How long does it take to get to Puerto Rico by boat?

Travel to Puerto Rico

Flying to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has no national airline. Most airlines originate from the US mainland and major carriers with daily flights to Puerto Rico include American Airlines (www.aa.com), Delta (www.delta.com) and JetBlue (www.jetblue.com). Norwegian (www.norwegian.com) flies direct from the UK.

Most international arrivals to Puerto Rico originate from the mainland USA and land at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU). Airports in Aguadilla (on the northwestern coast), Ponce (on the southern coast), and Mayaguez (on the western coast) also handle incoming international flights, but the volume and frequency are significantly lower. Departures to Puerto Rico from other countries are typically seasonal; air service is not year-round.

The cheapest times to fly to Puerto Rico are late spring to early summer. Fares are typically more expensive during winter, particularly around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.

The major airport is: San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport.

Notes

Note that unlike many major airports, SJU is in metropolitan San Juan and is a short taxi ride away from major hotels and tourist attractions.

Airport Guides

San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport

Code

SJU

Location

San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is situated 11km (7 miles) southeast of Old San Juan.

Telephone

+1 787 253 2329

Address
Avenida Aeropuerto
Carolina

Find out more >

Flight times

From London - 9 hours 15 minutes; New York - 4 hours.

Air passes

Star Alliance North America Airpass: allows travel to over 300 destinations in 20 countries including Puerto Rico. Participating airlines include Air Canada and United. You can buy between three and 10 flight coupons and the price varies according to the number of coupons and your point of origin. Full details are available from www.staralliance.com.

Departure tax

None.

Travelling to Puerto Rico by Rail

Driving to Puerto Rico

Getting to Puerto Rico by boat

Main ports: San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez. The Port of San Juan is currently the island's largest port, receiving both cargo and cruise ships. Ponce and Mayaguez, the island's second and third largest cities, respectively, also have major ports. Ponce's port, Port of the Americas, is the Caribbean's deepest port. Port of the Americas is currently undergoing an extensive expansion, and authorities aspire for the port to become an international shipping hub on the scale of Singapore or Rotterdam.

Cruise ships

The port of San Juan is the primary cruise hub in Puerto Rico. Most major US cruise lines have San Juan as one of their Caribbean ports of call. Cruise passengers have easy access to Old San Juan, where many of the ships dock, as well as the popular Condado neighbourhood (also called ‘New San Juan’). If docking at the Pan-American pier, you will probably need to take a taxi to visit nearby Old San Juan or Condado.

Ferry operators

America Cruise Ferries (tel: +1 787 832 4800; www.acferries.com) operates ferries from the neighbouring Dominican Republic (journey time - approximately 13 hours). While popular among Dominicans who live in Puerto Rico, the ferry is increasingly being used by tourists who want to visit both islands.

River Routes

There are no river routes to Puerto Rico, and river travel is not a common or popular form of transit within the country either.

‍How to Get From Florida to Puerto Rico

Depending on the starting location you have for Florida, the trip could vary in days between there and Puerto Rico. Looking at this example, we are using Miami as the beginning port of the trip and Aguadilla as the ending port.

This destination is around 1,139 nautical miles, which would take about five days straight nonstop to travel. This is assuming you have a perfect 10 knots. You can likely achieve this in less than 10 days, so it is important that you do not rush.

Miami to Ports Around Bahamas

When you begin your journey from Miami, you will need to head southeast towards the Bahamas. While you have a goal in place to reach Puerto Rico, you should check out some scenery between these two locations.

There are plenty of things to do in the Bahamas. These include Paradise Island, the Queen’s Staircase, Rawson Square in Nassau, and Fort Charlotte. Once you are finished in the Bahamas, you will need to head to Cuba.

The Bahamas to Ports in Cuba

Leaving the Bahamas might be tough due to the scenery. You could have potentially bypassed the Bahamas and went to the northern part of Cuba.

