DISCLOSURE: If I link to relevant products or helpful info it may be an affiliate link, meaning I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate & other affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra charge to you. The views & opinions are my own. Please see the disclaimer and privacy policy.
Last Updated on July 30, 2024
Ultimate Planning Guide: One Week in Puerto Rico
Planning a trip to Puerto Rico? How much time do you need to enjoy this paradise? As much vacation time as you can get! Spending one week in Puerto Rico gives you many options for things to do in Puerto Rico, so we are here to help!
Spend a week exploring this enchanting island, where you’ll find a perfect blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. From the colorful streets of Old San Juan and the lush trails of El Yunque Rainforest to the pristine beaches of Culebra and the bioluminescent waters of Vieques, Puerto Rico offers a diverse array of experiences for every traveler.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO RICO ON A 7 DAY TRIP
Click on the Table to explore the itinerary for One Week in Puerto Rico
Day One
DAY 1: San Juan
Old San Juan: Full Day walking tour + evening Food Tour
➡️Old San Juan Walking Tour
How to Explore Old San Juan? On your own (KEEP READING!) or on a tour.
Spend your first day in Puerto Rico wandering through the vibrant streets of Old San Juan. The area is known for its colorful historic buildings, with lively blue facades, purple antique entranceways and pillars, and cheerful yellow flowers cascading from balcony railings. As you explore, take your time strolling along the old cobblestone streets, browsing through shops for unique souvenirs, and savoring authentic street food.
Don’t miss Fortaleza Street, the main and most visited street in Old San Juan, often referred to as Umbrella Street due to its frequent displays of colorful umbrella canopies. This photogenic street is full of life and a must-see on your visit.
The historic forts, cemetery, and old city wall are also located in San Juan. You can schedule a walking tour of San Juan to get a feel for all the history here or wander around on your own for the day.
When the sun gets low and you start to get some rumbles in your belly, make sure you have an authentic Food Tour on your Puerto Rico itinerary.
➡️Old San Juan Food and Drink Tour
How to book a Food and Drink Tour:
On an evening in San Juan, join a casual walking food tour where you can sample drinks and treats from various bars and restaurants. You can stroll through the colorful streets and admire the old architecture as you enjoy a variety of local flavors. Some tours even include a stop at a gelato shop, providing a sweet dessert to cap off the evening.
or just opt for the drinks with a Bar Crawl Tour
Day Two
DAY 2: El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque: Full day for hiking and natural waterslides, ending with dinner out
➡️El Yunque National Forest Hiking Tours
How to Explore El Yunque? On your own (KEEP READING!) or on a tour.
Make sure to include a visit to El Yunque National Forest in your itinerary. As one of the few tropical rainforests in North America and one of the smallest known rainforests, El Yunque offers a unique experience.
To include El Yunque Rainforest in your Puerto Rico itinerary, set aside a full day to immerse yourself in its natural beauty. Start early to hike the scenic trails, admire amazing waterfalls like the famous La Mina Falls, and enjoy the breathtaking views from the Yokahú Tower.
🌳TOP IDEAS TO ADD TO YOUR EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST ITINERARY🌳
🌳TOP TOURS IN EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST🌳
There are even places to go ATVing in El Yunque National Forest. Yes, we had a blast! If you want more information about other adventurous things to do in Puerto Rico, check out my list of things to do for active adventures!
💠Adventurous things to do in Puerto Rico💠
After exploring the rainforest, for the first part of your day there are a few other options to add to your Puerto Rico itinerary.
➡️Las Paylas Natural Slide
Be sure to add a visit to Las Paylas (also called Las Pailas) to your Puerto Rico itinerary. Located just on the outskirts of El Yunque, Las Paylas is a hidden natural water slide where you can slide down the natural rocks with the flow of a running waterfall. This unique and exhilarating experience is just a short drive from El Yunque National Forest and is well worth the trip.
Discover all the tips for visiting this hidden gem in my Puerto Rico Water Slide post!
➡️Luquillo Beach
Consider stopping by the nearby Luquillo Beach for some relaxation and a taste of local cuisine at the beachfront kiosks. This combination of adventure and leisure will make for an unforgettable day.
➡️Dinner at Pinones Beach Kiosks
Try authentic Puerto Rican Street Food at the Pinones Food Kiosks while you hop from kiosk to kiosk to try each Puerto Rican specialty!
