For being such a small island, just 110 by 35 miles (give or take), Puerto Rico packs a big punch. There is so much to do and see and each and every town has so much to offer. While many travelers visit Puerto Rico and spend most of their time in San Juan, I highly recommend taking the opportunity to take a road trip around Puerto Rico in order to partake in incredible experiences, eat amazing food and meet wonderful people.
Ready to plan your road trip in Puerto Rico? Keep reading for a full itinerary and everything you need to know for your trip!
The Ultimate 7 Day Road Trip Around Puerto Rico
Days 1+2: San Juan
Most travelers when they fly into Puerto Rico will land in San Juan, although there are also flights into Aguadilla on the west coast. When arriving in San Juan, I recommend spending at least a day or two exploring this amazing city.
If you haven’t been to PR before, I really recommend at least a full day in Old San Juan and another full day exploring the other parts of the city and the beaches. Check out my guide on how to spend an epic 48 hours in Old San Juan for an itinerary!
Hotels in Old San Juan
- 352 Guest House Hotel Boutique
- CasaBlanca Hotel
- Hotel El Convento
- Villa Herencia Hotel
- Palacio Provincial – Adults Only
- Caribe Hilton – at the very end of Old San Juan, 7 minute Uber to the downtown, walkable to Condado.
Hotels in the greater San Juan area
Optional Extension: El Yunque and Luquillo Beach
If you have the option to extend your trip by a day, a trip to El Yunque Rainforest and Luquillo Beach is a fantastic option.
El Yunque is 29,000 acres and is home to an incredible amount of plant and animal species. There are 18 miles of roads and 24 miles of walking/hiking trails as well as areas to swim.
Since you’ll have a rental car for your road trip in Puerto Rico, you can easily visit El Yunque on your own. However, I really recommend a guided tour so you can learn more about El Yunque from a local guide. These tours are often also paired with a stop at Luquillo Beach. Luquillo Beach, in addition to being beautiful, has tons of restaurants and bars – making it the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon.
I’ve been on two tours to El Yunque and I definitely learned more and saw more of the rainforest than I would have on my own.
Guided Tours of El Yunque from San Juan:
- El Yunque National Rainforest: Nature Walk and Beach Trip
- El Yunque National Forest Adventure and Luquillo Beach Combo
- El Yunque Rainforest and Waterslide Tour
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Hiking with Waterfall Tour
Day 3: Isabela
Once grabbing your rental car and leaving San Juan, your first stop on your road trip will be the beautiful beach town of Isabela. Located 1.5 hours from San Juan, Isabela is home to incredible beaches and the interesting Guajataca Tunnel.
Start your time in Isabela by visiting Guajataca Beach, it’s usually not crowded and it’s a scenic place to relax. There aren’t usually many vendors, but you may find someone selling pineapples or drinks.
From there, walk across the beach to the Guajataca Tunnel. This tunnel was built as part of a train initiative that built a railroad along the entire coast of Puerto Rico in the early 1900s. The train stopped operating in the 1950s, however, leaving the tunnel empty.
Now, visitors can start at Guajataca Beach, walk through the tunnel, follow the sea-side path for a few minutes (formerly railroad tracks), and end up at Playa Pelicano. The views on the walk to Playa Pelicano are beautiful and the beach itself is secluded and great for relaxing.
From Guajataca Beach, on your way into the main town of Isabela, stop by the Monument to Cacique Mabodamaca, carved into the rocks on the side of the road. This impressive sculpture, colloquially called “Indian’s Head,” was made to honor the Taíno chief Mabodamaca, whose tribe was living in the area when the Spanish arrived.
Check into a hotel in Isabela and enjoy the afternoon in the charming town. You can find an AirBnb right near the town square, or choose a hotel, most of which are closer to the beach.
Hotels in Isabela
- Bella Surf Inn
- Parador Villas del Mar Hau
- Villa Montaña Beach Resort
- Palmeras del Mar Isabela
- Royal Isabela
Restaurants in Isabela
- Isabela Bakery (breakfast)
- The Coffee Spot (breakfast)
- Good Start 466 (breakfast, smoothies, açai)
- Blessings Cafe (breakfast + brunch)
- Palo (lunch + dinner)
- Tabla Salá (lunch, dinner + drinks)
- La Central (cocktail bar)
Beaches in Isabela
Northern PR is known for its incredible beaches and Isabela is no exception. This beach town is packed full of beautiful beaches and beach activities. There are different beaches to visit depending on what you’re looking for. There is amazing snorkeling in the area as well as calmer beaches with amenities that are great for families or a day of relaxing.
- Montones Beach
- This beach is a great place for snorkeling, although the waves can get rough. There are amenities and restaurants nearby as well as parking available.
