TRAVEL TIPS
Festivals and Events
January:
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. The annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in January feature four nights of live music as well as food festivals and cabezudos parades, where folk legends are caricatured in oversize masks. www.seepuertorico.com/en/what-to-do/events.
February–early March:
Carnival. In the days preceding Lent, Ponce celebrates Carnival with flamboyant costumes, parades, and music. www.visitponce.com.
Casals Festival. San Juan's annual Casals Festival honors world-renowned cellist Pablo Casals, who lived in Puerto Rico for nearly three decades until his death. Classical music performances feature the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, as well as soloists, trios, and quartets from the island and around the world. 787/918–1106.
Heineken JazzFest. The annual Heineken JazzFest attracts some 15,000 aficionados to San Juan for four days of outdoor concerts by the likes of Michel Camilo and Eddie Palmieri. prheinekenjazz.com/.
Jayuya Fiesta del Café. One of several coffee festivals held annually around the island, Jayuya's Fiesta del Café features all the usual activities at these types of events—live music and coffee-making demos among them—but is notable for "la colada del café," which organizers contend is the largest coffee pot on the island, brewing up to 100 pounds of coffee at once. Free.
April:
Saborea Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's largest culinary event, Saborea Puerto Rico, is a three-day extravaganza held at Escambrón Beach in San Juan. It includes presentations by island and international chefs, and food from local restaurants, as well as beer, wine, and rum tastings. saboreapuertorico.com.
May:
Puerto Rico Restaurant Week. PRRW is a one week, island-wide dining celebration held every May. It's the perfect opportunity to visit top restaurants and enjoy specially priced pre-fixe menus lunch and dinner menus. www.prrestaurantweek.com.
June:
SoFo Culinary Festival. For several days in both June and December, Old San Juan's Calle Fortaleza is closed to traffic for the SoFo Culinary Festival, when many restaurants set up shop on the cobblestone street.
Late June–early July:
Aibonito Flower Festival. This popular festival displays incredible tropical foliage, including countless varieties of colorful orchids and ginger plants. There's also plenty of food and music.
September:
Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. The annual season of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra begins in San Juan with classical and pop performances by the island's finest orchestra.
November
Festival del Mundillo. Moca's Festival del Mundillo showcases delicate woven lace with demonstrations and exhibits.
Festival de Café. The mountain towns of Maricao and Yauco host the annual Festival de Café. Performers play music and artisans and home cooks sell their crafts and regional foods.
December:
Festival de las Máscaras. The annual Festival de las Máscaras honors the mask-making traditions of Hatillo, where colorful masks used in religious processions have been crafted for centuries.
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