29 Best Things to Do in Puerto Rico in 2024

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO RICO?

We can help! We’ve been traveling together since 2010 and have made a few visits to the Caribbean. All of the best things to do in Puerto Rico captured our hearts during our time there.

We could not get enough of the cobblestone streets, multi-colored homes, tropical climate, diverse landscapes like El Yunque National Forest, and pristine beaches.

Despite being part of the US, Puerto Rico has preserved its rich culture drawing influences from Europe, Africa, and the native Taino people. Here are our favorite things to do in Puerto Rico!

What should you not miss in Puerto Rico?

Playing in the ocean is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

If you have limited time in Puerto Rico, I would spend a day exploring Old San Juan. The cobblestone streets, brightly colored buildings, and historic fort are a very nice way to spend the day.

The second activity I would recommend in Puerto Rico is spending some time on their beautiful beaches. If you have time, I would take the ferry out to Flamenco Beach. If you only have time to stay on the main island, I recommend Luquillo Beach.

Best Things to Do in Puerto Rico – San Juan

1. Old San Juan

Old San Juan is the colorful, colonial section settled by the Spanish and is one of the best places in Puerto Rico. The cobblestone streets, historical architecture and brightly colored buildings will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a bygone era. We found it easiest to explore on foot, but if you get tired of walking then you can ride on the free trolleys.

Exploring Old San Juan is one of the fun things to do in Puerto Rico

Window shopping is an absolute must as you browse through local artisan goods, tourist memorabilia, and more. It is also fun to walk the streets of Puerto Rico admiring the beautiful and brightly colored buildings.

Exploring the streets of Old San Juan is a fun thing to do in Puerto Rico
Local Puerto Ricans dancing in the streets - fun things to do in Puerto Rico

Some of our favorite streets to explore were Calle del Cristo, Calle San Francisco as well as Calle de la Fortaleza. The famous colorful umbrellas and governor’s mansion can be found on Fortaleza.

2. Spoon Food Tours

On our first evening in Puerto Rico, we went on the Sunset Walk & Taste Tour with Spoon Food Tours. It was a perfect way to start our time in Puerto Rico. We walked from restaurant to restaurant on the cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings. It really can’t get more picturesque than that.

We got to sample traditional and modern Puerto Rican food all while learning about the history and culture of San Juan.

A food tour in San Juan is one of the fun things to do in Puerto Rico

Some of our favorite stops on the food tour were at Chocobar Cortes, Deaverdura, and after that Senor Paleta. At Chocobar Cortes, we learned about the tradition of combining chocolate with cheese. It was something we had never tried before but loved.

In addition, make sure to buy a couple of Cortes chocolate bars. They are commonly used to make hot chocolate in Puerto Rico. We took some home and the hot chocolate is delicious.

At Deaverdura we got a taste of the traditional Puerto Rican foods. There is more on this delicious restaurant to come. Keep reading.

3. El Morro (El Castillo San Felipe del Morro)

Touring El Morro is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

As the Spanish were colonizing Puerto Rico, they built a huge wall covering three sides of the colony and several forts to protect their civilization. Fort Cristobal and El Castillo San Felipe del Morro are still standing today and open to the public. You can explore the different rooms in the forts, guerites, and sentry boxes all while taking in gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Playing on the lawn near El Morro is a fun thing to do in Puerto Rico for kids
Young girl observing an iguana at El Morro Fort in San Juan

There are ranger-guided tunnel tours that you can take if you’re looking for more history about the forts. There is a free shuttle that runs between San Felipe del Morro and Fort Cristobal but doesn’t run very often. While we were there, they were coming every 30 minutes to an hour.

4. Castillo de San Cristobal

Just down the street from Fort El Morro is Castillo San Cristobal. It was built to fortify the defense of San Juan, Puerto Rico after brutal attacks by the English and Dutch. During this fortification, they lengthened the city wall and built Castillo San Cristobal. It is the largest fortress built in the Americas and took over 150 years to complete.

Touring Castillo de San Cristobal is a fun thing to do in Puerto Rico

Today, you can tour the grounds, visit the coastal observation posts and visit the Visitors’ Center. There is also a small theater showing a movie about the history of the park.

5. Calle del Cristo

Calle del Cristo is a fun street  filled with many fun things to do in Puerto Rico

If you’re looking for the charming and beautiful colors of Old San Juan, head to Calle del Cristo. The cobblestone streets are lined with brightly colored buildings home to restaurants, art galleries, and artisan shops.

