Best Times to Visit Puerto Rico for Smaller Crowds, Great Weather, and Lower Prices

Puerto Rico is a vacation hot spot for families, couples, and tropical beach-seeking friend groups alike. It’s blessed with some of the most beautiful stretches of white and golden sand, lush rain forests, mountains, and picture-perfect weather throughout much of the year. Of course, the sunny U.S. territory has periods of both heavier and lighter tourism.

• High Season: December to April
• Shoulder Season: May to June
• Low Season: July to November

Apart from soaking up the island's natural beauty, people travel to Puerto Rico for many reasons. You might be interested in seeing historic landmarks, surfing and other types of outdoor recreation, or experiencing the vibrant culture and culinary scenes. High-rise hotels, nightlife, and casinos dot the Condado district, whereas the offshore isles are primed for rest and relaxation. Visitors get their pick of luxury resorts or eco-oriented properties. And the cherry on top is that U.S. residents don’t even need a passport to visit. 

Read on for the best times to explore Puerto Rico based on your top priorities.

Best Times to Visit Puerto Rico for Smaller Crowds 

Puerto Rico gets about five million visitors a year. Almost half of them arrive between the beginning of December and the end of April. In the winter, travelers from the coldest pockets of the U.S. migrate south to escape frigid temperatures at home.

The shoulder season that immediately follows the December-to-April surge is perhaps a sweet spot for weather and smaller crowds. Puerto Rico gets roughly 130,000 tourists in May, compared to 180,000 in its busiest month, March. During hurricane season, June to November, tourism numbers plummet, with September drawing only about 80,000 visitors. Note, however, that this is when the locals tend to vacation around the island.

If you don't mind the patchy weather, summer and fall are definitely the quietest times to visit, but for a mix of comfortable weather and small crowds, go in the spring. You'll be able to roam uncrowded beaches, old forts, and forested trails without being elbow to elbow with fellow vacationers. And you might even get a good deal out of it.

Best Times to Visit Puerto Rico for Good Weather

While the northern U.S. battles snow and arctic blasts, Puerto Rico continues to experience swimsuit weather. Even in the dead of winter, daily highs on the island remain in the 70s Fahrenheit. Since it's also the driest period, it's prime for hitting the beach. January and February are the coolest months, with lows in the mid-60s.

As the wet season approaches, Puerto Rico heats up. By August, daily highs are in the mid-80s. By September, 18 days out of the month are rainy. The heat and rain are a recipe for sticky humidity. In the fall, average humidity levels are around 86 percent.

Needless to say, travelers hoping to lounge on Puerto Rican beaches in comfortable, dry weather might rather go during winter, even if it is the high season.

Best Times to Visit Puerto Rico for Lower Prices

Prices for flights, accommodations, food, and activities are generally lowest from August to November — which, again, aligns with the hurricane season. Of course, if you're going to plan a trip during this unpredictable weather window, you could lose money in the long run if your vacation gets cut short or canceled due to a storm.

Hotel rates begin to go down gradually after the high season ends, so you should consider the shoulder season, too. As an example, a room at the boutique hotel Dreamcatcher by DW in San Juan typically costs less than $200 a night in May but up to $600 a night at peak times. Off-season travel is far better for sticking to a budget.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico for Beaches

For fun in the sun, you can’t beat the winter. It’s prime time to take advantage of the blue skies, consistent sunshine, and warm temperatures. That means strolling barefoot on warm sand, catching rays, and swimming in some of the bluest water in the U.S. The shoulder season is also pleasant because the beaches are less busy but the summer rain hasn’t started. At the same time, many locals (and plenty of travelers) prefer beach days when the thermometer peaks in June and July, but don't expect summer to be as dry or sunny.

If you're headed to the Caribbean island for a beach vacation, plan a trip to Flamenco Beach on Culebra, Tortuga Beach on Culebrita, or Ocean Park Beach in San Juan.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Rico for Surfing

Not only does the northwest coast — from Isabela to Rincón — boast some of the most gorgeous beaches on the island, but it also lays claim to top surfing spots. The best time of year to grab a board and ride the waves? Winter, when low-pressure systems off the Eastern Seaboard treat this corner of Puerto Rico to surf-perfect swells. The epic waves and barrels during this period give Puerto Rico its nickname, the "North Shore of the Atlantic."

Worst Time to Visit Puerto Rico

Like the majority of tropical Caribbean destinations, Puerto Rico enjoys warm weather year-round, but it's also subject to an intense hurricane season. Hurricanes are a risk from June to November, with the season peaking in August and September. In the past, major storms have devastated the island. Plenty of travelers decide to take their chances given the favorable rates, but it’s worth considering that bad weather may very well impact a summer trip to Puerto Rico. Because of the uncomfortable, unpredictable, and at times dangerous weather, hurricane season is arguably the worst time to visit.