This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. If you’re headed to the Island of Enchantment, first of all, I want to say, “congratulations, you’re making a great choice!” You’re likely reading this because you want to know, what ARE the best things to do in Puerto Rico? The island of Puerto Rico, located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea is a traveler’s favorite – and with good reason. While there is something special and unique to be found in most islands, Puerto Rico stands out for appealing to so many diverse interests. It has so much to offer the history buff, the nature enthusiast, the intrepid adventurer, the foodie, the beach bum and the reveler alike. Also, I have a REALLY important tip I need to share with you before you head to the island. Stick around, this one is important. Note: Puerto Rico is US territory, so no passport is required for United States citizens and permanent residents. Perhaps you’ve seen photos of Old San Juan’s colorful, historic architecture. Your surroundings tell a story, one that spans over several centuries. The building I stayed in was 450 years old! These are the instances where the dwellings tell stories too… If you’re a history lover, you will love Old San Juan. Between the buildings and the historical landmarks, there is a lot to take in and learn. But even if you aren’t a history buff, there is lots to love about Old San Juan. The energy is palpable. The atmosphere is lively. Live music, the arts, stories and delicious food and drinks abound. I suggest basing yourself in this area, at least for a bit so you can explore your surroundings on foot. You can read about where I chose to stay: here. There are some things that you just have to do while you’re in a destination. For example, if you’re in Paris, you’re going to go take a look at the Eiffel Tower. Similarly, one of the top things to do in Puerto Rico is check out Barrachina Restaurant. The establishment located in Old San Juan has historical significance, as it bills itself with being the birthplace of the world famous Piรฑa Colada. Further, since it was walking distance from the hotel I stayed in, we visited a multiple times. The first time, we sat down in the open air courtyard for food and drinks. Let’s just address the fact that this is a clear tourist attraction. It was about an hour wait for a table. You’ll likely see swarms of people waiting in a hall. The second time, it was quick swing by the “to go” counter for a takeaway Piรฑa Coladas. Despite that, it’s a fun place to grab a yummy drink! Tip: If you can’t or don’t want to wait, you can always opt for seats at the Piรฑa Colada bar. If bar seating is full, you can always take your drinks to go! That’s correct. At Chocobar, located in Old San Juan, chocolate is in everything on the menu. Yes, you didn’t misread that. Whether you order their delicious french toast or a burger (a chocoburger, to be precise) there is chocolate in every dish, sauce, dressing and drink on the menu! Naturally, as a devout foodie and chocolate lover, I had to check this place out. The place was packed. There seemed to be a mix of domestic tourists (from Puerto Rico), travelers from all over and lots of cruise ship goers. Now, by a lot of people’s estimation, this place might be written off as gimmicky. However, it would be a mistake to do that! While it’s true that the place is filled with travelers, it is 100% worth the visit if you love chocolate, unique restaurants and experiences. I mean, where else in the world can you find a chocolate grilled cheese?! Exactly. Oh, and yes it’s really good. I was so curious I had to order it. Try it! Tip: You must try the chocolate martini! I was enjoying mine so much I inadvertently convinced the entire section of the restaurant I was sitting in to get one. If you’re a Guest at The Gallery Inn, visiting The Cannon Club is as simple as walking through the hotel and heading on inside. The bar seating is first come first serve and there are tables for dining available in the bar area. Weather permitting, you can also sit in the open air patio. You can hear the live music and performances indoors and outdoors. But if you’d like to visually see the concerts (and I recommend it, because it’s such a lovely experience), you should really make a reservation. There is limited seating in the main room where the musicians perform. It’s a small, intimate venue and such a delight to have drinks and tapas while enjoying the show. Tip: If you want to read more about what my stay at The Gallery Inn was like, you can do that: here. A favorite island pastime is going ziplining! While many islands and tropical destinations offer this, Puerto Rico seems to be a favorite place in the Caribbean to take part in the activity. If you’re looking for a place to go ziplining that is not too far from San Juan, this is an excellent option. Embark on a highly rated Ecoadventure at Campo Rico. This activity runs about two hours, includes five ziplines and does involve a light hike to get to the first zipline. Perhaps, you wish to zipline in El Yunque National Forest? To that I say, bravo adventurer, this just may be the perfect activity for you. This excursion includes 11 ziplines and a rappel (gasp?)