Season guide · San Juan · Puerto Rico
San Juan in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Javier Rodriguez Galarza (original Author: Javier Rodriguez Galarza, from San Juan, PR.), CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Dry, breezy and warm; the main tourist season, with Christmas, Three Kings and the San Sebastián street festival. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F), with about 33 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 22°C (72°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 33
- Sea
- 26°C (79°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 | 11.1 h | 5/5 |
| February | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 | 11.5 h | 5/5 |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 | 11 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 141 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Three Kings Day (6 January)
- January: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián — street festival in Old San Juan (usually mid-to-late January)
- December: Christmas season with parrandas and lights in Old San Juan (December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Religious site · Old San Juan
Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
First built in the 1520s and largely rebuilt in the 19th century, this is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Old San Juan
Museo de las Américas
Combine it with El Morro; the barracks courtyard is a shaded break on a hot day.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · Santurce
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
The island's main art museum occupies a neoclassical former municipal hospital and a modern wing in Santurce, with Puerto Rican art from the colonial era to the present — including works by José Campeche and Francisco Oller — and a sculpture garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Experience · Cataño
Casa Bacardí
Combine the ferry crossing with the visit for views of Old San Juan from the water.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Couples
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- El Yunque National Forest (About 45 minutes to 1 hour by car) — The only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system, with waterfalls, observation towers, trails to swimming holes and the chorus of coquí frogs.
- Fajardo bioluminescent lagoon (About 1 hour by car) — Night kayak tours paddle through a mangrove channel into Laguna Grande, where microscopic organisms glow blue-green when the water moves.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit San Juan?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Dry, breezy and warm; the main tourist season, with Christmas, Three Kings and the San Sebastián street festival.
+What is the weather like in San Juan in winter?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.