Puerto Rico is a Caribbean country located one hour by plane from the Dominican Republic and less than 35 minutes from free territories such as “Culebra”. Its excellent climate and fabulous diversity make it an unmissable place to visit and vacation surrounded by crystal clear water and imposing mountains.
This country, despite being small, has for you enigmatic enclosures such as mysterious caves, where you have the opportunity to hike and learn about the local culture. You will also be fascinated to visit rainy parks full of nature to rest, such as “El Yunque”.
The beaches are unbeatable, where you can visit the second most beautiful beach in the world according to Discovery Channel: the magnificent “Playa Flamenco”, with its transparent waters and white sand. There are beach resorts everywhere you go and the capital, San Juan, also has a beautiful bay full of stores.
If you want to be part of this paradise, take a look at all the places you should not miss on your Puerto Rico vacations, places full of activities for the whole family that will allow you to relax while admiring the beauty of the area.
1. San Juan
The city of San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. It is located 20 minutes from Carolina and 15 minutes from Bayamón, which are also well-known cities in the country. To get to San Juan from nearby countries such as the Dominican Republic, you can take a ferry from Santo Domingo with the company “Ferries del Caribe” and enjoy the 15-hour trip at sea.
The ride in San Juan is very quiet and ideal for tourism, as everything is full of locals to shop for food because it is one of the places to eat in Puerto Rico. You will also find ‘El Morro’, a fort built during the colony that is more than 200 years old, from where you will see the sea and the fabulous architecture made of stone.
You can also visit the old San Juan which is the colonial area located 10 minutes away from El Morro. There, you will be able to observe the classic colonial style houses and buy desserts. The local “El Señor Paleta” sells ice cream and delicious desserts, and is famous for its strawberry cheesecake.
If you want to stay in the city, “El Nómada Urban Beach Hostel” is one of the most beautiful hotels and offers comfortable rooms and WIFI service. It is located 20 minutes from Loíza Street and has comfortable prices. It is undoubtedly one of the places to visit in Puerto Rico that you can not miss.
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2. Fajardo
Fajardo is a beautiful Puerto Rican town located 30 minutes from Ceiba and 40 minutes from San Juan, it is also known as Villa Fajardo and is a beautiful area surrounded by clear waters. You can get there by taking a cab from San Juan and it leaves you in the heart of the municipality.
It is the ideal place for tourism if you want to take a water vacation, since the region has for you many entertainment options, such as the water park “Coqui Water Park”, which can be reached by taking a cable car and walking through a quiet crystal clear pool.
There are also options if you want a quieter space where you can take a break, such as “Playa Escondida”, a free access bay. The water is very clear and shallow, so children will be able to play in comfort. To get there you have to cross the entire “Seven Seas” beach resort and a beautiful mangrove path.
To take a break from traveling around Fajardo, you will like to have lunch in one of the many gastronomic options offered by the site. “Pasión por el Fogón” is one of the best restaurants in the municipality, serving grilled meat specialties and is located 20 minutes from the downtown area.
3. Isla Verde
Isla Verde is a wooded and aquatic area located in the department of Carolina, 30 minutes from Santurce. To get there from San Juan, you must take a short 15-minute cab ride to the beach, famous for its green waters and resorts.
One of the most interesting attractions is the bay of Isla Verde, due to the calm and clear ocean of a beautiful green color that it possesses and in which you will love to swim. On the shore, you will like to rent snorkeling equipment and also hire boats to take you on trips along the beach.
The area has a very active nightlife, as it is known for having a lot of Bars and Pubs. The “Ocean” bar offers cocktails and Caribbean drinks with a great view of the sea from nine o’clock at night. It is one of the most romantic places in Puerto Rico.
You will be surprised by the great variety of family restaurants that have the beaches and also the streets of the city. “Entrevinos” is one of the best restaurants and is widely recognized for offering excellent quality wines and delicious homemade national food; it is located five minutes from the heart of the city.
