Looking for paradise without a passport? If you’re a U.S. citizen, look no further than Puerto Rico! As a tourist, you’re most likely going to stay in the popular San Juan area. San Juan, Puerto Rico’s buzzing capital, preserves the island’s Spanish heritage in its colonial neighborhoods. The cobblestone streets of Old San Juan teem with restaurants and shops and a large concentration of art galleries and museums.
New San Juan has its charms as well, particularly in its more storied residential architecture in Santurce and Miramar. Golden sand fronts the coastal areas of Ocean Park and Isla Verde, where peaceful sunsets rub shoulders with a nightlife that rocks until the early morning. Regardless of where you stay, here are my top recommended things to do in Puerto Rico.
Visit El Yunque Rainforest
El Yunque Rainforest is one of Puerto Rico’s crown jewels. It boasts nearly 29,000 acres of lush mountainous terrain, with waterfalls dotting the landscape, rushing rivers and gurgling brooks, bromeliads clinging to towering trees, and bamboo groves opening to spectacular ocean views. It is the only rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque (named after the Taíno god, Yúcahu) has 37km of trails, some short and paved, others long, steep and barely there. Almost all gain some elevation; one of the toughest is to El Yunque’s peak, El Toro, almost 1100m above sea level. Both casual and experienced hikers are sure to find rewarding trails. Making this one of the top things to do in Puerto Rico.
El Yunque has two entrances. The northern side, 40km east of San Juan, receives the majority of visitors. The southern side, near Naguabo, retains a wild pristine feel. Several guesthouses here have private trails leading into the El Yunque, making it easy to hike an entire day and not see a soul. I didn’t find the hikes to be incredibly difficult, even if you are like me and admittedly out of shape! You can stop by the front office for a map of the route but the route is pretty straightforward and there really is only one direction. Kinda hard to get lost. Just a lot of windy, curvy roads (where purchasing the car insurance comes handy).
Pro Tip
Hike to La Mina Falls
While there are several trails in El Yunque Rainforest, The La Mina trail is the most popular. Hence the most heavily traveled trail on the El Yunque National Forest. The trail follows the course of the La Mina River, a designated Wild and Scenic River, downward through lush tropical trees, shrubs and flowers to the La Mina waterfall (Cascada La Mina). Cascada La Mina (La Mina Falls) is an exquisite waterfall that drops over 35 feet through a jumble of huge rocks into a lovely pool where hikers can choose to swim in the cool refreshing water or merely rest and enjoy the view. Water temperature is 60 – 65 degrees F.
The La Mina trail is not the best option for those with limited mobility but if you’re able to walk it (just a few miles, really) you will be rewarded with La Mina Falls! Cold, refreshingly pure water for you to wade in (not really swim). The group and I had a blast!
Snorkeling from Fajardo
Driving to Fajardo is a little over an hour from San Juan. In Fajardo, you’ll find a port full of catamaran cruises that will take users to private islands. Have fun enjoying various watersports like snorkeling. Two of the most popular cruise destinations from Fajardo are Icacos Island and Culebra Island. When my group visited Puerto Rico, we booked a Viator tour called Picnic Snorkeling Cruise to Icacos Island. It was magical! The island was beautiful, and the clear-blue water allowed for good visibility for snorkeling.
We got a nice taste of island life during this full-day catamaran cruise where we got to explore the tropical isle of Icacos and the area’s fantastic marine life. Then we strolled the deserted beaches of a protected island for some shell hunting and sunbathing. Along the way we enjoyed a lunch of sandwiches, pasta salad, and desserts. Of course washed down with tons of water, and tropical drinks. I highly recommend!
Luquillo Beach
Luquillo beach is a quick, short drive from Fajardo. I recommend heading here for a swim after the picnic cruise ends. You’ll get there at 5:00p. After swimming in crystal clear waters in Fajardo, it was a slight adjustment for Luquillo Beach. The beach here is by the rainforest and the water is not as clear. It’s a little more murky but it is very warm and relaxing.
Set on a calm, northwest-facing bay and protected from the easterly trade winds, this arc of powder-soft sand is shaded by coco palms. And its raft of facilities and gentle slope into crystal-clear water make it perfect for families. Don’t expect to have it to yourself, especially on weekends and holidays; just order a piña colada, enjoy the salsa rhythms and soak up the atmosphere.
Eat at La Parrilla (Luquillo Beach)
There’s a line of restaurants right on Luquillo beach, and my recommendation would be to choose La Parrilla. I cannot say enough great things about this restaurant. The service is friendly and although the food is a little pricey, the quantity you are given provides a great overall value. Plus, the food is delicious in general. The mofongo is one of the best I’ve had, the seafood is also quite fresh and tasty.
