Guides
Getting to the Puerto Rico wellness retreat: no passport for US citizens, flights to San Juan and airport transfers
Puerto Rico is US soil: according to USAGov, US citizens do not need a passport to travel between the United States and Puerto Rico. You do need valid ID to fly, such as a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport. You fly into San Juan (SJU), and airport transfers are included in the US$4,500 per person for the 5-day retreat starting November 15, 2026. The retreat is held in English.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.
See the cancellation policy
You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.
If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.
If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- You are pregnant, had surgery recently, or have a condition that isn’t stable: talk to us before you buy a ticket
- You take medicines you can’t pause while traveling: plan with the doctor who prescribes them before you leave
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or signs of a stroke while traveling: call 911
Help lines
Do I need a passport for Puerto Rico?
If you are a US citizen, no. Puerto Rico is a US territory, and according to USAGov, US citizens do not need a passport to travel between the United States and Puerto Rico. A flight from New York, Chicago or Miami to the island works like any other trip within the country.
What you do need is valid ID to get through airport security. According to the TSA, adults 18 and older must show ID at the checkpoint, and as of May 7, 2025, state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted. A passport is an acceptable alternative. Check the TSA identification page (opens in a new tab) before you fly, because it is the official source and can change.
If you are not a US citizen, the requirements depend on your immigration status. We don’t summarize them here: confirm them with the official US government sources and your airline before you apply.
Puerto Rico travel requirements: the short list
For the Health Initiative (THI) retreat, this is the short list of what to have sorted out:
- Valid ID to fly: a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport, according to the TSA.
- A ticket into San Juan (SJU) that gets you there on November 15, 2026.
- Your medicines in your carry-on, in their original labeled containers.
- Travel insurance if you want protection against changed plans (optional, and your call).
- Your accepted application: applications close November 5, 2026.
Getting there: flying into San Juan
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan (code SJU) is the island’s main airport, and it is where you arrive for the retreat. The retreat is held at a hacienda in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, an area next to El Yunque National Forest; to learn about the surroundings, read the guide to El Yunque and Río Grande.
We don’t recommend airlines, and we don’t give fares, flight times or routes: they change with the season and with your home city, and your airline or the airport’s own site is the right source. What we do tell you is where to land and when: the retreat starts on November 15, 2026 and lasts 5 days.
A practical tip: book your ticket once your application is accepted and your arrival details are confirmed, not before.
Airport transfers are included
Airport transfers are included in the US$4,500 per person. You don’t have to rent a car, find transportation on the island, or work out how to get from San Juan to the retreat.
Arrive on November 15, 2026; the retreat lasts 5 days and you depart after the last one. Airport transfers are included, and we confirm arrival and departure details with accepted guests.
The arrival and departure plan is shared with accepted guests. We don’t post times or meeting points here because they are confirmed by email once your application is accepted.
What else the price covers
Besides transfers, the US$4,500 per person includes lodging and meals, medical care and labs when clinically appropriate with Dra. Diana Nieves Castro, coaching sessions (mobility, meditation and nutrition) and island activities. Your airfare is not included. For the full breakdown, see the guide to the cost of a wellness retreat, and for how the week goes, what to expect at the retreat.
Traveling with medications and travel insurance
Pack your medicines in your carry-on, with enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days. The guide to bringing medication to Puerto Rico explains the TSA rules and what to do if you forget one.
If you worry about having to cancel for a health reason, read the guide to a doctor’s note for travel insurance. It is informational: what your insurance covers is decided by your policy. If you need care during the trip, see the guide for visitors in Puerto Rico.
If you are coming alone
Many guests arrive on their own, and the route is the same: one flight, airport transfers included, and a small group of 10 places, open to everyone. Read the guide to a solo wellness retreat.
Talk to us first if
Talk to us before you apply or buy a ticket if you are pregnant, had surgery recently, have a condition that isn’t stable, or take medicines you can’t pause. This isn’t an exclusion list: it lets Dra. Diana Nieves Castro and our team look with you at whether the trip makes sense right now.
In a medical emergency, call 911.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to go to Puerto Rico?
Which airport do I fly into for the retreat?
Are airport transfers included?
Can you recommend an airline or tell me what the flight costs?
What if I am not a US citizen?
Can I bring my medications on the plane?
When do applications close?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-10 · Updated: 2026-10-11
Sources (2)
- Do you need a passport to travel to or from U.S. territories or Freely Associated States? (USAGov) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-10)
- Identification (TSA) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-10)