- Playa Jobos
- This is a family friendly beach with lots of amenities (bars + restaurants) and shallow, calm water. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas and spend the day relaxing!
- Shacks Beach
- Here you’ll find some of the best snorkeling in PR, but only for experienced snorkelers as there are strong currents. There aren’t any amenities or bathrooms.
- Pozo Teodoro
- This little beach has no amenities or facilities, but it has calm water, isn’t crowded and is a great place to bring kids to play without waves.
- Paseo Lineal Isabela
- A 4 mile long walking/biking/scooter path along the beaches with beautiful views. Keep in mind there’s not much shade, so bring a hat and sunscreen.
Day 4: Aguadilla
After grabbing a delicious breakfast in Isabela, jump back in your car and take the 30(ish) minute drive to Aguadilla. Aguadilla, like many towns in the Northwest of PR, is known for its beautiful beaches. Additionally, there are also tons of other fun activities to partake in while spending the day in Aguadilla.
Start your day at the famous Crash Boat Beach. This beach has swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and other water activities. There are also food vendors, a bar and beach chair rentals available. Crash Boat Beach is definitely somewhere many people come to spend the entire day, so keep in mind it can get very busy.
Restaurants in Aguadilla
- Muelle de Azúcar (brunch)
- Right across from Rompeolas Beach!
- Vittata Gastro Pub (brunch, lunch + dinner)
- Peña Blanca (lunch + dinner)
- Cinco Restaurant (lunch + dinner)
- Timber and Blues (speakeasy bar)
- Oktoberfest Beer House (outdoorsy style bar)
Hotels in Aguadilla
Things to do in Aguadilla
In addition to spending the day at Crash Boat Beach, there are a variety of other fun things to do in Aguadilla! From taking snorkeling lessons, to exploring colorful neighborhoods, Aguadilla offers fun activities for all.
- Check out Surfer’s Beach and/or take the hiking trail (30 minutes) to Survival Beach
- Bring closed-toed shoes for the hike.
- Check out La Chocolateria (chocolate shop) for delicious chocolates, pastries and coffee
- This is 100% Puerto Rican chocolate!
- El Faro Lighthouse Ruins
- Here you can see the remnants of the old lighthouse. There’s also walking/hiking trails with beautiful views.
- Visit the Casas de Colores (colorful houses) behind El Parterre Square
- These houses are colorfully painted along the hillside and are focal points of the town.
- Painted by community members and volunteers in partnership with Proyecto Pintalo, these houses and murals were created to help revitalize the area, showcase local artists and bring in tourism. The area is truly an outdoor museum and beautiful to see and photograph.
- When visiting, please remember that these are people’s homes and it is so important to be respectful. Take photos only in public areas and be mindful of those who live in the neighborhood.
- These houses are colorfully painted along the hillside and are focal points of the town.
- Hang out at Parqué Colón (Columbus Park) and Playa Colón (Columbus Beach)
- The park area features a large tree house and lots of green space to hangout. There are also public bathrooms.
- The beach is a nice spot to hangout and watch the sunset. There are usually food vendors selling a variety of snacks.
- Go on a guided snorkeling experience
- See the coral reef and ocean life with the expertise of a marine biologist guide.
Airport in Aguadilla
There is an airport in Aguadilla that services the Northwestern part of Puerto Rico. You can fly directly from NYC (JFK & EWR) to Aguadilla and this is a great option if you prefer to bypass San Juan on your Puerto Rico road trip. There are also direct roundtrip flights to some parts of Florida, but these are less frequent.
Day 5: Rincón
Rincón is a town you’ll visit and definitely want to stay for more than one day – it’s one of Puerto Rico’s top destinations for a good reason! If your schedule allows, I definitely recommend adding another day at this stop. If not, you can definitely still enjoy Rincón in 24 hours.
Surfing in Rincón
Rincón, like many other towns in Puerto Rico, offers great beaches and surfing. While here, I definitely recommend taking a surfing lesson. The water and waves in PR can be rough and having an expert there with you to help navigate the best beaches and how to maneuver the waves is very helpful.
My group took surfing lessons with Ramse from Surfing Lessons Puerto Rico and he was fantastic! He tailored the lesson to our abilities and we all had a great time surfing at Domes Beach. Reach out to him on his Instagram page for availability.
Other highly rated surfing schools in Rincón:
If you’re confident in your surfing abilities, you can give it a try on your own (I recommend Domes Beach or Sandy Beach), but you’ll need to rent your own surfboard to bring with you.
Things to do in Rincón
- Rincón Art Walk
- Every Thursday evening (after 6/6:30) in Rincon’s main plaza, you’ll find an art walk with artisan vendors! The plaza is usually completely full of talented artisans selling everything from handmade jewelry, to painting, to soaps, and hand knit items.
