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Puerto Rico Packing List
What to bring for heat, rain, cobblestones and beach days, and what to leave at home.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
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Wander Puerto Rico's list runs clothing, swimwear, rain layers, footwear, sun protection, water gear, electronics, then documents. This one follows that order. Pack for heat, humidity and daily showers, plus slick cobblestones in Old San Juan and air conditioning set to arctic. U.S. citizens need no passport. Everyone else should settle entry rules first. The list assumes a leisure trip with a few beach and rainforest days. It leaves out hotel, car-rental and tour bookings.
Why these items are on the list
- Lightweight shorts, 3-4 pairs. Quick-dry material is ideal. Humidity means nothing dries fast.
- Breathable tops, 4-5. Tanks, t-shirts or linen. Avoid cotton, which stays wet in humidity.
- Sundresses or casual dresses, 2-3. Good for Old San Juan and casual dinners. Pack one smart outfit for a dressier night out in San Juan.
- One light long-sleeve layer. Restaurants, malls and rental cars can feel arctic after the heat outside.
- Lightweight pants or maxi skirt. Some churches and upscale spots expect covered legs.
- Swimsuits, 2-3. You'll wear one almost daily, and a wet suit in a bag is miserable.
- Cover-up or sarong. Roman Trail says beachwear on Old San Juan streets reads as inappropriate.
- Rash guard. Useful for long snorkeling sessions: sun protection and jellyfish brushes.
- Packable rain jacket. Showers hit daily, especially in El Yunque and in the afternoon. Easier than an umbrella when your hands are full.
- Walking shoes with grip. Cobblestones get slick when wet and Old San Juan is hilly. Expect 5 to 8 miles a sightseeing day.
- Water shoes or sport sandals. For rocky beach entries, bio bay kayaking and El Yunque creek crossings. The pair most people forget.
- Flip-flops for pool and beach. Skip them in Old San Juan. Cobblestones plus hills means blisters.
- Reef-safe SPF 50+ sunscreen. Puerto Rico restricts the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Island prices run 40 to 60 percent higher.
- Insect repellent, DEET or picaridin. Dengue circulates and the mosquito bites by day, so use it in daytime too.
- Aloe vera gel. A small bottle saves a pharmacy trip when you get more sun than planned.
- Wide-brim hat. The forts and spots like the Cabo Rojo cliffs have little or no shade.
- Polarized sunglasses. Glare off turquoise water and pale stone is strong.
- Dry bag, 10-20L. Keeps your phone, wallet and keys safe on boat tours and kayak trips.
- Waterproof phone pouch. Phone water resistance isn't rated for salt water.
- Microfiber travel towel. Some guesthouses and rentals don't provide beach towels.
- Reusable water bottle. Tap water is safe to drink. Refill instead of buying plastic.
- Power bank. Long days drain batteries, and grid outages can last hours.
- Headlamp or small flashlight. Handy for outages and bio bay tours, where guides may ask for red light only.
- Prescriptions and basic medical kit. Bring any prescription medication, plus a small kit for minor scrapes.
- Photo ID; ESTA or visa if non-US. A driver's license works for U.S. citizens. Others need an ESTA or US visa, sorted weeks ahead.
- Cash, $100-150. Wander Puerto Rico says some kioskos, lechoneras, small-town restaurants and parking lots take only cash.
- Tour confirmations saved offline. Screenshot or print them. Cell service can be unreliable at check-in spots.
Tick items off as they go into the bag, and share the list with whoever is travelling with you so you don't both pack the same towel.
When to use it
Use it before you pack and check the forecast, since hurricane season runs June to November.