U.S. territory · Islands
Puerto Rico
A U.S. island trip with no passport for U.S. citizens — Old San Juan, rainforest, and the west coast.
When to go
December–April is drier and busier. Summer is hotter, cheaper, and inside Atlantic hurricane season. The northeast (El Yunque) is wet year-round — that is the rainforest.
How to get there
SJU is the hub. U.S. citizens do not need a passport (see territory entry). A car is worth it outside Old San Juan. Domestic U.S. flights; TSA, not a customs hall, for most itineraries from the states.
Neighborhood / area split
Old San Juan / Condado for a first stay you can walk. Rincón / west coast for beaches and sunsets. Vieques or Culebra as a second island, not a same-day trophy. El Yunque is a day trip with a reservation system — check NPS/USFS before you drive.
Budget vs splurge
Budget: a Condado or Santurce stay, public beaches, mofongo, a rum distillery that is actually a tour. Splurge: a small Old San Juan hotel with a courtyard, and a night on the west coast so you see more than the cruise pier.
Season notes
Hurricane season is June–November. Read hurricane-season travel notes before you prepay peak-summer rooms.
Crypto and residency
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, not a special coin statute. Qualifying bona fide residents who hold an Act 60 Chapter 2 individual-investor decree (the old Act 22 idea) have been able to pay 0% Puerto Rico tax on certain post-residency capital gains, interest, and dividends — with the federal exclusion for Puerto Rico-source income under IRC §933 if the §937 residence tests are actually met (presence, tax home, closer connection; generally 183 days). Pre-move appreciation is usually still U.S.-source if you sell too soon. Act 38-2026: applications filed by 31 December 2026 are widely described as keeping the 0% structure; filings on or after 1 January 2027 as facing a 4% Puerto Rico rate. Confirm with DDEC and a practitioner. Longer note: territories & markets. Related sites: smotass.net (markets), hexpls.com (HEX / PulseChain, non-custodial, no APY). Not tax advice.
Get there
San Juan (SJU) is the Puerto Rico hub. St. Thomas (STT) is a short island hop if the USVI is on the same trip. Origin empty — pick where you leave from.
Luis Muñoz Marín International
SJU
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The San Juan field. Fly here first if Puerto Rico is the stop.
Cyril E. King Airport
STT
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
St. Thomas if you are also looking at the USVI.
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