San Juan, Puerto Rico is a warm, tropical destination filled with interesting places to see and exhilarating activities to do. Ubers are easy to find on the island, so transportation is made easy. This is a great destination to plan a stress-free vacation!
What to Do in San Juan
Beach Days
You can certainly plan a relaxing beach vacation after booking a trip to San Juan, but if you prefer to stay occupied with activities, there is plenty to do. I planned my trip to Puerto Rico in March, so I wanted several beach days to warm up and get a bit of a tan. I spent most of my time at Condado Beach, because it was a two-minute walk from my Airbnb. The beach is beautiful and fairly quiet. A few times a day, people go up and down the beach selling ice cream. I recommend buying some, because it’s delicious!
Try New Restaurants
There are numerous restaurants near Condado Beach that I recommend you try. A few of my favorite restaurants were Tijuana’s Bar and Grill, Bebo’s Cafe, Tresbé, and La Pachanga.
Tijuana’s has great lunch deals. The chips and salsa, salads, and quesadillas were delicious. One time at Tijuana’s was not enough for me, so I went twice.
Bebo’s is a cafeteria environment, but you get a lot of great food for a cheap price. I got the chicken alfredo when I was here. I had enough leftovers for another meal, and it was under $10.
Tresbé is a hip restaurant with big sandwiches and a nice bar. There is a nearby coffee shop that is pretty much connected that you should check out as well.
Lastly, if you are looking to go out for the night, I would recommend La Pachanga. They have delicious nachos and great happy hour deals. I stayed here for a few hours drinking too many margaritas and listening to people sing karaoke. You can see from the picture below that it is a fun environment!
Walk Through Old San Juan
Make sure you make it over to Old San Juan while you are here as well. If you enjoy tours, they have several walking tours where you can hear about all of the history. History knowledge is not my forte, so I enjoyed walking around and exploring the city on my own time.
Visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro
If you are taking an Uber, an easy drop off spot in San Juan is Castillo San Felipe del Morro which is an old historical fort. I won’t spoil everything, so when you arrive here, you can read about the specific historical significance. The structure is incredible, and you can pay to tour El Morro as well if you want.
Check Out La Perla
Another stop that is becoming more popular is La Perla. La Perla is a colorful town that is filled with murals. You can walk from the fort to La Perla. Be quiet and respectful because it is a neighborhood, but you can see the colorful houses on the coast and grab a bite to eat at a restaurant with amazing views if you wish.
Drink Piña Coladas
If you like piña coladas, consider visiting the birthplace of the piña colada, Barrachina, where don Ramon Portas Mingot made the world-famous drink for the first time in 1963. The drinks are delicious and super refreshing on a warm day!
Snorkel With Sea Turtles
If you are looking to go on an excursion, consider going snorkeling with sea turtles at Scuba Dogs in Escambron Marine Park. The team at Scuba Dogs is super hospitable and ensures that everyone is safe during the excursion. The divers want the customers to see the turtles, fish, and sea urchins, so they work to point out different species throughout the trip. The wind and weather can affect the clarity of the water, so this is something to keep in mind. The water was not super clear when I went, but I was still able to find sea turtles and snap underwater pictures which was my goal. You are allowed to take underwater disposable cameras or gopros. The excursion is just over an hour long and costs about $80 USD.
El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest that is in the United States National Forest System. It is found in northeastern Puerto Rico. This is the one plan for my trip that I was not able to make happen. If I go back to Puerto Rico, I definitely hope to explore the forest. I wanted to highlight the forest still, since it is a big attraction. There are several waterfalls and trails that you can find here. I was hoping to take an Uber to El Yunque National Forest, but they don’t allow Ubers or taxis to drop you off. If you are planning to explore the National Forest, then you should book an excursion or rent a car.
I hope you get the chance to visit Puerto Rico! For more travel inspiration, check out my destinations tab on my blog site. Thanks for stopping by and cheers to making connections around the world!