Located approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Puerto Rico is a popular Caribbean island with U.S. travelers. Leave your passport at home and head to year-round summer, piña coladas, and occasionally getting caught in the rain. It’s all part of the charm of being in the tropics.
Puerto Rico is best know for its abundance of places to unplug, unwind, and explore the unknown. The island is filled with secluded wonders, from beach coves and clear waters to tree swings with panoramic mountain views. It’s also a place to eat, drink, and be merry. A half dozen brands of local rum collectively back Puerto Rico’s claim to the title “Rum Capital of the World.”
If you want to discover Puerto Rico beyond the San Juan cruise port, consider renting a car or hiring a guide to reach lesser-known destinations. Here are 14 of the best things to see and do in Puerto Rico.
1. Swim among the fishes in Culebra
If you’re only experiencing what’s on land, you’re missing out on the other half of what makes Puerto Rico so special: the water. Culebra, 17 miles east of mainland Puerto Rico, is surrounded by healthy reefs inhabited by stingrays, lobsters, and squid. After taking the 45-minute ferry from Ceiba to Culebra, rent a car or golf cart to get to beaches like Melones and Carlos Rosario. You can take a 20-minute water taxi from Culebra to nearby Culebrita island, where you’re likely to see a turtle or two.
Where to stay: Club Seabourne
- Book now: clubseabourne.com
Playa Flamenco is flanked by camping accommodations, but make sure you get a permit first. For a more traditional accommodation option, book a villa or room at Club Seabourne. Staying at the boutique property includes up to an hour of bike access and kayak use on Fulladoza Bay and Dakiti Reef a day.
2. Kayak in a bioluminescent bay
Puerto Rico is home to three bioluminescent areas: Fajardo in the northeast, Lajas in the southwest, and Vieques off the main island’s east coast. Puerto Mosquito on Vieques island holds the Guinness Record as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, and on a kayak tour with a licensed operator like Black Beard Sports or Taino Aqua Adventures, you can learn why this phenomenon happens. Tip: Plan your visit during the new moon to see the brightest bioluminescent displays.
Where to stay: El Blok
- Book now: elblok.com
Accommodations on the Malecon waterfront promenade, like the 30-room El Blok, are steps from where most bioluminescent bay tours pick up and drop off. El Blok’s modern design includes floor-to-ceiling windows and rain showers.
3. Savor Puerto Rican coffee
The Cordillera Central mountain range—the only mountain range on Puerto Rico’s main island—provides the ideal climate, topography, and soil for growing outstanding coffee beans. Many working farms feature on-site cafés and tours where you can see (and smell) how your joe goes from bean to brew. Hacienda San Pedro in Jajuya, Cafe Lealtad and Cafe Lareño in Lares, and Hacienda Tres Angeles in Adjuntas are a few of the places that welcome guests.
Where to stay: Hacienda Juanita
- Book now: haciendajuanita.top
Hacienda Juanita in Maricao is a traditional Puerto Rican parador set on a former coffee plantation.
Visit Guavate to indulge in Puerto Rico’s lechon.
Photo by Jesse Echevarria
4. Pig out in Guavate
Celebrations in Puerto Rico are all about roast pork, which makes Guavate the biggest party around. This windy stretch of Highway 184 in Cayey is lined with lechoneras that also serve traditional dishes like pasteles (snack-size bites of masa stuffed with meat and wrapped in a banana leaf), rice with pigeon peas, and sweet plantains. While the true origins of Guavate’s lechoneras are up for debate, locals have their preferences—find yours among such favorites as Lechonera Los Pinos and El Rancho Original. On the weekends, live music and dancing draw families from across the island.
Where to stay: Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino
- Book now: marriott.com
The Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino is about a 20-minute drive from the lechoneras on Highway 184. All of the rooms have refrigerators—with plenty of room for leftovers.
5. Feast your eyes on Yauco
From the rows of buildings painted in the same pattern to the vibrant murals scattered all over town, the southern town of Yauco is covered by more than 60 works of art thanks to the Yaucromatic Project. The public art project started in 2017 as a way to empower the community, and an interactive online map directs you to each of the unique artworks and supplies background information about the artists and their works.
Where to stay: Copamarina Beach Resort
- Book now: copamarina.com
Twenty minutes south of Yauco, Copamarina Beach Resort is a secluded waterfront retreat with a pool, an on-site restaurant, and friendly staff.
6. Wander around the Gallery Inn
Imposing doors and high stone walls make the Gallery Inn in Old San Juan seem austere, but once inside, the experience is anything but. This boutique stay, a labyrinth of what was once five separate buildings, is filled with art everywhere you look, from the tiled fountain on the terrace to the Barack Obama bust at the front desk. (The former U.S. president stayed there during his campaign tour.) Grab a passionfruit rum punch at the hotel’s Cannon Club, headquarters of the Puerto Rico Charitable Trust for the Education of Young Musicians, where up-and-coming local musicians play.
Where to stay: The Gallery Inn
- Book now: thegalleryinn.com
The 22,000-square-foot National Historic Landmark features 22 guest rooms and 15 open patios. Its multicolored, art-filled rooms are suited to fit a variety of different travelers, from solo travelers to families.
7. Explore San Juan’s food and drink scene, too
Those looking to experience San Juan in a new way should consider a food tour around the city with Spoon. The area is walkable and the tour includes history about the city’s plan and design. From freshly brewed coffee to avocado stuffed with pork, you’ll taste the classics while simultaneously supporting small businesses. For an upscale dining experience, head to Marmalade Restaurant and Wine Bar, which offers international dishes like a harissa-seasoned ahi tuna tartar.