! Take in the rainforest views from the clouds! Book: Puerto Rico Ziplining Ecoadventure Book: JungleQui Zipline Park at El Yunque National Forest If you’re a foodie, like me, then you’re likely going to prioritize trying the local delicacies. Here’s a quick list of things to try while you’re on the island: Mofongo: deep fried plantains mashed together and topped with your protein of choice Piรฑa Colada: the famed fruity beverage was born in Old San Juan! Tostones: fried plantains (warning, they are absurdly delicious) Pasteles: masa with meat stuffed inside, wrapped in a banana leaf Empanadillas: similar to an empanada (and as yummy) but the exterior is a thinner dough Tembleque: a rich coconut pudding topped with cinnamon! Sorullitos: cigar shaped fritters made of cornmeal, stuffed with cheese Mamposteao: a delicious rice dish with olive oil, tomato sauce, onions, green peppers, beans, cilantro and lots of seasonings There are certainly more, but these are some highlights to definitely try while you’re there! Did you know that Puerto Rico is home to the only rainforest in North America? I’ve actually visited the rainforest in South America and similar to that one, I recommend only exploring a rainforest with a guide! If you’re seeking an adventurous expedition through the El Yunque, this is likely the perfect experience for you, where you’ll hike to waterfalls, swing on a rope swing, cliff jump into the water and then free dive and even slide down a natural rock slide. Have you heard of Culebra Island? This beautiful, tiny remote island is about 40-45 minutes off shore of the main island of Puerto Rico by ferry. This island is raved about by locals and has been deemed one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by many distinguished travel publications. So I am sure the question you have top of mind is: does it live up to the hype? And the short answer is: yes. Yes it does. First, what is the draw of Isla de Culebra? For one, it is a tiny remote island that gives off a very relaxing and untouched feel. There is one main street on the island where you can find seafood restaurants, tiny eateries and local watering holes. Similar to Belize, you can rent a golf cart to cruise around the island. In terms of dining, there’s a handful of dining options available on the island, but their operating hours and availability will vary. If you want a sure thing, stop by Heather’s Pizza. It’s near the ferry dock and makes a great stop on your way there. We sat outside on the sidewalk and enjoyed this delicious pizza pie (seriously, it’s so good… I dream of it). Aside from that, there are options ranging from food trucks to fine dining, depending on what you’re in the mood for. Flamenco Beach is the star of the show on Culebra Island. It’s a beautiful stretch of beach about a mile and a half long with stunning clear turquoise waters. It truly is gorgeous. BUT. The caveat here is that you have to visit with reasonable expectations. There is something that none of us can control while traveling and that is: the weather. Perhaps, on the day you arrive to Flamenco Beach, you encounter this: That’s right… after going to lengths to get to Culebra Island, you may not be able to swim or snorkel in that warm turquoise water you’ve been wanderlusting over. If this happens to you, you can still enjoy this beautiful beach. Many beach goers went in shin deep (some a bit deeper than that). But, be careful ‘testing the waters’ in Puerto Rico. Many beaches are notoriously known for rip currents! A blogger friend of mine who is also a fellow diver snorkeled at Flamenco Beach and said the current was strong on a good weather day. Tip: If you’re not pressed for time, I’d suggest spending a night on Culebra Island. But if you only want to do a day trip, make sure you buy a round trip ferry ticket. One of our taxi drivers told us that travelers have made the mistake of buying one way tickets and the return ferry sold out and then all the lodging on the tiny island was full and they had to spend the night on the beach! Did you know there’s only a few places in the world that you can see bioluminescent bays? First of all, what is a bio bay, you ask? Without getting getting too ‘science-y,’ essentially bioluminescent waters have microorganisms in it that makes the water “glow in the dark.” So when you swim in it or boat through it, you’ll see the water around you glow. How cool, right?! You can see this glowing water wonder in three places in Puerto Rico: Laguna Grande in Fajardo – this is on the main island and is a kayak only experience. If you want to swim in the bio bay, you can’t do it here. Book the Laguna Grande Kayak experience: here “Mosquito Bay” – is located on the island of Vieques. Now, if you’re planning to work a day or two in Vieques into your itinerary, you should definitely plan to kayak in Mosquito Bay! Book the Mosquito Bay 1 hour boat tour: here La Parguera – located in Lajas (which is on the main island, on the complete opposite side of San Juan, Cieba and neighboring islands of Vieques and Culebra). This is where you can swim in the bioluminescent waters! Book the La Parguera experience: here Tip: Mosquito Bay in Vieques holds the Guinness World Record for being the ‘brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.’ So if you’re content with kayaking only, Vieques might be the place to see the waters glow bright blue. There are a few black sand beaches in Puerto Rico. Perhaps the most striking and photographed is ‘Playa Negra,’ which is known for having the darkest sand of the lot. This beach is not known for its calm waters… those who flock to the beach want to see the black sand and sweeping cliffs for themselves. Just another reason to visit Vieques! I didn’t get to visit to make it to Vieques on my first trip to Puerto Rico, but, when I return I will absolutely be prioritizing spending at least a couple days in Vieques. If you want to see the bio bays, the black sand beach, enjoy beaches that aren’t super crowded with stunning water, make sure you make room for Vieques in your itinerary. Find your stay in Vieques here: For US citizens, this is a fairly ‘easy’ destination to get a complete change of scenery. The currency is USD, you can use the same chargers you use at home and no passport is required. For global travelers, you can use the charger adapter you would use in the mainland USA and the currency needed is United States Dollar. Here is my biggest tip for visiting Puerto Rico: if you know you want to go to Vieques or Culebra, buy your ferry tickets as soon as possible. It appears that tickets can only be purchased six weeks out, so this is something you’ll have to stay on top of. Many travelers make the mistake of thinking you can buy ferry tickets on the spot (understandable… it’s a large boat, government run public transportation). But this is why so many travelers miss out on visiting the other islands! Ferry tickets sell out far in advance online. If this happens to you, you can always show up at the ferry station Ceiba. We were able to score same day tickets, but like the rest of the travelers that showed up the day of as we did, they were for the afternoon boat which gave us very limited time on the island. You used to be able to charter private boats to the outer islands easily, but many of those businesses folded during the pandemic. Besides, that would be quite costly and the ferry tickets are only $2.00! Headed to Puerto Rico Soon? Have any questions? Drop them in the comments! Going – I have been subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab! I use the Premium paid version, but they have a FREE version too. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s get Going! Booking.com – the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates! You can also easily communicate with your accommodation through the app! Expedia – If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking the majority of my flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward. I often can find the most cost effective rates, while earning points for every flight I book (in tandem with the points I receive from the credit cards I pay with). Viator – most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered! Get Your Guide – this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip. Things to do in Puerto Rico – an Epic Guide for First Time Visitors
Experience the Magic of Old San Juan
Visit Barrachina Restaurant – Birthplace of the Piรฑa Colada
Chocobar – Where Chocolate is in Everything
See Live Music at the Cannon Club
Seeking a Thrill? Go Ziplining
Taste Puerto Rican Cuisine
Explore El Yunque Rainforest
Make a Trip to Isla de Culebra
What About Flamenco Beach?
Marvel at the Bioluminescent Bays
There’s also a Black Sand Beach in Vieques
Know Before You Go
Travel Tips & Resources to Help You Plan an Epic Trip!
Puerto Rico looks wonderful. I’d love to experience the culture and food. The bioluminescence is amazing if it’s anything like we have here in New Zealand.
The food and culture is marvelous. Ahh, I didn’t know there are bio bays in New Zealand! Speaking of which, I have been yearning to go there for so long. Good to know!
What an amazing area! I mean, gorgeous views, chocolates aaaand loads of tasty food… Puerto Rico looks fabulous.
P.s. I flipping love your yellow dress!
Right! Views, chocolate and great food – how can one go wrong? Aww, thank you so much Josy ๐
Your dress and photos are beautiful!! I want to go to Puerto Rico someday, I wanted to go for WITS this year but oh well…the food and drinks look delicious too! Especially the pina colada and chocolate martini, yes please!
Thank you so much, Hannah! The food and drinks are very good in Puerto Rico!
Great info – especially the tip about the ferries. It would be so annoying to not be able to get the islands because there are not tickets left. I am not sure about that chocolate grilled cheese though – think I would stick to the chocolate martini instead if I visit Puerto Rico.
Thank you Kitty. Yes, so many travelers show up surprised that they sell out so far in advance since its public transport. Haha, fair enough, you can’t go wrong with the chocolate martini!
Puerto Rico is on my bucket list so I’m definitely saving this for later. I’d love to have that chocolate martini. I’m super excited now. Thank you so much!
I’d love to return so I can get to all the things I didn’t make it to this last visit. You WILL LOVE that chocolate martini… divine.
We have made a few stops in Puerto Rico on cruise trips. But one day wanted to go back and enjoy a longer trip. I canโt believe us chocoholics missed the Chocobar! We would love to spend more time out of the city and would plan to enjoy both the El Yunque rainforest and Isla de Culebra.
Hi Linda! Yes, Chocobar is a chocoholics dream! I definitely have many reasons to head back, specifically I really need to see El Yunque rainforest!
Puerto Rico is on my list! It is just so tricky to get there from the Southwest (go figure!). What a great guide! I am definitely saving for future travel planning. Really want to see a bioluminescent bay!
Yes, I have many reasons to return and the bio bay is one of them! I know what you mean about flying from the southwest… you so often have to have a layover somewhere on the way…
Amanda what a fun time. Old San Juan looks fabulous. Puerto Rico has long been on my list. Passport-free travel sounds good for me but the culture of the place seems inspired. I have a few Puerto Rican – American friends and their hearts are huge. Kind, generous and just fabulous people. Great post!
Ryan
Thanks so much Ryan! Ahh, so well put. The culture is SO INSPIRED! I so agree, they do have the biggest hearts and I experienced this first hand – I left Puerto Rico with such a touching story that I’ll have to share soon.