7 Days in Puerto Rico Travel Itinerary

Puerto Rico is nothing short of amazing. It’s beautiful, of course, but it’s so much more than that too. 

I just came home from a week in Puerto Rico, and while I was initially going to hold off on sharing guides for a bit as I focused on other destinations, I was honestly too excited to stick to that plan.

This Caribbean island has a complicated history that has led to ongoing issues for locals (I get into it a bit more in the FAQs section if you’re curious). 

But its culture is resilient, multi-layered, and even more beautiful than its beaches. It’s really a life-changing place, if you let it be!

There’s also just a TON to see. For some reason, so many tourists never go beyond Old San Juan.

In this guide, we’re going to make the most of your short time in PR, and really try to soak up as much as possible.

We can’t see it all, that’s true.

But this seven-day Puerto Rico itinerary covers a range of destinations, including San Juan, El Yunque National Forest, and the western side of the island, that offer you a chance to experience its culture, learn about its history, and yes, spend some time at a few out-of-this-world beaches. 

7-Day Puerto Rico Itinerary

A few things to keep in mind, before we get into the itinerary:

1. Personally I hate constantly hotel switching, so we’ll have two main home bases during this trip, with your first few days staying in San Juan, and your next few days in the Rincón area, which is on the western coast.
2. This guide accounts for arriving the night beforehand, and leaving the day after the itinerary completes, so that you have seven full days in Puerto Rico. 
3. This Puerto Rico travel itinerary works best if you rent a car. While a car isn’t needed within Old San Juan (and parking is honestly a bit of a pain there), it will make traveling around the island 100% easier. Public transportation isn’t great, and the island is small enough that by car, you can explore the entire coast in one day (at least according to what one Uber driver told my husband and I). (Jump down to the FAQ section for more on renting a car in PR.)
4. Lastly, this Puerto Rico travel itinerary assumes you’ll be flying out of San Juan, so for your last day, you’ll drive back to San Juan and stay there for the night, but of course, adjust in a way that works for you. There’s also an international airport on the western side of the island, so you can just fly out of there if that works better for you.

Day 1: Old San Juan

Old San Juan is really magical. With cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and ocean views, it’s one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, the most popular place to visit on the island, and the best way to introduce you to Puerto Rico.

While a lot of the day should be dedicated to wandering around and exploring, there are some key places you should plan to visit. 

The iconic symbols of San Juan are its two 500-year-old fortresses, Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro (also known just as El Morro), which date back to the early days of Spanish colonization. 

It costs $10 to visit both, and you have two days to visit. I thought San Felipe was way more beautiful than San Cristobal, so if you’re only up for one, prioritize this one, but I’d say they’re both worth visiting.

Sneakers may be easiest as there are some points within the fortresses where you’re walking on uneven ground without much light. They’re also pretty windy, so I was definitely regretting my decision to wear a short dress here. 

If you’d like, you can walk along Paseo del Morro, a pathway along the ocean, to walk between the fortresses.

As for Old San Juan in general, there’s a ton of shops, restaurants, cafes, and just pretty streets to wander through.

A couple shops I liked were Mi Pequeño San Juan, which had cute little painted door magnets and art to match the ones you see throughout Old San Juan, and Luna Market, which had a variety of jewelry, clothing, and other goods.

Although Old San Juan is gorgeous all around, one street that stands out in particular is Calle Fortaleza. Here, you have San Juan’s classic multi-colored buildings and cobblestone streets, but with the extra touch of umbrellas hanging across the sky.

When it comes to museums, there are a bunch in Old San Juan, and I wish I’d had time to explore more!

One we did make it to was Museo de las Américas. It’s located in the former barracks of Spanish soldiers, which is oddly a really gorgeous building. 

The museum has four permanent exhibitions, which showcase a wide range of history and art, from popular arts, to African heritage, Indigenous history, and colonization. 

