After a month that dragged on for a lifetime, there’s never been a better time to escape for a getaway in the sun.
And with beautiful Caribbean beaches, rich Spanish colonial history, and lush rainforests, there’s no place better to escape to than Puerto Rico.
As an added bonus, American citizens don’t even need a passport to visit! It’s no wonder Puerto Rico is breaking all-time tourism records.
A Record-Breaking Year
It has just been announced that in 2024, Puerto Rico broke all previous tourism records, welcoming 6.6 million air passengers and 1.4 million cruise passengers.
This is the 4th year in a row that the island has broken its tourism records, with record numbers of air and cruise passengers, lodging demand, and even jobs created in the tourism sector.
The CEO of Puerto Rico’s tourism board, Leah Chandler, called it a “milestone year”.
The beauty of Puerto Rico is that it has something to offer for everyone.
If you want the convenience of island hopping, then it’s a popular destination for cruise travelers. And those looking for the exotic excitement of the Caribbean without the hassle of applying for a passport can fly straight into the capital of San Juan.
Increased Flight Connections
Getting to Puerto Rico is so easy, and you can fly to the island nonstop from cities across the U.S.
Spirit Airlines has added a new nonstop flight from San Antonio International Airport to San Juan that launches in March. In October, Jet Blue added nonstop flights to San Juan from Providence and Westchester County.
In May alone, there are direct flights to San Juan from 28 different American cities.
The cheapest of these are New York, Miami, and Boston, with return flights starting from a very affordable $92 per person.
Special Events
2025 is a great year to visit Puerto Rico, thanks to the island’s many special events.
For the first time the island will be hosting its own Puerto Rico Wine and Food Festival. The inaugural event will take place in San Juan from April 3-6.
This will be an amazing opportunity to celebrate collaborations between local chefs, global talent, esteemed wineries, and expert mixologists while honoring Puerto Rico’s rich traditions.
Music fans should also make a beeline for the Puerto Rican capital because rapper Bad Bunny will be taking up a 21-show residency in the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan this summer.
The first nine shows will be exclusively dedicated to locals, but tourists will be welcome to attend the remaining shows, which begin on August 1.
More interested in cultural festivals? Then you need to get involved in the riot of color of Carnival! Ponce Carnival is one of the oldest as well as one of the most exciting celebrations in Puerto Rico, with the first celebration taking place in 1858.
This year, the event will take place from February 21 to March 4. Vibrant costumes, incredible music, and masked figures inspired by African and Spanish folklore make this one of the most exciting events on the island’s calendar.
Exploring Puerto Rico
There are so many reasons to visit Puerto Rico. The most obvious is the chance to relax on the island’s white sand beaches. If you’re a beach bum then Luquillo, Seven Seas, and Playa Escondido are all beautiful beaches with calm water perfect for swimming.
Away from the beaches, the landscape of the island is both diverse and spectacular. You can hike in the tropical rainforest or even enjoy mountain views.
If you’re a history buff or simply want to soak up some local culture, then head straight to El Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
This sits on the coast of Old San Juan and is one of the most iconic fortifications built by the Spanish in the region. It’s now a World Heritage Site and part of an impressive National Park.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.