Rainy day in San Juan: what still works

How rainy is San Juan in winter?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes 30-year climate normals for the San Juan airport station, covering 1991 to 2020. Here is what they show for the visitor season.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Two things stand out. November is the wettest month of the year at this station. And from December on, most rainy days bring only a little rain: in a typical December, only two or three days get half an inch or more. A morning that starts wet often clears.

These are averages at one station by the airport. The mountains and El Yunque get far more rain than the coast, so the forecast for San Juan says little about the forest.

Check the forecast. The National Weather Service office in San Juan posts forecasts and warnings at weather.gov/sju. Look there before you cancel a booking or drive into the mountains.

What still works, what to postpone

Casa Bacardí: the best rainy-day anchor

The rum distillery is across the bay in Cataño. From Old San Juan, the ferry leaves from Pier 2, and the crossing takes about 12 minutes. Puerto Rico Ferry says the whole trip, ferry plus shuttle, takes about 20 minutes, and Casa Bacardí asks you to book the shuttle when you buy your experience. The public ferry fare is $2 per the transit authority, but its posted schedule was labeled valid through December 31, 2025, so confirm times at the pier.

Every tour is for ages 18 and up, and some need closed-toe shoes. Puerto Rico Ferry's July 2026 post says Casa Bacardí is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except major holidays and private events; Bacardí's own pages show different hours, so check on the day.

Checked November 8, 2026 on bacardi.com.

December is high season and tours are by reservation, so book a time before you go. For a cruise-day version of this trip, see our cruise day guide.

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (MAPR), Santurce

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is in Santurce. Without a car, take a taxi or Uber.

• Hours: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday, Tuesday and holidays.
• Price: $20 standard; $12 for Puerto Rico residents with ID; $7 for ages 5 and up, students with ID, seniors 65 and up, people with disabilities, veterans and active military. Children under 5 are free. Some temporary shows cost $3 more.
• Free evening: Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., the museum says entry is free (hours subject to change).
• Getting there: 299 Avenida de Diego. The museum has its own parking lot; it lists several bus routes, including T5 and T21.

[ISAIAH: first-hand note here. How long a first visit took, and whether the café is worth lunch on a rainy day.]

Old San Juan in the rain

The old city is one of the better places to be on a wet day, as long as you have shoes with grip: the stone streets get slick.

• Museo de las Américas, on the second floor of the Cuartel de Ballajá near El Morro. Its page lists Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., and weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday is not listed, so expect it to be closed. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors, children, teachers and students.
• The forts. El Morro and San Cristóbal open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One $10 ticket covers both for 24 hours, and the park takes no cash. Much of a fort visit is on open walls and courtyards, so go in a dry spell. With a 24-hour ticket, you can leave and come back later.
• A walking tour. Flavors of San Juan says its 2-hour history walk runs rain or shine and asks guests to bring an umbrella. Its 3-hour food tour spends much of the time inside restaurants; the company does not state a rain policy for it on its booking page, so ask. Both tours need advance cancellation for a refund (24 hours for the food tour, 48 for the history walk).

[ISAIAH: first-hand note here. Where in El Morro you can wait out a shower under cover, and one café in the old city good for a long rainy lunch.]

A sample rainy day

If the forecast shows rain all day, here is one way to fill it without a car.

• Morning: start at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico when it opens at 10 a.m. (Wednesday to Sunday), or at the Museo de las Américas in Old San Juan (Tuesday to Sunday).
• Midday: a food tour or a long lunch in Old San Juan.
• Afternoon: the ferry from Pier 2 to Casa Bacardí for a booked tour. Pick a tour time that leaves you an hour to get back across the bay.
• Between showers: one of the forts, using the same ticket the next morning if the rain wins.

The Monday problem

A rainy Monday is the hardest day. The MAPR is closed, and the Museo de las Américas does not list Monday hours. On a Monday, your best indoor options are Casa Bacardí (open daily, per Puerto Rico Ferry), a food tour, or the forts between showers.

Already booked something outdoors?

Catamarans and boat days. Every Fajardo operator we checked makes the weather call itself. If the company cancels, you get a refund or a free new date. If the boat sails and you stay home because it was raining in San Juan, you pay. Fajardo weather is often different from San Juan's, so call the company before deciding. Details by company are in our Fajardo catamaran guide and our Culebra guide.

Bio bays. The same rule: the company decides, and if the tour runs without you, you are charged. See our bio bay guide.

El Yunque. The road is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. without a reservation, but trail conditions change after heavy rain. Check the Forest Service trail-status notice that morning, and never cross a river that is rising or muddy. El Portal tickets are refunded automatically only if extreme weather closes the forest; otherwise bad weather is not grounds for a refund. More in our El Yunque guide.

Camuy caves. Guides report that the caves close in heavy rain. Call the park that morning; our Camuy guide has the details.

Driving in the rain

Heavy rain floods low streets and underpasses quickly. The National Weather Service warns that 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult over and 12 inches can carry away most cars. Never drive around a barrier or into water you cannot see the bottom of. If you do not have a car, a taxi or Uber gets you to the museums; our getting-around guide has the fares.

FAQ

Does it rain every day in San Juan in December? Almost. NOAA's normals show measurable rain on about 20 December days at the airport, but half an inch or more on only about 2 or 3. Most showers are short.

What is the rainiest month in San Juan? November, at the airport station: 7.37 inches on average from 1991 to 2020.

What can I do in San Juan when it rains? Tour Casa Bacardí, visit the art museum in Santurce (closed Monday and Tuesday) or the museums in Old San Juan, or take a food tour.

Will my catamaran or bio bay tour be canceled for rain? The company decides. If it cancels, you get a refund or a new date. If it runs and you skip it, you pay.