There are also beautiful old churches found along Calle del Cristo. The first is the San Juan Bautista Cathedral which is usually open from 9 am to 5:30 pm. The second is the Capilla de Cristo which is only open on select days.

Another fun stop on this street is Pigeons Park, especially if you are traveling with kids. My kids loved watching and feeding the pigeons.

6. Museo de las Americas

Museo de las Americas is a fun thing to do in Puerto Rico

If you are looking for more beautiful architecture with a mix of history, be sure to visit the Museo de las Americas. During Spanish colonial times in Puerto Rico, the building was used as the military’s barracks but today, it is a beautiful art museum.

There are usually three set collections as well as rotating exhibits. All of the artwork focuses on the cultural heritage of Puerto Rico and the Americas. It also highlights the African and European influences which are prevalent in Puerto Rico today.

If you are traveling with kids, be sure to check out the art workshops on Saturday at 2 pm.

7. Museo de Arte

The museum has 18 exhibition halls filled with amazing paintings, sculptures and carvings dating back to the 17th century. Another highlight of Museo de Arte is the hand-on space for kids. There are lots of opportunities for hands-on learning here. The sculpture garden and conservation lab are also highlights.

If you are looking for another art museum to visit, the Museo de Arte is a fabulous art museum just outside San Juan, Puerto Rico.

8. Sunset Sail

A sunset tour is a nice way to enjoy the water and fun things to do in Puerto Rico

One of our favorite times to enjoy the ocean is during sunset. A San Juan Catamaran Sunset Sail is the perfect way to end the day after enjoying the culture and beauty of Puerto Rico.

During your tour, you will enjoy time on the calm waters of San Juan Bay and get a different perspective of Old San Juan along with its major landmarks like El Morro Fort. Beverages are included in the tour and it leaves from downtown making it a convenient tour if you’re staying in the San Juan area.

This is one of the best things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Book your San Juan Catamaran Sunset Sail Here

9. Deaverdura

We originally visited Deaverdura during our Spoon Food Tour. We loved it so much we decided to stop by for lunch while we were out exploring the streets of Old San Juan. It is a farm-to-table restaurant with a Puerto Rican menu. They also serve delicious fresh juices.

We ordered the sampler platter and loved it. It gave us a great idea of the local Puerto Rican cuisine. This was our favorite place to eat in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Don’t forget to get the sauces to go with it. Our favorites were the ketchup-mayo sauce paired with the plantains and the garlic and cilantro mojo sauce paired with the pork.

10. El Paseo de la Princesa

Exploring the El Paseo de la Princesa is one of the many fun things to do in Puerto Rico

This famous promenade in Puerto Rico is a beautiful place to enjoy a walk along the San Juan Bay and into the historic city of Old San Juan. Along the promenade, you will find food, history, beautiful sculptures, and gorgeous views of the bay. At the end of the path, you’ll make your way through the San Juan Gate, into the heart of the city.

You’ll also get an up-close view of the old city wall surrounding the city. Just up the path from the large statue, you will find local booths and a playground.

Exploring the El Paseo de la Princesa is one of the many fun things to do in Puerto Rico

One thing we found out the hard way, is this is an area to avoid in the morning if there are a lot of cruise ships in the bay visiting Puerto Rico. There were around eight cruise ships unloading as we tried to visit, and it was chaos. There were pedestrians everywhere as well as nowhere to park. If this is the case, we recommend coming back at a different time to enjoy the promenade.

11. Plaza Colon

Plaza Colon has lots of little booths to explore making it a fun thing to do in Puerto Rico

If you’re looking for a place to begin your exploration of Old San Juan, we recommend starting at Plaza Colon. The local plaza has lots of art, crafts, restaurants, and more. There is a big statue of Christopher Columbus highlighting the history of the Caribbean.

We enjoyed browsing through the local artisan booths in addition to people watching and enjoying some delicious ice cream. There is a local San Juan, Puerto Rico vibe here that we loved.

Raven received a pottery lesson from a local Puerto Rican. She thought it was the best thing ever. It was awesome. Of course, these are the local experiences we just love while we are experiencing a new place. It is just outside Castillo de San Cristobal so you could easily combine visits to these two places.

Best Things to do in Puerto Rico Outside of San Juan

 The San Juan area of Puerto Rico is rich with culture and beautiful city streets but there is a ton more to do in Puerto Rico outside of this area. Depending on the length of your stay, we recommend renting a car for a least a few days and exploring more of the island.

