7 Day Guide to Puerto Rico: What to Do, See, and Eat in Puerto Rico in 1 Week
Escaping the cold and dreary winter weather in Baltimore to head to Puerto Rico for a week was amazing! I didn’t realize how much I missed a tropical climate until I stepped foot onto this beautiful island. Needless to say, this one week trip in mid February came at the perfect time!
Before arriving in Puerto Rico I heavily researched the island to make sure I had the best trip possible! Luckily my dad’s family is from Puerto Rico (yes I am Boricua!) so I was able to get great information from them, as well as from friends who have visited Puerto Rico.
The main reason I went to Puerto Rico was to attend a wedding on the Eastern side of the island. However after the wedding my main priority was finding the best beaches and surfing spots which are on the western side of Puerto Rico.
Besides surfing, I was also on the hunt for amazing nature spots around the island as well as the best places to eat. In my list of highlights below you will find mostly this type of information. I personally did most of what I listed below, however I’ve also included other highlights that were recommended to me by family and friends that travel to Puerto Rico frequently.
So without further ado, check out my 7 day guide of the best things to do and see in Puerto Rico!
For more information on other parts of Puerto Rico, check out my Guide to San Juan and my Guide of the Surf Town Rincón; my favorite city in Puerto Rico!
Four Surprising Things About Puerto Rico
I was surprised at how expensive it was in Puerto Rico. Most hotels were at least $125 a night and were quite basic for what you pay. For even up to $200 a night the hotels seemed very basic and none had breakfast included which I thought was odd for costing that amount.
I also was surprised at how run-down Puerto Rico appeared to be. I had imagined that it was going to look like parts of Florida since it is part of the United States. However what I encountered was a lot of run-down buildings and areas that were not up-kept well. However this could be due to the recent earthquakes they have been experiencing.
Puerto Rico is also filled with a large amount of chain fast-food restaurants and processed food. I was expecting to find some of this here, however I had no idea just how much I was going to find. When diving along the main highway it seemed like a non-stop line-up of McDonald’s, Burger King’s, KFC’s, and Churches Kitchen’s.
After traveling for a few days I realized it was better to seek out food trucks when in more rural coastal cities. Puerto Rico has a ton of food truck markets that offer a variety of fresh local food right off the side of the road. This was my saving grace!! Most of the time all I wanted was a healthy smoothie or a fresh salad and I was mainly able to find this type of food at food trucks.
To add to my previous statement, I went to multiple local beach restaurants to order a smoothie or fresh fruit and not one place had either! This was pretty shocking being that Puerto Rico is a tropical island. So when I say the food trucks were my saving grace, I am not exaggerating! Most places only have “Frappes” which are pretty much sugar bombs disguised as a smoothie. They are not made with fresh fruit. Instead they are usually made with ice cream and full-fat milk with chocolate and candies. They seemed more like a milkshake.
If you are planning on visiting Puerto Rico I am not sharing this information with you to discourage you from visiting. These findings came as a surprise to me so I wanted to include them in this post so you can travel well-prepared and with the right expectations.
Getting Around Puerto Rico
Uber and Lyft are available throughout the majority of Puerto Rico and are priced comparably to the US. From the main airport in San Juan you can order an Uber or Lyft to get into the city. This previously was banned but I can confirm that this ban has been lifted. The airport even has a specific area upstairs where you can wait for your Uber or Lyft. You will see signs reading “Car Share Upstairs” in baggage claim which is where your Uber or Lyft will pick you up.
If you want to explore other parts of the island besides San Juan, which I HIGHLY recommend, you will need to get a rental car. There is virtually no public transportation around the island so a car is necessary. I rented a car for about $50 a day (it was $30 a day and then after taxes and fees it ended up costing $20 more a day). Gas is a little more expensive than most parts of the US so keep this in mind when budgeting as well. When I went it was around $3.65 a gallon.
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7 Day Puerto Rico Itinerary
Below is my full travel itinerary for the seven days that I spent in Puerto Rico. The beginning of my trip started on the eastern side of the island for a wedding at the Wyndham Rio Mar hotel. I stayed at this hotel for three nights and then rented a car to travel around Puerto Rico to explore its beautiful nature and beaches. I was mainly interested in surfing so I headed over to the western side of Puerto Rico as soon as possible, which is why most of my itinerary is based there. However before heading west I explored Puerto Rico’s famous rainforest, El Yunque, located in the east. I also researched day trips to the Puerto Rican islands located on the eastern side which I mention later in this article. Due to time restrictions I didn’t visit those islands; however they looked amazing and I highly recommend visiting them if you have time!
