From reggae-toned enthusiasts searching out Bad Bunny’s favorite party spot to honeymooners dreaming of luxury beach resorts, everyone can agree: Puerto Rico truly lives up to its name, Isla del Encanto, or Enchanted Island. With Delta and other major airlines launching a slew of new flights to the island this winter, it’s easier than ever to travel to this tropical paradise — no passport required.
Part of the fun of visiting Puerto Rico is finding hidden beaches, visiting tiny white sand islets, and hiking to jungle waterfalls that other travelers miss. With the help of locals and the folks at PADI, Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, and Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in Puerto Rico, from the best surfing spots to winding cave systems to the best places to sample local dishes like alcapurrias and mofongo.
Related: Travel + Leisure’s Puerto Rico Tourism Guide
Old San Juan
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Old San Juan, the historic heart of Puerto Rico’s capital city, is bustling with more than colorful colonial architecture and the iconic “umbrella street,” Calle Fortaleza. Wander cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old mansions and head to Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, a Spanish fortress that towers over the western edge of the historic district and offers spectacular ocean views. End your day of exploration by sampling local cuisine at one of the district’s countless rooftop restaurants or enjoying a drink at La Factoria, named the best bar in the Caribbean in 2023.
Condado
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Home to luxury apartments, some of the city’s best restaurants, and plenty of fantastic shopping, the beachfront Condado neighborhood is a must-see in San Juan. Visit La Placita de Santurce, a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, for frequent cultural events, street parties, and Puerto Rican cuisine at local spots like La Alcapria Quema.
Condado is also home to some of our readers’ favorite resorts in Puerto Rico, most notably the Condado Collection of hotels and resorts, including La Concha Resort, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, and the Condado Ocean Club, located along some of San Juan’s most beautiful beachfronts.
Dorado Beach
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For a secluded getaway without venturing far from bustling San Juan, the pristine, palm-fringed beaches of swanky Dorado Beach are a great option. Stay at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Perhaps the most exclusive resort in Puerto Rico, it’s known for its championship golf course and sanctuary-like Spa Botanico, complete with treehouse treatment rooms, offering the bespoke luxury experience you’d expect from a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property.
El Yunque National Forest
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The only tropical rainforest within the U.S. National Forest System, El Yunque National Forest is one of the island’s natural gems, crisscrossed with hiking trails, endless rivers and hidden waterfalls. El Yunque is a popular day trip from San Juan, but there’s much more to explore in a day trip, including natural swimming holes like Charco el Hippie and the Yocahu Lookout, more than 1,500 feet above sea level, which offers panoramic tree-canopy views. Finally, round out your trip with a stop at nearby Bacoa Finca + Fogón for farm-to-table Puerto Rican cuisine.
Related: T+L’s Guide to Underrated Areas in Eastern Puerto Rico
Vieques
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The largest island off the coast of mainland Puerto Rico, Vieques has no traffic lights and is dotted with pristine beaches and dreamy boutique hotels. Vieques’ most popular tourist attraction is bioluminescent Mosquito Bay, which glows blue at night as visitors kayak through waters filled with fluorescent plankton. Enjoy a day trip to the island or stay a few nights at Finca Victoria, one of 14 unique cabins, treehouses and guesthouses nestled among the lush vegetation of the island’s interior.
La Parguera
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Travelers who can’t make it to Vieques to experience Puerto Rico’s most famous bioluminescent bay should head to La Parguera. Located on the island’s southwest coast, La Parguera is home to Puerto Rico’s only bioluminescent bay where you can swim in shimmering waters, so be sure to pack your swimsuit. You can drive to the experience or stay overnight in one of the town’s small guesthouses and take a day trip to the nearby cays to snorkel and paddleboard among the mangroves.
Culebra
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Located off the eastern coast of mainland Puerto Rico, the laid-back island of Culebra may be small, but it’s packed with travel charm. Home to fewer than 2,000 permanent residents, it made the list of our readers’ favorite Caribbean islands for 2023. Culebra’s famous Flamenco Beach frequently appears at the top of lists of the world’s most beautiful beaches. At one end of the coast, an abandoned, graffiti-covered U.S. Navy tank is both an Instagram icon and a somber memorial to the island’s past use for naval gunnery and bombing exercises.
Culebrita
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A 15-minute water taxi ride from Culebra will take you to the more remote island of Culebrita. Striking beaches with incredibly clear water are the main attraction of this tiny island. Tortuga Beach, named for the large number of sea turtles that nest here every year, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico.