When I visited, a number of exhibition rooms were closed, which was disappointing. But I still feel like we saw a lot and learned about Puerto Rico here, so I’d really recommend coming here!

It’s open Wednesdays through Sundays and costs $6. 

We also briefly popped into the Casa de Libros. To check out its store and see a historic printing press is free, but if you want to check out its exhibits, it’s $5, which we opted not to do since we were short on time.

Another option would be Museo Casa Blanca, the former home of the family of Juan Ponce de León, Puerto Rico’s first Spanish governor. I didn’t get to visit, but it’s a popular one that looks like it would be interesting if you’d like to see a fancy 16th century home.

Where to Eat in Old San Juan

As for food options, there are, unsurprisingly, a ton of places here.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast that also lets you try a local dish, go to Cafe Mallorca. 

The mallorca is a Puerto Rican dish that’s essentially a fluffy bread dusted with lots of powdered sugar. You can get it with various toppings like meat and cheese. It’s really affordable and good if you enjoy a sweet-salty combo.

Later in the day, check out Barrachina. They claim to have invented the piña colada (but so does Caribe Hilton, so who really knows). We just got drinks and a platter with a bunch of classic Puerto Rican appetizers, but their mofongo, mashed fried plantain that’s generally topped with some type of protein, is apparently really good.

For a delicious dinner along the water, head to La Casita de Rones. They serve lots of local dishes, plus some other options like tacos. Entrees range from $10 to $35, and cocktails are in the $14 range.

Ostra Cosa is another great option we tried. It’s all outdoor seating, and they serve lots of seafood dishes. 

If you’re more in the mood for Spanish tapas, go to El Champi. They serve paella too, but we just shared a few small plates. They had a piña colada-mojito blend that was also really good.

Nightlife in Old San Juan

As far as nightlife, Old San Juan is a great place to be. 

La Factoria is one of San Juan’s most famous bars. In fact, it’s even considered not only one of the best bars in the Caribbean, but it’s also been rated numerous times as one of the top 50 bars in the world.

It did in fact, live up to the hype.

It’s described as a labyrinth of bars, which both confused and intrigued me before arriving.

Essentially, La Factoria is like a bar within a bar within a bar … you get the point. Depending on the vibe you’re looking for, there are chill cocktail bars, dive bars, and clubs with loud salsa music and dancing, all with different menus and atmospheres. 

A couple other bars you could check out in Old San Juan are El Batey Tavern, which has a very grungy atmosphere with graffiti covering the walls, and the Mezzanine, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in a historic building.

Day 2: Loíza and Santurce 

On our second day, let’s start with some much-needed beach time. All of Puerto Rico’s beaches are technically public and are free to visit, and they’re also some of the most stunning.

About half an hour away from San Juan is Loíza, which is known both for its beaches and its Afro-Puerto Rican culture.

As for beaches, the main place to check out is Playa Piñones. 

You can park across the street from the beach for free, and relax at this warm-water beach. There are no amenities here, but when you’re ready for food, there are a number of food spots right in the area. 

This area is especially known for having really great Afro-Puerto Rican food, particularly when it comes to frituras, fritters made from vegetables.

We ate at Donde Olga for some local food. Entrees ranged from $13 to $25, with appetizers under $10. 

Sadly, I didn’t get to explore more of Loíza beyond this, but there are a few other things to do here if you’d like to spend more time. 

For some history, there’s María de la Cruz Cave Historic Park, which is where remains of Taínos (the Indigenous group native to Puerto Rico) dating back to 4000 BC were found, along with artifacts.  

It’s a nearly 100-foot cave, and today, there are things like an education center, an art gallery, and an artisan market here too.

For some more time in nature, Piñones State Forest is a mangrove forest with six miles of trails. 

Something I really wish I did was visit Corporacion Piñones Se Integra. 

It’s a cultural center where you can rent bikes or kayaks, but more importantly, they host bomba dance classes and other cultural workshops. 

