Who goes first in Puerto Rico?
Rio Grande Games Deluxe English rules, 2019
The players choose a starting player by any method they like. That player takes the governor placard and a small indigo tile.

Rule details
The other players take starting plantations in clockwise order, depending on player count.
At the end of each round, the governor placard passes to the left, and the new governor begins the next round.
In the two-player game, the start player takes the indigo plantation and the governor placard; the second player takes corn.
Source & edition
- Puerto Rico Deluxe: English rulesRio Grande Games / Ravensburger · Page 2, Preparation (basic game); page 3, Playing the Game; page 12, The Game for Two; page 16, credits · Checked 2026-09-25Printed page references: 2, 3, 12, 16
Image: © Rio Grande Games / Ravensburger / Andreas Seyfarth · Rio Grande Games
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
GentesPlayers choose a starting player by any method they like, then give that player the Starting Player token.
Chateau RoquefortThe group chooses a starting player using any method it prefers.
VikingsPlayers choose a start player; the rules give no selection method.
EmberleafChoose a starting player; the rulebook recommends that the bravest player go first.
Key to the City: LondonChoose a starting player; the rules suggest the player who most recently visited London. That player places their sailing barge on the first space of the era 1 river tile.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.