PRO TIP: It is right across from a beautiful beach!!!
For more information and where to go to get great authentic Puerto Rican Street food, TRY MY PINONES KIOSK TIPS
HOW TO GET AROUND PUERTO RICO
We had a rental car during our Puerto Rico vacation, so visiting all the sites in around Puerto Rico was easy.
Learn more and book your own rental car in Puerto Rico here:
Day Three
DAY 3: Visit a Puerto Rico Island
Culebra or Vieques: Day trip to an island in Puerto Rico
➡️Day Trip to Culebra or Vieques
When visiting Puerto Rico, don’t miss the opportunity to explore its two main offshore islands: Culebra and Vieques. Both islands offer unique charms and are easily accessible by ferry or small plane from the main island of Puerto Rico. You should pick at least one of the islands to visit during your 7-day trip to Puerto Rico.
Choose Culebra for its small island charm and quaint beaches. Opt for Vieques if you prefer a wider selection of beaches, and especially if you’re interested in experiencing the bioluminescent bay.
Your Puerto Rico island trip will be a full day-long excursion. Use my tips for planning a day trip to Culebra or Vieques to make the best of your time.
Day Four
DAY 4: Go West!
Hit some stops as you go on a Puerto Rico road trip and head west on the isle.
- Reserva Natural Cueva del Indio
- El Tunel de Guajataca
- Bosque Estatal de Guajataco
- Gozalandia waterfall
- Alternate Plan: Cave Tubing with Aventureo PR Tanama
ROAD TRIP TO WESTERN PUERTO RICO: Caves, Waterfalls, and Forests!
➡️Natural Cueva del Indio
The Cueva del Indio is a cave site near Arecibo Puerto Rico. It is a prehistoric rock site that has Taino petroglyphs etched into its ancient walls. The Taino were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and all these carvings have been dated back to their pre-Columbian times.
On the other side of the cave, you will find 7 natural rock arches, incredible views of the Atlantic, and a beautiful beach to relax on after your trek.
While it is on the National Register of Historic Places, it is not over-populated…yet! It is difficult to get to, so make sure you take notes from the YouTube guide posted above.
The cave is free to enter and hike, but you will have to pay to park on private property. There is free parking on the road, but this is not advised due to the prevalence of break-ins. Better safe than sorry, so shell out the few bucks to the locals to safely park.
Wear sturdy shoes for hiking! The trail has a lot of sharp volcanic rock, so you’re your footwear accordingly.
➡️El Tunel de Guajata
The Guajataca Tunnel was a last-minute addition to our Puerto Rico itinerary and it turned out to be one of hubby’s favorite stops.
Even before we got to the tunnel, the Guajataca Beach area of Isabela wowed us as we wandered along the shore enjoying the peaceful solitude. There are food kiosks and artisans set up around the beach area on weekends, but on our weekday visit, there was no one around.
El Tunel de Guajataca was first constructed in the 1900s for a railway that passed through the mountains to expedite the delivery of sugar until 1953.
In 2000, the tunnel was declared a Historical Monument. Nowadays, the tracks of the bygone sugar-era are gone and it is a paved walking path through the mountain that leads to a beautiful overlook on the other side.
On some weekends, there is a mini-train that visitors can ride through the tunnel to experience what it was like in the 1900s.
➡️Bosque Estatal de Guajataco
The Guajataca State Forest is along the WINDING drive from the Guajataca tunnel area of Isabela and on the way to Gozalandia Waterfall. The curves are sharp and narrow so be sure to mind the warnings, and beep before heading around them.
PRO TIP: If you have a large vehicle, you might want to reconsider this drive.
Guajataca State Forest has some hiking trails and a fun lookout tower that overlooks all of the forest. From the tower, you get to see miles and miles of treetops!
➡️Gozalandia Waterfall
Gozalandia Waterfall is slowly becoming one of the most popular attractions in western Puerto Rico.
It has now become a developing tourist area located in San Sebastian and is a nice collection of pretty waterfalls with wading pools. They have added walkways (and even stairs) through the trees alongside the waterfalls so that they are easier to access.
When open, there is a guided parking lot for a fee of $10 per car, a restaurant, and changing facilities to put on your swimsuit.
Some parts of the pools are deep enough to invite some brave souls to jump in (at your own risk, so jumpers be warned.)