Bomba refers to a genre, as well as an instrument and dance that predates salsa. Instead of the musicians dictating the rhythm, the dancers determine it. There are 16 different types of rhythms, from more upbeat ones to more serious. 

Music is a huge part of Puerto Rican culture, so I’m really regretting not prioritizing this more!

After you’ve wrapped up your time in Loíza, for the afternoon, we’re going to head back into San Juan to Santurce, an artsy neighborhood southeast of Old San Juan.

This neighborhood is known for its street art, which can be found mainly on Calle Cerra. To reach it, you’ll want to head to the intersection of Manuel Fernandez Juncos Avenue and Calle Cerra, and you’ll immediately see it.

Apart from wandering around and checking out the street art, there are also a couple art museums here you can also visit in Santurce: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico ($15 or $5 with a student ID and closed Mondays and Tuesdays) and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo ($8 or $3 with a student ID and also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). 

Santurce is also one of San Juan’s best spots for nightlife.

La Placita is a market by day, street party by night. It’s essentially a square lined with bars, restaurants, and clubs. 

Because of how our schedule turned out, we were here on a Wednesday, and there wasn’t too much going on. But Thursdays through the weekends, there’s supposed to be a lot of music and dancing. It looks like so much fun, so I’d definitely try to come here if you’re in San Juan over the weekend.

Day 3: El Yunque and Loquillo Beach

Today is one of my favorite days — because we’re spending it in El Yunque!

El Yunque National Forest is located close to Puerto Rico’s east coast, and is just 30 minutes to an hour away from San Juan. 

It’s technically the only subtropical rainforest in the U.S., and is a MUST when in the San Juan area.

Think lush rainforests, hidden waterfalls, gorgeous views around — it’s seriously a memory I’ll cherish forever.

The great news is that it’s also super budget-friendly, and easy to visit.

There are no reservations needed, and it’s technically first come, first served. We didn’t get there till after 10 (on a weekday) and we had no issues at all, but if you’re visiting on a weekend, you’ll probably want to get there earlier just in case.

El Yunque is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is free to visit, unless you go through the Visitor’s Center entrance, which will cost $8. 

This entrance leads you to some walking paths, but no waterfalls, so we ended up skipping this.

The entire park is really well-organized, with maps and signage throughout.

As long as you have a car, I think it’s pretty doable to go on your own without a tour. Each stop included either a small parking area or street parking. 

But if you would rather go with a tour group so you don’t have to deal with driving (and parking) yourself around, here are a couple highly-rated options:

This 7-hour tour includes chances to cliff jump, rope swing, rock slide, and explore, all while learning about the forest from your guide. The tour ends with lunch at a family-owned restaurant (meal isn’t included). Book it here.

If you’re looking for a shorter tour, this is a great option. It’s roughly four or five hours and includes visits to natural pools and waterfalls, with opportunities for cliff-diving and rope-swinging as well. Find out more here.

Here are the main places to visit in El Yunque:

• A viewpoint of Coca Falls (no hiking required)
• Yokahu Tower — There was a parking lot here, and you literally just walk up to the top of the tower for an awesome view of El Yunque.
• Juan Diego — this is a must! It requires some more hiking, which while not difficult, was super muddy, which made it feel a bit more treacherous. I’d definitely recommend wearing actual sneakers or at least water shoes with traction. There are two waterfalls here, the first of which is really easy to reach, but is smaller. The second is a little harder to get to, but is amazing, and 100% worth the extra effort. 
• Mount Britton is a slightly longer hike, taking about 45 minutes each way. You follow a narrow path through the forest, which leads up to a tower with another viewpoint. It unfortunately started raining while we were here, so by the time we got to the top, the view was super cloudy, but I still felt like it was worth it. Along the way, there are a number of covered areas if you need to rest, or like us, escape the rain briefly. 

