Christmas Vacation In Puerto Rico
Do you enjoy spending Christmas in a tropical paradise? Are all of your Christmas traditions centered around the North Pole? If you answered no to any of these questions, then you should consider Puerto Rico as a destination to spend Christmas this year. Having spent a week there during the holidays learning about its rich culture and exploring the beautiful city of San Juan. Here are some reasons why you should consider Puerto Rico for your holiday getaway.
Decorating the Christmas tree is a favorite activity for many people. It’s nice to be able to spend time with your loved ones, setting aside the clutter and busyness of everyday life. But if you crave a break from the ordinary, consider adding some tropical flair to your decorating scheme this year.
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Christmas In Puerto Rico 2022
It’s that time of year again, when you hear holiday music playing and see flashing lights coming from every direction you look. Christmas season is upon us, and it’s the perfect time to get away from the hustle and bustle of the season by taking a relaxing vacation in Puerto Rico.
We have a wide selection of hotels that include everything from all-inclusive resorts, luxury spas to golf course accommodations and family vacation packages. Whether you choose one or more of our featured top 10 hotels in Puerto Rico, or create your own custom package including flight, rental car & lodging, we’ll make it easy for you to plan your trip to the island and begin enjoying it before you even arrive!
Puerto Rico is a great place to spend your Christmas vacation. There are many attractions and places to explore, and there are also many events that you can attend during this time of year.
If you love the beach, then you will definitely enjoy your time in Puerto Rico. The beaches here are beautiful, and they offer a lot of activities such as snorkeling, swimming or surfing depending on the area where you choose to stay.
When you are looking to spend Christmas away from the cold and wintery climates, Puerto Rico is a popular destination for many. The island has tropical weather all year around and is home to some of the Caribbean’s most luxurious resorts and hotels. Below you will find suggestions for top Puerto Rico holiday destinations where you can meet your perfect budget needs in addition to your guest expectations for both business trips and family vacations.
There are also some amazing museums that are worth visiting if you want to learn more about the culture of Puerto Rico or its history. You can visit these museums while enjoying your Christmas vacation in Puerto Rico.
You can also visit some great restaurants while on vacation here so make sure that they have good food options for those who may have dietary restrictions like gluten intolerance or other types of allergies such as dairy intolerance (this includes lactose intolerance).
Holidays In Puerto Rico
Each of the leading travel guides provides detailed descriptions of the top travel destinations and includes pre-departure tips, such as how to get there, where to stay and what to see. The guide is updated annually with new online content and covers areas such as history, people, customs and culture as well as practical information such as climate, public holidays, health and map.
1. It’s easy to get there
There are several daily direct flights from the U.S. to Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). New Yorkers can reach the island in just under 4 hrs. and Miami residents can touch down in about 2½ hrs. Direct flights are also available from Newark, Raleigh, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia and Dallas.
No passport? No problem! Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth territory. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a passport to visit. All you need is your driver’s license or identification card. Additionally, Puerto Rico’s two official languages are Spanish and English and the currency is the U.S. dollar, making it even easier to vacation here.
2. It’s an ideal escape from the cold
What better feeling is there than to shed those extra layers and feel the warm sand between your bare toes? With nearly 300 beaches, Puerto Rico provides plenty of postcard-perfect places to soak up the seemingly endless sunshine. Beyond the beach, there are a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors thanks to the island’s distinct topography. Hike El Yunque, the only rainforest on U.S. soil; explore a vast system of caves in the island’s Karst Country; and immerse yourself in history as you wander cobblestone streets of the nearly 500-year-old city, Old San Juan.