➡️Alternate Activity: Cave Tubing
****This activity is extremely weather-dependent****
Any rain or chances of rain will ruin your cave tubing plans as it did for us! Someday I hope to experience cave tubing in Puerto Rico! However, if you are lucky, this could be the best thing you do in Puerto Rico on your whole trip!
Tanama Adventures is a cave tubing and cave canyoning adventure site near Arecibo. They not only offer cave tubing but also rappelling, hiking, body rafting, kayaking, and much more in the caves, surrounding forest, and hidden paradise near the Tanama River in Puerto Rico.
The tours are in the heart of the forest and far away from any other tourist destination. There are no crowds here! They include interpretation and story-telling with their tours to bring life to the experience of the beautiful Tanama River.
Day Five
DAY 5: La Paraguera
La Parguera is located in the southwest of the island of Puerto Rico. It is a little over 2 hours to drive from San Juan (or 3 hours if you include the route with the stops in the suggested itinerary in this article), so the area gets fewer tourists. I found it way less crowded and a lot more peaceful.
Mangrove Islands and an Amazing Biobay!
I consider La Parguera a hidden gem! This was by far one of the coolest destinations we went to in Puerto Rico.
Let me tell you why!
➡️Boat Ride to Mangrove Island
Although it is one of the best places for scuba diving in Puerto Rico, La Parguera is not a beach town, so don’t expect to go lie on the sandbanks. Instead, there are cayos to enjoy! You can rent a boat to visit the mangrove floating islands and float around enjoying this unique destination. We went to Cayo Caracoles and spent time exploring. We even met a conch fisherman who showed us his daily tasks.
Want to go on this awesome experience like we did?
Book the same adventure below!
💠Learn more places to go scuba diving in Puerto Rico💠
➡️Swim in the Bioluminescent Bay
It gets even better at night! La Parguera is home to one of Puerto Rico’s three bioluminescent bays.
What is a bioluminescent bay?
A biobay is a magical experience that involves a lot of science. There are micro-organisms called dinoflagellates that live in the biobay and give off a short burst of light when moved – for example by swimming or paddling. Scientists say that this isn’t bad for them, but it actually causes them to proliferate.
Why is La Parguera the best biobay in Puerto Rico?
This is one of the few biobays that you are allowed to SWIM in. Most other biobays allow kayaking above the glowing water, but in La Parguera you can swim with them. It is amazing to see all the micro-organisms, light up with the wave of your hand. I felt like Tinkerbell spreading some Pixie Dust. The fairy dust even sticks to your skin so that you glow!
How to experience the biobay in Puerto Rico:
All of the fun activities to do in La Parguera
Day Six
DAY 6: Cabo Rojo
Pink Salt Flats, Lighthouse and Nature Reserve
➡️Pink Salt Flats
Cabo Rojo gets its name from the high concentration of minerals that produce a pink tint to the water. visiting the pink salt flats near Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico is a unique experience you shouldn’t miss. Start by driving to the southwestern tip of the island, where the salt flats, known as Las Salinas, are located. Once there, you’ll find stunning pink-hued salt pools created by the natural process of seawater evaporation.
It happened to be closed when we were there and they didn’t look very pink, so hopefully your experience will be more VIBRANT.
➡️Los Morrillos Lighthouse
Continue down the bumpy road past the salt flats to historic Los Morrillos Lighthouse, also known as Faro Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo.
There is a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the lighthouse, but it is worth it. Not only can you photograph the lighthouse, but the dramatic view from the limestone cliffs is just gorgeous! Enjoy the serene ambiance of the lighthouse and surrounding area that makes Los Morrillos Lighthouse a must-visit destination in Puerto Rico for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike
After spending time at the southern tip of Puerto Rico, head north for more must-see sites to add to your Puerto Rico 7 day itinerary.
➡️Punta Guaniquilla Reserve and Bird Sanctuary
We made an unplanned stop at Punta Guaniquilla Reserve and Bird Sanctuary and were pleasantly surprised.
If you are driving by, make sure to add it to your Puerto Rico itinerary. It has some nice hiking through unusual rock formations and some of Puerto Rico’s natural beauty. There is also a lot of animal life –especially birds, so this is a bird-watcher’s paradise.
There are also ruins and bricks from the last Puerto Rico steam train station. Plan for at least 30 minutes to hike around Punta Guaniquilla Reserve and Bird Sanctuary.