Because of the rain, we called it a day after this, but there are a number of other hikes you can go on, including some longer ones. You could easily spend the whole day here, or even a second day if you really want to see everything.

I’d read that there was no food within the park so we packed a lunch, but it turned out there was a concessions area with a little restaurant in the middle of the park (with bathrooms and picnic tables too). It looked like it was priced pretty reasonably! There are also a couple more food options at the entrance of the park.

Keep in mind that some areas may be closed when you visit — a couple popular areas like La Mina Falls and a trail leading to El Yunque Peak, the highest point in the forest, have been closed for a while due to hurricane damage. 

This area is also known for beautiful beaches, so since it was no longer raining after exiting the park (of course), we decided to head to Luquillo Beach, which was just 10 or 15 minutes away. (As a heads up, it takes 20 minutes or so to exit the park by car, though). 

For food, there are a number of kiosks right across from the beach, where you can also easily park. 

We went to Pinchos el Almendro, which served barbecued meat skewers, and tried one of each that they offered, which included shark (I don’t feel great about that tbh 😬). 

It turned out to be a bit much portion-wise, but everything was really good, and came out to $30 for four skewers, tostones, a Puerto Rican coconut soda, and a beer.

Quick tip: Bring insect repellent! Especially at the beaches, the mosquitoes are vicious. I literally bought some for this trip and didn’t use it until my legs had already been destroyed. Don’t be like me!

Where to Stay in San Juan (Days 1-3)

$ – SAN JUAN APARTMENTS – This is where I stayed, and it was honestly the best budget option. We wanted a basic apartment where we could easily make breakfast, and this fully met our needs.

It was clean, in a safe neighborhood, had free parking, had a working shower (just took a few minutes to warm up but not a big deal), air conditioning, and a full refrigerator with all the kitchen stuff you’d need for basic cooking. It took 20ish minutes or so to drive into Old San Juan, and was about 35ish minutes from El Yunque. Book it here.

$$- NAVONA STUDIOS – This guesthouse was my second choice when I was researching for my own trip. It’s in Old San Juan, and is well-rated. There’s A/C, private bathrooms, and a rooftop patio. The location also puts you within walking distance of everything you could need while in San Juan. Learn more here.

$$$ – CASABLANCA HOTEL – If you’d like to stay right in the heart of Old San Juan, this is a great choice. It’s beautiful, reviewers love the staff, and you can’t do better than this location, which will give you a ton of sightseeing, food and bar options, not to mention, the ocean, within walking distance. Find out more here.

Day 4: Ponce, La Jungla Beach

Today, we’re going to leave San Juan, and start our Puerto Rico road trip! We’re going to head west to where you can find some of Puerto Rico’s best beaches, including Rincón and Aguadilla.

The overall drive from San Juan to the Rincón area is roughly three hours, so we’ll make a couple stops along the way.

Ponce, just 75 minutes or so away from San Juan, is a super underrated town, if you ask me. It’s cute, walkable, colorful, and I easily could’ve spent at least a day or two there. 

With just a couple hours, you can just get a tiny taste of what Ponce has to offer, but I think it’s well worth the stop, if not just to stretch your legs and see more of Puerto Rico!

Within Ponce, the main plaza is called Plaza las Delicias. 

We ate at Gallo Espresso, which came out to around $30 for two meals, two coffees, and one juice, but you’ll find a bunch of food options in this area. 

Right next to the square is a historic fire station, Parque de Bombas. It was closed to touring when we stopped by, but you could still see inside most of it from the sidewalk. The architecture and colors really make it stand out, so it’s worth walking by while you’re here.

A short walk away is the Museo de Arte de Ponce. 

This is one of the top things to do in Ponce, and it has 5,000 pieces, about a third of which are from Puerto Rico. 

Unfortunately, when we visited, the majority of the museum was closed due to an earthquake that happened in 2020. It supposedly won’t reopen until 2026, according to an employee of the museum.

