Attractions Nearby San Juan, Day Trips and Excursions

(San Juan, Puerto Rico)

The island of Puerto Rico is large enough to hold magnificent mountain scenery and seacoast attractions, yet is small enough to permit touring as part of a day trip. Many interesting towns, cities and villages are within easy reach of San Juan and suitable for excursions, particularly if you have invested in a hire car for the duration of your stay.

The tropical climate allows both mangroves and dry forests, with monsoon rains ensuring green and fertile plains, while sandy beaches fan out from tiny isolated coves to vast bays. A few breathtaking island attractions hug the coastline around San Juan, their coral reefs and transparent waters giving great snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Arecibo

The modern municipality of Arecibo has seen much change over the years and many tourists are often surprised to learn that this is actually the third most historic city in the whole of Puerto Rico, being founded as long ago as 1556. Arecibo lies approximately 81 km / 51 miles to the west of San Juan and contains a small number of worthwhile attractions. These include the Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy, the Parque Ceremonial Indigena Caguana, and the world's largest radio telescope - the pride of Arecibo Observatory (Observatorio de Arecibo). Operated by Cornell University, visitors can see the vast dish from the informative visitor centre and the views from the mountainous location are superb, although it is certainly worth noting that the winding access road needs some care. For children, the Lighthouse and Historical Park (Faro y Parque Historico de Arecibo) will be a hit, although it is a bit pricey.
Open hours: observatory, Wednesday to Friday - 12:00 to 16:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Fajardo

Set on Puerto Rico's east coast and roughly 60 km / 37 miles to the south-west is Fajardo. The main attraction of this small city is its beautiful and very unusual Bio-Luminescent Bay. An evening boat tour through the mangrove forests brings visitors to the bay, which glows an eerie bright blue-green due to its high concentration of luminous plankton.

Culebra Island

This isolated offshore haven, some 40 km / 25 miles off the east coast, can be reached by boat from the harbour, being mainly known for its uncrowded Flamenco Beach. Culebra Island offers the perfect day trip excursion, particularly if you wish to leave the city and experience something quite different. Snorkelling and diving are good here.

El Yunque National Forest / El Yunque Rainforest

Address: El Yunque National Forest, Route 191, Puerto Rico, PR
This tropical rainforest is an interesting destination for those for whom rainforests are a new experience, but veers slightly towards the tacky side of tourism. The El Yunque National Forest is set in 28,000 acres / 11,330 hectares, is 1,065 metres / 3,500 feet above sea level, and has a number of very appealing hiking trails and attractive waterfalls. Just below the rainforest itself, the El Portal Visitors Centre features exhibits relating to the area's ecology, as well as a popular coffee shop.
Open hours: daily - 07:30 to 18:00
Admission: free

Las Cabezas de San Juan State Park

Address: San Juan, Puerto Rico, PR
For a more varied forest experience, this nature park has dry jungle areas, as well as mangrove forests, and is set along a rocky coastline. Boardwalks make trails around the Las Cabezas de San Juan State Park quite practical during the wet season, but hikers should watch out for the very large, dead iguanas which sometimes litter the ground around the ferry terminal.
Open hours: Friday to Sunday - 09:30 to 16:00
Admission: free

Rio Camuy Cave Park

Address: Rio Camuy Cave Park, Near San Juan, Puerto Rico, PR
The Rio Camuy Cave Park is the third-largest cave system anywhere in the world, with its subterranean ravines leading to 200-metre / 656-foot deep caves and rushing underground rivers. The guided tour around the network is awe-inspiring, and serious cavers can have perilous fun here as well.
Open hours: Wednesday to Sunday - 08:00 to 15:45
Admission: charge

Bayamon

Bayamon is just 18 km / 11 miles to the south-west and more like a suburb than a separate city as such. Various enticing attractions reside within Bayamon, namely the Bacardi Distillery (also known as the Bacardi Rum Factory), the Camarero Racetrack, the Dr. Jose Barbosa Museum and Library (Museo Biblioteca Dr. Jose Barbosa) and the Francisco Oller Museum of Art and History (Museo de Oller). However, it is the Science Park (Luis a Ferré Parque de Ciencias) that steals the show here when it comes to visitor numbers.

Isabela

Over the years, Isabela has become best known for its outlying attractions, 'Paso Fino' horses and tasty local cheeses. Other good reasons to travel the 117 km / 73 miles to Isabela include its Playa Jobos beachfront, where strong waves provide some of the best surfing conditions in Puerto Rico. The beach of La Princesa is also worth visiting, with its unusual blow hole being quite a draw. Keen snorkellers may like to check out the submarine caves at the Playa Shacks beach.

Mayaguez

Established in 1760, the port city of Mayaguez is currently enjoying something of a resurgence of interest, following much renovation and restoration work. However, being just under 200 km / 124 miles to the south-west, Mayaguez is really just a little too far for a day trip to be possible. If you are coming here, then you will likely want to see the Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria - consecrated in the 18th century, the Parque de los Proceres - in the grounds of the Estacion Experimental Agricola Federal, the Recinto Universitario Mayaguez - a university with 12,000 students, and the Zoologico de Puerto Rico - home to over 300 different animal species, with spacious, natural-style enclosures.

Ponce

The sizeable city of Ponce is to be found around 117 km / 73 miles to the south-west of San Juan and as Puerto Rico's number two city, certainly comes with much to see and do. Many of the principal attractions in Ponce are clustered around the Plaza la Delicias, with the downtown district being conveniently compact and easy to explore on foot. In particular, look out for the tourist office within the Parque de Bombas building, the Casa Alcaldia, the Catedral de la Guadalupe, the Casa de la Masacre de Ponce and the Castillo Serralles. For culture vultures, both the Museum of Puerto Rican Music and the Ponce Museum of Art come highly recommended. On the southern side of downtown, the La Guancha Paseo Tablado boardwalk is close to the harbourfront and is a pleasant place for an afternoon stroll.