7 min read

A Beginner's Guide to Puerto Rico

A Beginner's Guide to Puerto Rico
Buenos dias from Faro de los Morrillos in Cabo Rojo 😁

If you told me a year ago that I would spend almost a month in Puerto Rico, I would've told you to stop watching all these travel vlogs on Instagram and get back to reality, but here I am sharing my 28 day Puerto Rico adventure with you.

I can't shut up about this beautiful island.

There's a reason why Puerto Rico is nicknamed "La Isla del Encanto" aka the island of enchantment. From the crystal clear turquoise water to the warm, beautiful local people, PR is a destination worth visiting, especially outside of San Juan.

After receiving multiple messages and requests about my travel itinerary, I have decided to create an easy beginner's guide to Puerto Rico for first time travelers who are planning on visiting the island.

Without further ado, here are some of the magical spots I got to see during my stay in La Isla del Encanto.

  1. Old San Juan
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

I know, I know. I just said that there are lots of amazing things to see outside of San Juan, but if this is your first time on the island, then you are most likely staying in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.

While you are here, you might as well take advantage of the Old San Juan free walking tour. The guides are all local Puerto Ricans who are passionate about their island and very knowledgable about the history of Old San Juan.

Old San Juan is beautiful on its own, but if you want to see where the locals hangout, then you need to see El Morro, the lawn right by the old fortress Castillo San Felipe del Morro.

Here you'll find families and friends enjoy picnics and kite-flying on the weekends. I love sitting by the steps and enjoying the breeze here.

The lawn is full of families having picnics and flying kites on the weekends!

2. El Yunque Rainforest

Just 45 minutes east of San Juan is El Yunque, the national rainforest of Puerto Rico. If you're a nature lover, then this is the place for you.

There are so many activities you can do from ATVing to hiking so choose the activity that feels right for you and your group. I've done both and I can can say they're both worth doing.

A word of advice: don't wear your nicest, whitest Air Force Ones!

Or honestly any nice shoes, clothes, or jewelry because they will get dirty. We trekked through mud, scaled up rocks, and crossed over rivers and creeks, so yes, expect some slipping to happen along the way.

I gotta give a shoutout to our Airbnb hiking guide, "Papi Chulo", who led us safely on our trail to the waterfalls.

Our fearless leader Hector aka "Papi Chulo"

Once you reach the waterfall, then it's time for the real slip n' slide.

The natural cool watering pool is perfect after a sweaty hike, and if you're not afraid of heights, then take that leap of faith and go for a 10-20 meter cliff jump into the water. I think I smacked the water butt-first when I took the plunge, but hey, there's a first time for everything!

A natural water slide down a cooling pool of water

3. Culebra and Vieques Islands

If you have a few extra days, then I highly recommend doing a day (or 2-3 😁) trip to the beautiful islands of Culebra and Vieques, just off the main island of Puerto Rico.

You're going to need to rent a jeep or golf cart to get around, but it's totally worth it, especially Flamenco Beach in Culebra and the Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques.

I mean c'mon, take a look at this slice of paradise at Flamenco Beach!
The view from our Airbnb in Vieques!

I suggest buying your ferry tickets online though.

We waited at the dock for about 3 hours the first time around because we had to get our tickets at the booth, and we ended up missing the boat we originally wanted to get on. The ferries leave from Ceiba, so it's best to rent a car otherwise you're paying at least $80 one way via Uber.

Oh, and if you get sea-sickness, then take your dramamine ahead of time cuz this ride is bumpy to say the least. And it's all worth it at the end when you arrive 😁

Get ready for a bumpy ride!

4. Crash Boat Beach

While I was enamored by the beauty of Flamenco Beach, I understand that most people may not have the time nor the ability to get to the island of Culebra.

Therefore, if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind beach spot on the main island of Puerto Rico, then I'd highly recommend Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla.

I loved the charm of this beach.

There are colorful row boats along the sand and there's a pier where you can jump off from. You can even snorkel and find a few marine life on this beach.

What's nice about the city of Aguadilla is that they have an airport, so if you want to stay primarily on the west side of the island, then you can fly directly there!

5. Rincon

I actually spent the last 8 days of my trip in Rincon because it is located below Aguadilla and above Cabo Rojo, another amazing city with beautiful beaches.

Since Rincon is a surf town, I made sure I booked a surf lesson while I was there. If you want a local instructor who is passionate about surfing then I highly recommend Gumer from Airbnb.

If you're not into surfing, then don't worry! The town of Rincon is super cute and they have a few local coffee shops, bakeries, and bars to check out too.

You also don't want to miss their local art market, which takes place every Sunday night at the main square. Scope around and buy a piece of handmade wood art or jewelry that catches your eye.

There's even a live drummer playing music so you may see people dancing in the square!

The Sunday night art market where you'll find people dancing and enjoying their time in Rincon!

Now let me let you in on a little secret: the west has the best sunsets on the island! Regardless whether you're in Mayagüez or Cabo Rojo or Rincon, this is what you'll see.

At a black sand beach behind Carbon, a restaurant in Mayagüez

And this.

A beautiful sunset in Rincon

6. Honorable mentions

I can sit here and type out a whole novel about my time in Puerto Rico if I truly wanted to, but ultimately you will have a better understanding of what vibes with you once you get to the island.

That being said, this is still a beginner's guide so here's a list of some other amazing places that may interest you:

Gonzalandia Waterfall in San Sebastian
"God, is that you?" was literally what I uttered at Camuy Caves

Final Thoughts

People ask me all the time why I stayed so long in Puerto Rico and the answer is simple - the island, the people, and the culture is absolutely beautiful.

I heard chickens and coquis croaking at night. I danced my ass off to reggaeton and salsa. I met kind-hearted local Boricuas (a person of Puerto Rican descent) who took their time to show me around their home, sometimes quite literally too.

Now regardless whether it's your first, second, or eighth time visiting the island, I think it's important to respect the land and the people.

Don't litter when you are on their beaches. Learn some local phrases and at least say "muchas gracias" instead of "thank you" when the waiter gives you your food. If you're traveling with family and you'd rather cook your meals, then shop at the local Pueblos instead of Walmart.

These may seem like basic advice that everybody should follow, but you'd be surprised by how many visitors who don't abide by these simple rules. You are visiting their island, so it's important to respect their home.

As I close out this blog post, I want to wish y'all who are visiting Puerto Rico a safe and happy trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth. You're gonna love it! I was touched by the island's magic and I hope it touches you too.

Hasta luego mi gente! -Rob

Follow me on TikTok and Instagram to keep up with what I'm doing. For any business inquiries, please email me at robchenhere@gmail.com. Peace & love!