PUERTO RICO: 10 Most Common Tourist MISTAKES (2025 Travel Guide) (San Juan + More)

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As a native, here are some things that you need to know if you visit our island. The government is totally inept, so don't expect to get anything done in a timely manner. Roads are a disaster, with potholes that can swallow your car, so drive 3-dimensionally. Drivers don't obey traffic laws, red lights are a suggestion, backing up on the highway is common, exit signs are AFTER the exit, etc. Sales tax is the highest in the nation! Power goes out constantly. Mosquitos will carry you away, so bring repellant! You can drink and drive! (not to be confused with driving while intoxicated) What I mean that if you are driving with your group soaking up the scenery, a nice cold Medalla in your hand is allowed. You can drink anywhere! Some of the best foods are in street side kiosks. Dingy wooden shacks along the roads almost everywhere. If you see a lot of cars parked along the road, usually indicates the food is good. Most of us speak or understand english, they may not be fluent, but can function. WARNING! Puertoricans tend to smile alot, especially when a tourist asks them something in english. DON'T misinterpret this as they are mentally challenged etc. This is just a natural reaction. If you don't treat them with respect, you will soon find out that they have a very short fuse, and you will also realize why Puerto Rico produces a lot of great boxers! Get to know the locals, we are a friendly bunch and will go out of our way to welcome you!

Something else I would add is to watch out for inflated prices online!! My family and I were in La Parguera and happened to meet some tourists waiting in line for a night boat ride of the bioluminescent bay. They said their tickets were $40 each (they bought online) when in reality the tickets could be bought at the counter for $5 or $8 per person 🤧

There, at 4:36 when he says "it's way cheaper than being in the city". For everyone's information, Puerto Rico has 78 cities, San Juan is just one and it's not even the biggest. Also another piece of advice, don't go to La Perla, under any circumstances. It's a hot zone for crime and tourists have gotten hurt there.

I was stationed in Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria for about 5 months.
We homebased in San Juan at the entrance to the strip right after that long bridge.
Duty roster had us working all over the island.
Traveled all over on leave days.
I fell in love with Puerto Rico, the people, and the laid back lifestyle.
I will return as a tourist!

Helpful points about prepaying for car rentals and using their websites! Also trying the local food! It's a shame to visit PR and not trying the local cuisine and beverages, especially Puerto Rican coffee and rum. 😊

Puerto Rico is the best. We usually stay in Aguadilla on the main island. Great deals on weekly beachfront rentals. Also Vieques is fantastic. The people there are so great.

The mistakes in a list for the lazy ppl like me :)
1. Not knowing Spanish
2. Not leaving the old San Juan bubble
3. Not renting a car
4. Driving Mistakes (chaotic roads)
5. Only visiting San Juan
6. Forgetting ear plugs (puerto ricans we loud)
7. Not budgeting
8. Not preparing for the weather
9. Thinking PR isn’t safe
10. Not adjusting to island time (we Puerto Ricans are late a lot we not that efficient)

Thank you Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 💓 I love ❤ you all. I was blessed to set foot on your island, and communicate with your people. The best! I love you

My husband and I visit Puerto Rico twice a year and have been doing this for years and one extra tip I can give is if you plan on driving outside of San Juan (which you should) in your rental, MAKE SURE to get the rental company's insurance. Some of the roads in PR are not that good and we ended up hitting a deep pothole that partly ripped the bumper off of the rental car and scraped up and dented the bumper. My husband went to auto zone and got some paint and new screws to put the bumper back on and cover the deep scratches. He had to take some boiling water and pour it on the dents to be able to pop them back out. The scratches were still noticeable as I said they were deep and it was a white car. We used our own insurance instead of paying the extra to use theirs. We were so afraid they were going to notice but it was Christmas season and the island gets extremely busy around that time so thankfully no one noticed. But you do NOT want to be in that position because it will ruin your trip. Its literally all we could think about was ' Omg they are going to see this and we are going to take a big hit on our insurance 'Just take their insurance in case anything happens. The best thing to do would be to rent an Suv if you plan on driving all around the island or even just leaving San Juan. There are some massive potholes. Even on the highway we hit a few decent size ones.

As a new yorker visiting PR, yeah that last tip helped me a lot.

I remember when we rented a car during our visit in Puerto Rico, They told us not to use our turn signals as drivers in Puerto Rico never use them and that if we use our turn signals, we can get marked as a tourist and get followed as they can do worst to us

Great list of mistakes to avoid. The one that spoke to me was the earplugs. You might not always need them, but I DEFINITELY see where they could come in handy. Whether it's roosters, dogs, cars, music, sirens, coquis, etc, a set of earplugs could really help. I used to work nights, and have experience using earplugs to sleep, so I know how beneficial they could be. Different areas of Puerto Rico will create different noise challenges, and earplugs could definitely help.

