Puerto Rico Travel Guide: Why This Caribbean Island Is an Ideal Vacation Destination

This Caribbean Island is an explorer’s paradise, home to hundreds of beaches, offshore islands, and the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service system. It also has accommodations for all budgets and a culturally diverse culinary scene. With direct flights from Fort Lauderdale and Miami and no passport required for U.S. citizens, it is also an accessible tropical paradise.

You won’t run out of things to do in Puerto Rico. Exploring the island on your own or joining a tour is easy (Viator is an excellent place to start). To explore on your own, you’ll need to rent a car. This is easy to do at the San Juan airport. Ubers are available, but only in the capital of San Juan.

Puerto Rico is home to three of the world's five bioluminescent bays. On a moonless night, kayaking through these waters reveals a spectacle of neon greenish-blue sparkles created by microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates.

Mosquito Bay on Vieques Island is the brightest but requires a flight or ferry trip from the mainland and an overnight stay. Laguna Grande in Fajardo, just an hour’s drive from San Juan, is more accessible and near many hotels. La Parguera in Lajas, a two-hour drive from San Juan, offers another enchanting experience.

El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, is sacred to Puerto Rican culture. It offers lush greenery and numerous hiking trails leading to natural pools and waterfalls. Guided tours available through hotel concierges or Viator include activities like natural rock waterslides, rope swings, and cliff jumps.

With nearly 300 beaches, Puerto Rico's coastline offers something for everyone. Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island, accessible by a 10-minute flight or 30-minute ferry from San Juan, is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla on the northwest shore offers snorkeling, fishing, seasonal surfing, and stunning sunsets.

It is also well worth doing a day tour to Culebrita. The uninhabited island is home to breathtaking white sand, meets turquoise-hued beaches and is accessible only by boat. You can book a group or private tour from the mainland or charter a yacht in Culebra.

Viejo San Juan, the oldest city in America, is a historical and cultural hub. You’ll want to spend an afternoon strolling its cobblestone streets past the pastel-hued colonial architecture and military forts. The old city is filled with all kinds of shops, innovative restaurants, and bars and clubs.

Puerto Rican cuisine is a flavorful fusion of Spanish, African, and Taino influences. Some must-try dishes include mofongo (mashed plantains with garlic and pork cracklings), asopao (a hearty chicken and rice stew), and lechón (slow-roasted pork).

Inside the Caribe Hilton, Caribar is where you can sip a piña colada at the bar that invented it. Bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero created the tasty rum, coconut, and pineapple concoction here in 1954, and the bar still serves his original recipe and contemporary rips on it. There is live music on weekends and a delicious tapas menu.

Santaella serves traditional Puerto Rican flavors with contemporary flair in the heart of San Juan. The ambiance is chic and inviting, perfect for casual dinners and special occasions. Signature dishes include tuna tartare, fried cheese with guava sauce, and the decadent mofongo. Don’t skip the extensive cocktail menu featuring innovative drinks like the passion fruit mojito.

This restaurant in San Juan also offers an authentic Puerto Rican dining experience. The ambiance is rustic and inviting, with colorful décor. The menu features an array of famous local dishes from mofongo to arroz con gandules, all made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and generous-sized portions.

Located in Old San Juan, La Factoría is a world-renowned bar featured on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Known for its eclectic vibe and expertly crafted cocktails, it features multiple rooms, each offering a unique atmosphere and music style.

For a more laid-back experience, visit El Batey, one of the oldest bars in San Juan. With graffiti-covered walls and a jukebox, this dive bar is a casual spot where locals and tourists mingle over affordable drinks.

Club Brava is the go-to spot for those looking to dance the night away in the El San Juan Hotel. The club attracts top DJs and a stylish crowd, making it one of the hottest nightlife destinations in San Juan.

In the trendy Condado Beach district, the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino has a great location right on a pretty stretch of beach. Rooms and suites here are contemporary and comfortable. The corner junior suites have double balconies and a wall of windows on two sides. There are multiple dining options onsite and plenty of affordable restaurants within walking distance (try Xolo Taco just across the street). Besides a beach, the hotel has a pool with a waterslide.

The Caribe Hilton is another excellent choice. It is also on the beach and just a 10-minute drive to Old San Juan. It recently underwent a $150 million renovation, making the rooms modern and comfortable. The resort, which has hosted its share of celebrities and world leaders since opening in 1949, has multiple restaurants, a spa, and a sprawling pool complex.