What to pack for Puerto Rico in March

16 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

UV index hits 10.1, the highest category.

Some islands fine you for the regular stuff.

Glare off water and sand strains unprotected eyes.

Coastal humidity and warmth draw insects year-round.

Tap water isn't safe, so cuts and scrapes need care.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

Twelve-hour daylight means devices drain fast with constant use.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast on inter-island routes.

Day trips to beaches and reefs need separate gear.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Anything heavier than linen is a mistake at 82°F.

Sweat clings to skin in 74% humidity and 82°F heat.

UV hits 10.1 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Water temperatures stay warm enough for swimming all month.

Wet sand and reef walks need grip underfoot.

Twelve hours of direct sun daily burns exposed scalp.

Cold water at 3pm is worth the weight.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Heat and humidity cause dehydration even when you don't notice.

Unfamiliar water and food upset stomachs within hours.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel and crowded beaches raise theft risk.

Bags get lost on inter-island hops and in rental car trunks.

Damp clothes and wet swimwear need separation from dry items.

Sixteen rainy days and ocean time soak electronics.

Humidity ruins clothes in days without frequent washing.

Reefs and fish schools sit in shallow water offshore.

Rain and waves soak gear on boats and beach days.

Daytime highs reach 82°F on most days.

Doubles as a towel, a scarf, and a cover-up where one's expected.

Sixteen rain days soak through regular shoe leather.

Salt spray and sun damage lips fast on islands.

Unsafe tap water means hands need sanitizer before eating.

Bites itch worse when sunburned skin is already raw.

Salt air corrodes standard cables; shorter ones replace easier.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Airport security and border control require it constantly.

Luggage moves through multiple hands on island flights.

Salt residue and sand stick to everything in bathrooms.