With that said, the tickets were a reduced price of only $6, and we were able to see a couple different exhibits featuring European art. 

I would’ve loved to see some Puerto Rican art and the rest of the museum, but if you have the time, I think it’s still worth it to stop by and support the museum as they work on restoration.

Apart from the art museum, from the plaza, you’ll see a mansion up in the hills — this is Castillo de Serrallés, the former home of the family who ran Don Q rum, a Puerto Rican rum that you’ll see pretty much everywhere you go.

There’s an exhibition about the family’s sugar plantation here, and the views are supposed to be amazing.

Admission is $18 and the museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Another option is visiting the Museo de la Historia de Ponce, which is considered one of the island’s best cultural institutions.

After a couple hours in Ponce, it takes about 40 minutes to get to La Jungla Beach. 

This is a gorgeous untouched beach with white sand and shallow, waveless water (which is perfect for people like me who aren’t the best swimmers). 

There are also mangroves, which personally, I’d never seen before. There’s one area where the mangroves create a secluded little space, which is cool to wade through. 

This was one of my favorite beaches I visited during my week in Puerto Rico! It’s so pretty and peaceful, and I’d highly recommend making this stop.

As for parking, there’s free street parking, or a parking lot that costs $2 per person. 

The lot closes at 4 or 4:30 though, so you’ll want to get street parking if you’d like to stay at the beach later than that. Regardless of where you park, you’ll have to walk about 15 minutes or so to reach the beach, which will be on your left. 

From there, it takes about one hour and 15 minutes to reach Aguada, where I stayed, but this could vary slightly depending on where your accommodation is. 

Day 5: Rincón

Rincón is known as one of Puerto Rico’s best beach towns.

To start off for breakfast, one place to check out is Café 413.

We popped in here because we saw it looked pretty crowded, so figured it must be good. In this case, that assumption was correct! We got coffee and burgers, but there were also breakfast items and other sandwich options. Most options ranged from $13 to $15.

If you’re bookstore-obsessed like I am, you’ll want to stop in El Coqui Bookstore, which is within walking distance. This is a used bookstore, and you’ll find tons of books both in English and Spanish. I got a Spanish version of “The Wizard of Oz” that I am very excited about, to help me practice my Spanish. It was only $5, which is why I love used bookstores.

Some beaches to check out:

Playa Lala can be easily reached from town. It was really picturesque and tree-lined, and had bigger waves. 

Playa de Anidacion is right next to it, so you can easily walk along the beach and reach both.

At either, you can find a shady spot to relax under some trees. Just watch out for the red bugs that are in the sand, and seem to be around the bushy areas. 

Just a minute or so away is a little square where you can find food and drink options. We got a couple cocktails and water from Eco Cafe, which also serves snacks. 

Playa Escaleras, a.k.a. Steps Beach is a quick drive away (like four minutes or so). If it’s not outrageously hot, you could probably just walk. 

You have to climb over some trees to get to the sandy area, and there’s not much sand if you visit at high tide, but it’s also one of the prettiest beaches I visited. 

Part of Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, Steps Beach has a darker, golden sand, and big waves, making it a popular area for surfers. There is a reef though, protecting one area from the waves and making it a bit calmer. 

I didn’t make it to Domes Beach, but this is another well-known one, especially among surfers, thanks to its giant waves.

When you’ve had your fill of beach time, a lighthouse, Faro Punta Higuera, is a highlight in Rincón. 

It’s about 22 minutes walking from Steps Beach, and I’d highly recommend catching the sunset here for its amazing ocean view.

Within walking distance from the lighthouse is Calypso, where you can grab dinner. It has a really casual, beachy atmosphere, with entrees in the $15-$20 range and $10 cocktails. There’s also live music some nights.

Day 6: Aguadilla

This is another beach town in the area that looks straight out of a postcard.

For a solid and affordable breakfast, visit Burbujas Del Mar. Omelets are $6, with all of its meals ranging from $6 to $8.50 or so. 

