December 10, 2019 No Comments
Puerto Rico is such a beautiful and dynamic island and it would be a shame to visit the island and stay in just one place! Get a taste of the entire island with this ultimate 5 day Puerto Rico itinerary!
Day 1: San Juan
After you land, I’d recommend heading straight to Old San Juan to soak in the colors, cobblestone streets, and history! Spend some time getting lost on the winding streets with bright, colorful buildings. Each one is home to a host of restaurants, cafes, art galleries, ice cream shoppes- you name it! Parking can be difficult, so find a spot just outside of town, drop a pin, and stroll into town. Walk along the water and follow the sounds of the live music 🙂
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is an old fort from the 16th Century that is along the edge of Old San Juan jetting out into the Caribbean Sea. For a $10 entrance fee you can explore the fort all day. The fort is MASSIVE and even on a busy day, you never feel crowded. Plenty of photo ops await you around every turn so don’t forget your camera!
Day 2: El Yunque National Forest
No trip to Puerto Rico would be complete without visiting the El Yunque Forest! Once you’re in the park, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the Amazon, rather than on an island in the Caribbean. Spectacular views at every turn await you on the drive in.
Tip: arrive as early as possible to avoid crowds and traffic!
La Mina Falls is an iconic stop along in the park. A moderate 20-30 minute hike awaits you down to the falls. Expect a lot of company, unless you arrive early in the morning. It was impossible to get a photo of the falls without dozens of people in them, and swimming was a challenge because we did not want to leave our stuff unattended.
Tip: as the name suggests, it is a rainforest. Expect it to rain on and off throughout your day. Bring a small rain jacket to keep in your bag on your hikes.
If you’re looking for a more challenging day hike, I’d recommend the El Yunque trail. The hike is about 5 miles and 3-4 hours round trip. On a clear day, it can offer spectacular 360 degree views from the top of the park. We were there on a foggy day, but there are attractions along the way (such as old castles, forts, buildings) to make the hike worth it no matter the weather.
Bio Bay
After your day in the rain forest, head over to the nearby town of Fajardo for some night kayaking in a bioluminescent bay! These waters are filled with tiny plankton that glow when the water moves. As you paddle through the mangroves and swish your hand in the water, it lights up with an incredible blue glow. It’s truly spectacular!
There are plenty of options for tour companies that go out every night. We chose to go with Eco Adventures. Their guides were a perfect mix of giving us information and as well as space to kayak and explore on our own.
Day 3: Snorkeling and Cliffs on the South Shore
Spend your morning down in La Parguera where you can catch one of many snorkel cruises out to a nearby reef. We booked our excursion on Aleli Tours which was a half day kayak/snorkel excursion. We started in a double kayak and were led through a channel of mangrove trees. The water was calm, which was great for a terrible kayaker like myself. After that, we boarded a small boat out to a nearby reef with crystal clear water and beautiful coral to spend some time snorkeling.
Tip: Book an adventure for the morning to avoid crowds and don’t forget sunscreen on your back!
We were fortunate to have the entire reef just to ourselves, so we got to spend some quiet time taking in the natural beauty. Schools of bright blue and yellow fish scoot in and out of the reefs. Our guide brought a banana out with them and they will eat right out of your hand!
After a busy morning snorkeling, head over to Rojo Cabo and walk along the majestic cliffs. Photo ops for days, and the perfect way to get your land legs back! The farther you walk along the cliffs, the larger they get, then they will slowly start to descend down onto a remote beach. Perfect place to take a quick nap after your long day.
Day 4: Secret Waterfall and Window Cave
First thing in the morning, drive to Gozalandia Falls. This secret waterfall is pretty unknown to tourists and if you arrive before 10:00 am, you’ll have the place to yourself. When you arrive, pay the $5 to park in the grass lot and walk the short ways down the wooden stairs down to the base of the falls. The freshwater falls is unbelievably cool and refreshing. Some locals who arrived after us were climbing up the rocks, but this chicken was happy staying down “on the ground” swimming.
After a scenic drive through a lush valley, you’ll arrive a the entrance to Cueva Ventana. There were billboards and signs alerting you to the entrance, but if you’re not careful you will miss it. A pop up tent is set at the side of the road where they sell day-of tickets, cash only. We had purchased our tickets ahead of time, which ended up being more headache than it was worth.
Tip: they have tours going out constantly, so wait to buy your tickets until you arrive on site
After a few minute climb up a staircase, you’ll arrive at the landing zone. Tours go out every 15-20 minutes, so grab yourself a snack or drink at one of the vendors before you head out. Once it’s time, you’ll receive a hard hat and your group will head out on a short hike through the rain forest to the entrance of the cave. It’s a steep climb up through the cave, but the group takes frequent breaks. The guides are fluent in both English and Spanish, which was appreciated! When walking through the caves, you can both see and hear the bats flying around you from every which way. Don’t worry- they won’t come near you!
After a short hike, you’ll arrive at the Window Cave- the ultimate photo op! The view will take your breath away. The group will pause here for a while to make sure everyone gets their perfect pictures!
Day 5: Arecibo
No better way to end your Puerto Rico trip than to spend the day on the beaches in Arecibo. Our favorite was La Poza del Obispo. A large arch of rocks create a natural barrier for calm swimming, while giant waves from the Caribbean slam against them in the distance to create huge sprays! If you want to do some wave crashing, just swim out a bit and you won’t be disappointed!
Once you need a break from salt water in your eyes, you can hike up the rocks that surround the beach for a birds-eye view. Be careful- the waves hitting the rocks are more dangerous up here so stay away from the edges. A short walk down the cliff will bring you to the Arecibo Lighthouse. The lighthouse has a large deck to relax on and take in the view.
At the end of the day…
Puerto Rico truly has something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach-cation, adventures in a cave, or getting back to nature in the rain forest- you’ll find it in Puerto Rico!
Plus, the fact that they use the US Dollar and you do not need a passport to enter, the reasons to visit just keep adding up! You’ll get by just fine on little-to-no Spanish as well. Just about everyone knows enough English to get by. I flew nonstop from JFK and went from snow to sand in just about 4 hours.
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