Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Visitors exploring Vieques
Center
A hat for sun protection
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Pharmacy
Planning Your Trip
!
Passports and
swimwear, and a light
jacket for winter nights or
for visits to the mountains.
%
How Long To Stay
chair ramps; and
obstacles such as pot-
holes are bars to easy
mobility. Luquillo Beach
(see p96)
has a wheel-
chair ramp.
Visas
All travelers must show a
passport. Most European
citizens, as well as Japan-
ese and a few others need
a non-refundable return
ticket from outside the US
to qualify for a 90-day visa.
Travelers visiting under the
Visa Waiver Program must
register and pay a fee at
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Other nationalities must
secure a visa, before
traveling, from a US
consulate or embassy.
@
Insurance
Most visitors plan a
holiday of a week to ten
days, including time in
San Juan, which takes
three days to explore
fully. Vieques and Rincón
deserve two days each
and Ponce, one day. Try
to allow two weeks to
take in the entire island,
including its beaches
and highlights from El
Yunque to Arecibo.
*
Traveling With
Children
Puerto Ricans adore
children. Most hotels
allow children under
16 to stay with their
parents for free; some
may charge an extra-bed
rate. Items such as baby
food and diapers are
easily available here.
Children's car seats are
not offered in rental cars.
^
Getting Married
Get insurance for loss
or theft of valuables as well
as for medical purposes.
Visitors intending to go
scuba diving or spelunking
must ensure that their
policy covers these sports.
At least two months'
advance planning is
required to wed in Puerto
Rico. You will need to
provide passports or
identification cards,
original notarized copies
of birth certificates, and
decrees of divorce or a
spouse's death, if appli-
cable. Blood tests and a
medical examination by
a Puerto Rican doctor
are also required. Both
parties must visit the
Register Office to have
documents authenticated
and to obtain a marriage
license, after which the
marriage is official.
d
Demographic Registry
Office: 787 728 7980
(
Inoculations
Puerto Rico poses
no serious health risks
in terms of infectious
diseases, except for
dengue fever, which is
transmitted by mosquitoes
(see p109)
. No proof of
vaccinations is required
for travelers, but it is
advisable to have up-
to-date inoculations
for Hepatitis A and B,
tetanus, and typhoid.
)
Further Reading
£
When To Go
The tourist season
runs from December to
April. This period is drier
and cooler than the rest
of the year, although
January temperatures
still average 77˚F (26˚C).
Adventurous travelers
may want to take
advantage of low prices
during the dangerous yet
spectacular hurricane
season
(see p103)
.
$
W h a t To Ta k e
You'll gain a greater
appreciation for Puerto
Rico by reading about its
fascinating history. Several
books regale the struggle
for independence and the
ongoing effort to shape
a post-colonial identity.
When I was Puerto Rican
by Esmeralda Santiago
and
Puerto Rico in the
American Century
by
César Ayala are
recommended.
&
Disabled Travelers
Light cottons and
breathable, drip-dry syn-
thetics, along with mos-
quito repellent, sunscreen,
and a hat, are recommen-
ded. Also carry along
smart-casual clothes for
dining and nightclubs,
Modern hotels,
restaurants, and public
buildings have wheelchair
access and special bath-
room facilities. However,
beyond San Juan, few
sidewalks have wheel-
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