There are plenty of marinas spread out, with the best option being somewhere around Marina Gaviota Puerto Vita if you are leaving the Bahamas. From there, you can check out Malecon, the Museum of the Revolution, Vinales Valley, and the National Capital of Cuba.

Cuba to Ports in Dominican Republic

Next up is the Dominican Republic, where beautiful marinas sit along the coast throughout. Depending on where you want to stop could make a difference in what you are able to see and do if you are trying to stick to your schedule. It has some breathtaking scenery that you do not want to miss out on.

Some places to check out are Saona Island, Lake Enriquillo, the Three Eyes National Park, and Bavaro Beach. You will also likely see tons of tourists out sailing or snorkeling, so you can join in on the fun as well.

Dominican Republic to Ports in Puerto Rico

When you are ready to say your goodbyes to the Dominican Republic, you should only have one stop left. You are getting closer to Puerto Rico, especially close to the port of Aguadilla.

There is an endless amount of opportunities to find something to do in Puerto Rico. These include visiting Playa Crashboat, Survival Beach, and checking out the Old Aguadilla Lighthouse Ruins.

Tips for Sailing from Florida to Puerto Rico

Planning any sailing adventure sounds like a good idea, but you have to make sure everything is in working order before you go. Things to have or checked out before you go include proper gear, plenty of food, and preventative boat maintenance.

In addition, you need to have the right boat for the occasion. This means you do not want to rough it out in a small dinghy, so preferably a larger size boat to accommodate all of your gear and essentials.

The Right Boat

You have to be honest with yourself on the condition of your boat. This means checking out the sails, no cracks along the bow, and everything is operating as designed. Furthermore, pretend that you are selling it tomorrow and that it has no flaws.

If you are without a boat, then this is a different topic at hand. If you are considering buying a sailboat for traveling this course, it is recommended that you find one around 25 to 40 feet.

One example of a good boat type to use for a trip like this would be a trawler. They provide plenty of comfort for long distance traveling. Whether you use a monohull or catamaran is up to you and your sailing goals.

Planning Your Trip

The example scenario from Miami, Florida to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico is meant to be for education. Everyone else’s situation is likely going to be different. Planning your specific trip is part of the sailing experience.

Since you are spending time around the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Caribbean, you will need to account for harsh weather patterns and hurricane seasons. The best time to travel would be anywhere between December and April to avoid excessive heat and bad weather.

Not only do you have to plan for the weather, but plan for making stops along the way in different countries where you need your passport. Getting all of your paperwork in order could take quite some time, so it is recommended you plan this out a year in advance.

Fueling

Depending on what sailboat you have and how much fuel it consumes, it is recommended you stop every 450 miles or so to refuel. Even though the trip is estimated to be 1,139 nautical miles in the scenario, you still need to fuel up each chance you get.

Topping off your boat is one of the best options you can do so you do not have to worry about running out. If you have the space, you could look into carrying extra fuel on board. There are some locations you may want to check out that do not have fueling capabilities, so having extra on board would be essential.

Sailing Gear

Before going on this trip, you have to make sure you have proper GPS, navigational charts, and even a VHF radio. Even though your GPS is supposed to work, you will need to make plans to read charts if it fails. In addition, a heavy-duty radio is critical for emergencies or to receive information.

Since you are traveling in warm climates throughout this trip, you can likely leave the cold weather gear at home or tucked away on your boat. If you live on your boat, then just the warm weather gear is all you need.

It is also recommended to have a quality anchoring system for when you do not want to stay at a marina for the night. These are also necessary if you want to explore small islands or coves.

Food and Fresh Water

Even though the trip is estimated to be less than 10 days, according to this scenario, you still want to pack plenty of food and water to last two weeks if not more. Having overkill on these items is not the end of the world, but being without them is.

Canned or packaged foods are going to be the easiest to store and eat for longer periods of time. However, you should visit local markets when you can to gather proper nutrition and to avoid monotonous packaged food.

As for drinking water, you will need a high-quality filter or look into purchasing a desalination device that processes salt water into clean water. Having drinkable water is necessary for anyone sailing.