12. Bioluminescent Bay

Visiting a bioluminescent bay is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

There are only five bioluminescent bays in the world and three of them are in Puerto Rico. The most popular bay is Mosquito Bay on Vieques Island which is off the east coast.

The Laguna Grande is the bay we visited and that is on the north side of the island in Fajardo. The last is La Parguera which is on the far southwestern side of Puerto Rico. We chose to visit the Laguna Grande purely for logistical reasons.

Exploring the Laguna Grande is one of the many fun things to do in Puerto Rico

Our word of caution to you before you go is to gain a realistic expectation of what you will see. If you do a Google search of “bio bay” you will see stunning images of glowing water as well as blue waves coming up on dark beaches. As a matter of fact, this is not what you will see at the bays.

The bays are about impossible to photograph because the water doesn’t light up. Single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates are what light up in the water for a brief second when they are disturbed. It is a very cool thing to see if you go into it with the proper expectations.

La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay Tour

If you do not have a rental car, transportation from select areas in the San Juan area is included in this tour. It will take you to the La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay. This is the only bay in Puerto Rico that lets you swim and snorkel.

The tour includes transportation, appetizers, and drinks as well as the experience in the bay.

Book Your La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay Tour Here

Vieques Mosquito Bay Bioluminescent Tour

If you are going to be spending at least one night on Vieques Island, you can go on a bioluminescent tour on the island. From the mainland, you will need to take a ferry or plane ride over to the island for this tour. Because of how late the tour of Mosquito Bay is, you will need to spend the night on the island.

Kayaking through Mosquito Bay is really a cool experience because your paddles’ contact with the water causes the algae to briefly glow. All of the kayaking equipment is included in the tour as well as a guide.  

Book Your Vieques Bioluminescent Bay Tour Here

Laguna Grande in Fajardo

If you are visiting El Yunque, the Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay tour is a really convenient thing to tack on in the evening. This is what we did, and it worked really well for us. We explored El Yunque in the morning and afternoon and then headed to the Laguna Grande in the evening.

Your kayak tour will first take you through a mangrove canal before reaching the bay. The guides are very knowledgeable in sharing information about the bay as well as spotting wildlife along the canal.

Book Your Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Tour Here

13. El Yunque National Forest

Exploring El Yunque is a unique and fun thing to do in Puerto Rico

El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US National Forest System and is filled with waterfalls, rivers, beautiful views, and foliage. There are two entrances to the park and we recommend starting at the northern side near Luquillo. Not only is the northern side more developed but also can help you get an idea of what’s available before heading to the less developed southern side.

Sadly, while we were there much of the rainforest was still closed due to damage from Hurricane Maria but it was still one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico. The visitors center and additionally most of the hiking trails were closed. We were most sad to miss out on hiking to La Mina Falls. We heard it was absolutely beautiful.

Despite so much of the rainforest being closed, it is still worth a visit. We thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring although we were there for less time than we originally anticipated. We explored the area around La Coca Falls, the Yokahu Observation Tower, and Juan Diego Waterfalls.

From the northern entrance, all of these stops will be on the main road that goes through the rainforest. After passing these stops, keep driving through to the loop near Mt. Britton Trail. It is a beautiful drive that will allow you to see more of the El Yunque Rainforest in the light of the hiking trails being closed.

El Yunque Rainforest Guided Waterfall Hike

A guided tour through the rainforest is one of the best things to do in Puerto RIco

If you’re looking for a more adventurous thing do to in Puerto Rico, consider a hiking and waterfall tour. This also includes pickup and drop-off from the San Juan areas making it very easy to visit El Yunque without a car. If you still want to go on the tour but have your own transportation, you can meet up with the group closer to El Yunque.

Once you get to the rainforest, you will hike through the forest to the natural pools and waterfalls. At the swimming pools, you can cliff jump and rope swing. Some of the higher pools also have natural waterslides.

Book Your El Yunque Hiking and Waterfall Tour Here

14. Ziplining Near El Yunque

Ziplining Near El Yunque  is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

Another really popular activity near El Yunque is a ziplining tour. It is a family-friendly activity that will give you great views of the rainforest in Puerto Rico. The experience is about two hours so you can easily tag it along with a hike in El Yunque or the bioluminescent bay.

15. Luquillo Flyboard

Luqillo Flyboard is one of the fun things to do in Puerto Rico

For those of you who don’t know what flyboarding is, let us introduce you. It is awesome!

