One of the most frequently asked questions is "What are the must-do activities and must-see places for my visit to Puerto Rico?"
That’s a really difficult question to answer without knowing anything about the person asking the question. The answer is different for each person. Something that is a must do for me might be totally boring for you. And vice versa.
This is our list of "musts", presented in no particular order.
- Wander Around Old San Juan — either on your own (using some type of guidebook), or on a guided tour. Take your time. There’s no rush to "see it all".
- Sample Some Local Food — lechon, mofongo, exotic tropical fruit, rum drinks, …
- Experience a Bio Bay — preferably Mosquito Bay on Vieques, or Laguana Grande in Fajardo
- Hike a Tropical Rain Forest — this usually means El Yunque National Forest, but there are others here, too.
- Hit a Beach on the Main Island — Balneario Monserrate in Luquillo, because is has good facilities. Or Playa Puerto Nuevo, for a stunning beach not too far from the metro area.
- Explore a Cave in the Karst Region — Cueva Ventana is one of our favorite DIY caves. Rio Camuy Caves Park is good for the less adventurous.
- Hit a Beach on One of the Other PR Islands — Balneario Flamenco on Culebra is probably the easiest.
- Snorkel at at Deserted Island — You can do this on a organized snorkeling excursion, or in a more DIY, self-sufficient fashion.
- Show Your Mettle on an Adventure Tour — Take one of these adventure tours for something you wouldn’t do back at home — Ziplines, ATVs, Rappelling, Hang Gliding, Horseback Riding, and more.
- Relax. After all, you are on Vacation! — Open your mind to cultural differences and new experiences. Slow down. Relax. It will get done when it gets done. Leave your expectations at home. Just let it be.
We feel that, to really enjoy Puerto Rico to the fullest, you need rent a car. That way, you’ll be free to go out and explore the island, on your on schedule. Though having a GPS (or a smartphone) is extremely helpful, it’s not required. Make sure that you at least have a good map with you. But, if you really don’t want to drive yourself around the island, there are plenty of tour companies that can take you to some of the places we mentioned above.