The island’s climate is tropical marine, so it’s usually sunny and warm almost year round. A winter visit (from December to March) also means you’ll skip the rainy season. Daily high temperatures during the winter average around 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). Low average temperatures rarely fall below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Mountain temperatures can drop as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
3. Puerto Ricans do Christmas right
If you feel like the holiday season is too short, you should definitely spend it in Puerto Rico. Locals here celebrate one of the world’s longest holiday seasons. Festivities begin the day after Thanksgiving and generally end three weeks after New Year’s Day. Christmas comes to a close with the San Sebastián Street Festival in Old San Juan. This iconic street party began more than 40 years ago to honor Saint Sebastián, an early Christian saint and martyr. During the day local artisans line up along the streets selling handmade crafts and jewelry. Food vendors serve up traditional Puerto Rican specialties like pinchos (chicken or pork kebabs), bacalaitos (fried codfish fritters) and empanadillas (crescent shaped turnovers filled with meats or seafood). In addition, musicians and dancers perform on various stages throughout Old San Juan.
Another popular Puerto Rican Christmas tradition is parranda, which is similar to Christmas caroling. Friends and family quietly gather at a house—usually after 10pm—to surprise the unsuspecting homeowner. Singers are accompanied by guitars, tambourines, maracas and other musical instruments. The serenade concludes with an invitation to share food, drink and merriment for an hour or two. The party then moves to the next house, bringing along the receiver of the previous parranda. The celebration continues from house to house until around 3-4am.
The Christmas meal in Puerto Rico is typically served on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) before families attend midnight mass. Traditional Christmas dishes include lechón (roast suckling pig) and pasteles, which are made of plantains or cassava and stuffed with meat, capers and potatoes. They’re wrapped in plantain leaves to resemble a Christmas present. Dinner is concluded with a dessert of tembleque, a coconut-based pudding that’s creamy, jiggly and perfectly sweet. Don’t miss out on the traditional Christmas drink of Puerto Rico, the coquito. It’s the Puerto Rican version of eggnog and is packed with delicious coconut flavor.
Christmas In Puerto Rico Traditions
Some people wonder if Puerto Rico is a good location to spend holidays. While the weather may not be as nice as in Cancun, Mexico or the Dominican Republic, there are still plenty of Caribbean island activities you can do in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico boasts a wide array of festivals and events throughout the year. Whether for Hispanic heritage, to celebrate tradition, or just pure fun, there is an unforgettable celebration for you. The celebrations are held all over Puerto Rico in cities like San Juan, Caguas, Ponce, Bayamon, Carolina and even off-island in other countries like Mexico. There’s something for everyone!
Parrandas
A parranda or trulla is the boricua version of a Christmas Carol. Friends and families gather in front of a house – usually after 10:00 p.m. – with instruments like panderos, maracas, güiros, cuatros, and guitars to sing aguinaldos (traditional Christmas songs).
The idea is to surprise the household, so the parranderos round up as quietly as possible and then break into song with the intention of waking people up with joyful and jubilant music. It is a tradition for the household to offer refreshments and then join the group to bring the party to the next house. Sometimes, parrandas can last until sunrise.
Nochebuena
For most Puerto Ricans, Christmas Eve or Nochebuena trumps Christmas Day. This is the night where family and friends gather for a traditional dinner, exchange gifts, go out on parrandas, or take a drive to enjoy the Christmas decorations around town.
Many Puerto Ricans will attend a midnight mass known as Misa de Gallo, where they welcome Christmas as a commemoration of the birth of Jesus. Some churches even reenact the Nativity scene.
The Menu
The classic holiday menu consists of arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), lechón asado (spit-roasted pork), and pasteles (tamale-like patties of green banana and meat). Side dishes might include potato salad, pasta salad, or morcilla (rice-stuffed blood sausages).
The traditional Christmas dessert is tembleque, a coconut-based pudding topped with cinnamon, and, instead of eggnog, they have coquito, a coconut-based thick drink usually served in shot glasses.
Three Kings Day
On January 6th, Puerto Rico celebrates el Día de Reyes or Epiphany, a commemoration of the visit the Three Wise Men made after Jesus was born. The night before, children around Puerto Rico gather grass or hay in shoeboxes and place them under their beds for the Magi’s camels or horses in exchange for presents. For over 135 years, the town of Juana Díaz has celebrated a festival and parade that gathers over 25,000 people for the occasion.