Bioluminescent Bay (Fajardo)
Before leaving the Fajardo/Luquillo area, you have to go kayaking in the wondrous Bioluminescent Bay! Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures to show you because when we went there we were unable to see the light up due to the seaweed population at the current state. We were refunded our money luckily. I recommend going to the later kayak tour at 8:00p so the crew coming back from the 6:00p tour can let you know if they can see it or not 😉 Let some else be the guinea pigs. But just know that there are only a handful of places in the entire world where you can see this incredible phenomenon so make sure to take advantage at night if you’re already in the area during the day.
Horseback riding in Carabali Rainforest Park
Located between the lush foothills of El Yunque National Rainforest and the crystal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Carabalí Rainforest Adventure Park is an action-packed hacienda and a favorite adventure destination in Puerto Rico. Therefore, if you’re planning a day trip to El Yunque Rainforest, my recommendation is to pair it with a trip further in the countryside to Carabali Rainforest Park. If riding horses isn’t your cup of tea, you have the option of riding go karts and riding ATVs. Great way to breathe in some fresh air. If you get hungry, they have a restaurant onsite. Can’t speak to that as we ate elsewhere for dinner.
In addition to our legendary ATV and horseback adventures, you can also enjoy Carabalí Bar & Grill, which serves steaks, seafood, and the best of Puerto Rican cuisine. There is a gift shop for purchasing accessories, souvenirs, clothes, and more. Our meeting and events department can help you organize an unforgettable event at our facilities. Come experience an adventure in Puerto Rico!
Visit Old San Juan
The walled city known as El Viejo San Juan contains the biggest and best collection of historic buildings, stretching back 5 centuries, in all the Caribbean. The Spanish began to settle in the area now known as Old San Juan around 1521. Today the cobblestone streets are narrow and teeming with traffic. This historic 7-square-block area holds many of the city’s chief sightseeing attractions. Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, perched on a rocky promontory, provides a view of the entire city.
The beautiful, pastel-colored houses that line the streets is one reason alone to visit this beautiful old and charming city. There’s lots to do in the area and you’ll see many cruise ships in the area docked as well. My recommendation when driving here is to skip chancing your luck with street/parallel parking and just pay the $20/$30 charge for all day parking in the garage. Saves you so much hassle. If you go with the group and everyone chips in, even cheaper!
History Lesson at El Castillo
Few landmarks are more representative of Puerto Rico’s legacy within the Caribbean and the Americas than Castillo San Felipe del Morro, better known as El Morro. This fortification on the corner of the islet of Old San Juan now greets cruise ships as they leisurely sail in and out of the bay. During most of its nearly 500-year history, it was an important military outpost for Spain and later the United States.
When you walk through the narrow entrance and see the flags waving in the Atlantic breeze, it’s easy to be transported to another time in history and imagine soldiers in antiquated uniforms marching along the edge of the wall where cannons fit snuggly into the embrasures. For just $5, you get an all day, come-and-go-as-you-please pass to visit El Castillo. You can learn about the history of this 16th century citadel.
Visit the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
The cemetery itself is often photographed but not frequently visited; it lies close to the infamous neighborhood of La Perla, and is reached by way of a tunnel leading to the main gate. Once you are in the cemetery, step carefully as the gravestones have been placed very close to each other, especially as you approach the ocean. In places, you’ll need to walk single file. Some tombs are in worse conditions than others, but the white stone is beautiful throughout the cemetery.
The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, known simply to locals as the Old San Juan Cemetery, was officially established in the late 1800s and is the burial site of some of Puerto Rico’s most famous citizens. From inside the cemetery, there’s a great view of El Morro to one side, and La Perla to the other. Facing toward the island, you look upwards at the colorful houses of Old San Juan.
In the center of the grounds is a small chapel, where you can get an elevated view of the nearby tombs, enjoy some shade, and feel the ocean breezes. Between the blue of the sky, the white of the stones, and the green foliage growing on some of the walls, it’s a beautiful and peaceful place to visit.
Grab a Pina Colada at Barrachina
Barrachina is a restaurant located in Old San Juan that is famous for being the creators of the famous drink, Pina Colada. Be sure to stop in this tourist trap and see for yourself if it’s the best Pina Colada you’ve ever had. Also, they’re mofongo is great, along with chicken soup! A little pricey though so if you want to save on food costs, just go here for the drink to say you’ve done it.