Ahhh... I miss the Island Time. Growing up on the Island the day felt like it was more than 24 hrs!

1. Know Spanish - Yep. This is very good advice. Having some basic understanding of spanish will greatly help you in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has so many beautiful places Crystal blue waters, big cave systems, a literal rain forest, you don't need a passport if you are from the us, many people there actually speak English, yet so many Americans have never been. That... blows my mind.

Great tips....I've been to PR over 25 times and always rent a car. A lot of the best things to do and places to see, you MUST have a car. Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo, Arecibo, Ponce are some of my fav areas to visit. I've driven the entire island and it's very beautiful. The tip about prepaying for the car is very important. Once we paid a deposit, got to PR and they gave our car away because someone else paid in prepaid in full.

Before you embark on your next adventure, take a moment to immerse yourself in the tapestry of your chosen destination. Discover its history, embrace its culture, and understand the rhythm of its people. Remember, travel is not about expecting others to adapt to us, but rather about embracing the beauty of diversity and adapting ourselves. 🌍🌏🌎 🚀✈️ So, fellow adventurers, embrace the art of travel with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge. Let your expertise grow from the depths of your understanding. With every journey, may you become not just a traveler, but a true connoisseur of the world. Bon voyage! 🌍✈️🗺️

Coquis are miniature frogs which make a delightful unique sound.

First time hearing about restaurants opening late. Never in my 43 years living here had encounter that problem. About the waiting time if the establishment is super crowded maybe 35 to 45 minutes till you get your food, but needs to be full to the brims. I dislike San Juan for the most part, exception historical places, best places are further away from the capital, friendlier people, less expensive and sometimes less crowded. The island is beautiful and you will enjoy it here.

As a puertoriccan it’s nice to finally see a good guide about us. I can agree to this.

"You cant get that lost"...*laughs in mountain roads*

My sister and I mostly stayed in my aunt's house in Hormigueros on vacation. San Juan is totally like another NYC because it's totally Americanized. If you're staying in the downtown San Juan area the food and drink is mostly expensive. My advice is to go to the local towns or pueblos for cheap eats.

I visited there in may and let me tell you the people there are so nice. The culture is amazing and me being part of the lgbtq community I felt no discrimination what so ever and I met so many people. My best friend and my fiancé are both Boriqua and to just get a taste of the culture I couldn’t get enough. Can’t wait to go back in June of 2022!

Thanks for the advice! Since this video is 2 years old - do you think Uber is more readily available? We don’t plan to rent a car….this is the first I’ve seen this advice.

Born and raise in Puerto Rico, the biggest tip I could give you.
Go to the west side, best beaches and places to eat.
San Juan is good, yeah it’s the capital blah blah blah. But the west side (aguadilla, Isabela, rincon, aguada) that’s where you want to go.

There used to be a Puerta Rican resteurant in Cleveland Ohio that i loved. I probably ate there a hundered times. The first time I ate there I was like whats taking so long. I learned to adapt, it was well worth the time. Come back Lozada's i miss you so much...!

I watched this video before I visited PR, and I don't think I really understood until I was there. I came back to rewatch this video and it is definitely true 😆.
I am so glad we traveled San Juan, Aguadilla, Vieques, and Culebra. I cannot wait until I get to go back again!

Awesome video with you guys as always! And these are such key points that you made that normally people don’t even think about. I love it. I miss Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 everyday I’m not there. We did 14 days there in July of this year and we didn’t want to leave. Your absolutely right it’s good to leave and enjoy Puerto Rico outside of San Juan. We visited caguas, rincon, and Culebra.. so beautiful, great people and amazing food!

I recommend going to cavernas del río camuy in lares. After hurricane maria, the water level reached extremely high in the cave. You can see the water line when you go far in. Unfortunately, almost half of the cave is unexplorzble and deemed unsafe because of it. It was very cool and there is souviners for tourists there!

Would love to visit Puerto Rico one day. Thank you for helping me live that dream vicariously!

Some may be confused when they say "if you stay in the city". It's important to know that Old San Juan and San Juan are very different areas in the metro area, the Metro area has several other municipalities with their own cities. Really good advice though.

As someone who is Puerto Rican, I think this video is amazing. Emphasizing that visitors need to react CON CALMA is important. Shit is different, you're in the Caribbean, calm the fuck down and relax ❤

Holy moly. Planning a trip to Puerto Rico and was surprised to see you made a video for it! Love your NYC vids

Thanks for all the great advice. Even though I’m an avid traveler, I still love to see videos like this that are overall extremely helpful.