If you’re looking for one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico, this is it! We met up with Luquillo Flyboard in Luquillo, which is just 45 minutes east of San Juan. We have never flyboarded before so we weren’t quite sure how hard it would be or what it would be like.

First, we met with Yaddiel who gave us some simple instructions and then we headed into the water. Our session was 30 minutes and that was plenty of time to get the basics down.

After some time practicing, we were 15-20 feet out of the water on a snowboard propelled by a water jetpack and doing dives into the water. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

Be sure to check out their media package when booking. Yaddiel took some really fun pictures and videos of us that turned out way better than our pictures from the shore.

The videos and close pictures are the ones he took. You don’t have to worry about getting pictures and videos to share when you get home.

Book Your Luquillo Flyboard Session Here

16. Parque de Bombas

If you’re looking for a perfect Instagram picture, Parque de Bombas in Ponce, Puerto Rico is the place for you. It is in the town of Ponce which is about an hour and twenty minutes south of San Juan. It is a historic fire station in Ponce and today it is a museum and brightly painted building.

17. Day Trip to Ponce

With our flight cancellation, we used our extra day to explore more of the island. We headed south to Ponce. Ponce is on the southern coast and is the largest metropolitan area outside San Juan.

Ponce is very different than the tourist area of Old San Juan. There was a lot more noticeable damage to the city from Hurricane Maria.

A day trip to Ponce is one of the fun things to do in Puerto Rico

A lot of the businesses in the downtown area were empty as well as for sale/rent. You will be disappointed in your trip to Ponce if you are looking for a place with similar shopping and beaches as San Juan.

We really enjoyed the drive from San Juan to Ponce. You travel through lush rainforest-type environments. After that, it turns into more of a desert as you get closer to Ponce.

Above all, we enjoyed seeing the different types of city life outside of the San Juan metropolitan area. It really showed us another side of Puerto Rico that was interesting.

Playing on the beach near Ponce, Puerto Rico

While in Ponce, Puerto Rico we enjoyed the breathtaking views from the Cruceta del Vigia and Serralles Castle. La Guancha is a beautiful boardwalk area with restaurants, a small beach, and a playground.

In Plaza Las Delicias we enjoyed exploring the Parque de Bombas, beautiful fountains, and Catedral Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. After that, check out Sabor y Rumba for lunch and save some room for ice cream from King’s Cream Helados.

18. Caves and Rivers Tour

If you’re looking for fun and adventurous things to do in Puerto Rico, I would recommend looking into a cave and river tour. On the tour, you will get to see the best natural beauty that Puerto Rico has to offer. The day starts off with a hike and ends with swimming and floating a river through an underground cave. This is one of the best ways to see the island.

The tour visits many of the hidden gems in the Puerto Rico forest. Closed-toed water shoes are required for the tour and the minimum age is 10. Traveler pickup is also included from the San Juan area.

Book Your Caves and River Adventure Here

19. Ride Horses On the Beach

Riding horses on the beach is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

If you find yourself on the western coast of Puerto Rico or don’t mind a two-hour drive, riding horses along the beach and through the tropical forest is one of the unique and best things to do in Puerto Rico. Plus, if you go on your ride between December and April you have a chance of seeing whales!

20. Parque Nacional de Las Cavernas del Rio Camuy

The Camuy River Cave Park is a cave system that runs through the middle of Puerto Rico. The caverns are part of the natural limestone caves carved out by the Rio Camuy. The Camuy Cave Park system has over 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves, and 17 entrances however only a small area of the cave is open to the public.

The walk through Camuy Cave Park is about three miles roundtrip. There use to be trolleys going to the cave but have not been running for years due to hurricane damage.

It does take some planning to get a reservation to go through the cave. You have to have a reservation ahead of time and reservations can only be made over the phone. It does take some patience and persistence to get someone to answer the phone, but it is worth the effort.

I recommend making your reservation a few weeks in advance of your visit to Camuy Cave Park, just to make sure you can get through with enough time.

21. Guanica State Forest

Guanica State Forest is a great place to go hiking and is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

Guanica State Forest is a beautiful place to go hiking. It is about 30 minutes west of Ponce along the southwest side of Puerto Rico. The drive from San Juan is about 2 hours. The forest is about 9,000 acres and is home to hundreds of different animals and plants including mangroves.

The most popular trail leads to the Fuerte Capron, a historic fort. The trail is about six miles long but the fort at the end is well worth the effort. If you are looking for a shorter trail you can look at the Ballena Trail and Cueva Trail.

