Is Puerto Rico Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Puerto Rico is generally safe for solo female travelers. The island has a friendly culture, and the locals are usually very helpful and welcoming. The tourist areas, where many amenities and attractions are located, are especially secure. However, like any other destination, it's recommended to take standard safety precautions. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid isolated areas, especially at night, and always keep your belongings secure.

Safety rating

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How safe is Puerto Rico?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Moderate

Puerto Rico can be reasonably safe provided precautions are taken. This Caribbean island is tourist-friendly, and locals are generally welcoming. However, safety levels may vary based on the area and time of night. Some urban areas like Old San Juan or Condado might be safer due to their high tourist activity, whereas quieter, less frequented areas can have increased safety risks after dark. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid isolated areas and stay in well-lit, populated sectors. Moreover, always trust your instincts, avoid displaying expensive belongings, use reliable transportation, and be aware of your surroundings. Lastly, isolating yourself as a female traveler at night may not be the best option, hence moving in groups is recommended when venturing out after dusk.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in Puerto Rico is generally reliable and safe, especially during daylight hours. The main modes of public transportation are buses, the Urban Train (Tren Urbano), and taxis. The buses and train are well-maintained and the routes cover most of the major tourist areas. However, service can be infrequent and unpredictable due to traffic or route diversions. Taxis are a more convenient but pricier option. Always stay alert and be aware of your surroundings, particularly after dark.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

While Puerto Rico is generally welcoming and respectful towards female tourists, occasional incidents can occur. Always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. While catcalling can sometimes occur, most locals are friendly and helpful. Still, it's recommended to ignore any unwelcome approaches and continue on your way.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Moderate

Puerto Rico is generally safe but petty crimes like pickpocketing and purse snatching do occur, particularly in busy tourist areas and crowded places. Being vigilant about your belongings and avoiding flashy displays of wealth can significantly reduce the likelihood of becoming a target.

Is Puerto Rico worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 26 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.3/5

Budget-friendly

3.7/5
Alastair

Alastair

United States

Rincón, Group travel

Spent the day in Rincón with my new friend! We got Mexican food at Vatos Locos Taqueria (delicious and affordable) and acaí bowls and the beach was beautiful and the water was warm! Highly recommend Rincón, hoping to visit again tomorrow :)

Posted: January 25, 2025Experienced: January, 2025
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Puerto Rico, Solo travel

I stayed in several areas of Puerto Rico; from Rio Grande (near El Yunque, one of the world’s largest rainforests), Old San Juan, Miramar, Condado, Rio Piedras to Carolina. My favorite area out of all was Rio Grande-I stayed behind Coco Beach Reserve, which has a PGA Golf course. Puerto Rico overall is absolutely gorgeous, many beaches around and amazing stuff to do and see. However, the food is on the bland side (at least for me) but freshness is usually top tier. I prefer shopping and cooking at home. It is quite expensive-expect to spend anywhere from $50 and up a meal. Ubers are inexpensive if you’re in an area you can get a ride. Otherwise, you’ll need to rent a car-that and gas can add up quickly. People are generally friendly and helpful. I never once felt unsafe or worried; again use common sense when traveling and do listen to the locals about where and where not to go. I think everyone should visit at least once, given the opportunity.

Posted: August 26, 2024
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Monica

Monica

United States

San Juan, Family travel

The Condado area felt very safe. We stayed at an Airbnb on the beach. It was nice but my son got bed bugs from the sofa bed. I would recommend renting a car. We went to Old San Juan which was beautiful and renting jet skis. We went to sit down restaurants throughout the trip and it got very expensive. Food is overpriced.

Posted: August 20, 2024
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Mariangel

Mariangel

United States

San Juan, Solo travel

SAN Juan was my first official solo travel (with no friends in the destination) and it was incredible fun. Never felt more safe than in San Juan, puertorricans are kind and respectful, they take care of their tourist and travelers, they’re open to share local gems and tips. You have a bunch of different activities where to choose and it’s definitely a piece of paradise in the earth. I made amazing friends, I would do it again a million times

Posted: August 8, 2024
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San Juan PR, Group travel

San Juan Puerto Rico has some of the most beautiful beaches and hiking spots. The locals were super friendly and most people there speak English. If you stick to well lit populated areas you should be more than safe at night. I wouldn’t recommend going to alley ways or dark areas in some of the less touristy areas. The less touristy areas were a bit sketchy but overall I felt very safe for the most part.

Posted: July 27, 2024
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Is Puerto Rico safe for women?

Safety index

3.7 /5

Based on 8 local experiences

Crime index

1.6 /5

Based on 8 local experiences

Puerto Rico

I moved here from Michigan early 2024. Since I’ve lived here, I’ve moved three different times (due to issues with the homeowners pet policies, nothing significant). My first neighborhood had some people down the street who would part-take in “cocacola” (if you know what I mean) and definitely dealt drugs from that house. But they never posed a threat to me or anyone else from my knowledge, it was just uncomfortable to be stared at by them walking by and the erotic behaviors from the drugs. There is an issue with homelessness here and drug use so be prepared to see this in many areas of the island. Nonetheless, the people won’t necessarily bother you. They may ask for money or make an inappropriate comment in spanish but that’s about it. Men here also choose to “honk” as a form of “flirting” if you’re out and about walking somewhere so be prepared for that. I think tourists may be more dangerous than actual locals here in all reality 😂

Posted: February 9, 2025
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Meet locals in Puerto Rico

Hiba

Hiba

About Me

I am a Sagittarius and absolutely love to travel. 🙋‍♀️🤍✨️🐎☕️🏕🏞🚗✈️🌌❄️⚽️🥎🎨🎻🎵🏹

Speaking

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Andrea

Andrea

About Me

Hi everybody! I am a Health Educator from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, I work in the sexual health and gender-based violence prevention for children and adolescents field. I love dancing to anything, singing my heart out at karaoke, and watching movies and TV series. I enjoy learning about other countries through the eyes and stories of the people who live there. I’m always eager to learn something new and embrace new experiences. I love nature— mountains, beaches, forests, lakes, you name it! I always try to squeeze in a hike in every place I visit. And I am a big foodie 😋 My friends would say I'm open-minded, fun, empathetic, passionate, and funny. I care a lot about people and always try to help out in any way that I can. 💖 You can find in insta: @infinitayefimera

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Puerto Rico

Andrea

Andrea

Puerto Rico

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi everybody! I am a Health Educator from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, I work in the sexual health and gender-based violence prevention for children and adolescents field. I love dancing to anything, singing my heart out at karaoke, and watching movies and TV series. I enjoy learning about other countries through the eyes and stories of the people who live there. I’m always eager to learn something new and embrace new experiences. I love nature— mountains, beaches, forests, lakes, you name it! I always try to squeeze in a hike in every place I visit. And I am a big foodie 😋 My friends would say I'm open-minded, fun, empathetic, passionate, and funny. I care a lot about people and always try to help out in any way that I can. 💖 You can find in insta: @infinitayefimera

Speaking

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Safety in Puerto Rico