What an amazing video! This is the first video I have seen in your channel and I am truly impressed with your professionalism and also with the tour guide. It was very interesting! I was born and raised there until the age of 16 and then I came to the mainland in 1990 and I can say that everything you said is true

The west side of PR is the best way to get relax and enjoy beautiful beaches. We live a lil bit more relax on this side.

Since moving to Puerto Rico in February, I can vouch for this video 100%. This will be so helpful for newcomers and tourists alike! Gracias! ♥️

I'm glad you mentioned the gas stations b/c that threw me for a loop the first time I visited. The one thing I have to point out though is that my phone did not work there. Verizon acted like I was out of the country even though I wasn't. Thankfully I had a work cell, which was a lifesaver for the GPS. Apparently depends on what kind of plan you are on in the mainland.

Soy de hatillo, Guajataca was the bee's knees in the 80s and 90s and there were monkey's in the trees.

Hello, where is the restaurant located at 4:50? I really want to see this. Thank you

The reason we don't have card readers on the gas pumps is because the owner of the gas station want people to enter the small convenient store inside. They make more money from the sales inside the store than selling gas and diesel only.

puerto rico may be small on the map and you may think that it's small because it's like 110 long and 50 miles wide but what you don't see is that puerto rico has a lot of mountains
I mean big mountains some of the mountains are so high that they have clouds.

Dude Bro!
This video was right on and accurate information as I’m a proud Puertorrican and everything both of you said was true right to the fact about the guys who ask for money to watch the car while you enjoy a tourist area.
Well done bro 👏🏽🤙🏽

Definitely visit the WEST side. Mayagüez, Cabo Rojo, Lajas, Rincón, Aguadilla, Isabela, etc... You"ll thank me later. 😎🌴✌🏻

Try Camuy, north shore. Beautiful beaches! Many Airbnb Villa Baneres is right on the ocean!

I’m going to PR in august with my sister and I’ve been thinking about renting a car bc I would love to explore outside of San Juan, I want to explore all around. Can anyone please tell me where I can rent a car that it’s really good and what I need in order to rent one? And if it’s expensive for 1 week? I was thinking of Ubering but I keep seeing that it’s also expensive🥲🥲

Prepaid car rental is recomenmedarion at any country Counter prices are always higher

Hi, at 5:32 it is now at least a $400 ticket in towns like Aquada and Rincon for playing loud music from an auto.

I’m starying in Camuy. What clubs do you recommend nearby that plays hip hop, afrobeats, Spanish music and has hooka?

@7:18 he explains friendly extortion 😂 contradicts getting a rental car 😂

I’m going for 3 days in September and looking for the beautiful calm beaches we see on pictures. Where should I go?

I loved the place and I did not have any issues. I want to go back and see the west side of the Island.

On the renta car part, " in case they over book " is an understatement, lol. They always over book and is hell to get a car.

Pretty accurate, I agree. There is much more to see in PR than just San Juan, I forgot how crazy they drive in PR lol.

great information! thank you so much for the video, headed there next!

Beautiful Juan !! I will know Puerto Rico because if you my family where there a few years ago and came happy!!!!

FINALLY! Someone who actually recognizes us as an unincorporated US territory.

This is a very charming place, I hope I can visit again sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!

Only Aguadilla i lived there for a year and a half my heart stayed there

Super helpful! I love that you brought a local in to give more credit to the value you are bringing to me and your audience! BRAVO! THANK YOU!

And I also got when I was in Puerto Rico. I was to move to that place san Juan I moved there when I was there for my birthday for Puerto Rico and my house is really big but we had to leave someone else because I don't know what happened. I wish we had the two floors so my dad because like so many people.

Thanks for promoting my island! My wife and i had to move because we lost to many jobs there. Man i really miss Puerto Rico! Especially the west side

In Quebec Canada, it's $1,75 a litre. P.R. gas is cheap ! Our Sales tax is 14.975%.

One thing shown in this video is the area of Santurce beware if traveling to this part of Puerto Rico as a Rican who lived there it is a high crime area not mention in this video. Beware in general when traveling to Puerto Rico crime is real and it happens more of what the locals would want to admit. Be safe.

I had a friend that came from the States and wanted to get a tan. I told her to use sunblock and she refused because she was used to it. She got so sunburned the first day that she spend the rest of the vacation in a dark room.

If is your first time in Puerto Rico and don't have any references it is best to make plan with a guide. Then you can come solo.

