Puerto Rico Travel Guide ⎮ Top Ten Things to Do in Puerto Rico 2024
Top Rated Tour in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico… The Island of Enchantment… The Land of a Thousand Blessings…
We are fortunate to have all the beauty of Puerto Rico year-round; we’ve come up with a great list of things to do, places to visit, and vacation itinerary ideas to make your planning easier. It is an honor to share the best of Puerto Rico and help you plan an unforgettable stay. We travel around the island often to keep this guide updated, and we speak to travelers to put together an objective, useful, and inspiring guide.
We don’t build our guides for search engines; we have built them for YOU since 2004. We take pride in responsibly recommending places we would take our own family… places and activities that are safe, memorable, and worth your valuable vacation time and hard-earned money.
- Spend a Day at Flamenco Beach
- Explore the Enchanting Rainforest of El Yunque
- Swim or Go Kayaking on Bioluminescent Waters
- Escape to the Seclude Icacos Cay
- Marvel at the Spectacular Camuy River Cave Park
- Visit Five Century Old Castles at San Juan National Historic Site
- Visit Casa Bacardi Distillery
- Go Swimming with Sea Turtles
- Go Snorkeling in Puerto Rico
Top Ten Things To Do & Places to Visit in Puerto Rico
Award Winning Old San Juan Tour
Old San Juan is the best place to start your vacation, the cultural epicenter of Puerto Rico, an open living museum that houses over 500 historic buildings. As you walk around Old San Juan you can tour five-century-old castles, churches, relaxed squares, restored buildings turned into interesting shops, excellent restaurants, and casual cafes. Old San Juan is constantly changing, offering something new and interesting to repeat visitors.
Relax, ditch the map, take in the sights, sit at a square and have a cup of coffee, forget dieting and try traditional foods, dance to the music playing, and enjoy the company of your party… that’s what Old San Juan is all about. You can certainly explore on your own, but if you wish to get the most out of your visit, there are many wonderful tours in Old San Juan, and then explore more of your own.
On your own: If you’re short on time and you’ve never been to Old San Juan, be sure to visit at least one of the forts, then walk the streets and simply do what catches your eye, that’s how you find YOUR special place in Old San Juan.
Time Needed in Old San Juan: At least one full day, but a two-night stay in San Juan is perfect to explore the best of the history, culture, and romance of the city.
+ Recommended Attractions in Old San Juan
Suggested Places to Visit in Old San Juan:
- Visit San Juan National Historic Site
- Walk down Paseo de La Princesa
- Casa Blanca Museum
- Cathedral San Juan Bautista
- Iglesia San Jose
- The Scenic Plazuela La Rogativa
- Walk down Calle de Cristo
- Walk down Calle Fortaleza
+ Map of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Places mentioned in this guide. For more, see full map of Places to Visit in Old San Juan
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Top Rated Old San Juan Tours
Top Rated Tour to Culebra
Simple Perfection… As soon as arrive at Flamenco Beach, you’ll understand why it is one of the most glorified beaches in the world.
Flamenco Beach is located on the sleepy island of Culebra, located off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Be sure to make the day trip to Culebra, or better yet, split your vacation by spending a few nights there and you’ll have bragging rights to visiting one of the best beaches on the planet.
Best Places to Stay near Flamenco Beach: Club Seabourne⎮Aleli Cottages ⎮ Nakiti Cottages
+ Getting to Culebra
The most convenient way to spend a day in Culebra is by booking a catamaran cruise ahead online. If you wish to spend more than a day in Culebra, taking a short flight from San Juan Airport is the most convenient way. You may also drive to Ceiba Airport for a shorter and more budget-friendly flight. If you’re traveling with a group, the most budget-friendly option is to drive or take a transfer to the Ceiba Ferry and spend the day in Culebra. The map below shows airport locations, ferry terminals, and marinas in Fajardo where some tours depart, as well as the best-rated hotels nearby.
+ Map of Flamenco Beach & Nearby Airports, Ferry Terminal & Places to Stay
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Top Rated Tours to Culebra - One of the Islands of Puerto Rico
Popular Tour to El Yunque
El Yunque National Rainforest, one of the world’s natural wonders is within your reach. El Yunque National Rainforest is one of the reasons this island is called The Island of Enchantment, the forest captivates and transports visitors to more ancient times, free of development, cement structures, and stressors of everyday life.Cool, clean crisp air, sights of lush green canopies of giant ferns and ancient trees, and bursts of colors from flower petals adorning the rainforest… the sounds of birds, coquis singing, and splashing of waterfalls in the distance… the feel of cool fresh water from waterfalls that Taino Natives considered sacred. This is El Yunque.. a place to get lost in unadulterated beauty to renew body and mind…
From easy hikes to more challenging and adventurous excursions, there’s something for everyone in El Yunque, and enthusiastic and professional tour guides are happy to show you with pride their beloved rainforest in Puerto Rico. You may also explore on your own if you have more time to plan your visit, visitor’s center will help you with a map and information.
Best Places to Stay Near El Yunque National Rainforest: St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort ⎮ Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort ⎮ Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham
+ Getting to El Yunque & itinerary Ideas
Getting to El Yunque: The rainforest in the town of Rio Grande, in the eastern region of Puerto Rico. Driving Distance from San Juan is 45 minutes. You no longer need to make a reservation in order to enter the park if you’re driving there. The most popular and hassle-free way to visit is by booking a tour that takes care of all logistics. Many tours say “El Yunque Rainforest,” but do not go to the official rainforest; please read this guide before booking a tour. See guide for planning your visit and best tours.
