The best time to visit Puerto Rico for festivals, beaches, pernil and more

There’s never a bad time to visit Puerto Rico.

The average temperature in any given season is 80°F (26°C), which can go up drastically in the summer months, or dip to 60°F (15°C) in the winter. While you can go to the beach at any time of the year, there’s a busy festival calendar and an equally busy hurricane season to be aware of before planning your trip.

Depending on your vibe, you can hit the carnivals in December and January, a period that comes with a hefty price hike in accommodations. Looking for a quieter getaway? April and May are optimal months for milder temperatures and emptier tourist spots.

Read on to find out what the best time to visit Puerto Rico is for you.

December to January is best for experiencing traditional Puerto Rican culture

The changing of the seasons in Puerto Rico is like nowhere else in the United States. The Atlantic hurricane season begins to wind down around November 1, all but eliminating the threat of storms and ushering in a cool breeze that tempers the high fall temperatures.

Referred to as “the longest Christmas in the world,” the holidays on the island are the time when towns decorate their plazas, criollo restaurants serve up their best arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), pernil (slow-roasted, marinated pork leg) and pasteles (mashed plantain and pork), and municipalities hold carnivals for their patron saints and feature trova (traditional poetic singing) competitions, plena groups showcasing this traditional genre of music and dance, and local pop acts.

During the first two weeks of December is the Festival del Macabeo in Trujillo Alto. The show’s star is the town’s signature dish, the macabeo – a croquette-like fritter made with green plantain prepared two ways: boiled and mashed, and raw and grated. Filled with ground meat and seasoned with spices, this hard-to-find delicacy generates lines around the block.

In the northern part of the island, the town of Hatillo has celebrated Festival de las Máscaras since 1823, when settlers from the Canary Islands began the tradition of dressing up as old ladies and demons to prank their neighbors on December 28, the Day of the Holy Innocents.

It’s a raucous party that townspeople take seriously, with floats, traditional vejigante masks (colorful papier-mâché masks depicting characters from African and European mythology) and tricks beginning around 6am and lasting throughout the day.

The mountain town of San Sebastián celebrates the Festival de la Novilla, a harvest celebration with singing competitions, food, performances of folkloric music and a parade with an artfully decorated heifer as its honoree.

The crown jewel of Puerto Rico’s holiday festivities arrives after Three Kings Day on January 6.

After that date, the island enters Las Octavitas (“The Octaves”), a celebration that culminates in the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in Old San Juan, a massive three-day carnival with big-name performers, artisans selling traditional woodwork saints and crafts, and lots of drinking.

Now, let’s get into some critical Puerto Rico traveling tips. Puerto Rico’s high season generally runs from December to April, so the winter holidays mark the start of the island’s peak season. While you’ll pay top dollar for flights, hotels and more, you might really consider this the most wonderful time of year to experience Puerto Rico.

As long as you don’t mind the larger crowds, steeper prices, and occasional rain showers, this makes a great time to visit San Juan, and it’s a wonderful time to explore more of Puerto Rico’s best places to visit beyond San Juan.

February to May is the best time for road-tripping across the island

The spring brings with it sparse rain showers and excellent weather for beach days, breezy hikes in the Central Mountains, and humpback whale watching around the northwest coast of Puerto Rico, with Isabela, Rincón, and Aguadilla offering the best views.

Both the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea are calm this time of year, so take advantage of the waning high-season crowds to relax in the sun. This period also overlaps with Puerto Rico’s shoulder season (from April to June), so this might be your best time to visit Puerto Rico for better weather and lower prices. Though most of Puerto Rico has no formal dry season, you stand your best chance of experiencing the most sunny days in February and March. But if you’re OK with a little more rain, airfare and hotel prices make bigger drops from their peak season rates later in the spring.

If you’re up for an adventure, the Carnaval Ponceño in February is an excellent way to get acquainted with the city of Ponce.

The town can serve as a home base for traveling to the southwestern region’s favorites, like the fishing village of La Parguera in Lajas; Yaucromatic, the outdoor urban art project in Yauco; and the beautiful lighthouse Faro de los Morillos in Cabo Rojo.

Visiting the mountain towns this time of year is breathtaking, as the winter rains leave the mountain range’s vegetation in an array of bright greens that glisten under the sun and barely hide in the nighttime fog.