If you have a limited amount of time like I did (I was in Puerto Rico for seven days but three of those days were occupied by a wedding), I reccomend heading to the western side of Puerto Rico if you’re interested in spending most of your trip by amazing beaches.
*Detailed information about the specific beaches, parks, cities, and waterfalls that I visited during my trip are explained later in this article.
Days 1-3:
I landed in San Juan late at night and went to sleep right away to be ready to-go the next day. I got a quick workout in at LIV Fitness in San Juan before heading over to the the Wyndham Rio Mar Hotel where I spent the next three days for a friends wedding. The Wyndham is a resort and was mainly occupied by Americans, so there wasn’t much Puerto rican culture. However the restaurants on the property were good (and expensive) and it was a nice place to relax at the pool and the beach.
If you want to spend time in San Juan, check out my guide to San Juan here.
Day 4:
On day four I spent most of the day exploring Puerto Rico’s famous rainforest, El Yunque. I have a detailed description of El Yunque later in this article.
After the rainforest I drove to the western side of the island to Aguacate to get an early start exploring the beaches the next day.
Day 5:
On day five I visited a couple beautiful beaches near Aguacate. The first beach was Jobos Beach which was my favorite beach that I visited! I went there originally to surf but ended up swimming and relaxing on the beach. From here I visited Borinquen beach which was stunning and had only a few people laying on the beach. The next stop was Crash Boat Beach, which is the most famous beach on the western side of Puerto Rico. However this was my least favorite beach because it was super crowded with people and seemed very touristy. I ended the day in the city of Rincón where my hotel was booked for the night. I got there right before sunset and walked on Sandy Beach for about an hour. It was the perfect way to end the day!
I have a full breakdown of each beach I visited below!
I also have a full guide to Rincon here, my favorite city in Puerto Rico!
Day 6:
On day six I started my day in Rincón practicing yoga on the beach at Barefoot Yoga. After I headed to go surf with Rincón Surf School at Dogman’s beach followed by some much needed nutrients at The Juice Box. I needed to head back to San Juan to catch my flight the next day so I decided to map out a cool waterfall to stop at on the way to break-up the drive. I stopped at the San Sebastián Waterfall which was about 1 hour from Rincón. When I arrived no one was there! After swimming at the waterfall I drove to San Juan and arrived around 8 p.m. I went to dinner at Raices to enjoy some more Puerto Rican food before leaving the next day.
Day 7:
My flight wasn’t until 3 p.m. so I spent the morning exploring Old San Juan.
I have a full guide on what to do in San Juan here.
Best Beaches in Puerto Rico Heading West from San Juan
Jobos Beach- This was my favorite beach! There is free parking on the street and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s also not very crowded and has a very relaxed vibe. If you’re hungry there are some restaurants on the beach. There are also public bathrooms, however they were all closed when I was there.
Keep in mind that the current can get very strong at this beach! I got sucked into a rip current when swimming here and had a surf instructor rescue me on a surf board. It was very scary and intense! There are no lifeguards on the beach so just be aware before swimming out too far.
Isla Verde- There are a lot of clean nice beaches in Isla Verde that are public beaches. If you’re staying in San Juan I suggest going here. Click here to get a full breakdown of the best beaches I reccomend in San Juan.
Mar Chiquita- Only 45 minutes away from San Juan this is a beautiful beach worth exploring. The water is a deep blue and it has excellent visibility perfect for snorkeling. There are a few food trucks serving food and drinks throughout the week. During the weekends there are more food trucks and arts/crafts vendors on the beach.
Borinquen Beach- This was an amazing small beach that was not crowded and had super blue water. Once you get to this beach keep walking to the right to access some cool caves! If you want to access the caves go at low tide; otherwise it's dangerous to access. The ocean was also very strong here so keep in mind that this isn’t really a swimmer-friendly beach. Mainly bodyboarders were in the water. Parking is free at this beach and there are no bathrooms or facilities here so make sure to bring everything you may need.
Crash Boat Beach- This is the main tourist beach that I encountered. You have to pay $3.50 for parking and it's crowded. This beach has a Puerto Rican Flag painted on the side of the cove and it has a pier to jump off of if that's your thing. There were lots of vendors on the beach selling food and drinks and the water was a lot calmer and easier to swim in than other beaches I visited. Personally, this was my least favorite beach that I visited during my trip.