Christmas Décor
Puerto Ricans usually put up their Christmas trees and decorations by Thanksgiving and don’t take them down until mid-January, so the Island feels especially magical during the holiday season. With town squares and houses lit up with Santa Clauses and snowflakes as well as local designs like jibaritos, Puerto Rico turns into a tropical winter wonderland where every corner is a photo opportunity.
Octavitas
The eight days after Three Kings Day are known in Puerto Rico as las octavitas, an extension of Christmas were people keep throwing parties and going on parrandas. Originally, the octavitas were parties of a religious nature and were used to glorify the Magi and Jesus with songs. Usually, this period ends with Puerto Rico’s most vibrant and colorful festival: las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián or la SanSe. This music-filled cultural jubilee marks the official end of the holiday season.
What To Do In Puerto Rico On Christmas Day
1. Christmas Boat Parade, Club Náutico de San Juan
This is a floating show of boats illuminated with Christmas motives and free for the enjoyment of the family. The best place to watch the parade will be from Bahía Urbana in Old San Juan. There is ample space to appreciate the illuminated…
2. Paseo La Princesa at Viejo San Juan
Paseo La Princesa is near Plaza de la Marina. It is a promenade lined with trees, pocket parks, sculptures, and benches, and leads to a magnificent fountain with a bronze sculpture by Luis Sanguino depicting the island’s cultural roots.
3. El Capitolio de Puerto Rico Christmas Decoration
The Capitol of Puerto Rico is located on the Islet of San Juan just outside the walls of Old San Juan. The building is home to the bicameral Legislative Assembly, composed of the House of Representatives and Senate.
4. Fiestas de Reyes Magos de Juana Díaz (Three Kings Day in Juana Díaz)
On January 6, 1884, the town of Juana Díaz celebrated its first “Fiesta de Reyes” and a tradition was born. Since then, this town has continued with great splendor the celebration of this festivity, unique in its class in Puerto Rico and…
5. Christmas Movie Concert 2019
The Puerto Rico Camera Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Christmas Movie Concert 2019” on December 15, 2019 in the Symphonic Hall of the Center of Fine Arts, Santurce (Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce). Come celebrate Christmas in…
6. Santa’s Christmas Garden at William Miranda Marín Botanical and Cultural Garden
The City of Caguas invites you to come with your family and live the charm of Christmas season. Hundreds of thousands of lights will illuminate the gardens and historic structures at the William Miranda Marín Botanical and Cultural Garden.
7. Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
San Sebastián Street Festival, also known as “San Se”, is a very popular Puerto Rican festivity that takes place every year during January. This Festival starts the third Thursday of January through Sunday. This festive is in honor of Saint…
8. El Navideño Restaurant at Orocovis
A very special place where it’s always Christmas. Lights, trees, moving figures, music, everything is from this festive time, not to mention the Puerto Rican menu. There is no complete Christmas without rice with pigeon peas, cakes,
9. Misas de Aguinaldo
Nine days before the birth of Christ, Catholics from all over Puerto Rico celebrate the “Misas de Aguinaldo” in their respective churches. This “Novenario” (nine nights), which announces the birth of the Child God, begins on December 16,…
10. Navitown @ Bahía Urbana
Bahia Urbana is transformed into a FANTASY PARK where, through a magnificent atmosphere and Christmas decoration, children will enjoy A WORLD OF ILLUSION and FUN on a GREAT SCALE … Giant Santa Claus, the 3 Giant Magi, Giant Lead Soldiers…
11. New Years Eve at La Placita de Santurce
An indispensable stop during your Christmas visit to San Juan is the “Plaza del Mercado” or marketplace, known affectionately as “La Placita”. As it happens in the big cities of the world, the “Placita” receives the New Year with salsa…