When it comes to drinks, Puerto Rico has no shortage of rum distilleries. Opened in 2019, the Ron del Barrilito factory offers visitors the option to tour the building, Hacienda Santa Ana, or attend a mixology class or partake in a premium tasting tour. Here you can find Ron del Barrilito 5 Star, a collector’s edition aged up to 35 years and more than $700 per bottle.
You will also spot a special “freedom barrel” on your tour, undisturbed since 1942 and reserved for consumption by the people of Bayamon in the event Puerto Rico one day declares independence.
8. Get to know a lesser-visited city like Ponce
Ponce sits on the south coast and boasts attractions including a bustling waterfront and Museo de Arte de Ponce, which features more than 4,500 art works (some date back to the 15th century). Puerto Rico’s second-largest city is also a beacon of history; take a walking tour with the passionate, knowledgeable guides from Isla Caribe, whose engaging stories bring Puerto Rico’s complicated past into perspective.
Where to stay: Ponce Plaza Hotel & Casino | Fox Hotel
- Book now: ponceplazahotelandcasino.com | thefoxponce.com
The classic Ponce Plaza Hotel & Casino and the retro-chic Fox Hotel are both steps from Plaza Las Delicias, home of the visually striking fire station-turned-museum Parque de Bombas.
Casa Wiechers Villaronga is an example of Ponce Creole architecture.
Photos by Michelle Heimerman
9. While you’re in Ponce, check out its Gaudí-style architecture
Ponce is full of delights for art and architecture lovers; the Parque de Bombas is a visually striking former fire station and one of the island’s most notable landmarks, while Casa Weichers Villaronga is a neoclassical mansion that doubles as an architecture museum.
Enjoy the city’s own style of architecture, called Ponce Creole, which incorporates fantastical elements: Think intricate, ornamental decorations on rooftops, stately columns, and exterior crown molding. Notable buildings with this style include Casa Weichers Villaronga, the Museo de la Música Puertoriqueña, and Casa-Font Ubides.
10. Monkey around at Cayo Santiago
Nicknamed Monkey Island, Cayo Santiago is a 38-acre patch of land off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico’s mainland that’s home to roughly 400 rhesus macaques. These monkeys are descended from primates who were brought over from India in 1938 to be studied, and the island now serves as a research facility where scientists from around the world converge to learn about tropical diseases, brain disorders, and group behavior. Barefoot Travelers leads kayak tours that take you as close as legally allowed.
Where to stay: Barefoot Travelers
- Book now: barefoottravelersrooms.com
Alongside tours, Barefoot Travelers also operates a small guesthouse with three private rooms near the Humacao Nature Reserve.
The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.
Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock
11. See Taino petroglyphs at Cueva del Indio
Cueva del Indio is about 25 minutes north of Cueva Ventana. If possible, aim to see both caves on one trip. Cueva del Indio is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s so scenic it’s been featured in movies like Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. There are a number of Taino petroglyphs on site dating back nearly a thousand years. Wear sneakers or hiking shoes because the terrain is rugged and explore at your own risk.
12. Try river tubing at the Tanama River
The Tanama River in the town of Utuado offers a twist on the traditional lazy river; it’ll float you into a pitch-black cave. The reward at the end of this adventure, which accommodates large groups, is a free facial thanks to a large supply of river clay. The word “tanama” is Taino for “butterfly,” so expect to see many of them on your visit.
Where to stay: Casa Grande
- Book now: Casa Grande
The 20-room Casa Grande in Utuado features hiking trails, a saltwater swimming pool, yoga classes, and vegan farm-to-table meals. But you won’t find Wi-Fi at this 105-acre property, giving you the chance to connect to the surrounding nature.
13. Experience natural waterslides at Las Paylas
Ever thrown yourself down a waterslide carved into giant boulders by the flow of a river? Las Paylas is a series of natural slides and pools located in a resident’s backyard in Luquillo, about 45 minutes from San Juan. The slides are a three-minute walk from the driveway turned parking lot. Spend the morning in nature’s playground, rope swing optional. Exercise caution and tuck in your elbows while going down the slides. If you work up an appetite, stop by the local kiosks for an empanada and chilled fresh coconut on your way back.
Cabo Rojo, an area on the southwest tip of Puerto Rico, is known for its pink waters.
Photo by Danielfreire/Shutterstock
14. Marvel at pink lakes in Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo is only an hour from the airport in Aguadilla for those flying into the west side of the island. The area is a draw for its natural wonders, including salt flats that look like a vast span of pink lakes in the right light. While this phenomenon is not unique to Puerto Rico (other examples from around the world include Lake Tyrrell in Australia and San Francisco Bay’s salt ponds), it’s a rare sight and one that’s largely unobstructed and unmonitored here.
There’s a small, volunteer-run information center, but the salt flats are not officially labeled or advertised as a tourist destination. There are no designated entry points or tickets for admission. You can park by the side of the main road and enter for free. You’ll find the salt flats en route to La Playuela, commonly referred to as Playa Sucia, a popular white-sand beach (surrounded by large cliffs) on which you can hike or bike.
Where to stay: Combate Beach Resort
- Book now: combatebeach.com
Come to Combate Beach Resort to enjoy sunsets on prime real estate adjacent to some of Cabo Rojo’s noteworthy beaches.
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on January 31, 2025, with current information.