First, we stopped at Parque Colón. There’s a park across the street from the beach.

Honestly, this was the one beach we visited that felt pretty dirty, as there was sadly a fair amount of garbage. But, in general, I know this can vary depending on recent storms and things like that, so maybe it’s not like that all the time (at least I hope). 

A much better option is Peña Blanca. I’m probably turning into a broken record, but this one was gorgeous, and definitely one of my favorite beaches I visited in Puerto Rico.

Picture golden sand, seriously turquoise water, surrounding cliffs, and trees creating shade. It’s a pretty small beach, so I can imagine it could easily get crowded, but there were only a couple other people there when I visited.

There are a few stairs leading down to the beach, and from the top of the cliff, you get an amazing ocean view. Street parking is easy and free!

Of course, there are a bunch that we didn’t have time to check out, but Crash Boat Beach is one of Puerto Rico’s most famous, and is beloved by surfers. 

Survival Beach also looks really cool thanks to its interesting rock formations. It requires a bit of a hike to reach (about 25 minutes or so).

Apart from the beach, definitely walk by Cerro Cabrera, a row of painted houses. 

Founded by Samuel González as part of Proyecto Pintalto, which is dedicated to revitalizing communities, and created by a number of volunteers and local muralists, there are a number of interesting murals to check out. 

The overall sight is just impressive and really beautiful!

If you’re up for a museum, Museo de Arte de Aguadilla y del Caribe (MAAC) is in Aguadilla.

Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to visit, but it has work from local artists, and is open Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Another top destination here is Ruinas del Faro Punta Borinquen, the ruins of an old Spanish lighthouse that was destroyed by a tsunami over 100 years ago. It can be seen from Playa Punta Borinquen, a really pretty cliffside beach that I’m sad I didn’t get to visit!

For either lunch or dinner, visit Sal de Mar. They have a rooftop with an ocean view (the rooftop opens at 5 p.m.), and they serve lots of local seafood-based dishes, mostly ranging from $20 to $30. 

Where to Stay Around Rincón (Days 4-6)

$$ – EL OASIS – I stayed at this boutique hotel in Aguada, which is in the same area as Rincón. It felt super secluded and peaceful, and our room had a private bathroom, a smart TV, a fridge, and coffee maker. It was cute, cozy, and the bed was comfortable. 

There’s also a swimming pool here which we didn’t try out. When I was there, they were in the middle of renovating their restaurant, so there was no food onsite, but depending on when you go, that along with room service should be available. 

The drive to get there was a bit scary (more on that later) but otherwise, I really enjoyed my stay here. Book it here.

I wrote a whole review about my stay at El Oasis! Check it out.

$$$ – SERENITY RINCON GUESTHOUSE – This hillside guest house would be my second choice if I had a bit of a higher budget! There are sea views, A/C and free parking. Reviews are all-around high, and past guests say they especially love the location and the staff. A number of beaches and food options are very close by. Check it out here.

$$$ – CASA MIA GUESTHOUSE – If you’re looking for more of a full apartment, this guesthouse right in Rincón would be my choice. You have everything you could need, from laundry, A/C, a kitchen, and free parking. The apartment looks fairly spacious, and you can’t beat the location. Find out more here.

Day 7: Aguada, Back to San Juan

While Rincón and Aguadilla are pretty well-known, Aguada is a little more under-the-radar. Although today’s sadly the day to head back to San Juan before leaving Puerto Rico, spend the morning exploring a bit of Aguada. 

As a little bit of background on the town, allegedly Aguada is where Christopher Columbus first landed when he reached Puerto Rico. It then became a key port for ships traveling throughout the Americas. 

Unfortunately I got a bit sick at this point in the trip, so I didn’t get a chance to really explore much of Aguada, despite staying there. 

But the beaches here are also known for being really nice, so they’re worth stopping in before you make the two-to-three hour drive to San Juan.

