7 Awesome Things To Do in Puerto Rico

Post Topic: Don’t Miss These 7 Incredible Things to do in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is bursting with beautiful beaches, natural wonders, colorful Latin culture, and amazing cuisine. This is not one of those Caribbean islands that you visit just to lay on the beach – if you do that then you’ll miss out on so many extraordinary things!

Waterfalls, Bioluminiscent organisms, and Spanish fortresses are only a few of the hallmarks that make up Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has an endless number of things to do and see, you could spend a whole lifetime exploring this territory.

I have put together a list of what I believe to be the 7 best things to do and see on your first trip in Puerto Rico. Keep reading below to see what they are!

Don’t miss these articles on more incredible things to do in Puerto Rico!

Colorful Walking Tour of Old San Juan
Visiting El Yunque After Hurricane Maria

Traveling to Puerto Rico from the United States

Traveling to Puerto Rico as a U.S. Citizen is very easy. Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, a passport is not necessary to travel. Many major U.S. airlines operate multiple flights a day to and from the mainland, making Puerto Rico a very affordable and convenient option when compared to other Caribbean destinations.

Currency used in Puerto Rico is the U.S. dollar.

How to Get Around in Puerto Rico

Two main options for getting around in Puerto Rico:

• Rent a car – Renting a car in Puerto Rico is very easy and affordable. The roads and driving laws are very similar to those in the U.S. I found that drivers in Puerto Rico were very considerate and laid back making for a very easy driving experience. Our U.S. cell phones/GPS worked almost the entire time we were in Puerto Rico so navigating was simple. Renting a car is a must if you plan to go to the rain forest or other attractions across the island.

• Uber/taxi services – Parking in the city can be a little challenging and limited. So if you’re headed to the Old San Juan area, it may make sense to take an Uber so you don’t have to fuss with parking. If you’re planning to venture outside of the city, I wouldn’t recommend relying on an Uber because everything is a bit spread out and it could be expensive.

Where to Stay in Puerto Rico

If you’re looking for somewhere budget friendly and conveniently located then I would recommend the neighborhoods near San Juan. We stayed on Carolina Beach, right on the water and were very close to the airport, 15 minutes from Old San Juan, and didn’t have to drive more than an hour to reach any of the attractions we wanted to see around the island. Isla Verde, Old San Juan, Condado, and Ocean Park are other areas that we considered near San Juan.

You may also want to consider splitting your time between San Juan and Fajardo (especially if you plan to do all recommended activities in this blog) to minimize drive time to some of the attractions on the east side of the island. Fajardo has many nice accommodation options.

Top 7 Things to Do in Puerto Rico:

#1 – Take a Walking Tour of the Colorful Streets of Old San Juan

San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico and is full of so much color, history and culture. The neighborhood of Old San Juan is the oldest area on the island and is home to many colorful vibrant buildings.

It’s very easy to see the best of Old San Juan in just a couple of hours if done right. To make sure you see all of the best spots in Old San Juan, I’ve put together a comprehensive walking tour of Old San Juan.

My step-by-step walking tour of colorful San Juan can be found here, I’ve even included a map so you can easily find all stops on the tour. Make sure you check it out!

#2 – Eat ALL of the local cuisine

The food in Puerto Rico is SO good and very reasonably priced compared to other Caribbean islands. There are so many options for different cuisines.

Most of the local dishes can be found all around the island. Here are a few local dishes to try:

• Mofongo – Probably the most popular Puerto Rican dish. Mofongo is a mound of mashed plantains with a combination of seafood, meat, or vegetables added. You can sometimes find rice and beans served with it. Mofongo is probably the most sought after Puerto Rican dish by tourists.
• Empanadillas – Essentially a puff pastry turnover filled with meat and/or vegetables. These are by far my favorite Puerto Rican dish. So good.
• Pastelillo – Very similar to an empanadilla but made with a thiner dough that is crimped at the edges and fried. We bought some pastelillos from a concession stand at the beach and they were so delicious!
• Pina Colada – Did you know that the Pina Colada originated in Puerto Rico and is the national drink of Puerto Rico?
• Fried Plantains – You’re going to see these everywhere. In every form and fashion, sweet or savory. I, myself, am not a fan of plantains but my husband is as well as all of Puerto Rico.

Other Restaurants to Try:

• Bistro Cafe – Best spot on the island for a delicious brunch. Pancakes, omelettes, and waffles galore! If you’re a fan of Nutella then this is the place for you, just about every other dish on their menu comes piled high with a mountain of Nutella. Be warned – all of the main dishes here are way more than enough to share.
• Ferrari Gourmet – Delicious Argentinian-style pizza and pasta dishes.
• Princesa Gastrobar – Restaurant near Old San Juan whose menu is inspired by traditional Puerto Rican cuisine from the 1800s. Try the risotto, so delicious!