Itinerary / Vacation Ideas: A wonderful day trip is going to El Yunque and later going to Luquillo Beach, the most popular beach on the east coast. In Luquillo, you can eat traditional fritters and great drinks at the beach kiosk or nearby famous Luquillo Kiosks.
+ Map - El Yunque National Rainforest & Nearby Hotels
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Cayo Icacos (Icacos Cay), part of Cordillera Reef Reserve is among the most popular offshore excursions in Puerto Rico, satisfying that wanderlust for that secluded island tropical experience. Lay on the sand without the need of dreaming, because you’re already there… on a cay surrounded by nothing else but the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy the warmth of the sun, jump in crystal clear turquoise waters… float, swim, and snorkel… experience the enchantment of Puerto Rico. The experience begins as soon as you begin to sail away from the shores of the main island, as you admire the coastline and the lighthouse at the top of Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve from the best viewpoint.
Choose from various wonderful experiences to visit Icacos from luxurious private sailing charters, fun catamaran trips, or small group boat tours. Tours leave from Fajardo, and various tours offer to pick up in hotels and resorts in San Juan / Isla Verde and east coast resort communities.
+ Map - Cayo Icacos - Fajardo, Puerto Rico
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Top Rated Tours to Cayo Icacos from Fajardo
+ Cayo Icacos, Puerto Rico
Top Rated Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay Tour - Reserve Now & Pay Later
This world-wonder has been included by many travel experts as one of the “things to do before you die”, and one of the most romantic experiences in nature. You may have seen bioluminescence in scenes of movies such as Avatar and Nim’s Island… it does look like magic on the water. You can experience bioluminescence by kayak, boat, and in one location you can jump in and swim in the glowing waters.
Laguna Grande, located in the town of Fajardo is the most convenient option for visitors staying in the San Juan, Isla Verde, and east region of the island. Mosquito Bay is located in Vieques and is the brightest in the world, but you must stay overnight on the island. On the west coast of the island, there is a bioluminescent bay in La Parguera, the only one allowing swimming; it is also the one with the least crowds.
We published the first extensive guide on the bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. Please readour guide before you book a tour soyou can plan the best experience and avoid disappointments.
+ Map - Bioluminescent Bays & Lagoon & Nearby Hotels
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Top Rated Camuy River Cave Park from San Juan
Camuy River Cave Park is the most impressive natural wonder in the northern region of Puerto Rico. This cave is very family-friendly and does not require hiking. It is one of the world’s largest cave networks. Take a peak at what awaits at Camuy River Cave Park… we promise you it has a wow factor not possible to capture in photos.
+ Map - Camuy River Cave Park - Camuy, Puerto Rico
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Top Rated Old San Juan Walking Tour w/ Fort Visit
While in San Juan, you can’t miss the San Juan National Historic Site, which includes two of the most spectacular landmarks in Puerto Rico, the forts of Castillo San Cristóbal & Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro (known as El Morro) is one of the most beloved landmarks on the island rich in history, where many cultural events are held. Most Puerto Ricans have fond memories of flying a kite on the lawn, a must-do while here.
Castillo San Cristobal is the largest of the two, a lot of fun for kids as they tour the tunnels, the views are spectacular.
If you wish to tour both forts, you can follow our Calle Norzagaray Walking Tour.
Time Needed to visit San Juan National Historic Site (Both forts) –At a relaxed pace, you can tour both forts and walk along Calle Norzagaray in a full morning/afternoon. You’ll need about 1.5 hours at each fort.
+ Map - San Juan National Historic Site - San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Top Rated Bacardi Distillery Tour
Casa Bacardi is the largest premium rum distillery in the world. We recommend a Rum Tasting Tour, after the experience, you’ll be sipping on rum neat, some of Bacardi’s finest rums are too delicious to mix. A general tour includes the history of Casa Bacardi, the distillery process, and a welcome co*cktail. Casa Bacardi also offers a fun Mixology Tour. For something really special to take home, only at Casa Bacardi Gift Shop, you can purchase Bacardi Casa Special Reserve, which you’ll be personally pouring into a bottle straight from the barrel.
+ Map - Casa Bacardi Distillery - Cataño, Puerto Rico
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Being on a beach is a great experience, but putting your head down where noise is canceled and your senses are introduced to a new world where sea turtles gracefully glide in tempered waters… are among the experiences that make Caribbean life so enviable. You may think that you have to go to a secluded, out-of-the-way beach in order to swim with sea turtles, but you’ll be happy to know that there are a handful of beaches where you have a pretty good chance of seeing them.
- Balneario El Escambron in San Juan – Yes! Right in the city you can swim with sea turtles. The beach is located a short drive from Condado and Old San Juan.
+ Map of Best Beaches to Swim with Sea Turtles in Puerto Rico
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With hundreds of beaches of course Puerto Rico has great snorkeling… If you have a longer vacation you can rent a car and bring your own snorkel gear to visit the best snorkeling spots. If you only have a few days in Puerto Rico, we encourage you to allow one of the passionate tour guides in Puerto Rico to take you on a wonderful snorkeling excursion. We are happy to make your planning easier, we were the first to create an in-depth guide to all the best snorkeling beaches in Puerto Rico, complete with top-rated snorkeling charters.
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Map - Most Interesting Places & Attractions in Puerto Rico
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Photos - Beautiful Places & Fun Things to Do in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Tourism Guide ⎮ Puerto Rico Best Things to Do, Places to Visit, Top Tours, Attractions & Vacation Ideas – Travel Guide 2023
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