Things to do in Puerto Rico

25 things to do in Puerto Rico

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Hike to La Mina Falls in El Yunque National Forest

  Follow a lush rainforest trail down to a cascading waterfall where you can swim in the cool, emerald pool at its base.

  El Yunque, Rio Grande

• Kayak through the bioluminescent glow of Mosquito Bay

  Paddle through Vieques' brightest bioluminescent bay after dark, where every stroke lights up the water with a blue-green shimmer.

  Vieques

• Stroll the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan

  Wander past pastel colonial facades, wrought-iron balconies, and blue cobblestones in the 500-year-old walled city.

  San Juan

• Explore the ramparts of Castillo San Felipe del Morro

  Step inside the iconic 16th-century citadel guarding San Juan Bay, with its maze of tunnels, cannons, and sweeping Atlantic views.

  San Juan

• Relax on the powdery sands of Flamenco Beach

  Float in calm, crystal-clear waters on one of the Caribbean's most pristine crescents, backed by green hills.

  Culebra

• Peek through the natural window of Cueva Ventana

  Hike to a clifftop cave that opens like a giant window onto the Río Grande de Arecibo valley far below.

  Arecibo

• Swim in the natural pools of Charco El Hippie

  Escape to Toro Negro State Forest and dip into cool, rock-lined swimming holes fed by mountain streams.

  Toro Negro, Jayuya

• Savor alcapurrias and mofongo at Piñones food kiosks

  Hop between family-run seaside stalls in Loíza and bite into crispy crab-stuffed fritters and garlicky mashed plantains.

  Piñones, Loíza

• Party at La Placita de Santurce

  Join locals at this market-square-turned-nightlife-hub, where bars, music, and dancing spill into the streets after dark.

  Santurce, San Juan

• Tour the massive walls of Castillo San Cristóbal

  Walk through the largest Spanish fort in the Americas, layered with dungeons, a moat, and a panoramic view of the Atlantic.

  San Juan

• See Ponce de León's tomb in Catedral de San Juan Bautista

  Visit the marble tomb of the Spanish explorer inside this Gothic-style cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in the Americas.

  San Juan

• Browse Puerto Rican masterpieces at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

  Admire a rich collection of Caribbean art spanning 500 years, displayed in a neoclassical building with a tranquil sculpture garden.

  Santurce, San Juan

• Sample rum at the Casa Bacardí distillery

  Tour the world’s largest premium rum distillery for a tasting flight and a handcrafted cocktail overlooking San Juan Bay.

  Cataño

• Feast on fresh seafood at Luquillo’s beachside kiosks

  Pick your meal from dozens of open-air kitchens lining the sand, serving everything from grilled lobster to coconut smoothies.

  Luquillo

• Fly over the jungle canopy on the Toro Verde zip line

  Soar 1,200 feet above the treetops on one of the world’s longest zip lines, with adrenaline-pumping views of the central mountains.

  Orocovis

• Swim in the glowing waters of La Parguera bio bay

  Dive into a natural light show in a mangrove-fringed bay where microscopic organisms emit a neon-blue glow with every movement.

  Lajas

• Snorkel with sea turtles at Tamarindo Beach

  Swim alongside green turtles in the seagrass beds of this calm Culebra beach, then sunbathe on its white crescent.

  Culebra

• Admire Taíno petroglyphs at Cueva del Indio

  Scramble along coastal cliffs to find ancient indigenous rock carvings inside a wind-worn cave, with dramatic Atlantic breakers below.

  Arecibo

• Photograph the iconic Parque de Bombas

  Marvel at Ponce's red-and-black-striped firehouse, a whimsical landmark that now houses a small museum of firefighting history.

  Ponce

• Catch a wave at Domes Beach in Rincón

  Paddle out at Puerto Rico’s surf capital, where consistent reef breaks draw surfers of all levels and winter brings epic swells.

  Rincón

• Learn coffee heritage at a Hacienda San Pedro plantation

  Tour a working mountain coffee farm in Jayuya, from bean to cup, and sip a freshly brewed cortadito amid misty peaks.

  Jayuya

• Hike the isolated trails of Isla de Mona

  Spend a day on the ‘Galapagos of the Caribbean,’ exploring cactus-dotted cliffs and encountering endemic iguanas on an uninhabited island.

  Mona Island

• Step inside La Fortaleza, the oldest governor's mansion in the Americas

  Take a guided tour through this 16th-century fortress turned executive residence, blending Spanish colonial elegance with modern governance.

  San Juan

• Walk under the floating umbrellas on Calle de la Fortaleza

  Snap a photo beneath a canopy of colorful umbrellas suspended above a picturesque cobblestone street in Old San Juan.

  San Juan

• Chase sunset at Cabo Rojo's Los Morrillos Lighthouse

  Perch atop dramatic limestone cliffs by a red lighthouse, watching the sun melt into the Caribbean from Puerto Rico's southwestern tip.

  Cabo Rojo