Puerto Rico / Island Essentials

All travellers to Puerto Rico will need to know the essential island facts. The information on Puerto Rico shown below is current (2011).

Airport

Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is the busiest airport in the Caribbean and located in Carolina, 3 miles from the capital San Juan.

Check-in/Check-out

As a rule check-out times are around 12 noon and check-in is generally not prior to 3pm, while the rooms are made ready for new arrivals. This is not usually a problem as most guests do not reach the hotel until the mid afternoon anyway. If you will be arriving earlier than that then let your hotel know and they may be able to let you into your room early. Some properties also provide day rooms/shower facilities subject to availability, or may be flexible on check-out time by prior arrangement

Departure Tax/Taxes

There's a US$14 airport departure tax when leaving Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in San Juan. It is usually already included in the price of your airline ticket so there should be no reason to pay anything at the airport itself. 

Puerto Rico has a 5.5% sales tax. Municipalities have the option of imposing an additional sales tax of up to 1.5% (effective on November 15, 2006). In addition, in the event that the governor determines an insufficiency in collections for the general fund, then an additional 1% to the central government will be imposed

Electricity

The domestic electricity supply is 120 volts, 60Hz. Two flat-pin American style plugs are standard on the island.

Embassies/Consulates

There are no embassies or High Commissions in Puerto Rico as the island is a Commonwealth of the United States and so political representation is on the US mainland. Some countries have consulates. 
Canada 
Consulate of Canada, 268 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 515, San Juan, t 759 6629 
United Kingdom 
British Consulate, Puerto Rico, San Juan, 242 Monaco Street, Palmas del mar, t 1 407 254 3300 
For Embassies and High Commissions, please see the Definitive Caribbean Guide to Barbados

Emergencies

Ambulance service – 911 
Fire department – 911 
Police department – 911 or 343 2020

Nudity

Naturism is illegal in Puerto Rico and there are no nudist facilities (camps or beaches) on the island.

Service Charge/Tipping

Tipping is much the same as in the United States. In hotels and large restaurants service charges are usually included. Many inexpensive restaurants do not add service charge however and would appreciate a tip between 15% and 20%.

Time Zone

Puerto Rico is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT, ie Britain in winter, and five hours behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA. 

Puerto Rico has no daylight saving time, so when the clocks change in summer in the northern hemisphere the island is on the same time as the American eastern seaboard, and five hours behind Britain and six behind Europe.