Americans Can Leave Their Passport At Home Visiting The Caribbean’s Trendiest Destination

While everyone bangs on about a European summer, you may be wondering whether now is a good time to go on a little Caribbean escapade.

After all, prices are likely to drop in the off-season, and barring the occasional thunderstorm, it’s sunny and warm for the most part.

If you’ve been viewing our TOP Entry Checker regularly, where we update travelers on changing entry requirements for different destinations, you might have noticed it’s suddenly become a tougher world to navigate as a U.S. passport holder.

From ETAs to full-fledged visa restrictions, Americans are now facing more hurdles than ever going abroad, and the Caribbean is no exception—don’t believe us? Have a look at the latest travel rules for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Be that as it may, there is still one Caribbean destination where Americans are welcomed with open arms and little to no bureaucracy. In fact, they can even leave their passports at home:

Puerto Rico Welcomes Americans Passport-Free!

Sitting among the trendiest Caribbean destinations this summer alongside Cancun and Punta Cana, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI), Puerto Rico seems to be on everyone’s radar these days.

A gorgeous island offering unspoiled beaches, mouth-watering eats, heart-racing adventures, and a melting pot of cultures, it’s simply summer personified, and the best part is, U.S. citizens can fly there passport-free!

Puerto Rico has all the attributes of an independent nation, from the flag to its own distinct dialect and accent of Spanish, and the strong Boricua culture, but it remains an unincorporated territory of the United States.

In other words, though it’s governed by its own House of Representatives and Senate, it’s represented internationally by the broader United States of America, and Puerto Rico citizens, as you might know, are also U.S. citizens.

Needless to say, flights to and from the island-territory are treated as domestic, so you can leave your passport at home for this one, so long as you have one of those flashy new state-issued REAL ID—learn more about the new requirement here.

Travel Purposefully In Puerto Rico

According to the MEI study, the Puerto Rican capital, San Juan, is the second most sought-after destination for Americans and their Canadian counterparts between June and September, driven by a growing appetite for ‘purposeful experiences‘ and wellness.

In other words, Americans seem to have had enough of the overly commercialized side of the Caribbean, and the prospect of going abroad for all-inclusive resorts and do-nothing vacations by the poolside is quickly losing its appeal.

It’s a good thing San Juan is there to quench their thirst for culture.

One of the most culturally-charged capitals in the Americas, San Juan is a vibrant coastal city offering both Old World charm and a modern, highly-developed beachfront, known for its resorts, well-frequented nightclubs, and casinos.

Cancun Hotel Zone may get all the fame, but San Juan’s Isla Verde Beach is just as ‘Caribbean chic’, with high-rise hotels lining golden sands, a myriad of entertainment venues along a busy promenade, and even water parks.

Puerto Rico Isn’t That Much Pricier Than Cancun, After All

Puerto Rico has a reputation for being one of the Caribbean’s priciest destinations, but when it comes to accommodation, prices here aren’t exactly extraordinary compared to the regional average:

For instance, booking a ‘quality room’ for 2 at the Courtyard by Marriott, in the heart of Isla Verde, will set you back $136 per person in early August.

Meanwhile, the luxurious Royal Sonesta San Juan has deluxe rooms with city views starting from $219-a-night (per adult), and you won’t believe this gorgeous lagoon-style pool flanked by palm trees so tall they seem to reach the heavens.

If you don’t care for luxury all that much, there are still comfortable beachfront studios with prices ranging from $63 to $138 per night, per adult, as a couple.

Considering the average hotel rate in Cancun is $173, based on Budget Your Trip estimates, we can officially put to rest the notion that Puerto Rico is significantly pricier than the Mexican Caribbean.

Fascinating Culture Just About Everywhere You Look

Naturally, no visit to Puerto Rico is complete without some sightseeing around the cobble-paved Old San Juan.

The capital’s colonial-era historic center, built mainly by the Spanish from the 16th century onward, it is peppered with richly-ornamented Baroque churches, colorful facades with prominent balconies for people-watching, and not one, but two European-style fortresses!

Commanding breathtaking ocean views, El Morro and La Fortaleza are part of San Juan’s old fortifications, and they used to protect the former Spanish settlement from pirate incursions and other assailants coming at night.

Old San Juan is also the best spot on the island to sample Puerto Rican food: there are countless food trucks and day-time farmer’s markets to be visited, though if you’re craving empanadas and codfish fritters, Paseo de la Princesa is where some of the best vendors are.

We also love the pinchos—meat and bread skewers—served at the walk-up chip wagons down by the cruise pier, and if we may add, you don’t want to leave without trying Kiosko El Boricua’s alcapurrias:

It’s a longer 15-minute walk from the colonial core, but those addictive green plantain fritters stuffed with beef (or pork, or crab) are worth every step you put in.

Explore Puerto Rico Beyond The Capital

Away from San Juan, make sure you take your time exploring Puerto Rico as a whole, from El Yunque, a nature reserve traversed with tourist-friendly trails that lead to waterfalls and natural pools, to Rio Camuy Cave Park, known for its otherworldly stalactite chambers and underground rivers.

Consistently voted one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island offers white sands and crystal-clear seas, and it’s famous for its WWII tanks rusting away on the shoreline.

Over in Orocovis, you can hover over the green expanse that is Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park, on one of the world’s longest ziplines, and don’t forget to take a day trip out to Vieques.

A small island a short boat ride away from Puerto Rico, part of the same territory, it is home to crowd-free beaches and Mosquito Bay, an incredibly bright bioluminescent bay that’s best seen on a moonless night by kayak.

If you’re heading to Puerto Rico this summer, once again, make sure you refer to our TOP Entry Checker to verify all the entry and stay regulations at your destination.