- Watch the sunset from the Punta Higuera Lighthouse Park
- This park features a bar and sitting areas with beautiful views of the ocean and Domes Beach.
- Go horseback riding on the beach
- Depending on the time of year, there’s morning and/or sunset rides available.
- Check out Doña Lala Beach right in downtown Rincón.
Restaurants in Rincón
Downtown Rincón and the surrounding areas have a fantastic cafe, restaurant and bar scene!
If you’re a coffee lover, you’re also in luck, as Rincón is home to a plethora of great coffee shops.
- Kafé Terra (coffee + breakfast)
- Panaderia Reposteria (great pastries)
- La Cafetera (food truck style, coffee + breakfast)
- Cafe 413 (breakfast, brunch + lunch)
- Tamboo (lunch + dinner, beautiful views of Sandy Beach)
- Taquería Vatos Locos (dinner)
- La Sirena Sushi (dinner)
- La Cambija – (dinner)
- They don’t have a website, the address is: Calle Cambija, Rincon, Rincón 00677, Puerto Rico
- Rincón Beer (a microbrewery with local beer and bar food)
Hotels in Rincón
- Rincón Plaza Hotel (downtown area)
- Casa Verde Hotel (near Sandy Beach)
- Casa Isleña (beachfront, outside of the main town)
- Rincon of the Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel (beachfront)
- Lazy Parrot Inn & Mini Resort (family owned and operated)
Day 6: La Parguera
This seaside village, about 1 hour from Rincón, is home to one of the three famous bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. What makes the bioluminescent bay in La Parguera extra special is that it’s the only one of the three you can swim in.
In addition to the breathtaking bioluminescent bay, which you should absolutely take a tour of at sunset, La Parguera offers other water-based activities, good restaurants and is a nice place to relax. Keep in mind that La Parguera is a small town, so there are fewer amenities than in Rincón.
Things to do in La Parguera
- Go Chiliboating
- Chiliboats are basically giant water bicycles that are stable and easy to pedal. On a chiliboat tour, you’ll pedal your way along the coast, passing colorful seafront homes and out past various mangrove islands called “cays.”
- The water surrounding these cays is often calm and shallow and boaters and chiliboaters alike enjoy swimming and relaxing, while taking in the beautiful scenery.
- These tours usually last around 2 hours and there are single and double chiliboats available.
- Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
- Paradise Scuba and Snorkeling offers a variety of excursions including sunset tours, snorkeling and scuba diving. The staff are all so kind and helpful and you’re sure to have a great time.
- I went on my bioluminescent bay tour with this company and it was incredible. They had drinks and snacks on board and it was a great trip.
- Note: sometimes phones won’t be able to capture the glowing water, but you’ll definitely be able to see it.
- Take a Boat Tour
- La Parguera is a fantastic place to spend some time on a boat. The water is calm and shallow, making it perfect for a relaxed boat day.
- Parguera Eco Tours offers kayaking, mangrove tours and beach days.
- Hook’d on Adventure offers a variety of boat tours including:
- La Parguera is a fantastic place to spend some time on a boat. The water is calm and shallow, making it perfect for a relaxed boat day.
- Listen to music and have drinks in Plaza San Pedro
- On weekend nights (Friday-Sunday) there is often live music in the plaza. Locals and tourists are out dancing, having a drink and enjoying the atmosphere.
Restaurants in La Parguera
- M&M Bakery and Deli (coffee + breakfast)
- Essentially the only breakfast/coffee spot in town, but the food and coffee are good!
- Isla Cueva (lunch + dinner)
- Burgers, tacos and great veggie options.
- El Turrumote (lunch + dinner)
- A little outside of the main downtown area, known for their seafood.
- Brújula (lunch and dinner)
- Located at the Parguera Plaza Hotel, this restaurant offers delicious, fresh food and drinks and it truly is a beautiful place to eat.
- Moons Bar and Tapas
Hotels in La Parguera
- Parguera Plaza Hotel
- Beautiful, adults-only, the perfect place for a relaxing stay.
- Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa
- 30 minutes from La Parguera, but this resort is beachfront and beautiful.
- Parador Villa Parguera
- Incredible ocean views and grounds, comfortable, no-frills rooms.
- La Jamaca
- 1km away from the town’s main square, but easily walkable.
- Turtle Bay Inn
Day 7: Ponce
Ponce is the last stop on this Puerto Rican road trip! Located under an hour from La Parguera, Ponce is the second largest city in Puerto Rico and is a favorite among travelers.