I live in Puerto Rico and this are nice tips to visiting the Island, BTW I used your videos like a guide in my trip to NYC

The best beaches are NOT in San Juan, Ocean Park is not the best beach, it’s only the closest. The best, beautiful and safe beaches are in Cabo Rojo, Vieques and Culebra. Now, the most beautiful and unique (but not safe, except for surfers, but still is your choice) are in Aguadilla, Rincón, Isabela, Manatí and few others.
Ponce, Aguadilla, Lares, San Sebastián, are just a few of the beautiful places that you can visit. The center of the island is breathtaking. If you really want to know PR, get out of San Juan and the “area metro”.
Yes, Puerto Rico is loud at nights, but nothing that can not be handled.
When going out at night, try to go with locals, they’ll tell you were is safe and were is not.

Jon you taught me about the do's and don't for when I visit Puerto Rico.

I would love to go to see the water glow bio illuminascent looks stunning

Wow great video guys. Thank you! 😮

i plan on going in November, any recommendations for websites to rent the cars from?

What should I avoid? Is my favorite place on earth I even went there for my birthday is in March.😊

I don't have a passport yet, so visiting PR by myself for 3 days hopefully will be relaxing and a unforgettable experience.
Great video!

Hi I live in Puerto Rico , Otis beautiful, as a hint don’t miss the balneario of Boqueron and its poblado , at cabo rojo is a paradise !!

Interesting information and helpful to take in if compelled to visit Puerto Rico. Any travel abroad will have challenges and a degree of awareness. The want to experience the scenic unfolding of landscapes and communities of the local cultures and culinary would out weigh the trepidation’s. Not for the faint of heart😉😀

Absolutely gorgeous place to visit! I was in love! Unless it is windy it is humid!

I travel to PR in August, I know there is hurricane season and more rain as usual, but is it still worth it or would you say na never come in August

We were in OSJ for 5 days recently. I really really want to see the radio telescope, the one that’s in Contact. Nobody we talked to knew anything. We had a great time at The Gallery Inn! Coming back!!

#7 Driving Mistakes: Also the big huge holes in the roads, I would make fun of it tho, because as a Mexican I am used to that, That actually reminded me of my Country😃

“Vamos a calmarnos”… there are some places worst to drive in mainland USA than PR, for example Atlanta 🤣. And Santurce is in San Juan

Great video and your cinematography is amazing!

It was a good list but honestly, number 5 was a bit unnecessary, when I go to other places I don't expect to people be "quiet" or anything cause it's not my place I'm just visiting seems kinda stupid, the sounds here are pretty basic other states I have visited where worst in sound

Going for my birthday literally next week and I wish I had watched this video before I booked the entire stay in only San Juan 😐 wish I knew someone who lives there as well

I cant wait!!!! Im black but grew up with Puerto Ricans and feel like its part of my childhood❤❤❤I cant wait🎉🎉🎉

Right on the spot. I would add, take it easy when driving. Do not blow the horn for any reason. Just wait until your front driver moves or pass him quietly by the side if you can. Better safe than sorry. You will find many slow drivers on the left lane.
In regards the food time waiting; yes what you said is very true but, you forgot to tell that for almost 100% of the time the waiting is worsted. I can’t find any other place in the world with better cuisine than here.

Im native to Puerto Rico im just watching this cause of homesickness tbh.

Anyone know a good place to rent a car from in Puerto Rico?

Yes, I go to rincon and everything takes for ever it drives me nuts 😅 it’s just like DR they take their sweet time. I haven’t being to that part of aguadilla it looks beautiful

2:56 that's at hormigueros.
Total tax is 11.5% not 10%.

I do want a tour to the west side. But I might just venture myself to the west side
I love Puerto Rico. I’m from another island so I feel like a traitor but I keep going back to PR and keep considering moving

Okay, I’m a local. For GPS, stick to google maps or waze. Apple maps is wayyyyy to outdated and its not accurate most times.

Mosquito Bay, Vieques. If you do the night tour, do you have to stay on that island overnight, or can you get back after the tour?

Good video. Headed there the first week of Jan. Hope it’s not too busy. Looking forward to do Survivor beach hike. I want to compare this island to Oahu.

I was thinking of buying clothes there but after I heard the sales tax, I made my mind. Thanks! lol

I’m From Puerto Rico and if you don’t know Spanish we have a lot of bilingual students in different areas that know more than English sometimes and we help people with communication also I’m bilingual I know English and Ofc Spanish plus German :D

We will be there in several weeks, how do we boo you for a tour of the new town. We just walk around in the old town. It’s very beautiful. My husband was approached by a man who was bleeding from his hand and head. He told us he and his father was attacked in the tunnel that goes out to the fort. He stated his wallet was taken and his father taken to hospital. He wanted money. My husband gave him money and he turned and went the opposite direction. It was very odd.

Idk why I am watching this when I’m Puerto Rican and my parents been living here all there life

I’m Puerto Rican that’s only been in the states after watching this my family makes so much sense now 😂😂😂