What to Wear in San Juan
Puerto Rico · 9 monthly packing guides
San Juan, Puerto Rico runs Spanish-Caribbean tropical — Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan, the 16th-century walled colonial city, UNESCO since 1983 with the heritage El Morro and San Cristóbal forts) holds the photogenic blue-cobblestone streets; Condado runs the resort-beach strip; Santurce holds the contemporary-art-and-restaurant register. Puerto Rico is a US territory — no passport, no foreign transaction fees, US dollars and US Postal Service. The dressing register reads Caribbean-Latin: linen guayaberas (the heritage Caribbean men's shirt — pleated front, four pockets, worn untucked), cotton sundresses, leather huaraches, statement gold jewelry. Stella Nolasco (San Juan-born contemporary, since 1998 — the most-cited Puerto Rican designer), Ana Sastre, Carlota Alfaro (1942 — the heritage Puerto Rican couture), Lisa Cappalli, plus Lilly Pulitzer (Palm Beach 1959 — Caribbean-popular), Vineyard Vines, Coco Bay Tropical, Rabanitos at the Condado Vanderbilt run the local-resort vocabulary. Hurricane season opens June 1; September is the Atlantic peak (Maria 2017 reference shapes everything). Reef-safe SPF mandated at the marine protected areas (La Parguera). Salsa is the heritage music — Felipe Rodríguez, El Gran Combo, Marc Anthony — and the recognized clubs (La Factoría, Café Concierto Peregrino) run past 3am.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 22°C / 72°F in January; average highs reach 32°C / 90°F in July.
Compare San Juan by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 22°C / 72°F | 28°C / 82°F | 18 | 11h 10m |
| February packing guide | 22°C / 72°F | 29°C / 84°F | 15 | 11h 32m |
| May packing guide | 24°C / 75°F | 30°C / 86°F | 13 | 13h |
| June packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 31°C / 88°F | 14 | 13h 10m |
| July packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 32°C / 90°F | 15 | 13h 5m |
| August packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 32°C / 90°F | 15 | 12h 45m |
| October packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 31°C / 88°F | 18 | 11h 45m |
| November packing guide | 24°C / 75°F | 30°C / 86°F | 21 | 11h 15m |
| December packing guide | 23°C / 73°F | 29°C / 84°F | 20 | 11h 00m |
Choose your San Juan packing list
San Juan in January: 28°C / 82°F afternoons, 22°C / 72°F nights, and the end of a 45-day Christmas season.
In this capsule: Navy canvas low-top sneakers; Mauve-pink zip camera crossbody; Red and white striped oversized shirt.
San Juan in February: 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 22°C / 72°F nights, and the dry season's first clear month.
In this capsule: Butter-yellow cotton eyelet sundress, square neck; Pale peach halter one-piece; Pistachio short-sleeve knit cardigan.
San Juan in May is pre-hurricane shoulder — 30°C / 86°F afternoons, 24°C / 75°F nights, 13 rain days. US territory: no passport, no foreign-transaction fees.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or guayabera + chinos; Leather huaraches or local sandals.
San Juan in June is hurricane season opening — 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, 14 rain days. Brief tropical showers daily.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or guayabera + chinos; Leather huaraches or local sandals.
San Juan in July is peak summer + Saborea Puerto Rico food festival — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, 15 rain days. Brief daily tropical showers.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or guayabera + chinos; Leather huaraches or local sandals.
San Juan in August is peak Atlantic hurricane season — 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, 15 rain days. Maria September 2017 reference point.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Linen wide-leg trousers or guayabera + chinos; Leather huaraches or local sandals.
San Juan in October: 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, and the last summer heat of a hurricane season still open.
In this capsule: Cobalt short-sleeve zip-front surf swimsuit; White short-sleeve linen guayabera; White pleated linen wide-leg trousers.
San Juan in November: 30°C / 86°F afternoons, 24°C / 75°F nights, and the wettest month of the year.
In this capsule: Emerald ribbed one-piece, racer back; Tomato-red hooded packable rain shell; Black quick-dry mesh runners.
San Juan in December: 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 23°C / 73°F nights, and a month that runs after dark.
In this capsule: Silver sequin fitted mini; Lavender-blue linen midi, flutter sleeves; Ivory cotton gauze shawl.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- February: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- May: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- October: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- November: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA NWS San Juan · Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) · 1991–2020 normals
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 9 published guides cover January, February, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 22°C / 72°F, while July has the highest average high at 32°C / 90°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.