Puerto Rico is graced with a wealth of fantastic beaches, year-round sun, limestone caves and opportunities for diving, snorkeling and surfing as well as a multitude of cultural experience, not to mention amazing food and world-class rum. If you plan on visiting this lush U.S. territory in the northeastern Caribbean, be sure to visit its very best places, including these.
Old San Juan
Visiting this historic city is like traveling back in time. Walk the twisting cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to find grand, pastel colonial architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries and old Spanish military forts. Despite its well-preserved history, the more than 500-year-old city, which happens to be the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico, is also home to much modern Puerto Rican culture. Be sure to stop by the 16th-century El Morro Fort, the neoclassical San Juan Cathedral, and the Fortaleza – but the whole city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you really can’t go wrong.
Playa Flamenco
The pristine white-sand shores and sparkling crystalline waters of Playa Flamenco are regarded as the best on Culebra, a small island about 17 miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico. In fact, Playa Flamenco is often noted as one of the best beaches in the world. The beach’s name comes from the flamingos that rest in a nearby lagoon in the winter. Visit during the week when the beach is at its least crowded.
El Yunque National Forest
To experience some of Puerto Rico’s lush inland beauty, this is the place to visit. Spread along the Luquillo Mountains, including Pico El Yunque, El Yunque National Forest is home to the only tropical rainforest in the National US Forest System. The climate here is considerably cooler than along the coast and at lower elevations, and it is noticeably wetter. Walking trails wind through the forest, allowing hikers a closer look at some of the 240 species of trees and hundreds of species of plants (50 species of orchids alone), as well as an abundance of smaller wildlife. El Yunque’s peak reaches 3,500 feet above sea level, and the forest covers 43 square miles, including three-quarters of the island’s remaining virgin forest.
Culebra Island (Isla Culebra)
Although Culebra is often mentioned in the same breath as Vieques, this smaller island with beautiful beaches and lush hills has its own unique character. The pace here is unhurried and the atmosphere relaxed. Eco tourism is big on the island and many of the tourist establishments are run by expats. About 17 miles east of Puerto Rico and 12 miles west of the Caribbean island of Saint Thomas, Culebra is only seven miles long and three miles wide, with 23 offshore islands of its own. The area’s coral reefs are considered some of the best in the entire Caribbean
Vieques
Vieques, eight miles from mainland Puerto Rico, has become a popular beach resort with small, upper-end hotels, restaurants, shops, and galleries. With the departure of the United States Army from the island in 2003, Vieques turned its focus to tourism. Beautiful beaches are now supported with a quality tourism infrastructure that attracts both Puerto Ricans and foreign travelers, who take the time to make their way over to the island. There are no large hotels or highrise condo complexes. At 21 miles long and five miles wide, Vieques is the largest of the Spanish Virgin Islands but still offers a small-island feel.
Rincón
This famous surfing town is hugely popular with visitors and expats, getting it the nickname ‘Gringo Paradise’ by the locals. The waves swell to huge proportions here, but there are also beaches on the south side of town that are great for swimming and relaxing with a piña colada. The area is also popular for humpback whale-watching trips from mid-January to March.
Isla Desecheo
This satellite island located off Puerto Rico’s west coast, about 12 miles from Rincón, is a top destination for divers wanting to escape the heavily crowded tourist areas. The water is calm and translucent, with visibility of around 80 feet, perfect for viewing the coral reefs and spotting bright fish in the water. The tiny uninhabited island is a wildlife and marine reserve managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.