San Juan, Puerto Rico Sunrise & Sunset Times

San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, stretches along the northern coast of the island where centuries-old Spanish colonial fortifications meet the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1521, it is one of the oldest European-established capitals in the Americas, and its colorful streets, massive stone walls of El Morro and San Cristóbal, and vibrant Caribbean culture create a setting unlike any other U.S. territory capital. Near the tropics, San Juan enjoys remarkably stable daylight throughout the year, with warm temperatures and ocean breezes that barely change from season to season.

Around the summer solstice, the sun rises at 05:47 and sets at 19:04, providing 13 hours 16 minutes of daylight — warm, tropical days cooled by Atlantic trade winds, when locals and visitors alike linger along Condado Beach or the Paseo de la Princesa as the evening light softens. During the winter solstice, sunrise comes at 06:50 and sunset at 17:54, with about 11 hours 3 minutes of daylight. The difference between seasons is gentle and subtle, and San Juan's winter days still feel long, bright, and unhurried — a far cry from the dramatic darkness that mainland northern cities experience.

The difference in sunrise times between summer and winter is only 63 minutes, one of the smallest seasonal swings of any U.S. capital, reflecting San Juan's tropical latitude. Photographers find the morning blue hour (05:24 – 05:47) and golden hour (05:47 – 06:47) ideal for capturing the weathered walls of Castillo San Felipe del Morro glowing in warm amber light against the deep blue Atlantic. During the evening golden hour (18:04 – 19:04) through blue hour (19:04 – 19:27), the sun sets over the San Juan Bay, casting the pastel facades of Old San Juan in shades of gold and rose while the historic city walls stand in dramatic silhouette — a scene that has enchanted visitors for five centuries and never grows old.