No, you only need experience on similar boats you'd like to charter. If you don't have much experience, we are happy to assign a skipper for a day or as long as you think you need to get you up to speed.
The currency is the U.S. dollar. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in the main tourist areas but not in rural locations. The banks in the island are Banco Popular, Scotia Bank, First Caribbean and more. Almost all have ATM's. Most hotels accept traveler's checks.
In order to travel to Puerto Rico, US citizens do not need a valid passport or green card, but are advised to carry a photo ID and a birth certificate, as well as proof of legal permanent resident status, such as a passport or green card. You would need a valid passport if you travel into Puerto Rico from a country outside of the United States. Speak to us before you leave to make sure you have the right documentation.
Most US mobile phone providers expand service to Puerto Rico, but you will need to consult with your service provider for coverage and roaming charges. Currently, all of the Spanish Virgin Islands have decent mobile phone coverage, as well as free Wi-Fi available at our marina. Wi-Fi is, however, not secure and only messages can be sent and received by mobile phones.
Call the US Customer and Border Protection office in Fajardo at (787) 863-0950 if you would like to visit the USVIs or BVIs and wait for officials to visit and inspect the boat. If you are unable to contact them by phone, the skipper must visit the office and take each guest's passport and boat documents to announce that he is leaving US territory. There are expenses payable.
If you want to visit the Spanish Virgin Islands (Culebra, Culebrita and Vieques) during your Puerto Rico yacht charter, you need a briefing around 8:30am on the date of departure. There are no declarations required. Checking back into the SVI at Culebra is recommended as it is much simpler and faster.
Night sailing is not allowed. Don't sail north of Culebra. You can't get to Culebrita overnight. No anchoring or going to Rompeolas Pier, or anywhere north of Vieques to stay overnight.
The sailing conditions in Puerto Rico benefit from northeast trade winds between 15-20 knots from November to January,
occasionally even reaching 30 knots during the Christmas winds in December and January. Winds then move easterly from February and to the southeast by summer. The swell is generally between three and four feet.
From November to April, visiting Puerto Rico is common, but many say the best time to visit is in the quieter period between April and June.
Between January and April, is the cooler and drier season. Rainy season is between April and November, with more rain falling in northern Puerto Rico. The season for hurricanes is from August through October.
Temperatures are rated as tropical in Puerto Rico and are reasonably stable throughout the year, averaging near 85 ° F in low elevations and 70 ° F in inland forests and mountains. Easterly trade winds, when temperatures are high, bring welcome relief.
