Puerto Rico is full of Spanish culture, beautiful beaches and of course home of the Piña Colada. The three times I’ve been to Puerto Rico, I always discover something new and a new area that I want to come back and explore.
If you are trying to plan the best trip to Puerto, you’ve come to the right place!
I think sometimes it’s assumed that when you go to an island one visit is enough. There are so many amazing places to see and eat.
As I was writing this blog post, my excitement to head back to Puerto Rico grew. Don’t underestimate this amazing island.
Let’s start from the top!
Table of contents
Snapshot of Puerto Rico:
Photo Credit: Enuel Viera
How long to visit? 3-7 days. I would recommend going for a long weekend at minimum.
Do I need my passport? If you are a United States Citizen or Green card holder, you do not need your passport to travel to Puerto Rico.
What’s the best month to go? mid April- June. Right after the busy winter and before the rainy summer.
What’s the weather like? Average of 80℉ (26 ℃) with the coldest month averaging 70 ℉ (21℃). Puerto rico is warm sunny and humid most of the year.
Currency in Puerto Rico? USD. Puerto rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
How to get to Puerto Rico? There are 4 airport. If you are looking to be in San Juan, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is the airport you want to fly into.
How to get around? Uber is the best option. If you plan to head off to the national forest, you can rent a car for the day!
Where to Stay in Puerto Rico
If you are looking to be in the center of the colorful building, culture, AMAZING food & excellent service head over to Hotel El Convento! This Historic Hotel used to be a convent more than 350 years ago, and in 1962 the convent was turned into a luxury hotel full of Spanish Colonial Architecture and design. My brother got married at Hotel El Convento and it was such a beautiful wedding. Oh, that is when I made my debut on Martha Stewart Weddings. 😉
Although, I loved the culture and the colors of Old San Juan, the city & beach views at Condado Beach Club were breathtaking! Condado Beach Club’s oceanfront views along with the infinite pool will make you feel like you’re in paradise. Make sure you lay out by the pool, grab a Coconut Pineapple Mojito & nachos!
Looking to stay somewhere less touristy? Airbnb has multiple options for places to stay. We rented a large house for a group on one trip in the Ocean Park. Ocean Park is a residential area away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This area is filled with restaurants a walk away and local bars.
Hotel vs. Airbnb
I’ve stayed in a hotel and an Airbnb in Puerto Rico and enjoyed both experiences! I would stay in an Airbnb if….
- You want a less touristy experience: Most of the Airbnbs are in residential areas.
- You like to cook your own meals: when we went to Italy a couple of years ago, we went to the market and created a charcuterie board. Cooking on vacation does not have to be a chore.
- You’re traveling with a large family: it will be more cost efficient if you have a longer stay and you want to have multiple rooms.
Best Restaurants in Puerto Rico
La Coffeetera – Brunch Coffee lovers, this one is for you! La Coffeetera is located in the heart of Ocean Park. The restaurant mixes Instagram vibes with local feels.
@lacoffeetera 
St. Germain Bistro & Cafe – Brunch A hidden gem in Old San Juan. If you are looking for a cozy cafe with amazing food, make sure to stop here.
Barrachina – Lunch, Breakfast or Dinner Home of the first Piña Colada. Dine while watching a live shows. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time if you want to see the flamenco dancers. It’s definitely worth it! The Paella did not disappoint.
Jose Enrique – Lunch or Dinner This authentic Puerto Rican restaurant that has been featured on multiple articles. The menu changes frequently It was WORTH the hype. Make sure to order Bacalaito (a deep-fried codfish fritters made from a flour-based batter punctuated with Puerto Rican herbs and spices.
Santaella – Lunch or Dinner The tropical cocina that will change your life! The cocktails are amazing and the steak is to die for!
Serafina – Lunch or Dinner Italian food lovers.. this one is for you! The avocado san pierto salad does not disappoint. Serafina is a great place to grab lunch!
Pizza Piola – Lunch or Dinner The pizza was AMAZING, but the service was excellent! The server saw that we had lots of pizza to carry and helped us carry our pizza
Cayo Blanco – Dinner This was a highly recommended authentic puerto rican food and all I have to say is Monfongo! Monfongo is a mashed fried plantain dish.
Casita Miramar – Dinner A friend told me I needed to add this to the list! So next time I will be headed to this “instagrammable” traditional puerto rican restaurant.
Best Bars in Puerto Rico
Old San Juan
La Factoría – Best Cocktail + Instagrammable Voted The World’s 50 Best Bars 5 years in a row. This bar does not disappointed! La Factoría has 6 hidden doors leading you to multiple bars with different vibes! There’s a section for each vibe you are feeling whether that’s wine night, candlelit date, or a PARTAY!
El Batey – Cheap Drinks A dive bar with graffiti walls, old juke box, and class. The name means “gathering place” & they’ve been in the same location for 5 decades. Grab a cold cheap drink.
La Taberna Lupulo – Perfect Late Night Bite 3 words CRUNCH WRAP BURRITO. I know this is the bars section, but if you have late night cravings after a night out stop here. The first time I was obsessed with it I was intoxicated, but I had it sober and it was AMAZING! La Taberna Lupulo is a pub with a range of beers and multiple beer cocktails. If you don’t like beer, don’t worry there’s options.
El Cafetín – $5 mojitos Don’t let the price full you! They are really good mojitos that aren’t just thrown together. We went back multiple times because there were SO many flavors! The bar also has other discounted shots and beers.
