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Puerto Rico Travel Guide
Commonly referred to as La Isla del Encanto, “The Island of Enchantment”, Puerto Rico will leave you speechless - eager to explore. Met by bioluminescent bays, tropical rainforest, majestic mountains, caves and idyllic beaches, it’s easy to see how this tropical oasis earned such a title.
Beaches in Puerto Rico
Proudly fronting over 270 miles of sensational coastline, Puerto Rico and her posse of smaller islands, cays and islets open their arms and invite you to explore their phenomenal, multifaceted beaches.
With almost 300 beaches to choose from, the hypnotic and opalescent seas will be impossible to leave. Here you’ll find the secluded corners, the lively hotspots and the adventure-filled oceans; there is something for everybody here.
Best beaches in Puerto Rico
Playa Flamenco
World-renowned beach, Playa Flamenco, floats idyllically between the mainland of Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands on the island of Culebra – a sparsely populated Puerto Rican Island.
The sea that frequents its shores is crystal-clear, gently lapping the pristine white-sands – a Caribbean speciality. The lack of commercialisation is what makes this place so memorable; it is a secluded haven. Promise us you won’t miss the sunset!
Crash Boat beach
On the north-western coast of Puerto Rico, in the municipality of Aguadilla, lies Crash boat beach – a beach of aquamarine waters and golden coastlines. Jump off piers into shoals of exotic fish or take a kayak across the sparkling ocean; there’s always the option to get horizontal on the beach!
Playa Isla Verde
San Juan’s urban beach, Playa Isla Verde, is a buzzing beach offering an endless list of exhilarating water sports. A laidback feel with a gentle breeze, this is an exceptional beach to visit as a family. Volleyball nets, jet skis, parasailing... you definitely won’t be short on things to do, and it doesn’t look too bad either!
Puerto Rico geography
Puerto Rico history
Wildlife in Puerto Rico
Activities in Puerto Rico
Watersports
Diving in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is littered with dive shops that provide you with first-class kits, expertise and classes. For beginners, dive into the waters of Vieques’ Mosquito Pier or the island of Culebra. In Vieques see hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, moray eels, lobsters; or navigate the sea through caves, sunken vessels, and coral reefs in Culebra.
Experts, you will want to head for Desecheo, Mona Island or the Wall. Mona Island is the so-called “Galapagos of the Caribbean,” an ecological reserve bursting with kaleidoscopic marine life. The navy pier at Crash Boat Beach is a hotspot for divers, welcoming you to a whole new underwater world full of surprises.
Surfing in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s west region, Porta del Sol, is the surfing capital of Puerto Rico - a laidback region filled to the brim with chilled out vibes. For beginners we recommend the beaches in Isabela, Aguadilla or Rincon. Warm waters all year round with peak swells from October to February; what are you waiting for?
Complete with a surfer statue in the middle of the town, Rincón is a must for any keen or aspiring surfers. The most popular surfing beaches include Domes, María’s, Tres Palmas and Sandy Beach.
Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Puerto Rico
Welcoming both complete novices and seasoned professionals and everything in-between, Puerto Rico offers up the tastiest landscapes for your wind and kitesurfing escapes. Beginner’s Courses are the ideal way to get stuck into something new... and what a place to learn!
Some of the best windsurfing is found at Punta Las Marias in the Greater San Juan area. In the South, head over to Santa Isabel, Guánica and La Parguera; for the north Jobos and Shacks; and finally, the island of Culebra that lies off the eastern coast.
If you’re in the city, we recommend taking a Kitesurfing lesson in Ocean Park in San Juan; or Dorado Beach if you want to venture further out. For the experienced kite surfers, you will want to visit between December and April; and for the beginners, July to September is the best time for you.
Sailing in Puerto Rico
Heaven on earth, where better to travel the intricacies of this archipelago than on a sailing boat? Whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, family or your partner – you’re sure to make lasting memories in this slice of paradise. Across shimmering waters, swallowed up by an ever-blue sky, you will certainly feel part of something special here. The prime time for sailing is when the wind picks up from November to January.
Rent a charter for the day (or days) and explore colourful reefs, gorge on impeccable feasts or soak up that sun on one of many beautiful beaches.
Fishing in Puerto Rico
With a wealth of lagoons, bays and cays: Puerto Rico has a colossal range of fishing hotspots with an incredible diversity of fish. Take on the deepest point of the Atlantic Ocean by renting a fishing charter from San Juan Bay Marina. If you’re after shore fishing, set up camp by the bay or the river mouths and take in those mesmerising landscapes.
Inshore lagoons on the West are full of Snapper and Tarpon; whereas, bays and reefs are home to Snappers, Mackerel, Mahi and Wahoo.
Note: Some species are catch-and-release only, whereas some are subject to seasons and bag limits - so make sure you do your research!
Canoeing & kayaking in Puerto Rico
Light up your oars with a night tour of nature's finest bioluminescent bays. Boasting three glowing bays: these magical, natural phenomena can be found at Laguna Grande, Mosquito Bay and La Parguera. For the optimal effect, make sure you go when the sky is darkest – ideally a night on either side of a new moon.
Bioluminescence AND beautiful mangroves, La Parguera is the best destination for keen kayakers, canoers and nature lovers! For a better peek at what’s underneath, make sure you try a clear-bottom kayak.
Kayak and Canoe rentals and tours are available across the island, with most offering adjustments for those with disabilities.
Land activities
Golf in Puerto Rico
Panoramic views of verdant mountains, waving palms and majestic oceans fringed with glowing sands; a surreal landscape for a game of golf, and plenty of choice on courses. If you're a golfing fanatic, you will certainly recognise the architects that designed them – Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Rees Jones (to name a few).
Since 2008, the island has been adopted into the PGA tour schedule – one of the most prestigious golfing competitions – attracting the best golfers from across the globe. Not just professional golfers, the greens have seen the likes of world leaders and celebrities.
Easily accessible from San Juan, most greens are a mere 30 minutes to a two-hour drive away. Some of the top courses on the island have views of the El Yunque rainforest, the Atlantic Ocean and are built cliffsides to honour the oceans roar.
Cycling & mountain biking in Puerto Rico
Kicking it off with the bike-friendly city of San Juan, the country’s capital and one of the oldest European settlements in the Western Hemisphere. Cycling is the perfect way to absorb the city, visiting attractions and activities enroute.
Just outside of San Juan, the Pinoñes trail is easy to get to and captures the breath-taking coastlines and mangrove forests of Puerto Rico’s north coast.
Over on the west coast, the coastal boardwalk of Route 466 offers impeccable views of the striking Isabela coastline. Cycle across pink-hued salt flats towards the Los Morillos Lighthouse in the southwestern corner of Cabo Rojo. For mountain bikers, peddle your way along Route 333 in the town of Guanica.
It’s definitely worth saddling up for a bike ride around Vieques island – finding Puerto Rico’s best-kept secret beaches and exploring the natural wildlife refuge.
Walking & hiking in Puerto Rico
Top on your list for hiking should be the El Yunque Rainforest, the one and only tropical rainforest in the United States. A rich ecosystem: this rainforest homes hundreds of native flora and fauna - including the famed Coquí frog.
On the south side of the island, the arid Guánica Dry Forest Reserve is almost the opposite of El Yunque in terms of conditions and biodiversity. In this dry forest reserve, expect cacti, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. Both the rainforest and dry forest have plenty of trails to follow with varying degrees of intensity.
There's plenty more forest where that came from, along with nature reserves, caves and mountains; you will never grow tired of Puerto Rico’s natural beauty.