Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful landscape and turquoise blue waters that bring people worldwide to its shores. This post will tell you the best things to do in Puerto Rico to help you get the most out of your vacation on this beautiful island! The best activities in Puerto Rico are sailing, snorkeling, ATVs, horseback riding, ziplining, and hiking.
TIP: Book your main activities towards the beginning of your trip just in case they reschedule due to bad weather or maintenance.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post that I receive a small commission from, but they do not add cost to your tour booking. Some links in this post send you directly to the tour company’s site that I do not get commission on when I think it is the better/easier way to book the activity.
Sail to Nearby Islands
This is my favorite activity when it comes to taking in the island life! These trips are around 5 hours and include food, music, floats, and drinks. Boat day trips are just a combination of all things great on an island- clear endless water and good vibes. Some boats require you to meet at the marina in Fajardo, which is about 1 hour from San Juan. Others offer roundtrip transportation from your hotel. These boats have plenty of floats so you can just chill in the water or swim to shore and lay on the beach.
Puerto Rico Catamarans will usually take you to 1 of 3 islands off of Puerto Rico: Palomino, Icacos, or Culebra. For the best snorkeling, Culebra is the best option, but for just a nice clear beach, Icacos and Palomino are both extremely fun for a day in the sun!
Soar Through the Treetops
Puerto Rico is a rare gem in the fact that, if you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport to see a tropical rainforest. Ziplining is an awesome way to get a bird’s eye view of this tropical wonder! There are 2 areas you can zipline at: the rainforest and the dry forest. Both are beautiful, it just depends what you want to see or where you are staying.
Enjoy Caribbean Sunset Sailing
This is a great option that departs right out of the San Juan harbor, making it easy to get to by Uber or taxi. This sailing excursions takes you around the Old San Juan historical walls, giving you a new perspective on this beautiful city. The sunset sail is from 5pm-7pm so that you can take in the entire sunset and make it back to the dock as soon as it gets dark. These sails come with snacks and drinks, and are the perfect setting for any occasion- a date night, a girls trip, or a family activity. The sunset sail is usually more calm whereas the boating day trips that I mentioned earlier can get rowdy, depending on the crowd, but both are extremely enjoyable.
Ride through the Foothills of the Rainforest
I LOVE Carabali Adventure Park, and I think you will too! They offer ATV rides and horseback rides on a large, beautiful property just below the El Yunque Rainforest National Park. I’ve ridden horses twice and loved it. Carabali also offers ATV and UTV tours. They may let you go fast on certain straight paths in the tour, but remember this is a tour, so you have a guide who sets the pace.
Be Adventurous on a Puerto Rico Rainforest Hiking Tour
If you are looking for adventure, but feel a little weary of doing it on your own, a guided tour is perfect for you! Puerto Rico tour guides cannot bring tour groups to the actual El Yunque Rainforest National Park road right now, but they will take you to great hikes, waterfalls, and natural water slides on the outskirts of the national park road, which are fun and adventurous! Be sure to wear water shoes or tennis shoes that you do not mind getting dirty as it can be extremely muddy. Guides will show you where to jump off into the water and will usually provide life jackets for safety during the tour. Honestly, locals go to these places by themselves all the time, but if you don’t have a rental car or just want to be on the safe side, I recommend a guided tour.
These are some of the best excursions in Puerto Rico with easy access from San Juan. I did not list the bioluminescent bay tour just because I have not personally been, but have been told by friends that it is best to experience during a new moon (no moon) so that you can see the water light up best. I hope this helps you when planning your next Caribbean adventure!
If you have experienced an excursion in Puerto Rico that you enjoyed, list it in the comments below!
Happy Travels,
Katie Went There 