Ocean Park
Numero Uno Beach Bar – Beach vibes + Instagrammable Technically this is a beach restaurant, but I feel like Numero Uno has a beach bar feel. Enjoy cocktails & a meal while sitting on a bean bag on the beach. You can leave your table and take a dip in the ocean, so be sure to wear a swimsuit!
La Cochera – Cheap Good Drinks Cute garage bar with bites & full bar! Instagrammable spot right outside the bar.
El Tap – Beer Tap Beer lovers this one is for you! 46 beers on tap with 18 of them local. If you’re not a beer drinker, there’s sangria and wine.
Condado
The Deck – Ocean Views Sip a cocktail while you enjoy infinite pool views & the ocean. This pool bar is located inside of Condado Beach Club. The service is amazing and the cocktails are worth the hype.
Marena – Beach Front Grab a cocktail and head to the beach! Marena is located inside La Concha hotel. If you aren’t a guest, you can grab a drink and lay in the sun on the beach.
Arya Rooftop – Sunset Views Located in O:LV this hotel is Instagrammable in every corner and there is no exception when it comes to their infinite pool overlooking the lagoon. This is a great place to grab a drink and watch the sunset.
Veritas Wine and Cognac Bar – Bougie vibes Located in the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel this Wine and Cognac bar serves vintage wine, unique cocktails. The ocean views elevate the experience!
La Placita de Santruce
El Techo Rooftop Bar – Charcuterie Dreams There’s something about a charcuterie board and a rooftop. If you know you know. I finally found an amazing charcuterie place in Puerto Rico.
Jungle Bird – Best Cocktail + Instagrammable Tiki bar vibes in cocktail paradise! Jungle bird also serves food with vegan options. You can also do a rum tasting.
Things to do
Puerto Rico is full of unique experiences for every type of person. Whether you love history, water sports, hiking, etc. These are just a few of my favorite places. I used Viator to book a couple of excursions. If you use my link, I do earn commission.
Top 4 Activities
Castillo San Felipe Del Moro – National Monument Learn the history behind this fort located on the corner of the island. El Morro is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 15 years + pay $7. You can also grab food from a stand and lay on the grass and enjoy a picnic with a beautiful view.
El Yunque National Forest – National Forest The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service. Spend the day listening to the sounds of birds, hiking, and taking in the beautiful scenery! If you decide to venture to the national forest, you will need to rent a car to get in the forest. You cannot uber to the national rain forest because there’s no walking trail to get in. The forest is located about 1 hour from San Juan. There are food stands in the national forest, but make sure to pack snacks!
@giovannicandelaria 
Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay – Unique Experience Microscopic plankton put on a show in the waters of the Laguna Grande. There are many tours you can book to experience this phenomenon.
Catamaran Cruise – Boat Life I don’t know what it is about boats and vacations. They just give you a sense of life! The waters in Puerto Rico are beautiful and I would HIGHLY recommend taking a boat trip to experience them. Take a catamaran that allows you to get off, swim and snorkel the blue waters.
Rum Distilleries of Puerto Rico
You can learn about rum history by visiting the distilleries. Spending the day sipping your way through the Caribbean’s most popular spirit.
Casa Bacardí – Cathedral of Rum Yes, that Bacardí! This distillery has Historic Tours, Rum Tasting, or Mixology Class
Hacienda Santa Ana – Oldest Distillery Manufacturing since 1880, this rum is produced in small batches. The visitor center lets you learn its history and taste what Barrilito is all about!
PitoRico – Venture out A distillery in the mountains of Puerto Rico with different flavors of PitoRico, including coconut, passion fruis, tamarind, orange, and original.
Don Q – Serrallés Castle Museum Sadly, although Don Q is a popular rum in Puerto Rico their distillery is not open to the public. Serrallés Castle Museum allows you to get to know the history of this rum.
Best Beaches in Puerto Rico
Condado Beach – Condado If you are staying in San Juan, this beach is one of the easiest to access. Surrounded by high-rise hotels and resorts. The beach is free to access and it is open daily from dusk to dawn.
Ocean Park Beach – Ocean Park Wanna get away from the hustle and bustle? Ocean Park beach is near a residential area, so there are more locals in this area.
Flamenco Beach – Culebra A mile of crystal clear turquoise waters, white sand, and ranked 5th best beach in the world. We spend the day racing on the beach, relaxing and swimming.
Cayo Icacos – Fajardo Perfect for snorkeling because of the long strips of reefs beside the abandoned pier. You can take a water taxi or a private charter.
Tortuga – Culebrita This Culebra’s hidden gem with green turtles is only accessible by boat or seaplane.
La Playuela – Cabo Rojo Located 3 hours from SJU, this half-moon-shaped beach will have you mesmerized. One of the most popular beaches in Cabo Rojo. Don’t forget your hiking shoes because you’ll need to put in some work to get there.
Photographers in Puerto Rico
Whether you are going for a girls trip, business trip, romantic weekend, or a special event, I HIGHLY recommend having a photoshoot done in Puerto Rico. There are so many corners and nooks to take the most beautiful photos to make an everlasting memories. If you are a content creator, click here for tips for creating content on vacation. Here are a couple of photographers to check out:
Giovanni Candelaria – A brand photographer who is a San Juan native and is incredible when it comes to helping you create images that align with your brand story. Stalk him on instagram: @giovannicandelaria
Enuel Viera – Destination Wedding Photographer who has been featured in Martha Stewart. His work speaks for itself. Stalk him on instagram: @enuelvieraphoto
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