How to Get to Puerto Rico (Flights, Sailings, & Entry Requirements)

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Planning a Caribbean getaway and wondering how to get to Puerto Rico? The island is one of the easiest tropical destinations to reach, especially for travelers coming from the United States.

With multiple international airports, a major cruise port, and ferry connections to nearby islands, there are several ways to arrive depending on where you’re coming from and how you want to travel – and many of them you probably haven’t even thought of!

In this guide, we’re breaking down exactly how to get to Puerto Rico, including flight routes, sailing options, and what you need to know before booking your trip.

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How to Get to Puerto Rico: Basic Info for Visiting

Puerto Rico is one of the easiest Caribbean islands to visit, especially for travelers coming from the United States. Since it is a US territory, the entry process is much simpler than most international destinations.

Before booking your trip, it is still important to understand what documents you need and how entry rules work depending on your nationality. While Americans can travel freely, international visitors must follow standard US immigration requirements.

Here is what you need to know before planning how to get to Puerto Rico.

🛂 What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Puerto Rico?

For US citizens, traveling to Puerto Rico is considered a domestic trip. That means no passport is required when flying from the mainland United States. A valid government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, is all you need. It DOES need to be a Real ID though! If you don’t have a Real ID, you’ll need to bring your passport.

Permanent US residents can travel with their Green Card and valid ID.

International travelers must carry a valid passport and meet US entry requirements. Since Puerto Rico follows US immigration policy, the same rules apply as entering the mainland United States.

🌍 Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico follows US visa policy and does not have its own separate immigration system.

Travelers from countries that require a US tourist visa will also need one to enter Puerto Rico. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can visit without a visa, as long as they apply for and receive proper travel authorization before departure.

🇪🇺 Do You Need an ESTA to Travel to Puerto Rico?

If you are from a Visa Waiver Program country, you must have an approved ESTA to travel to Puerto Rico. The ESTA process is the same as it is for travel to the mainland United States.

US citizens and permanent residents do not need an ESTA. Travelers who require a US tourist visa must complete the standard visa application process instead.

How to Get to Puerto Rico: Location & a Sneak Peak on Options to Travel There

Now that you know what documents you need to travel to Puerto Rico, here’s a quick look on the map to see where it is, and how to get there.

📍 Where is Puerto Rico Located?

Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the US Virgin Islands. The island sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its central location makes it well connected by air and sea to the mainland United States, the Caribbean, and even parts of Europe.

🤔 How Do I Get to Puerto Rico?

Since Puerto Rico is an island, there are only two ways to reach it: by air or by sea. There is no overland travel from other countries.

Here are the main ways to get to Puerto Rico:

How to Get to Puerto Rico: Comparing Options

Ready to learn how to get to Puerto Rico? From flight routes and airport options to cruise itineraries and private sailings, we’re covering it all.

✈️ How to Get to Puerto Rico by Flight

One of the easiest ways to get to Puerto Rico is by flight, with a few different airport options depending on where you plan to stay.

❣️ What Airport Do You Fly Into to Go to Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico has three main commercial airports that receive flights from the mainland United States and international destinations.

Most travelers fly into San Juan, but choosing Aguadilla or Ponce can save time if your itinerary is region specific.

📆 What is the Cheapest Month to Fly to Puerto Rico?

The cheapest time to fly to Puerto Rico is typically in January, February, or September, with especially low fares from major US cities. Prices are generally higher during peak winter holidays and spring break.

Booking early and being flexible with your departure airport can make a big difference in price! We’ve found flights from New York to San Juan for as low as $70!

🛩 Which Airlines Fly Direct to Puerto Rico?

Several major US and international airlines offer nonstop service to Puerto Rico year round or seasonally.

Airlines flying directly to Puerto Rico include American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Air Canada, WestJet, Iberia, Copa Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Silver Airways, Seaborne, and interCaribbean Airways.

San Juan receives the most routes, while Aguadilla and Ponce have more limited but growing service.

🌍 What Cities Fly Direct to Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico receives the majority of its nonstop flights from mainland US cities, along with strong Caribbean connections and a few European cities.

Cities that fly to Aguadilla include Castries, Fort Lauderdale, Memphis, New York (EWR & JFK), Orlando, Quito, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo, and Willemstad.

The only city that flies direct to Ponce is Orlando, so if you’re from Central Florida, this can be a great alternative to flying into San Juan.

San Juan has the largest amount of connections, and we cover all of the cities that fly there in our guide for how to get to San Juan.

🌊 How to Get to Puerto Rico by Sea

If flying isn’t your plan, there are still several ways to reach Puerto Rico by water.

🛳 How to Get to Puerto Rico by Cruise

Puerto Rico is one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise destinations. Most cruise ships dock in San Juan, either as a port stop or as a departure port. When we were working on cruise ships, we docked in San Juan every other week on our Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries frequently include Puerto Rico, and repositioning cruises often begin or end in San Juan during seasonal shifts. Repositioning cruises on bigger cruise lines are usually really budget-friendly, while more boutique lines have pricier itineraries finishing in Puerto Rico. (You can see examples in the photos below).

Cruising is a simple way to visit Puerto Rico for a short stay, or a great option for having Puerto Rico as your final destination if you like being at sea or exploring multiple places in one trip.

⛴ How to Get to Puerto Rico by Ferry

If you are wondering whether you can get to Puerto Rico by ferry instead of flying, there is currently one international option available. Ferries del Caribe operates an overnight ferry between Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and San Juan, allowing both passengers and vehicles to travel between the two islands. This can be a practical alternative for those already in the Dominican Republic who prefer not to fly or who want to bring a car.

Balearia Caribe also announced they might starft ferry routes between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, including potential service to Mayagüez on the west coast from San Pedro de Macorís. While these additional routes have been proposed, they are not yet operating, so we recommend continuing to check if it’s something you’re interested in.

Aside from international service, Puerto Rico also operates regular ferries between the main island and Vieques and Culebra, departing from Ceiba. However, if you are traveling from the mainland United States or another country outside the Caribbean, flying remains the most common and convenient way to reach the island.

🛥 How to Get to Puerto Rico by Private Boats or Charters

You can also sail to Puerto Rico by private yacht or charter from nearby islands in the Caribbean.

Common sailing routes include departures from the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. If arriving from outside the United States, just make sure you complete customs and immigration procedures upon arrival.

How to Get to Puerto Rico: Final Tips & What’s Next

Getting to Puerto Rico is simple and stress-free compared to many other Caribbean destinations. With multiple international airports, nonstop flights from dozens of cities, and a major cruise port, the island is extremely accessible, and also has some fun alternatives that you may not have heard of!

Now that you know how to get to Puerto Rico, the next step is deciding where to stay, how to get around the island, and which experiences to add to your itinerary.

Whether you’re planning to explore Old San Juan, road trip across the island, chase waterfalls, or relax on some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, getting there is the easy part.

👀 What’s Next?

Now that you know how to get to Puerto Rico, we’re sure you’re ready to see all of the fun things to do across the island!

Here are other Puerto Rico guides we have:

This island is such a great tropical getaway! We hope this article helped you explore new options for how to get to Puerto Rico, because there are some really fun ones. Have questions still? Feel free to drop them below.

Ready to learn more about visiting the island Puerto Rico? We have a ton of other Puerto Rico guides for you to check out, and more coming up! Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get all of our updates on articles, trips, and shop discounts..

Are you ready to start booking your trip to Puerto Rico? With Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning we make it super easy, so you can adventure more and stress less. To learn more about how it works, take a look at some of our travel planning packages or book your one-on-one consultation with us.

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