Geographical location
According to abbreviationfinder, Puerto Rico is an instel state in the Caribbean, which in addition to the main island of Puerto Rico also consists of several small secondary islands and the so-called Spanish Virgin Islands.
Puerto Rico is a so-called non-incorporated outer territory of the USA, so it does not form a separate state and is not part of any other US state. However, the residents who call themselves Boricua are American citizens and all foreign policy is carried out by the Washington government.
The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is one of the Greater Antilles and lies between Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and the British Virgin Islands.
The relief of the island is quite hilly, the mountain Cerro La Punta is the highest point with 1338 meters. The Rio de la Plata is the longest river in Puerto Rico with 97 kilometers.
Around 3.8 million people live in an area of 8959 square kilometers. The capital, San Juan, is located on the north coast and, as a metropolitan region, is home to around 2.5 million inhabitants.
From Germany, San Juan can be reached from Frankfurt in around 10 hours.
Climate in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has a tropical climate, with the south of the island state in particular remaining very dry. The maximum temperatures are around 32 degrees in the months of June to October. From November to May, temperatures can drop to 28 ° C. At night the values reach between 21 and 25 degrees, so it remains very warm all year round. In the high altitudes of the island it is usually around 4 to 5 degrees cooler.
It can rain all year round in Puerto Rico. From a meteorological point of view, there is no classic rainy season (months with more than 175 mm), but the period from April is called until November as a wet period and colloquially it can be called a rainy season. Especially in the north, including in the capital San Juan, there is sometimes heavy rainfall during this travel time.
Puerto Rico is in the potential hurricane risk area, with around twenty hurricanes actually crossing the island in the last 150 years. The greatest risk is in August and September, officially the hurricane season lasts from early June to November.
When to go to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico can basically be traveled all year round. Due to the risk of hurricanes mentioned and the increased rainfall, the “rainy season” from April to November is not necessarily the best time to travel to the region. The temperatures are now sometimes unbearably hot, as the high humidity can create an unpleasant sultriness.
You are much better advised in the drier months, even if the best travel time from December to April is the absolute peak season in the Caribbean and many hotels are booked months in advance. The months May to August are particularly popular with surfers due to the high waves. For a beach holiday or cruises, however, the months after the end of the hurricane season are more suitable.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in San Juan (Puerto Rico)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 30 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 31 ° C | 30 ° C | 29 ° C |
| Night temperature | 22 ° C | 21 ° C | 22 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 22 ° C |
| Water temperature | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 25 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 27 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 71 | 55 | 60 | 96 | 151 | 102 | 111 | 135 | 134 | 145 | 151 | 120 |
| Rainy days | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
| Hours of sunshine | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Sunrise | 7:00 | 6:50 | 6:35 | 6:10 | 5:50 | 5:50 | 5:55 | 6:05 | 6:10 | 6:20 | 6:30 | 6:50 |
| Sunset | 18:10 | 18:25 | 18:35 | 18:40 | 18:50 | 19:00 | 19:05 | 18:50 | 18:25 | 18:00 | 17:45 | 17:50 |
Temperatures
The average annual temperature in San Juan is 26.8 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is August (28.2 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 25 ° C. The maximum water temperature in San Juan is 29 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 1331 mm on 149 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in San Juan.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, March is the sunniest month with an average of 9.1 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 8.1 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Highlights and attractions
In San Juan, you should definitely visit Old San Juan, the historic old town for pirates. Here you will find a film-ready backdrop and can end your day of your holiday, especially in the evening hours in the cozy restaurants and charming bars. A highlight in the capital is also the historical fortress and the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, which we would definitely recommend. Other attractions on Porto Rico are the heavenly Flamenco Beach on the small neighboring island of Culebra and the adventurous Ey Yunque Rain Forest.
