Almost every visitor to Puerto Rico arrives through Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, airport code SJU. It sits in Carolina, right behind the hotels of Isla Verde, which makes it one of the most convenient big airports in the Caribbean: many beachfront hotels are a few minutes away, and Condado and Old San Juan are a short drive west. The airport is named for Luis Muñoz Marín, the first governor elected by Puerto Ricans, and it carried a record of about 13.6 million passengers in 2025, according to figures released by its operator's parent company.
Who runs SJU
SJU is run by a private company. In February 2013 the Puerto Rico government signed a 40-year lease with Aerostar Airport Holdings, making SJU the first major US airport run by a private operator under the Federal Aviation Administration's airport privatization pilot program. Aerostar's parent company is Mexico's Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR). Since the handover, Aerostar has renovated the terminals in stages, including a $55 million renovation of Terminal C, new restrooms and an updated central security area. Aerostar's website, aeropuertosju.com, is the best source for parking availability, airline locations and the official taxi rate sheet.
Terminals and airlines
SJU has three passenger terminals, A, B and C, all in one connected building, so walking between them is easy. The airline directory currently places JetBlue in Terminal A along with small regional airlines such as Tradewind. Most other US and international carriers, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, Spirit and Frontier, are listed in Terminal B. Flights to Vieques and Culebra on small commuter airlines also leave from SJU. Airlines do move, so check the official airline list or your boarding pass before you go.
A flight from the mainland is domestic, so you walk straight to baggage claim with no immigration or customs. International arrivals clear US Customs and Border Protection first. See our guide to Puerto Rico passport and ID requirements for what each traveler needs.
Getting from the airport to your hotel
Taxis
Taxis wait at the arrivals level. The main stand serves Terminal A, and a second stand on the Terminal B arrivals level serves passengers from Terminals B and C. Fares to the main tourist zones are regulated and approved by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, and a dispatcher usually tells you the rate before you get in. Expect surcharges for luggage and an airport fee on top of the base fare. The current tariff sheet can be downloaded from the airport's transportation page, so you can check the fare before you land.
Uber
Uber is the airport's authorized ride-share service. Pickups are at Terminal A and at Terminals B and C between columns 16 and 19. Follow the app's directions to the right spot, because drivers can't stop anywhere else at the curb.
Public bus
Bus stops are on the second (departures) level at Terminals A, D and E. The airport lists the T5 and D53 routes for Isla Verde and Old San Juan, the D53 for Condado's Ashford Avenue and the Convention Center district, and the E40 for Avenida Piñero. The bus is the cheapest option but slow, and it is hard going with large suitcases.
Rental cars
Most major rental companies serve SJU. You need a car if you plan to see El Yunque, the beaches of the west coast or the mountains, but not for a stay limited to Old San Juan and Condado, where parking is scarce and taxis are easy.
Departing: allow time for two checks
Leaving SJU for the mainland involves a step that surprises first-time visitors. Before you reach the airline counter, every bag, checked and carry-on, goes through a US Department of Agriculture inspection at the entrance to the terminal. Most fresh fruit, plants and flowers can't go to the mainland. Avocado, citrus, coconut, papaya, pineapple and strawberries are among the exceptions, but you must still show them to the inspector. Then comes the usual TSA screening, which since May 7, 2025 requires a REAL ID–compliant license, a passport or another accepted ID.
Lines are heaviest on weekends, around holidays and during the winter high season. For flights to the mainland, give yourself more time than you would at a typical domestic airport. Your airline's recommendation is the best guide, and arriving two hours ahead is a sensible minimum on busy days.
Porters work at the terminal entrances and in baggage claim at all hours. They are paid by tips, and the airport suggests about $2 per bag. There are ATMs in all three terminals and a Banco Popular branch in the airport for currency exchange.
Parking and picking someone up
The airport has a multi-level garage, valet parking and a Park and Ride lot at The Mall of San Juan, and the transportation page shows real-time availability. If you are meeting someone, the arrivals curb gets congested, especially on weekend evenings. Waiting in the garage until your traveler has their bags is usually faster than circling.
Near the airport
Because SJU is in the middle of the San Juan metro area, you can be at the beach within minutes of landing:
- Isla Verde Beach is the closest stretch of sand, lined with hotels, restaurants and beach bars.
- Piñones, just east in Loíza, has roadside food kiosks, a coastal bike path and mangrove kayaking, with planes landing overhead.
- Ocean Park and Condado are a short drive west, and El Morro in Old San Juan is roughly 20 to 30 minutes away, depending on traffic.
- If you are heading to the south coast, Ponce's Mercedita Airport is a smaller alternative with limited mainland service.
Good to know
- Airport code: SJU. Operator: Aerostar Airport Holdings.
- Three connected terminals (A, B, C). Confirm your airline's terminal on aeropuertosju.com.
- Taxi fares to tourist zones are regulated by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Ask for the rate before you leave.
- Uber pickups: Terminal A, and Terminals B and C at columns 16–19.
- Expect a USDA bag inspection before check-in on mainland-bound flights.
- Lost something? Items found in public areas go to the Puerto Rico Police precinct at the airport. The airport directs travelers to sjulostandfound.com to file a report.
