Highlights from Puerto Rico
- Walking around Old San Juan to see all the colorful buildings and streets
- Being a beach bum at Playa del Pueblo
- Taking a day trip to Arecibo
- Visiting the cove at Mar Chiquita Beach
- Visiting in the weeks leading up to Christmas to see the tropical decorations
- Going to the food and craft festival on Calle Loiza
Things to Do in Puerto Rico
Check out El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque is the only rainforest in the United States, making it a very special place to check out when you visit the island of Puerto Rico.
You can hike to the top of El Yunque Peak or along many of the trails. Some trails lead to waterfalls and some lead to towers.
I recommend renting a car and going on your own, but if you're short on time or don't want to rent a car, you can book a guided tour with transportation.
Go on a Walking Tour in Old San Juan
The streets of Old San Juan are packed with Spanish charm and colors galore. You really can't pick a wrong street to walk down, but there are some you definitely can't miss.
- Callejón de la Puerta con la Bandera
- C. de la Fortaleza (where you'll find the hanging umbrellas)
- Sol Street (and make sure to walk through Calle del Hospital while you're there)
- Calle Tetuán (where you'll find La Casa Estretcha, the tiny yellow house)
Overall, you'll enjoy wandering these beautiful streets, finding some incredible views, and delicious food.
You can walk around at you own pace or book a historic walking tour. I chose to walk around at my own pace, but I wish Iearned more about the history of Old San Juan.
Visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro
AKA El Morro, this fort is located at the endpoint of Old San Juan. Throughout history, it was used to defend the island.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is operated by the US National Park Service. Your entry ticket for El Morro will also allow you to visit the other fort, Castillo San Cristóbal, without having to pay a separate entrance fee (and vice versa).
You can easily visit both in one day.
The entrance fee for these two forts are covered by the America the Beautiful pass, if you have it. If not, entry is $10 per person. You can buy a ticket in person or book a guided tour with entrance included.
Visit the Bacardi Factory
Just across the water from Old San Juan is Casa Bacardi, where you can take a tour of the distillery and taste many of the different rums available. You can book directly on their website or through Get Your Guide.
I recommend booking an option that includes the ferry ride and transportation from the ferry to the distillery. It's still about a 10-15 minute drive from the ferry, and everyone I saw that didn't was scrambling to call an Uber.