➡️El Poblado Boqueron Puerto Rico
Boqueron is a cute beach town and a popular destination for locals. It is very picturesque and colorful. We even found a pier that was decorated with a Puerto Rico flag.
I had to take a photo and add it to my list of Instagram spots in Puerto Rico!
After spending some time on the pristine beaches, take a walk through the small town to enjoy the restaurants, bars, and family shops.
Rent a bike in Boqueron for a fun sightseeing option.
Day Seven
DAY 7: Rincon
Surfers and Art!
What is Rincon known for:
Rincon is known for surfing! We don’t surf, but we wanted to watch the surfers attempting to ride the waves, so on our road trip through Puerto Rico, we stopped in Rincon.
➡️Domes Beach
We stopped at Domes Beach to try to catch a glimpse of some surfers. I guess it wasn’t a good day for surfing, because there was only a handful of the hearty souls bobbing in the water and waiting for the perfect wave.
The beach was empty when we visited and I hear that’s the typical case and it’s usually not crowded. Plenty of empty sand to lay out on.
PRO TIP: There is a nice overlook of Domes Beach near the lighthouse (see below). Our tip is to hang out there for the best views of the surfers and a panoramic view of Domes Beach.
From this high viewpoint, you are sure to see why Domes Beach got its name! The large white dome of the Technology Museum (LINK HERE) peeks out from the trees right next to the beach.
➡️Surfing Class: Learn to Surf in Rincon
In addition to all the great places to scuba dive in Puerto Rico, Domes Beach puts the island on the map for another sport since it is one of the most famous surfing spots in the Caribbean.
So, of course, this is also a great spot to learn to surf. There are tons of surfing school in Rincon
➡️Punta Higüera Lighthouse
The old lighthouse in Rincon was built at the end of the 19th century and then rebuilt a few decades later due to earthquake damage. It is still operational today, although fully automated now.
There is a nice park around the lighthouse that overlooks Domes Beach.
➡️Technology Museum
You will see the huge white dome structure rising through the treetops at Domes Beach as you view it from Punta Higüera Lighthouse. This white-domed building used to be one of only 8 prototype nuclear plants in the world. It is now a Technology Museum and on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is mainly a fun photo stop since you can only visit it by private appointment.
➡️Rincon Art Walk
In addition to all the surfing, Rincon is also known for its art scene and tropical vibes. There is a free weekly art walk which has local crafts, food, and Caribbean bomba music. Make plans to visit the town square on a Thursday evening at Plaza de Recreo.
Need more info & things to do in Puerto Rico?
- Ultimate Guide to Puerto Rico: one week in Puerto Rico
- Guide to Puerto Rico: 3 days in Puerto Rico
- Guide to San Juan
- Where to stay in San Juan
- Guide to the Island of Culebra
- Guide to the Island of Vieques
- Guide to El Yunque National Forest
- Tours in El Yunque
- Finding the Las Paylas Natural Water Slide
- Pinones Kiosks
- Best Instagram Spots in Puerto Rico
- Adventure Guide to Puerto Rico
- Scuba Diving in Puerto Rico
Getting around Puerto Rico
Summary of all the THINGS TO DO in Puerto Rico
THE END: Your seven days in Puerto Rico have come to a close and sadly, it is time to head home. There is a few-hour road trip from your last stop in Rincon to go back to San Juan and to the airport to return your rental car. Hope you enjoyed your week in Puerto Rico!
Final thoughts on spending one week in Puerto Rico
Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, this ultimate Puerto Rico Itinerary planning guide will help you make the most of your seven days in paradise. We hope that you have uncovered the must-see sights, hidden gems, and unforgettable activities that will make your Puerto Rican getaway truly memorable.
Did we miss anything that should be on the itinerary for one week in Puerto Rico? Let us know in the comments!
Like this post? PIN IT for later!
I love San Juan Puerto Rico. We’ve visited a few times on cruises and it is amazing. We’ll have to take a longer trip to see more of Puerto Rico!
yes, for sure!! There is so much more to Puerto Rico than San Juan, so you have only scratched the surface.
This is very timely as I am looking to visit Puerto Rico on a month long visit to some South American countries – I may need to extend my trip now!
This looks like an amazing itinerary! The rainforest and mangrove forest look so cool! And I’d love to try that natural waterslide! So fun!
It hard for me to choose my favorite activity in Puerto Rico because there are so many different things to choose from!