The rivalry between San Juan and Ponce runs deep and you may even hear the saying “Ponce es Ponce lo demas es parking,” translasting to “Ponce is Ponce and the rest is just a parking lot,” referring, of course, to the rest of the island. Whether you’re on the Ponce side, San Juan side, or are remaining neutral in the debate, Ponce is a beautiful destination to end your Puerto Rico road trip.
Like San Juan, Ponce has a vibrant historic, old-city where you’ll find museums, shops, restaurants and wonderful streets to explore.
Things to do in Ponce
At this point in your trip, you may be all beached-out and ready for some museums and historical sites. Ponce is known for its museums, so it’s a great city for history enthusiasts. However, if you’re on the hunt for more beautiful beaches, Ponce is also the place for you!
- Take a walking tour to learn more about the city and its history
- If you prefer to explore the historic center on your own, be sure to check out:
- Plaza Las Delicias
- Parque de Bombas
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Fuente de los Leones
- If you prefer to explore the historic center on your own, be sure to check out:
- Check out the museums
- Ponce is home to a variety of interesting museums including:
- Museo Castillo Serralles (1930s, Spanish Revival mansion boasting beautiful views.)
- You can also take a Don Q rum tour.
- Museo de Arte de Ponce (The Ponce Art Museum is the largest in the Caribbean and features European, Latin American and Puerto Rican art.)
- Note: the museum sustained major damage during the most recent hurricane and is not fully open. Contact the museum directly to see what exhibits are currently open and operating.
- Museo de la Historia de Ponce (The Ponce History Museum doesn’t have a website, but it’s open on weekdays from 9am-4pm.)
- Museum of Puerto Rican Music (This museum doesn’t have a website, but it’s open Wednesday-Sunday from 8:30am-3:30pm.)
- Museo Castillo Serralles (1930s, Spanish Revival mansion boasting beautiful views.)
- Ponce is home to a variety of interesting museums including:
- Check out La Guancha for sunset
- This boardwalk area right on the Caribbean Sea is a great place to watch the sunset and grab some food. There’s a variety of food kiosks and, often, it’s the go-to hangout spot in Ponce. Be sure to check out the lighthouse and beach area!
- Note: depending on the day and time of year, La Guancha may be quieter or have fewer kiosks and vendors open for business.
- This boardwalk area right on the Caribbean Sea is a great place to watch the sunset and grab some food. There’s a variety of food kiosks and, often, it’s the go-to hangout spot in Ponce. Be sure to check out the lighthouse and beach area!
- Visit Caja de Muertos (in English this translates to “coffin” – the beach got its name due to its shape.)
- This uninhabited island and its beaches are only reachable by boat so it does require some planning – however, Pelican Beach is regarded as the top beach in Ponce!
- Boats leave from La Guancha pier and take about 40 minutes to reach Caja de Muertos, which is located about 8 miles off of the coast.
- There are some walking/hiking trails and you can visit the ruins of an 1887 lighthouse.
- Bring everything you need with you for the day: water, sunscreen, snacks, hats, etc. Boats usually leave at 8:30am and return around 3:30.
Restaurants in Ponce
- Torrefacción Mayor (coffee)
- JohnTin Café (coffee, breakfast + brunch)
- Gallo Espresso (coffee, breakfast, lunch)
- La Nueva Pastelería (breakfast + brunch)
- Rincon Argentino (lunch + dinner)
- Campioni Pizza Birra & Tapas (lunch + dinner)
- Mesa – Cocina & Vinatería (lunch + dinner)
- Lola Eclectic Cuisine (dinner)
- Chango Bar (drinks)
Hotels in Ponce
- Boutique Hotel Belgica (historic center)
- Ponce Plaza Hotel & Casino (historic center)
- Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort (beachfront)
- Aloft Ponce (1.5 miles outside of downtown, not super walkable)
Return to San Juan
After an epic 7 day (or maybe longer) road trip around Puerto Rico, pack your bags and drive back to San Juan. The drive is only 1.5 hours, so you can easily drive directly to the airport from Ponce without having to spend another night in San Juan.
Optional Extension: El Yunque and Luquillo
If you’re interested in visiting El Yunque and Luquillo Beach, it’s also possible to add it here at the end of the itinerary. From Ponce, El Yunque is about 2 hours away.
So there you have it, an epic 7 day itinerary for a road trip around Puerto Rico! If you have any questions about anything mentioned in this post, or would like more information, please leave a comment below or reach out on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.
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♡Kate
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Excellent travel itinerary for a 7-day road trip around Puerto Rico. Exploring Old Sam Juan, El Yunque National Forest, and beaches in Isabella are good to experience cultural, natural, and historical attractions.
Thanks for sharing a great itinerary to explore PR. nicely written and captures all aspects a tourist may be interested in.. thanks!
Thank you so much, Kanhaiya!