There is no entrance fee, and it is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm or during daylight. Remember to bring good bug spray, water, and sun protection.

22. Toro Verde Adventure Park

The second longest zip line in the world is in the Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis. The zip line is about 7,230 feet long and is 1,200 feet off the ground. Along with this zipline, there are eight other ziplines at Toro Verde Adventure Park as well as some suspension bridges. They also have the world’s longest cable bike circuit in the world at over 1,000 feet long.

A visit to the park will take you through the mountains in the center of Puerto Rico which is a beautiful area. It is about an hour and 45 minutes from San Juan. Each zipline has a minimum of four to five feet tall and you have to weight at least 100 lbs.

23. La Cueva Ventana

Another beautiful cave to visit is Cueva Ventana which translates to Window Cave. This cave in Puerto Rico is only accessible by tour and is a beautiful hike and cave to explore. The minimum age for the adventure is three but is more suitable starting at around age five.

There is a short 10-minute walk from the meeting place to the entrance of the cave. In the first cave, you can see some really cool petroglyphs and hear the bats inside the large cavern. It isn’t very long and open on both sides so the lighting inside the cave is good.

The second cave, Cueva Ventana, is much darker and guides will give you a flashlight. Throughout the cave, you will see different stalagmites and stalactites. At the end of this cave is the large window looking out at the beautiful Puerto Rican countryside.

24. The Pork Highway

There are dozens of restaurants along the Pork Highway in Puerto Rico, a stretch of highway that is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It is common to find pigs roasting on open spits along this stretch of road along with authentic Puerto Rican dishes.

Most of the restaurants have a cafeteria-style setup where you select the dishes you want and take your tray of food to a table. Along with the pork, be sure to try some of the local specialty dishes like tostones and pastelon.

The Pork Highway is about 30 minutes south of San Juan along Route 184. The area is known as Guavate. Most of the restaurants are open during the week, but the weekends are the busiest time to visit.  

25. Cueva del Indio

The Cueva del Indio is a fun place to visit to see petroglyphs on this prehistoric rock site along with a cool cave. It is found in La Piedras by Arecibo.

There is a little bit of a hike to see Cueva del Indio. It is a good idea to wear sturdy shoes for the trail. Sometimes there is a ladder to get up into the cave but other times that ladder is not available. The limestone is wet and slippery so it’s good to wear shoes with strong grip.

The area around Cueva del Indio is beautiful. There are cliffs overlooking the ocean and interesting natural bridges. There are not guardrails on the cliffs so it is a good idea to exercise caution.

The drive from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Cueva del Indio is about 90 minutes. It is east of San Juan so you could combine a visit with El Yunque or Luquillo.

What is the prettiest island in Puerto Rico?

If you are looking for clear water and beautiful white sand beaches, Culebra is the winner in our book. Flamenco Beach has the clearest water of all the Puerto Rican beaches and beautiful coral reefs and marine life.

Vieques is another beautiful island in Puerto Rico but is bigger. If you have a night or two to spend out on the island, Vieques is another good option. If you are short on time, Culebra is a smaller island which makes it easier to explore in a day.

26. Vieques Island

Vieques Island is just off the east coast of Puerto Rico and is easily accessible by ferry. It is a quiet and uncrowded island with beautiful beaches. It is also home to the largest natural wildlife refuge in the Caribbean and the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.

Along with touring the bioluminescent bay, there are lots of fun things to do in Vieques. It is a great place to go snorkeling because of the rich marine life. Also, if you’re on the hunt for the black sands beaches like those on the Big Island of Hawaii, you’re in luck. There’s a black sands beach on the island of Vieques.

 If you want to spend the day snorkeling on Vieques I would recommend a snorkeling tour to Vieques Island. The guides take care of transportation to the island and can show you the best reefs in the area.  

The tour departs out of Ceiba which is about an hour east of San Juan.

27. Culebra Island

Culebra is a laid-back island off the east coast of the main island of Puerto Rico and is easily one of the most beautiful parts of Puerto Rico. It is most famous for Flamenco Beach, one of the few beaches in the world consistently ranked as one of “Best World Beaches.”

As we arrived on the island, we rented a jeep from Jerry’s Jeep and got some lunch at Dinghy Dock. Next, we headed to Flamenco Beach. The beach was beautiful with only a few other people on the beach.  Make sure to not miss the old military tanks located on the west end of the beach. Of course, we played on the beach all afternoon.

