If you are planning your next getaway and haven’t picked a destination yet, go to Puerto Rico and you won’t regret it.
It is undoubtedly a must-visit destination if you are in the United States.
Puerto Rico exceeded my expectations. What makes this island unique is the abundance of vibrant culture, beautiful art, exciting nightlife, delicious food, interesting history, serene beaches, and lush rainforest! Basically, everything!
There is something for everyone’s liking. We took a week-long vacation, and I am already thinking about my next visit!
We visited many beaches, ate plenty of delectable food and explored a lot.
Here is the detailed itinerary of things to remember, to-do, and my experience.
DAY ONE:
Arriving in Puerto Rico
We took the red-eye flight by American Airlines and landed at San Juan Airport (SJU) around 11 am. The journey was tiring but we saved a day by reaching early.
We had a good breakfast at Paulina Escanes Gourmandize, while we waited to check in to our Airbnb.
Our gorgeous beachfront apartment was in Condado, which is a good location to stay in because it’s easily accessible to landmarks. Our Airbnb was on Ashford Avenue which has access to everything from beaches, pharmacies, and hotels to good restaurants and bars.
Everything at walking distance.
After check-in, we went to the Numero Uno Beach Hotel & Restaurant. It is on the beach, so the location is fantastic. We couldn’t get a table sooner due to the long wait but we hung out at the beach there which was very lively.
We had a delicious Puerto-rican dinner at La Cueva Del Mar. I wanted to try the local cuisine and this restaurant had a vast appetizing menu. We tried the famous Mofongo which is a dish with fried plantains. In every nook and corner of Puerto Rico, you will find Mofongo or some fried food!
Communication could be a small issue if you don’t know Spanish. However, most people do speak English there.
DAY TWO:
Roadtrip to Rincon
We rented a car for 3 days when we had to drive the most. Rest of the days we booked Uber as it is relatively cheaper there. I would recommend booking a car only for days you need to drive long distances to avoid the hassle of finding parking spots.
Also, it is worth mentioning here that driving is unlike in other parts of the US. The laws are not stringent as the speed limits are not taken seriously, people drive aggressively, and the roads can get confusing. So better to be prepared for this to avoid frustration and accidents.
We drove to Rincon which is a town on Puerto Rico’s west coast. It is a 2.5-3 hours of drive one way, so do not add this to your itinerary if you don’t have enough days. But if you do, this is a must-visit for its beautiful beaches.
The day trip to Rincon was an enjoyable and worth-it drive. You can read in detail about it here.
Before driving to Rincon, we wanted to grab a quick breakfast. And what could be better than Açai bowls! I began to love these during my holiday in Bali. Just like Bali, there are tons of places in Puerto Rico that serve Açai bowls. A MUST-EAT! It tastes just as good as it looks!
DAY THREE:
A visit to the only tropical rainforest in the US
We drove to El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US. The drive is 45 mins each way. Be prepared for some rainfall while you are there.
I would recommend renting a car to go to El Yunque as it is the most convenient. You can tour the rainforest at your leisure and as per your conditions. You need a reservation ticket per vehicle to enter the rainforest. It is $2 per car and you can buy the tickets here.
Please book this ahead of time as the last-minute booking is very unreliable. There are limited slots only and tickets get sold out in a minute. It is like playing the fastest finger first. We merely got it by booking just one day prior.
Alternatively, you could book a guided tour to El Yunque
The rainforest has multiple viewpoints- Yokahu Tower, La Coca Falls, La Mina Falls ( Temporarily closed- check if this is open), Juan Diego Creek, Angelito Trail, and Baño Grande.
You will find a map of the forest once inside.
After exploring the forest, we had our favorite Puerto-Rican food at a recommended local restaurant named Don Pepe which is close to El Yunque. We had the Trifongo- a cousin of the Mofongo (It is not on their menu, so ask for it) and shrimp rice with fried plantains. Flavorful!
Also, try their Pina Colada. Not just here, try Piña Coladas everywhere around the island. It is their specialty- since it was invented In Puerto Rico.
In the evening, I took my book to enjoy reading at the beach behind our apartment and took a dip in the warm waters. This side of Condado beach was more peaceful and quieter. You could enter from “Parque Del Indio- Condado” and walk west.
Dinner was Açai Bowl again, at this cute Crush Juice bar at Ashford Avenue. They have so many types of Açai and smoothie bowls!
DAY FOUR:
Para… Para… Paradise
Day Four was like experiencing a piece of paradise. We went to Culebra and spent an entire day on Flamenco beach. This postcard-worthy beach makes the strenuous journey worth it!
I had been wanting to spend a whole day on the beach relaxing for a long time. And I did just that on this heavenly beach with soft white sand and as perfect as clear turquoise waters can get.
The glazing sun and the beach waves were changing the colors of the water making it a blissful sight.
We had dinner at Kabanas ( Burgers and Mexican)- I ate the falafel sandwich which was good.
DAY FIVE:
Colorful buildings, Cobbled Streets, and a Camera
We checked out from the Airbnb and checked in to a hotel- Aloft by Marriott
The reason was that we wanted to experience a hotel stay as well along with Airbnb. I also feel on long holidays it is like minimizing risks. Had I not liked Airbnb much, this would have been a backup.
