, depending on the plan. For Europeans and other international visitors it is a different story: Puerto Rico is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and a European SIM pays its operator's roaming rates.
Key facts for Puerto Rico
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Claro, Liberty (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911 for police, ambulance and fire
- Embassies: none; Spain has a consulate general in San Juan, and the UK covers the island from Miami
Entry: the same rules as the mainland
Puerto Rico applies US entry rules. Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA, everyone else needs a visa, and US citizens do not need a passport. Border officials may ask to inspect your phone or laptop, and refusing can delay or deny your entry. Most flights land at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, with some at Rafael Hernández in Aguadilla on the west coast.
Hurricanes and earthquakes
The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, and Puerto Rico is also one of the parts of the US at higher risk of earthquakes. If a storm is forecast during your trip, follow the instructions of the local emergency management agency and your hotel, keep your phone charged and download maps of the area you are in, because power and networks can fail in a strong hurricane.
San Juan, the road and the islands
Puerto Rico is generally a safe place for a holiday, but avoid isolated streets and walking alone at night. Never leave a passport or valuables in a hire car, as thieves look for vehicles that seem to belong to tourists. US driving licences are valid, road signs give speeds in miles per hour (25 in towns, 45 to 55 on rural roads and up to 65 on motorways), and hire cars usually come with an AutoExpreso tag for the toll roads. Before heading into the mountains of the interior or over to Vieques and Culebra, download offline maps in case the signal drops.
Health and money
Dengue and Zika are present, so use insect repellent. Medical care is expensive and visitors pay for it, so take out travel insurance with medical cover. Tap water is safe to drink. The currency is the US dollar, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed at home connects when you land. An Americas plan covers Puerto Rico together with the mainland US, the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic, which suits a cruise or a longer trip; a Puerto Rico plan is enough for a stay on the island. Keep your usual SIM for texts and bank codes, with data roaming turned off.
Local SIMs: Claro, Liberty and T-Mobile run the island's mobile networks, and Claro sells prepaid plans.
Consular protection: who to call in Puerto Rico
- Call 911 for the police, an ambulance or the fire service.
- There are no embassies in Puerto Rico. Spain's consulate general in San Juan covers Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the US Virgin Islands, and the British consulate general in Miami covers Puerto Rico for British nationals.
- EU citizens whose country has no consulate in Puerto Rico can turn to the consulate of any other EU country, which must help them as it helps its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Spanish and English are both official, so you can explain an emergency in either language.
Questions travellers ask about Puerto Rico
Does my US phone plan work in Puerto Rico?
Usually yes: most major US carriers serve Puerto Rico without international roaming charges, but it depends on the plan, so check with yours.
Will my EU tariff work in Puerto Rico?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, because Puerto Rico is outside Roam Like at Home.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Puerto Rico?
Claro or Liberty, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
Do I need an ESTA to visit Puerto Rico?
Yes, if you travel under the Visa Waiver Program: Puerto Rico follows the same entry rules as the rest of the US.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, apply for your ESTA in good time, keep valuables out of hire cars, follow the alerts during the hurricane season from June to November, and save 911.
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