Drive through the mountains on Hwy 52. Or better yet, take one of the exits near Cayey and experience the quaint town centers. Toward the eastern mountains, you’ll find El Yunque National Forest and its collection of fascinating hiking experiences for all levels.

To the west of the island, the town of Las Marías holds its Festival de la China Dulce to celebrate the harvest of their sweet oranges with music, artisan wares and every food you can imagine made with (you guessed it) the sweet orange.

If you’re into good food and drinks, then springtime might be your best time to visit Puerto Rico. In February, Mojito Fest gathers at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, bringing together more than 40 restaurants and bars for plenty of uniquely boricua flavors. In March, you can catch the Taste of Rum food and spirits festival at the Convention Center and try over 60 rums from across the Caribbean.

Also, keep your eyes out for Saborea culinary celebrations in and around San Juan. Not only is Saborea the Caribbean’s largest food festival, but it’s also a prime opportunity to try traditional and contemporary takes on Puerto Rican criollo cuisine from over 60 restaurants.

June to August is the best time for beach lounging

Summer is when Puerto Ricans thrive. Children are out of school in May and vacations, road trip plans and partying go into full swing – heat be damned.

Unlike other Caribbean destinations where beaches may be somewhat less crowded during the summer, Puerto Rico’s beaches are packed at this point. Yet as long as you arrive early in the morning, you’re sure to find a good spot. Beach days are a whole-day affair, so come prepared with a small cooler, plenty of water, and other snacks and beverages. It’s legal to drink alcohol on the beach; just make sure to take any trash with you on the way out.

This season is also a great time to explore areas outside of mainland Puerto Rico, specifically the islands of Vieques and Culebra, or any of the smaller islands and cays like Palomino, Gilligan’s Island and Mata la Gata.

June has two big celebrations to watch out for. The first one is the Fiestas de Santiago Apostol in Loíza, a vibrant homage to Puerto Rico’s African heritage through folk art (like the famous and ornate vejigante masks), traditional drum music like bomba and colorful processions honoring James the Great, the patron saint of Loíza and neighboring town Fajardo.

Noche de San Juan is a pagan celebration tied to St John. Head to the beach at midnight to dunk yourself in the ocean seven or 12 times (depending on whom you ask!) for good luck.

August to October is the best time to save money

When you’re trying to enjoy Puerto Rico on a budget, late summer and the autumn months mark Puerto Rico’s low season. Aside from people returning to their daily lives, the drop in crowds has a particular reason: hurricane season. While it officially starts in June, the period from August to November tends to see the most activity.

Before your trip, get travel insurance in case a storm hits the island. The weather tends to be hotter. Once you make it to Puerto Rico, keep a close eye on the weather forecast and keep your umbrella and raincoat handy. If a tropical storm arrives, make sure to stay safe inside. Keep away from glass windows, and keep occupied with your favorite indoor activities.

As long as you’re unfazed by rainy days and hurricane watches, book a late summer or fall trip to score the lowest hotel prices and airfares. To save even more money, consider booking at paradores (or independent inns and guesthouses) in the smaller cities or towns outside San Juan. Also, try scoring meals from local food trucks and kioskos (family-owned food stands, such as the famed Kioskos de Luquillo) instead of the pricier restaurants at and near major resorts.

November to February is the best time for surfing

Maybe you've heard about Puerto Rico’s great beaches for surfing and you want to ride some waves yourself. You probably want to head to Rincón for Puerto Rico’s (and for that matter, many of the Caribbean’s) absolute best surfing beaches.

Sandy and Maria’s beaches are good for groms (or beginner surfers), while Tres Palmas and Little Malibu are great for more advanced surfers seeking bigger waves. Meanwhile, Domes is an interesting beach named for the nearby decommissioned nuclear power plant, and it’s since become a popular beach with something for everyone.

No matter where you surf, the winter season offers your best chances of catching the best waves. If you can’t make it to Puerto Rico during winter, you still have a decent chance in late September and October when the North Atlantic storms start heading this way. Springtime can also work, as the vientos alisios (or offshore trade winds) usually deliver consistent swells. Don’t expect good waves during the summer season (except when hurricanes are heading to shore).