Considering Puerto Rico often has power outages since Hurricane Maria. Most Airbnbs do not have a generator, so remember this while booking.
We had a very comfortable and pleasant stay at both the accommodations without any issues.
Breakfast was at a highly rated beach-facing restaurant & bar called Alambique Beach Lounge. Enjoy delicious food whilst enjoying the view of Isle Verde beach. Wait times could be longer here due to the popularity.
After all the long-distance driving, this day was reserved for a lot of walking. Exploring Old San Juan on foot. As I have mentioned earlier, Rahul and I enjoy wandering around and discovering things.
We covered the entire Old San Juan walking into every alley- appreciating the lovely architecture, the history of Old San Juan, and its cute shops and eateries.
The colorful buildings and cobbled streets make this place so charming and picture-worthy.
Things to see and do in Old San Juan:
- Walk down the gorgeous seaside path of Paseo Del Morro that leads to the citadel, Castillo San Felipe Del Morro. You can read the interesting history about it on your way to this fortress.
- You can see La Perla too while walking down from here
- Another fortress to view, Castillo San Cristóbal
- Fortaleza Street ( Calle de la Fortaleza) is the busiest street in Old San Juan because it is trendy and a photo spot for your Instagram. The street has pink butterflies hanging as the creative theme which keeps changing from time to time. This street leads to La Fortaleza, the residence of Puerto Rico’s governor.
- Cathedral Basilica de San Juan Bautista
- Calle San Sebastian for street nightlife. Tons of restaurants and bars can be found here. We had dinner at La Taberna Lúpulo. Vibrant vibe with good food and drinks.
- DO NOT MISS the mouth-watering gelato at ANITA La Mamma Del Gelato. There could be a wait but do not turn away. There are plenty of flavors they allow tasting before deciding. The aesthetics, flavors, and service- are all on point! The last time I had such a perfect tasting gelato was in Italy!
- Chocobar Cortés– If you love chocolate, this should be on your itinerary. Because every dish is made of chocolate. It got closed when we reached there, so we missed it. But you should try it and tell me what I missed.
- If you are a coffee connoisseur or fancy some coffee, go to Café Cuatro Sombras. They serve good authentic specialty coffee. We also picked up some coffee beans from there.
DAY SIX:
A leisure day exploring San Juan
The second-best brunch place in Puerto Rico- Waffle- Era. Wait just a bit to know the best brunch place.
Waffle-era serves sweet and savory waffles with several toppings you could choose from. Everything was flavorful and exceptional!
We strolled the streets of Old San Juan because we loved it so much. We saw the El Capitolio and then headed to Condado beach because we missed the beach a little. Strolled the Ashford Avenue which is quite lively even during the day.
We went to La Placita de Santurce, which is a must-visit, especially from Thursday-Saturday. During the day, this is a marketplace, and evenings turns into a party place with bustling loud music from different bars and people dancing and enjoying on the street. Quite entertaining and fun.
We had a very appetizing Thai dinner in Santurce at Mai Pen Rai. One of the best Thai foods I have eaten.
Go to Jungle Bird– A cozy cocktail bar with good vibes, cool drinks, and cute interiors.
Day SEVEN:
Leaving with wonderful memories
Going back home with a belly full and heart’s content.
We had a dreamy and the best brunch of my life at Bistro Café, with over 3400 reviews on Google! The menu is so expansive that you could be disoriented looking at so many options. Food is to die for. The presentation, décor, service- everything is on point. The portion size is huge, we gladly packed the rest.
If good food excites you equally, needless to say, add this to your list first.
This is not it. Puerto Rico is full of surprises. There are quite a few things that could interest you besides these. We did not include these in our itinerary, but you should if it interests you. Noting a few down below. Hope it helps!
Other recommendations in Puerto Rico
- Vieques island – The Mosquito Bay on this island is famous for its brightest bioluminescence effect in the world. It is one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico but is supposed to be the best.
- Drive to Playa Sucia beach in Cabo Rojo is located in the south-western part. The Centro Interpretativo Las Salinas , also called the Pink Beach is close by. A long drive but seems beautiful if you have time to spare. You could skip this like we did and cover Rincon instead.
- Isle Verde Beach- We did stop here momentarily and it is a beautiful beach that is divided into 3 beaches: El Alambique, Pine Grove Beach, and Balneario de Carolina. A lot of hotels and places to eat in this part.
- Drive to Gozalandia falls located in San Sebastian- The west part of the island.
A few things to remember when visiting
- Weather: January-March is the dry season. April- December it rains but mainly in May and October. The rains come and go, just carry an umbrella with you
- Timezone: Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
- Carry some cash. Not all places accept credit cards
- Carry a bug repellent when visiting rainforests or kayaking
- Please use a reef-safe sunscreen like mineral sunscreens when in water
- Lastly, click tons of pictures while enjoying it because this island will give you plenty of opportunities for that
- Carry water shoes and snorkeling gear for the beaches
Check out the detailed Itinerary for These places
- Culebra
How to get to paradise? To Flamenco Beach, Culebra
- Rincon