This holiday season, trade the snow for sand! 

Besides being a tropical paradise with a colorful culture, it has a vibrant festive season with many fun traditions, customs, and events for everyone to enjoy. 

Feel the warmth this Christmas and set your mind to paradise! Trade snowmen for sandcastles, turn caroling into parties with parrandas, enjoy mouthwatering lechón asado (roasted pork), and try a chilled shot glass of coquito, a creamy coconut-based holiday drink. 

Yes, many things make the Island your perfect holiday getaway, but here are four reasons you should experience this Christmas in Puerto Rico. 

Celebrate the longest holiday season in the world 

If Christmas is your favorite time of the year, you won't find a livelier place to celebrate it than Puerto Rico. It has the longest holiday season in the world, which lasts around 45 days. The Navidad Boricua is a huge fiesta that kickstarts in November, after Thanksgiving, and concludes mid-January with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. There are many holidays celebrated throughout the season, and they all have their special traditions and festivities, like Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), Navidad (Christmas Day), Víspera de Año Nuevo (New Year's Eve), and Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day). 

No passport needed to visit 

Don't let planning your holiday getaway ruin the most wonderful time of the year! Arranging your vacation in the heart and soul of the Caribbean, filled with pristine beaches, soft ocean breezes, and sunny days is accessible and hassle-free. If you are traveling from the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico is just a short and easy plane ride away. And you don't need a passport, but you must always travel with a valid ID. However, travelers coming from outside of the country must follow the same guidelines as in any other U.S. airport. 

Winter feels like summer 

Christmas doesn't have to mean coats, boots, and cold weather! So this festive season, escape the windchill and chill beachside in the heart and soul of the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has a winter that feels like summer, with an average temperature of 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit from November to January. So take advantage of the Boricua warmth to soak up the sun and partake in all the fun outdoor experiences the Island offers, like snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. 

Join in the jolgorio (party) of the season 

Feel the warmth of the Island and its people, joining the many fiestas and festivals during Christmas. Enjoy delicious fritters, dance to live music, and get lost in a festive tropical winter wonderland when you align your vacation schedule with the iconic holiday jubilees all over Puerto Rico. You'll surely find an event that suits your interest, like the Festival de Pascuas, which celebrates the official Puerto Rican Christmas flower, the Festival de Máscaras de Hatillo (Hatillo Mask Festival), which commemorates the Puerto Rican version of April's Fools, and the world-famous Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, also known as the SanSe, that officially closes the holiday season and kicks off the New Year.