Some top beaches include Balneario Pico de Piedra, which has more amenities, along with Playa Aguada, Playa Mameyito, Playa Espinar, and Playa Río Grand, which are all more untouched, as in, they lack facilities but are supposedly really pretty.

One unique thing to do here is check out a pyramid replica, which was created by local resident Nelson Ruiz after a trip to Mexico. 

The pyramid, modeled after Chichén Itzá, is about 20 feet tall, and can be reached off Aguada’s main road, Road 115, and is free to visit. 

It’s generally open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., but look out for a chain blocking it, indicating that it’s closed. 

If you’re looking for a solid meal, Dos Vistas in Aguada sells lots of large entrees for a reasonable price. 

Kaplash is also a great choice. They specialize in empanadillas, which reminded me a little of the Brazilian-style empanadas known as pastels. They all ranged from $2.75 to $4.75ish. We came at night, but it was overlooking the water, so I’m sure the view would be amazing. 

Depending on when you get back to San Juan, check out any activities you have missed at the beginning of your trip, or just spend some time walking around and taking it all in for one last time before you head home.

FAQs about visiting Puerto Rico

How many days do you need in Puerto Rico?

Most of us (myself included) don’t get a ton of time to take vacation, so I think a week is a comfortable amount of time to get a good overview of the island.

This is how long I stayed, and while I feel like I covered a lot of ground, I also desperately wish I’d had longer here. 

With more time, I would’ve had time to visit the nearby islands Culebra and Vieques. 

Culebra is particularly known for its amazing beaches, while Vieques is where you can go to see Puerto Rico’s iconic bioluminescent bays. 

Cabo Rojo is another picturesque beach area on the main island that I would’ve loved to visit. It’s about an hour south of Rincón. There’s a wildlife refuge, and pink salt flats that look like they’d be so cool to visit. 

When planning my own Puerto Rico travel itinerary, I just felt like there wasn’t enough time to pack in those extra destinations, especially since they require a ferry ride. 

The ferry to Culebra also should be booked about a month in advance, we were told, so it just didn’t work out this time around. But trust me, I am already dying for a return visit!

To be honest, I also felt like there was a ton left to see in general, including in the destinations already in this itinerary.

So if you have 10 days or even two weeks, I feel like that would be perfect. 

Any less than a week, you’d definitely have to make some compromises, like only staying in one region of the island.

Should you rent a car when visiting Puerto Rico?

As I mentioned earlier, renting a car will make your life a million times easier, and is absolutely one of my top recommendations for visiting Puerto Rico.

So, how do you rent a car in Puerto Rico?

I didn’t do enough research about renting a car before visiting (oops), and was a bit shocked by the prices when my husband and I asked around at the rental car office at the airport. 

We decided to skip renting for our first day of the trip, since we’d be spending a full day in Old San Juan, and just pick up a car on the day after, for the rest of our trip.

It still ended up being pricier than I wish it was. The prices you see when you search online are apparently a huge underestimate, and don’t factor in necessary costs like insurance. (If you have any tips for saving money on rental cars, I am all ears!)

We ended up going with Enterprise and spent $450 for six days. We didn’t prepay for gas (this ended up saving us a bit of money), and we also saved about $100 by returning the car to the same location we picked it up from (the airport). 

With that all said, it was totally worth it. It’s by far the easiest way to explore more of Puerto Rico, which is an absolute must, if you ask me. This post breaks down the whole process plus has everything you need to know about driving in Puerto Rico.

Check out rental cars here!

Coming from Los Angeles, parking was also unbelievably easy and budget-friendly. We never had to pay for street parking, and pretty much only paid for a lot when going into Old San Juan. When we did stay in a garage or lot, it was never more than a few dollars.

One thing to keep in mind is that the speed limit is in miles, but distances are in kilometers, and gas will be in liters.