#3 – Tour the Old Spanish forts of Castillo San Felipe del Morro & Castillo de San Cristobal

Strategically positioned on the peninsula of Old San Juan, these two historical forts were built to defend the Bay of San Juan from siege. The forts are part of the San Juan National Historical Site, which is run by the National Park System.

We loved seeing the views of San Juan and the coast from the top of both of these forts. And we enjoyed our time climbing the walls and towers of the forts. If you’ve only got time for one, see Castillo San Felipe del Morro (also known as El Morro). But do not miss this when visiting Puerto Rico!

There is an entrance fee, but the fee will get you into both forts. We were able to use our National Parks Interagency Annual Pass for admission to both forts.

#4 – Take a Day Trip to a Neighboring Island

If we had one more day during our stay in Puerto Rico, we would have taken a day-trip to one of the neighboring islands. Both Culebra and Vieques are are sister islands to Puerto Rico and are known for their more tropical characteristics. If you’re looking to get away from the strip of resorts and high-rise condos near San Juan then you should consider a day-trip to one of these islands.

To get to Culebra or Vieques from the main island of Puerto Rico, you can either take a ferry from Fajardo or a plane from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) or the smaller Isla Grande Airport (SIG) in San Juan. Because of the length of time and effort it takes to get to both of these islands from San Juan, I would recommend setting aside an entire day to see each island.

Culebra

Culebra is home to Flamenco Beach, named by the Discovery Channel as the second-best beach on the planet. This makes Culebra an excellent destination for a day on the beach. This island is widely popular among locals. We received several recommendations to visit Culebra from people who had spent a significant amount of time in Puerto Rico. Next time I visit Puerto Rico, I am heading straight to Culebra.

Vieques

Vieques is the larger and more popular island to tourists. Because not only does this island have pristine beaches but it’s also home to the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge (with hiking trails) and Mosquito Bay which is frequently ranked #1 for bioluminescent bay tours. Consider Vieques if you’re looking for an island getaway with more adventure than just pretty beaches.

#5 – Explore the El Yunque Rain Forest

What’s a trip to a tropical island without exploring a tropical rain forest? El Yunque National Forest is the best place on the island to escape the heat, chase waterfalls, and get your hike on! Make sure you make time to check out this natural wonder.

The rain forest is only about an hour from San Juan. You could easily spend a full day here if you plan to check out the best of the forest’s trails. However, the forest can be seen in only a few hours if you just want to see the top sights.

If you’re looking for more information on visiting El Yunque, check out my comprehensive guide here.

#6 – Spend a Day at the Beach

The Caribbean is known for its white sand beaches with clear blue waters – Puerto Rico is no different. And you really don’t have to go too far from the city for great beaches.

Carolina Beach near San Juan is frequently voted one of the best urban beaches in the world. It’s neighbor Isla Verde Beach is also iconic and home to most of the island’s resorts and hotels. Located right near all of the action and conveniences of San Juan, you will find blue water and clean white sand at both of these beaches.

If you’re more like me and prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle, then consider the 45 minute drive from San Juan to Luquillo Beach. This beach was my favorite during our visit to Puerto Rico. I loved that we were able to see the mountains so well from the beach, made it feel that much more tropical.

Entrance fees to Luquillo beach is $5 per vehicle. There is also a concession stand available with very affordable drinks and deliciously fried empanadas & pastelillo.

#7 – Marvel at the Wonders of the Bioluminescent Bay on a Kayaking Tour

A bioluminescent bay is an area of water that is home to certain organisms named Pyrodinium bahamense, Dinoflagellates (dinos). When these “dinos” come into contact with another organism or are disrupted they produce a bright burst of light, think pixie dust.

There are only five places in the world where you can experience this phenomenon of a bioluminecent bay and three of those places are in Puerto Rico. Meaning this is a MUST DO when visiting Puerto Rico.

The three Puerto Rican bioluminescent bays are La Parguera (in the southwest corner of the island), Mosquito Bay (on the island of Vieques), and Laguna Grande (in Fajardo). We chose to do the Laguna Grande tour because of its proximity to San Juan.

The best time to book a bioluminescent bay kayaking tour is during a new moon (meaning that the moon is not visible in the sky). This protects the bay from light pollution and increases the amount of bioluminescent material you will be able to see during your tour.

We booked our tour during a full moon (unaware of the moon’s affect on the visibility of the bioluminescence). We were still able to see and experience the bioluminescence but with tarps over our heads to block the light.

There are many tour groups to book through. Just make sure you book ahead of time so that you don’t miss out. The tour company we chose was Kayaking Puerto Rico, found here. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.

A bioluminescence tour was at the top of my husband’s Puerto Rican bucket list and I’m so glad that we were able to do it! This is one experience that can’t be photographed but one that will not be forgotten!

More Caribbean Adventures

Virgin Islands National Park – The Best of Saint John in Two Days

Colorful Walking Tour of Old San Juan

Visiting El Yunque After Hurricane Maria

Tulum Travel Itinerary

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