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4. San Felipe del Morro Castle (San Juan)
The San Felipe Castle, also known as El Fuerte San Felipe, is a magnificent colonial construction located in the city of San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico. To get there you must walk to Norzaragay Street, 10 minutes from the city. It is one of the visits that you should not miss if you travel to Puerto Rico.
As it is a tourist site you must pay an entrance fee to enter the castle. The tour is full of valuable history and is led by guides who will give you interesting facts about the construction of the site while you listen to the sea, making it one of the historical sites of Puerto Rico.
Touring the surroundings will delight you because it is possible to take beautiful pictures of the colonial architecture and, in addition, enjoy the seascape. The area is surrounded by a very intense blue sea that makes your walk special. It is advisable to wear sunglasses and use sunscreen, because the ambient temperatures are high.
As it is a very important cultural area in the region, it is surrounded by numerous food places with different options, national or international, for you to choose and enjoy after the walk. “Patacón con Todo”, for example, is a restaurant located behind the fort and offers typical Caribbean food, such as patacones and fried fish.
5. El Yunque National Park (Río Grande)
El Yunque is one of the favorite areas for travelers who visit the island because its main attraction is its forested landscapes. To get there, you must take a bus or cab from San Juan to Río Grande; the trip takes half an hour. Once in Río Grande, you must take the transportation that will take you to the National Park.
The Yunque Forest has a rainy climate that contrasts with the tropical climate of the island. It is surrounded by nature and wildlife such as snakes and mongooses. The entrance fee to the park is not expensive, but if you want to take a tour that takes you to the most beautiful areas of the National Park you must pay a much higher fee.
Inside the forest you will find attractive waterfalls that are perfect for photography and bathing surrounded by rainforest. The waterfall “La Coca” has very clear water and deep bottoms where people dive and have fun. You should also go to the Mount Britton viewpoint, which requires a two-hour hike to access a spectacular view of the park.
Inside the forest there are no restaurants, if you want to eat you must leave there and head to Rio Grande where great fast food and also national food places are waiting for you. “El Verde BBQ serves delicious food and is located at the entrance to El Verde, 10 minutes from downtown Rio Grande.
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6. Ponce Museum of Art
The Art Museum is a beautiful building that houses valuable cultural works of the city, so it is one of the historical attractions of Puerto Rico and is perfect to add to your tour in Ponce. To get there you need to travel one hour and 50 minutes by cab from San Juan, which will leave you on the famous Ferre Boulevard.
The Museum charges admission and has a schedule from Wednesday to Monday, since Tuesdays are maintenance days and private sessions. There you will be able to observe a large number of collections of Spanish and French paintings of baroque and golden century art. In addition, you will have guides who will provide you with valuable information about the works of art.
The building is also a work of art, because it has hexagon-shaped architecture with lots of lighting. Inside, it has beautiful spaces such as the galleries, as well as beautiful gardens to stroll through.
The museum is centrally located, so you will have multiple options for a delicious lunch after enjoying the gallery. The restaurant “La Musa” is located 10 minutes from the museum on “El tercero” street and offers stewed and national food starting at $40 in a very informal and pleasant atmosphere.
7. Flamenco Beach (Culebra)
This is a paradisiacal beach with crystal-clear waters and very white sand, located in the state of Culebra, administered by Puerto Rico. To get there, you must take a plane to Culebra. The trip takes 35 minutes and, upon arriving at the island, you must take a cab to the bay.
The resort is a magical place surrounded by imposing vegetation and very calm water, perfect for swimming and resting. By paying the entrance fee you will have access to the colorful corals that are in the depths. You will enjoy snorkeling, renting equipment on the shore to observe colorful fish and watch the turtles swim in the second most beautiful beach, according to Discovery Channel.
The site has hiking facilities due to the exuberant nature that surrounds it. You will be able to make great tours there on the shore of the bay or on the sandy paths nearby. There is a lot of security because it has lifeguard service, so it is one of the places for children in Puerto Rico.
