Feel the warmth of the Island and its people this Navidad!
They say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year; Puerto Rico can attest to that. The Island's holiday season is truly like no other, serving a time when tradition and culture are on full display. Cities light up, people put on their finest to share in the festivities, and communities come together. Whether it's cooking up a bountiful holiday feast or bringing the party to your door with a festive aguinaldo (caroling), celebrating the holidays in Puerto Rico should be on your bucket list.
Leave the layers and layers of clothes at home and trade the boots for sandals! Winter blues come in ocean waves, and there is no such thing as windchill, only cool sea breeze or fresh mountain air. In Puerto Rico, the snowmen are made of sand, the traditional cuatro and panders accompany Christmas carols, and the coquito will leave you saying, “Eggnog who?”
Get ready to join the jolgorio (party) as you discover what makes a true Navidad Boricua, with parrandas, yesteryear’s recipes, fun-filled iconic holiday festivals, festive music, and pure tropical bliss. So keep scrolling and start planning the perfect holiday getaway!
With the longest holiday season in the world – from late November to mid-January, the Christmas spirit fills the Island with joy, laughter, food, and music, which is why locals say that in Puerto Rico es Navidad todo el año (Christmas is all year long). So, we want you to get in that Boricua state of mind and discover an Island brimming with holiday traditions as bright as their people.
One of the best ways that you can experience the holidays in Puerto Rico is by attending one of the many holiday events and festivals happening around the Island. Whether it's attending smaller festivals in the different regions or the days-long Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, you have 45 fun-filled days to pick from!
Puerto Rican culture is full of time-honored traditions that reflect the Island's diverse heritage that fills Boricuas with pride.
No time of year showcases them as beautifully as Christmas, where everything from the food, decor, music, and general vibes ooze that unique sazón. Experience the magic for yourself, from collecting grass to put underneath the bed for Three Kings Day to belting aguinaldos during a parranda.
Learn more about our unique traditions
¡Asalto!—nothing sounds more like the holidays in Puerto Rico than surprising friends, family, and community members with vivacious Christmas caroling. This isn't your typical "Silent Night" or "O Come All Ye Faithful"—these songs, called aguinaldos, are energetic and full of Boricua warmth. You can see parrandas throughout the Island, but you might just have to stay awake a little later to experience one!
Like other communities worldwide, Puerto Rico celebrates Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day—but with a Boricua spirit, of course! Held on the final day of the 12 days of Christmas on January 6th, it's full of food, family time, and parties. Be sure to collect enough grass to feed the three Magi’s camels to fully immerse yourself in the celebrations!
The party doesn't stop after Three Kings Day, though—it's time for the Octavitas! The eight days after Three Kings Day are an extension of Christmas, where people keep throwing parties and going on parrandas. While the parties were of a religious nature and used to glorify the Magi and Jesus with songs, it's become less secular and more about reveling in the Island's holiday traditions just a little bit longer.
It's time to finish the longest holiday season in the world with a broche de oro (it translates to a golden brooch, which means to end things on a great note)! Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (the Party of Saint Sebastian Street), also known as La SanSe, is the unofficial end of the Octavitas. This annual three-day festival in Old San Juan is packed with live performances, street food, local artists and artisans, and a heaping spoonful of Boricua warmth!
To Live Boricua is to never miss the opportunity to have a good time—and New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico is no exception. Boricuas love to dress in their best and throw incredible parties with traditional dishes cooked to perfection, from roast pork to pasteles and a delicious glass of coquito. The vibes are unmatched, with music, dancing, and joy for the year that's passed and bringing in the year to come. Experience unique traditions like eating 12 grapes before midnight for a prosperous year or savoring a delicious asopao (a thick soup) after the clock strikes 12!
Make your holiday in paradise even better with vacation deals, savings, and bundles! Offers include accommodation packages, restaurant discounts, group pricing for attractions, and much more!
Plan your trip today and make lifetime memories in the heart and soul of the Caribbean with offers from our local partners.
Whether you choose to stay in a local parador, a beachside oasis, or glamping in the Central Mountains, there’s a perfect place for you to rest and relax.
Find discounts on hotels and accommodations for your stay
There’s no shortage of fun in Puerto Rico, with attractions for outdoor lovers, history buffs, and much more.
Discover deals on attractions that everyone will love
Get the biggest value with a vacation package to Puerto Rico, where you can bundle activities, accommodations, and more.
No windchill, just warm weather... and people! Discover a season like no other in the heart and soul of the Caribbean.
In Puerto Rico, winter blues look like sunny skies and a good time in paradise. Feel the warmth of the Island and its people when you visit during the holidays.
It isn't the holidays without sipping a creamy glass of coquito, Puerto Rico's version of eggnog.
This traditional drink is a must at every Holiday party.
Learn more
¡Asalto! Are you up for some late-night vigorous Christmas caroling?
Learn more
Parrandas are the Boricua version of Christmas caroling.
Don't miss these legendary celebrations around the Holiday season.
Learn more
Discover the magic of the season with centuries-standing traditions.
Learn more
Arroz con gandules is a staple Christmas dish.
There’s more to the fiesta than just the food.
Bring the taste of Navidad into your home.
Visit the "pork highway" and savor a delicious Puerto Rican feast.
Get the family and some friends together for a day trip to the lechoneras of Guavate.
Explore beyond the shore and into the center region of the Island.
Sample Puerto Rico’s history, rural culture, and locally grown coffee all in one trip.
Soak up the sun, ride the waves, explore underwater life, and find your favorite beach.
Get travel inspiration, news, tips and more delivered monthly.