Man, where do I even start with this one? Picture me in 2019 – standing at gate B12 in Chicago O’Hare, scrolling through my phone while wearing the dumbest outfit possible for where I was headed. Jeans. A heavy hoodie. Even had on my winter boots because Chicago in April is basically still winter, right?
My buddy Jake – who’d been to PR twice already – kept texting me stuff like “bro you’re gonna melt” and “pack light clothes dummy.” Did I listen? Nope. Classic me.
Three and a half hours later, I’m walking out of Luis Muñoz Marín airport and WHAM. It’s like someone opened an oven door. The air was thick, warm, and humid in this weirdly amazing way. I went from shivering at O’Hare to sweating through my hoodie in about thirty seconds flat.
That hoodie? Never saw daylight again that whole trip. Stayed balled up in my suitcase like some kind of winter refugee.
But once I stopped being an idiot about my clothes, something clicked. The weather wasn’t just good – it was perfect. Like, annoyingly perfect. The kind of weather that makes you start planning your next trip before you’ve even unpacked from the current one.
I’ve been back eight times since then, always in April, and I’ve figured out pretty much everything about what to expect. Including all the stuff I screwed up that first time so you don’t have to.
April Temperatures Are Basically Cheating
Okay so here’s the deal with Puerto Rico temperatures in April – they’re almost unfairly good. We’re talking mid-80s during the day, mid-70s at night. Consistent. Reliable. No crazy spikes or weird cold snaps.
I remember texting my sister from Condado Beach on day three: “It’s 84 degrees and I’m not dying. This feels illegal somehow.” Coming from Chicago where April means you need three different jackets depending on what time you leave the house, Puerto Rico’s consistency was mind-blowing.
The crazy thing is how much better April feels compared to summer there. I made the mistake of going in July once – ONCE – and holy crap. Walking around Old San Juan felt like being trapped inside someone’s mouth. April though? I spent six hours wandering those same streets taking photos and felt great the whole time.
Temperature breakdown (from someone who’s actually been there):
Where I WentDayNightReality CheckSan Juan85°F75°FPerfect for literally everythingPonce86°F74°FOne degree warmer, who caresEl Yunque80°F70°FActually wanted a sweatshirt at nightCulebra84°F76°FIsland perfection
Night temps are clutch too. You can eat dinner outside without needing layers or feeling gross and sticky. I sat at this rooftop place in Old San Juan until like 1 AM just because it was so comfortable. Try doing that in Miami in July – I dare you.
The Rain Thing Everyone Freaks Out About
Before my first trip, literally everyone was like “what about the rain though?” My mom, my coworkers, random people on travel forums. Everyone acting like I was about to vacation inside a cloud.
Here’s the truth: April gets maybe 3-4 inches of rain for the ENTIRE month. That’s it. And it’s not like constant drizzle or anything dramatic. Most of the time it’s these quick afternoon pop-ups that last maybe an hour, then it’s back to sunshine like nothing happened.
I learned this during my second trip when I was at Luquillo Beach. Around 2:30, these dark clouds rolled in and I started packing up my stuff all bummed out. This older guy from New Jersey who was there with his wife goes, “Relax kid, give it twenty minutes.” I thought he was nuts, but sure enough, half an hour later the sun was back and the beach looked even prettier with everything all washed and clean.
How the rain actually works:
- Morning (7-11 AM): Almost never rains – beach time, baby
- Afternoon (2-4 PM): Maybe a quick shower – perfect excuse for a long lunch
- Evening (5 PM+): Usually clear – dinner and bar hopping weather
Pack something for rain – not because you’ll definitely need it, but because getting soaked without any backup plan really blows. I use one of those tiny umbrellas that fits in a backpack. Works great and doesn’t take up much space.
Humidity: It’s Not as Bad as Your Brain Is Making It
Let me be straight with you about the humidity situation. It’s there. You’ll feel it. If you’re coming from somewhere super dry, it might take a day or two to adjust. But it’s not the apocalypse everyone makes it out to be.
April runs around 75-80% humidity, which sounds scary until you realize that’s actually pretty reasonable for the Caribbean. I’ve been to Florida in summer where the humidity made me question my life choices. Puerto Rico in April? Totally manageable.
My first morning there, I woke up and everything felt slightly… sticky? But after a shower and getting dressed in actual appropriate clothes (cotton shirt instead of my stupid hoodie), it was fine. Your skin might feel a little different, but honestly, mine looked amazing that whole week. Something about that moist air just works for some people.
Humidity survival guide:
- Cotton and linen are your new religion
- Drink water like it’s your job
- Don’t fight it – you’re gonna feel a little dewy sometimes
- Plan AC breaks during the hottest part of the day
The synthetic workout shirts that feel great in Colorado? They’ll make you miserable here. Pack natural fabrics and thank me later.
Water Temps That Spoil You Forever
The ocean in April is basically perfect. Like 79-81 degrees, which feels like getting into a giant warm bathtub. I’m not being dramatic here – it’s actually ridiculous how comfortable the water is.
During my fourth trip, I spent basically an entire day at Crash Boat Beach just floating around in the water. My girlfriend kept checking on me because I’d been out there for like four hours and hadn’t come back to shore once. The water was just so perfect I didn’t want to leave.
