Things To Do
Castillo San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal Castle
Castillo San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal Castle (next door) are a must-see stop! You can purchase tickets from the National Park Service ($10 for entrance to both sites). The sites are centrally located in Old San, near restaurants, bars, cafes, and the historic town.
Numero Uno Beach House
This is our favorite beach club in San Juan! They unfortunately don't take reservations (it's first come, first serve). You can use the bean bags for 3 1/2 hours at a time with $35 per person in minimum consumption costs for food and drinks or rent a beach bed for around $100 per day in minimum consumption. It typically takes around 30-40 minutes to get a table after adding your name to the list.
Sailing Day Trip to Culebra Island
We strongly recommend a sailing trip to Culebra! Prices on Viator and Trip Advisor tend to range between $120-200 per person for a full day trip (around 6-7 hours). This includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in San Juan, snorkeling, lunch, and alcoholic beverages. If Culebra sells out, other great sailing day trip destinations are Icacos (deserted island) and Vieques! Those tours provide similar amenities at a comparable price point.
El Yunque Rain Forest Hiking, Waterfalls, and Rock Slides
We recommend renting a car and driving out to El Yunque since the paid tours often get cancelled. You will need a parking permit to access the forest. Reserve in advance with the National Park Service (around $2-5 per vehicle).
Cueva Ventana
This cave has a stunning view and can easily be combined with a day trip to nearby Cueva del Indio. The walking tour lasts around 90 minutes and costs $29 per person ($10 for children under age 10). We recommend renting a car to visit. Expect about an hour-long drive from San Juan.
Reserva Natural Cueva del Indio
For the movie buffs, Cueva del Indio was a filming location for Pirates of the Caribbean! It's a great place for a picnic and a beautiful walk along the rocky coastline. The site is about an hour outside of San Juan. We recommend renting a car and pairing your visit with a tour of the nearby Cueva Ventana. While there are tours available on Viator and Trip Advisor, they tend to be large group tours — without the freedom to roam and enjoy the place — and are much more expensive.
Museo de las Americas
If you're interesting in history, this museum — located in a historic barracks building in Old San Juan, hosts exhibitions of art, history, and anthropology, with an emphasis on Indigenous, African, and colonial influences in Puerto Rico and throughout the Americas.
Mar Chiquita Beach
Puerto Rico has lots of stunning beaches to explore! Unfortunately, the best beaches are outside of San Juan. We suggest reserving a sailing day trip to Culebra, Icacos, or Vieques, or renting a car to visit locations within driving distance of San Juan, such as Mar Chiquita (pictured), which is about 40 minutes away.
Balneario La Monserrate Luquillo Beach
Luquillo Beach is located around a 45 minute drive from San Juan. On a calm water day, you can swim out to a long sand bar. Just off the beach are several restaurants, bars, and tourist shops. It's a great place to relax and enjoy beautiful, (mostly) calm water!
Piñones Tide Pools
Puerto Rico beaches have rough currents, which can be dangerous for swimming. Piñones has natural tide pools, where the rocks help to break the current and provide calm water for swimming. The nearby beach has several restaurants and bars, and the area is surrounded by jungle (think Costa Rica vibes). Piñones is accessible by rental car or by Uber from San Juan (around 25 minutes from Condado or 15 minutes from Isla Verde). Just remember to pack water shoes!