5 Amazing Things to do in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico surprised up. In Jan of 2022, we booked a last minute trip to Puerto Rico while Finley was recovering from a knee injury. Having worked for a few summers in the Caribbean, I always seemed to bypass Puerto Rico. Not only did Puerto Rico impress us, but we found it an easy island to navigate and found so much more to do then just sit on the beach (although that was fun too).
If you are even considering a trip to Puerto Rico - here are our 5 favorite things to do on the island.
(see more about our itinerary in Puerto Rico)
5 Amazing things to do in Puerto Rico
Visit Culebra or Vieques
OK - so the first thing I’m telling you to do in Puerto Rico is to go to another island!
But…
Just off the eastern shore of Puerto Rico are the two island paradises of Culebra and Vieques. These stunning islands are ringed in turquoise water and white sandy beaches with a low-key vibe and amazing snorkeling.
Culebra has the world-famous Flamenco Beach, and Vieques has one of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays where you can do a nighttime kayak. You can visit both these islands as a day trip or spend a few days basking in the island sun.
Kayak or Swim in a Biolumenescent Bay
There are 5 bioluminescent bays in the world and 3 of them are in Puerto Rico. This was probably the biggest highlight of our visit to Puerto Rico!
Visiting one of these bays should absolutely be on your list if you are coming here for a visit! The 3 bays you can visit are La Pargeura, Mosquito Bay in Vieques, and Laguna Grande in Fajardo.
Each of the bays has something slightly different to offer: Fajardo is convenient, Vieques is the brightest bioluminescent bay, and you can swim in La Parguera. We highly recommend swimming in La Parquera.
To visit these bays, you need to book a tour. Check out some of the best tours below and see our post on the Best Bioluminescent Bay Tour.
Walk Around San Juan
Old San Juan, with its colorful streets and impressive forts, is well worth a visit. You can easily see most of the main sights in a day or even half a day. The best itinerary for your visit to Old San Juan is to drive into the town, park your car and start to wander. Eventually, you’ll end up at one of the two forts. Stop for a Pina Colada, mofongo, coffee of ice cream, and soak up the vibrant energy in this fun town.
Looking for more? Check out: 15 Things to do in Old San Juan
Go to the Beach
There are so many beaches to explore in Puerto Rico (we saw several claims that there are about 300 beaches). Many of these beaches are famous and some have been noted as some of the most beautiful in the world (like the beach in the picture below on Culebra). No matter what you are looking for: quiet and seclusion, snorkeling, crashing waves, or party scene, you can find it all in Puerto Rico. Almost every portion of Puerto Rico has beaches, so no matter where you go, you won’t be far from where the sand meets the sea.
Visit some Waterfalls
One of our favorite things to do on Puerto Rico was to visit the inland area. El Yunque on the eastern part of this island is beautiful rainforest with waterfalls and hiking trails to explore. You can reach the welcome center by heading up rt 191 and following this road as it winds up into the mountains.
There are several waterfalls or pools right along the main road that are just a short walk including Juan Diego Falls, La Coca, La Mina, and Baño Grande. It’s also worth visiting Torre Britton or hiking to the El Yunque Peak Tower.
Learn more about the Best El Yunque Waterfalls and Hikes
We also spent and afternoon swimming and sliding at the natural rock slides at Las Paylas.
Have fun out there,
Gretchen