There are many fast food places to have lunch on the sand like “Culebra”, which sells patacones and fried fish on the seashore for 40 dollars and also offers coconut-based drinks to refresh you.
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8. Culebra Island
Culebra Island is an independent territory that is administered by the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments. It is a beautiful island with a very attractive Caribbean climate that will make you fall in love. Getting to Culebra requires taking a plane from San Juan and flying for 45 minutes.
The place has very few inhabitants, so it is usually quiet and peaceful, ideal for walks outdoors. If you plan to explore, you should bring sunscreen, as temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius. The environment is ideal for taking pictures because there are very green hills and mountains, in addition to the turquoise and bright beach.
It is necessary to hire a means of transportation for tours on the island, because although it is very small, the distances are too great to walk. It is possible to rent golf carts in Culebra through ATV RENTAL.
If you want to have a delicious breakfast and very close to the beach, there are few but valuable dining options, such as the “Blac Flamingo Coffee”, which is a few years old and serves one of the best coffees in Puerto Rico. You will also like to try there gourmet sandwiches with all kinds of attractive fillings.
9. Flamenco Beach (Culebra)
This is a paradisiacal beach with crystal-clear waters and very white sand, located in the state of Culebra, administered by Puerto Rico. To get there, you must take a plane to Culebra. The trip takes 35 minutes and, upon arriving at the island, you must take a cab to the bay.
The resort is a magical place surrounded by imposing vegetation and very calm water, perfect for swimming and resting. By paying the entrance fee you will have access to the colorful corals that are in the depths. You will enjoy snorkeling, renting equipment on the shore to observe colorful fish and watch the turtles swim in the second most beautiful beach, according to Discovery Channel.
The site has hiking facilities due to the exuberant nature that surrounds it. You will be able to make great tours there on the shore of the bay or on the sandy paths nearby. There is a lot of security because it has lifeguard service, so it is one of the places for children in Puerto Rico.
There are many fast food places to have lunch on the sand like “Culebra”, which sells patacones and fried fish on the seashore for 40 dollars and also offers coconut-based drinks to refresh you.
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10. Culebra Island
Culebra Island is an independent territory that is administered by the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments. It is a beautiful island with a very attractive Caribbean climate that will make you fall in love. Getting to Culebra requires taking a plane from San Juan and flying for 45 minutes.
The place has very few inhabitants, so it is usually quiet and peaceful, ideal for walks outdoors. If you plan to explore, you should bring sunscreen, as temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius. The environment is ideal for taking pictures because there are very green hills and mountains, in addition to the turquoise and bright beach.
It is necessary to hire a means of transportation for tours on the island, because although it is very small, the distances are too great to walk. If you want to have a delicious breakfast and very close to the beach, there are few but valuable dining options, such as the “Blac Flamingo Coffee”, which is a few years old and serves one of the best coffees in Puerto Rico. You will also like to try there gourmet sandwiches with all kinds of attractive fillings.
11. Pozo de Jacinto (Isabela)
Pozo de Jacinto is a natural and tourist attraction in Isabela, municipality of Puerto Rico, a lagoon that has a very interesting history. To get there, you must take a cab from San Juan and go to Isabela, which is about an hour and a half away. There, you must take transportation to Jobos Beach.
It is one of the tourist places of Puerto Rico due to the legends of the locals who tell how a farmer and his cow died there. Tourists have the custom of reciting some words in the well so that the sea is agitated. The entrance to the beach has a cost and from there it is possible to go to the famous environment.
It is also important to bring sunscreen, because the temperatures are quite high. You will enjoy walking along the golden sand, as it is not recommended to enter the water due to the wild swell of the ocean. If you are looking for lodging near the famous well, there are nice places where a comfortable family atmosphere is offered. “Pedros Palm” is one of the best hotels in the area with a good WIFI service and the option to see the most beautiful beaches in the world.