We caught the late ferry back so we had some extra time to explore a little more of the island and grab dinner at the Krusty Krab. The fish tacos are delicious.

For more details and tips about visiting Culebra Island, check out our Complete Guide to Visiting Culebra.

28. Gilligan’s Island

If you want to spend some time in the water and snorkeling, Gilligan’s Island is a great place to visit in Puerto Rico. It is a small uninhabited island just off the west coast and is part of the Biosphere Reserve of Guanica. You can either rent a kayak and paddle over or there is a restaurant that offers ferry rides over to Gilligan’s Island.  

Gilligan’s Island is a relaxing place to spend the day and is usually not very crowded. This is especially true if you are visiting during the winter. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, this is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico.

One of the best things to do on the island is to go snorkeling. The marine life is rich there filled with beautiful schools of tropical fish and a coral reef. You can either bring your own snorkel gear or rent gear in Guanica. It is a great place to snorkel for beginners because of the calm water.

Check Prices for Snorkeling Gear on Amazon Here!

Best Things to do in Puerto Rico – Beaches

The beaches in Puerto Rico are some of the best beaches in the United States. The water is perfect for swimming due to the warm temperatures. Here are some of our favorite beaches in Puerto Rico. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Puerto Rico today, you should head to the beach.

29. Flamenco Beach

Visiting Flamenco Beach is well worth a visit during a trip to Puerto Rico

If you have a day to spend, a trip out to Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island is well worth your time. It is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. Flamenco is a great beach for families because of the nice sand and calm water. It is also shallow for quite a way from the shoreline making it perfect for snorkeling with sea turtles and other sea life and swimming. There are lots of beautiful coral reefs.

You can get out to Flamenco Beach either by plane or ferry. The ferry is definitely the cheapest option. You can also go on a tour leaving from San Juan to go to the island.

For everything you need to know about visiting, check out Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Flamenco Beach.

30. Cabo Rojo

Cabo Rojo is a small beach town that is known for beautiful beaches with limestone cliffs and a fun food scene. The area has salt flats just off the coast which gives part of the water a reddish color because of the minerals.

Another one of the fun things to do in Cabo Rojo besides spending time at the beach is the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. It covers about 1,800 acres and is one of nine reserves in the Caribbean. It is a great place for day-hiking and birdwatching. The Cabo Rojo Salt Flats are part of the refuge and are considered to be an important wildlife habitat.

31. Condado Beach

Just outside Old San Juan is Condado Beach. It is a very popular beach among those visiting San Juan. If you’re looking for a quiet and secluded beach, you should skip this one. It has more of a Miami vibe with restaurants, shops, and nightlife just a few steps away.

Condado Beach is a popular place for windsurfing. If you’re traveling with kids, keep in mind this isn’t the best place to go swimming because of strong currents. The best access is from Ventana al Mar Park on Ashford Avenue.

32. Crash Boat Beach

There are beautiful beaches on the west coast of Puerto Rico and in the summertime can be great spots to go surfing. Near the city of Aguadilla, Crash Boat Beach is a perfect place to spend the day at the beach if you’re looking for lively crowds, music, and food stands.

The beach is near an old military port that was used for rescue boats. Today, the beach is a popular place for snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and playing at the beach. The pier even has a ladder so you can jump in and easily climb back up.

If you are looking to swim and need calmer waters, visit the middle of the beach.

33. Luquillo Beach

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Luquillo Beach. It was a perfect place for our three-year-old daughters to play on the beach. The water was shallow for a good way out and there were very small waves there.

It was our favorite beach on the main island of Puerto Rico.

34. Isla Verde Beach

Isla Verde Beach in Puerto Rico - fun things to do in Puerto Rico

Isla Verde is one of the most popular beaches in the metro area of San Juan and for a great reason. Beachgoers can enjoy a variety of water sports and see some of the most elegant and luxurious hotels while above all enjoying a relaxed beach atmosphere.

We visited towards the end of the day and found a mixture of locals running on the beach with their dogs as well as tourists enjoying the warm weather and ocean. The sand was perfect to play in and the waves weren’t too big for Rowen and Raven to enjoy some time in the water.

Isla Verde is one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico

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Collection of pictures from a vacation in Puerto Rico

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7 Comments

    1. Hi Alison. Thanks for your feedback. I know there is much more to do in Puerto Rico than what is on our list but these were our favorite ones that we thought our readers would be most interested in. What should we add to the list on our next visit?

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