Go Salsa Dancing
Before leaving back to your hotel in the evening, go out salsa dancing for a fun night. One couple was so fascinating to watch and stole the show the whole evening. One thing I should note is that space is limited and it can get a little cramped especially when tables are pushed to one side of the room while the floor is cleared for dancing. We visited Nuyorican Cafe but it has since closed down.
Swim at Condado Beach
Condado’s oceanfront, tree-lined community offers an array of elegant hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and more. Everything is within walking distance, including stunning beaches where you can dine at beachside restaurants, go paddle boarding in the lagoon, take a yoga class, or just relax in the sun.
Condado’s laid-back luxury means access to everything from upscale shops to exclusive entertainment. Stroll down Ashford Avenue – the Puerto Rican “Fifth Avenue” – where exquisite eateries and opulent shopping await. World-renowned brands such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, and more have a presence on the Avenue, as well as boutiques by local designers like Nono Maldonado, Lisa Thon, Harry Robles, and Ecliptica.
Farmer’s Market on 1st (Condado Market)
This market only happens the first Sunday of every month, so we were lucky that we just happened to be on the beach during that time. This market is set up with different food vendors selling Arepas, Empanadas, Pig Roast feast, and much more. Great place to buy from the locals and enjoy the delicacies of Puerto Rico. It was a great time and we got to mingle with locals and support local businesses. Plus, delicious cuisine!
Enjoy drinks at the Bacardi Rum Factory
Visit the world’s largest premium rum distillery by taxi, tour, Uber or take the ferry across the bay from Old San Juan. Enjoy a welcome cocktail at the waterfront Bat Bar Pavilion, then join a guided tour to discover how BACARDÍ rum is made, and learn about the family-owned company’s history of craft and innovation. Other experiences include a rum tasting tour, mixology class and bottling your own BACARDÍ.
I’m not particularly a history buff so some of the information went through one ear and out the other, but the drinks were tasty and the establishment is clean and well taken care of. I recommend for a little day trip. Mojitos were good and the Pineapple Sunrise shown below. Enjoy!
Take a Full-Day Cave and Waterfall Adventure
On this adventure, you will be visiting three different, unique, and spectacular destinations on the north coast of the island. You will start knowing part of the karst area, the rock formations in this area have formed an unforgettable landscape toward the Atlantic Sea, here in addition to enjoying the stunning views, and obtaining the perfect photo for your Instagram, you will have the opportunity to know part of the rich and abundant history of Puerto Rico.
You will continue our journey to the mountain and we will be visiting one of the most impressive caves on the island. The visit will be carried out by experienced and informed guides to give you the best possible experience and finally, you will be going a little further into nature where will visit two waterfalls in the area where you can enjoy the rest of the day on the river.
Walk Down “Umbrella Street”
The Umbrella Street in San Juan can be found on Fortaleza Street. Within the walled city of Old San Juan, there are plenty of vibrant streets. Yet, Fortaleza Street is easily recognizable for its display of umbrellas creating a canopy across the street.
Jet Snorkel-Snorkeling with Turtles
Everyone wants to discover the underwater world, but covering ground—particularly against the current—can be hard work. This jet-powered snorkel adventure is the answer to the tired traveler’s prayers, with an engine to power you through the underwater world, your breath the only limit.
Hotel Spotlight
Royal Sonesta San Juan
Overlooking palm-fringed Isla Verde Beach and the sparkling Atlantic, the recently renovated Royal Sonesta San Juan is ideal for business and leisure travelers. This San Juan hotel, situated on a white-sand beach, invites you to indulge in seven restaurants and bars offering a variety of cuisines, a lagoon-style swimming pool with a swim-up bar, and over 24,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space.
Fairmont El San Juan Hotel
Where lively urban vibes and peaceful ocean views meet, you will find Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. Located at the award-winning Isla Verde Beach, minutes away from downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico, the hotel artfully blends the best elements of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Venture inside and find an ode to traditions, old and new. If these walls could talk, they would share stories of 1960s society headliners crooning in the nightclub.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
A secluded sanctuary tucked away on the Puerto Rico Caribbean coast, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is an idyllic resort where both new and timeless moments answer the desire for discovery. More spectacular than ever, the resort features luxury amenities and facilities. Its serene coastline, private residences, spa retreat and a harmonious sense of place that blends masterfully into the natural surroundings.
Overall, Puerto Rico offers diverse landscapes (city, beach, countryside/mountains, and rainforest). Beautiful place to check out while leaving your passport at home.
Planning your trip to
Puerto Rico?