Best Waterfalls, Parks, and Nature Spots to Visit in Puerto Rico
Hike from Surfers Beach to Survival Beach- Survival Beach is a long stretch of sand in Aguadilla, with some cool rock formations along the shoreline. It’s only a 20-minute walk along a path through the trees and over rocks to get to Survival Beach. The hike is not super easy, but most people should be able to make the trek to enjoy this place. Since you cannot drive to Survival Beach, it’s sort of a hidden gem. To get there follow signs for Surfers’ Beach and park at the far eastern end of Surfers’ Beach. From there follow the trail to Survival Beach. Parking is free at this beach and there are no bathrooms or facilities here so make sure to bring everything you may need.
San Sebastián Waterfall- This waterfall is easy to get to and free to access. I saw a sign for paid parking when I arrived but no one was there enforcing this so I went for free. You don't need special shoes to access this waterfall and it’s only a five minute walk downhill from the parking lot. This waterfall is great for snapping some pictures and taking a quick dip!
Utuado- I didn’t have time to go here but it was on my list! There are amazing canyons and petroglyphs (ancient drawings) carved into the rocks. There are also natural water slides here and spots for canyoneering and rock climbing that you can do with a guide. I found this article that explains more about what I was interested in seeing in this area as a reference.
El Yunque National Rainforest- This rainforest is located on the eastern side of the island and is a very popular attraction. I discovered that you absolutely need a car to explore this park or you need to hire a guide to drive you through, which I think is a complete waste of money and is unnecessary. There is only one road to access and go around the park so it’s very easy to get around. You literally drive, stop, get out of the car, see one of the attractions, and get back in the car and keep driving. I have never visited a park like this before and thought it had a super odd setup.
El Yunque doesn't have an entrance fee or paid parking. As far as bathrooms I only saw port-a-pots located on the side of the road as you drive through. For eating I recommend bringing your own food into the park. There are some food trucks once inside with limited options and restaurants you can access before entering the park. If you plan on being inside for a few hours I would bring your own food and drinks.
Highlights for me inside the park was exploring the waterfalls and natural pools at Juan Diego Creek and hiking Mount Britton Trail to the peak of the park (about 45 minutes one-way). To find the best waterfall at Juan Diego Creek where I took my picture below, take the longer trail to the right once you get to the first smaller waterfall.
Prepare to get muddy and wet; it is a rainforest! I recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing a rain jacket, towel, and change of clothes in case you fall, which most likely will happen.
Day Trips to Consider in Puerto Rico
Playa Sucia in Cabo Rojo- One of the island's most wild beaches. This beach has plenty of wilderness to explore with breathtaking views. There are parking areas but they get full during the high season (summer) so make sure to get there early. Anytime before 9 am should be good.
Isla de Culebra- Culebra is a small island located east of Puerto Rico with amazing white sand beaches like Flamenco Beach. Nearby Tamarindo Beach offers clear waters full of fish, sea turtles and rays, perfect for snorkeling. To get to Culebra you can fly from San Juan airport or take a ferry over for $2.50 from Ceiba. Access the ferry schedule here. You can stay overnight on this island.
culebra island. Photo from destination360
Culebrita- Isla Culebrita is a small, uninhabited island off the eastern coast of Culebra, Puerto Rico and is part of the Puerto Rico Archipielago. It has amazing waters and nature to explore. Since this island is mainly a nature reserve you can only visit this island during the day. I recommend spending the night in Culebra if you want to stay longer.
Must-Try Traditional Puerto Rican Foods
Last but not least, let’s talk about the best food to eat in Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico has many dishes that are unique to the island and are absolutely delicious! I separated the best traditional dishes below by savory and sweet depending on what you fancy. My personal favorites are Mofongo with shrimp, Churrasco steak, and flan! Puerto Rico isn’t known for healthy food, so get ready to indulge on this trip and to workout extra hard once you get home.
Savory Puerto Rican Dishes
Mofongo- Dish made from mashed plantains with either seafood or meat. I love this dish with shrimp. Ask for the broth on the side to dip!
Churrasco- Skirt steak with Chimmichuri. I had this almost every day. It was amazing!
Tostones- Fried savory plantains. I love them!! They are the Puerto Rican version of fries.
Arroz con Gandules- Rice with pigeon peas. My grandma makes this and it is the best!!! You have to try this if you are in Puerto Rico.
Sweet Puerto Rican Dishes
Amarillitos or Maduros- Fried sweet plantains. They are soft and delicious! They usually come as a side with a main dish.
Limber- Mix between a creamy ice cream and an icy.
Piragua- Shaved ice with your choice of flavoring. You can find this in little carts on the side of streets.
Flan- Custard dessert. My grandma would make this from scratch so I grew up loving this dessert.
Tres Leches Cake- Moist white cake made from three different milks. Can be found at most bakeries.
Pan Sobao- Delicious sweet bread that comes with most breakfast meals at local bakeries and Panaderias.