Cayo Icacos
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Cayo Icacos, another white sand island off the island’s east coast, is becoming an increasingly popular Puerto Rico day trip destination that beach lovers can’t miss. Book a catamaran tour for a short trip to Cayo Icacos from Fajardo and spend the day enjoying the pristine beaches and shallow waters of this uninhabited island.
Rio Kamui Cave
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Escape the heat of the Caribbean sun at Rio Camuy Cave Park in northwestern Puerto Rico. These limestone caves were carved out over centuries by the mighty underground river Rio Camuy. Geologists have identified at least 220 caves and 17 miles of natural tunnels, but much of the area remains unexplored. Reservations are required, so book in advance with a registered tour company.
Palomino Island
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“Forget the Maldives, I’ll stay at the Palomino,” sings Bad Bunny in his hit song “El Apagon.” There are no overwater bungalows here, but Palomino Island’s white sand and crystal clear waters would rival any atoll in the Maldives. The 100-acre uninhabited island off the east coast of mainland Puerto Rico is exclusively available to guests of the El Conquistador resort, located a short ferry ride away.
Rincon
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The town of Rincon on the island’s west coast reigns as one of the best places to surf in the Caribbean. Numerous beaches offer waves for surfers of all levels, but Domes Beach is home to huge swells that host international surfing competitions every year. October through February is the best time to visit Puerto Rico if you’re looking for waves, but Rincon has plenty to offer year-round for those who want to stay on shore.
Desecho Island
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Puerto Rico is home to a multitude of incredible dive sites, but few are more famous than Desecho Island, an uninhabited island off the island’s west coast. An intricate cave system offers memorable swim-throughs, and the dive site is known as “Candy Land.” There’s plenty for visitors to see while enjoying what PADI rates as the best underwater visibility in all of Puerto Rico.
Aguadilla
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Surfers and travelers looking for the island’s best beaches will love Aguadilla, located on the island’s west coast. Aguadilla’s Crash Boat Beach is one of the island’s most famous beaches, with white sand, water sports, and a party atmosphere fuelled by beach bars and food trucks serving tropical cocktails and local cuisine all day long. The beach has great visibility for snorkeling, but be careful when entering the water. On the north side of the beach is Gas Chamber, one of Puerto Rico’s most famous surf breaks.
Mayaguez
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Many travelers pass by Mayagüez, the largest city on Puerto Rico’s west coast, and head directly to one of the area’s smaller beach towns. But Mayagüez makes a convenient base for exploring the west side of the island; its charming historic center and lively culinary scene certainly help. Mayagüez is also known as the “City of Pure Water” for its proximity to some of Puerto Rico’s best dive sites, including Isla de Desecho and Isla Mona.
Isabella
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Isabela is Puerto Rico’s ultimate laid-back beach town, boasting coast that attracts everyone from backpackers and surfers to San Juan elites looking for a weekend getaway. Rent a bike and ride Paseo Lineal de Isabela, a 4.5-mile coastal route perfect for a morning jog or sunset viewing, and follow the coastline to Isabela’s most beautiful beaches. Or head inland to Guajataca State Forest for miles of lush forest trails, hidden caves and camping.
Ponce
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Puerto Rico’s second-largest city is often overlooked by tourists, but the “Pearl of the South” has historic charm and cultural weight that makes it worth a visit. Explore the city’s historic squares and numerous museums, or head into the countryside to visit Hacienda Buena Vista, the coffee plantation (among countless others) that once brought wealth and fame to Ponce.
Casa Bacardi
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No trip to the Caribbean is complete without sampling some of the best local rum. While Puerto Rico is home to several distilleries, Casa Bacardi, located across the bay from Old San Juan, is the island’s top destination for tourists wanting to learn more about the Caribbean’s most famous drink. The impressive visitor’s center and panoramic views of the city make for a fantastic tasting and tour experience, but it’s the unparalleled rum selection that’s the real star of the show.
Related: The 5 Best Tours to Do in Puerto Rico
Manatee
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Just 45 minutes west of San Juan, the coastal town of Manati feels a world away from the big city. Come for its beautiful, uncrowded beaches, including Mar Chiquita, with its clear, half-moon bay, and Los Tubos Beach, known for its perfect pipe for surfing.
Lukiro
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Puerto Rico’s “Capital of the Sun” is home to some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Luquillo Beach and Balneario Monserrate are the area’s most popular beaches due to their size and extensive public beach facilities, but Luquillo has several other beach options. Continue to Luquillo after a day exploring nearby El Yunque National Forest, or use the town as a base to explore less-visited parts of the rainforest.