As for actually driving, it wasn’t *too* crazy, but in all honesty, I’m not a confident driver, so my husband did the entirety of the driving while we were there. 

The one part that really freaked me out was driving to and from our hotel in Aguada. 

It was located up in the hills, which while it made for a secluded and peaceful stay, was super stressful driving to. 

We arrived at night, which made it even more difficult.

At a number of points, it was pitch black. 

The roads were super narrow and windy, and were also two-way. Apart from being on the constant lookout for incoming cars and trying not to crash into the side of the road, there were also animals frequently crossing the street, like dogs, cats, lizards, etc. just to add an extra challenge to an already anxiety-inducing situation.

I don’t want to overstate it though. My husband claims he wasn’t even stressed 😂 If you’ve driven in Puerto Rico, please let me know your thoughts!

When’s the best time to go to Puerto Rico?

I visited in January, and felt like this was the perfect time to visit. The temperature was in the low to mid-80s and slightly humid, but not unbearably hot (I enjoy the heat and humidity, though).

However, this is also peak season, I’m assuming because so many people in the U.S. (like myself) are desperate to escape the winter. 

You can expect more crowds and higher prices during this time. San Juan also has a major festival on Jan. 16th, so that’s something to keep in mind.

From my standpoint, the crowds weren’t too bad. I can’t really speak to the prices since it’s the only time I’ve been.

April to June is generally seen as the best time to visit, because it’s not as busy as the winter, the weather is still warm, and you haven’t yet reached hurricane season, which is from June 1 to Nov. 30, with a peak from August to October. During this time, it can also go from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. 

Is Puerto Rico considered domestic travel?

This is a bit of a weighted question, but if you’re coming from the U.S., then yes, it’s considered a domestic flight. 

So, you don’t need to bring your passport, no visas are required, and you won’t need to deal with currency exchange since Puerto Rico uses U.S. dollars.

While this makes for a pretty easy trip for those in the U.S., it’s important to note that Puerto Rico’s identity as a U.S. colony is complicated and causes a lot of challenges for Puerto Rican residents. 

This may be more info than you’re asking for, but I think it’s extremely important to understand this background, so let me explain briefly. 

Locals are U.S. citizens but can’t vote for the president and they don’t have representation in Congress, and many Puerto Ricans are struggling in an economy that’s been stifled by centuries of colonization. 

Nowadays, many locals are literally being priced out of their homes because many Americans are moving there to take advantage of cheaper property with tax breaks thanks to its status as a territory.

I think this context is really important to understand before visiting, because we always want to be respectful and ethical travelers when we visit someone else’s home, especially when we’re visiting from a place of privilege — in this case, a place that’s literally causing harm to Puerto Ricans, if you’re from the U.S. 

With that in mind, while yes, it’s domestic travel, it does feel like you’re in a different country. And some would say that maybe it should be!

What language is spoken in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Ricans all speak Spanish. 

Many people also speak English, as it’s taught in schools, and you’ll find that lots of younger Puerto Ricans have either lived or spent time in the U.S. so they speak very fluently. 

A lot of times signage and menus will be in both English and Spanish, as well.

However, you’ll also find that lots of people aren’t comfortable using English and that Spanish is by far the dominant language.

So if you speak Spanish at all, I’d encourage you to try to use it when you can, mainly as a sign of respect. I’m always really scared of making mistakes in Spanish so I get nervous using it, and I also found that lots of times, people just replied to me in English. But it feels important to at least try when you’re able to!

Like I said before, we are guests in someone else’s home, and in a place that’s endured a lot because of the United States.

So if you don’t know Spanish, try learning at least some key phrases before you go.

Puerto Rico is really such an unforgettable place — there’s so much to see and discover in Puerto Rico, and I hope that you have an amazing time like I did!

Want to know how much this itinerary costs to follow? I outline everything in this Puerto Rico budget guide, which also has some alternatives for you, plus ways to save,

Happy travels,

Tess 

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