Wind conditions are money too. You get these steady trade winds that keep things comfortable but aren’t strong enough to mess up your beach day or make the water all choppy. It’s like someone designed April specifically for water activities.
Beach breakdown from someone who’s tried them all:
BeachWindWhy I Keep Going BackWaterFlamencoLightZero crowds, perfect waterClear as glassCondadoMediumGood for people watchingPretty clearCrash BoatLight-MediumBest snorkeling on the islandLike looking through airLuquilloLightGreat for chilling with a bookSuper clear
At Flamenco, I could see my feet when I was chest-deep in water. It’s honestly weird how clear it is. Like swimming in a postcard.
Sun Safety (AKA How I Became a Lobster)
This is where I really screwed up my first time. I figured April sun couldn’t be that intense, right? WRONG. So incredibly wrong.
UV index in April runs 9-11, which is basically “you will get torched if you’re not careful” levels. I learned this the hard way during a snorkeling trip to Culebra. Spent about five hours in the water with crappy sunscreen on my back, thinking I was being smart by staying in the water.
That night I looked like someone had painted half my back bright red. Couldn’t sleep on my back for three days. My girlfriend still brings it up whenever we’re planning beach trips.
The sun hits hardest between 10 AM and 2 PM, but honestly, you need real protection any time you’re outside during the day. Don’t mess around with this.
How I handle sun now:
- Early morning: SPF 30 minimum, but you’re probably fine
- 10 AM-2 PM: This is serious business – SPF 50, reapply constantly
- Late afternoon: Still careful but not as paranoid
- Evening: Keep the sunscreen but relax a little
Don’t forget the stupid spots. Your ears, tops of your feet, that little part in your hair where it parts. The sun will find these places and punish you. Trust me.
Weather Changes Around the Island (Yeah, Really)
Something nobody told me: Puerto Rico weather isn’t exactly the same everywhere. It’s not a massive difference, but there are definitely patterns that can affect your plans.
North coast (where San Juan is) gets more of those afternoon showers. It’s also a touch more humid because of the way the trade winds work. South coast is drier and sometimes a degree or two warmer. If you really want to avoid rain, head to Ponce or that area.
Mountains are a whole different story. El Yunque can be 5-10 degrees cooler than the coast, which feels incredible when you’re hiking. I remember climbing up to one of the waterfalls and being so grateful for that temperature drop after the sticky drive up from San Juan.
Regional reality check:
- North: More quick showers, slightly cooler, more sticky
- South: Drier, bit warmer, less wind
- Mountains: Way cooler, cloudy, afternoon rain likely
- Islands: Like the coast but windier
Packing Like Someone Who’s Actually Been There
After eight trips and way too many packing mistakes, I’ve got this figured out. The key is bringing what you need without hauling half your closet to the Caribbean.
Clothes that actually work:
- 4-5 lightweight shirts (cotton or linen – synthetic stuff sucks here)
- 3-4 quick-dry shorts
- 2 pairs of pants for dinner or mountain stuff
- Light rain jacket (not some winter coat)
- Walking shoes with actual grip (Old San Juan cobblestones are slippery when wet)
- Beach sandals
- Real hat with a brim (baseball caps are useless)
- Good sunglasses
Random stuff you’ll actually need:
- SPF 50+ sunscreen (don’t cheap out)
- Bug spray (mosquitoes after rain are brutal)
- Waterproof phone case
- Tiny umbrella
- One light sweater (restaurants are freezing inside)
The sweater seems weird but trust me. You’ll go from 85 degrees outside to like 65 inside restaurants and your body will hate the shock.
How to Actually Plan Your Days
Best part about April weather? It’s predictable enough that you can make actual plans without constantly checking weather apps and changing everything.
My usual day: beach early (7-10 AM), exploring or hiking (10 AM-1 PM), lunch and AC break during the hot part (1-4 PM), back outside until sunset. Works every time.
Activity timing that actually makes sense:
What You're DoingBest TimeWhyBeach8 AM-11 AM or 4 PM-7 PMSkip the brutal sunEl Yunque7 AM-10 AMBeat the afternoon rain maybeOld San Juan9 AM-noon or 5 PM-8 PMWay more comfortableWater sports9 AM-1 PMBest wind and waterPhotos6-8 AM or 5-7 PMLight is incredible
Bottom Line: April Just Works
Look, I’ve been to Puerto Rico in different months now, and April consistently delivers. It’s warm enough to feel properly tropical but not so hot that you spend your vacation hiding indoors.
Yeah, there’s humidity. Sure, you might get a quick afternoon shower. But temperatures stay comfortable, the ocean feels like a warm bath, and you’ll have way more perfect weather days than questionable ones.
The trick is being ready without going overboard, staying flexible with your plans, and remembering that a little rain never killed anyone. Some of my favorite PR memories happened during those brief showers – ducking into random bars, meeting other travelers, watching the rain from restaurant patios with cold beers.
April weather in Puerto Rico isn’t just good – it’s reliably awesome in a way that lets you do whatever you want whenever you want to do it. Beach mornings, hiking afternoons, Old San Juan evenings – the weather just cooperates.
What else do you want to know about visiting Puerto Rico in April? Made any epic weather-related mistakes yourself? Drop it in the comments – I love swapping travel disaster stories!
