Puerto Rico Bucket List (5 Must Visit Places)
In this guide, we would like to share our Puerto Rico Bucket List.
Even though Puerto Rico is a small island, it’s home to some truly amazing destinations.
It is here you’ll find everything from world-class beaches to bioluminescent bays and untouched jungle, this island certainly delivers.
Puerto Rico Bucket List our 5 “Must See’s”
Below, we’ve picked out our favorite 5 gems, which can easily be added to any itinerary that you might be planning here.
Then of course, if you’ve read our Puerto Rico backpacking guide, you could quite easily choose to bolt on any one of these bucket list destinations to your trip plan.
Let’s kick this off with the nothing but short of amazing lagoon…
Bioluminescent Bay of Laguna Grande, Fajardo
There are only five bays in the world that light up a noticeable, sharp blue color due to the plankton in the water. Puerto Rico is home to three of these, and the Laguna Grande in Fajardo is the best of them all to visit.
From Fajardo you can take a kayak tour where you’ll paddle around the lagoon, disturbing the plankton and getting this awesome effect!
It’s recommended to go on a special night tour (like this one) when the moon is at its least visible, as the more dark it is, the better the effect.
For those interested in how this actually works, basically there are thousands of microscopic, organisms called dinoflagellates that live in the water.
They produce the glow effect when stimulated by movement, but it can only be noticed due to the sheer high concentration of them. Pretty neat huh.
Isla de Culebra, Fajardo
There are two major islands to travel to in Puerto Rico. Both are located just off the coast of Fajardo, with Vieques usually the more popular with luxury resorts and amenities at the ready.
However, for the true backpacker, Culebra is an absolute paradise. Some beaches here (Flamenco beach in particular) have been listed as the best in the World, with crystal-clear waters that are perfect for diving and snorkeling!
Once you catch the ferry over from Fajardo, you can rent a golf buggy, which you can drive all over the island.
There are lots of cool little spots that are worth exploring, such as Brava Beach, the Museum of History and the Culebrita Lighthouse.
You can also stay on the island, however accommodation can be quite expensive.
We recommend staying in the port of Fajardo, and cruising across. You could even bring a hammock or tent and chill in if that’s your style.
Rincón, Mayagüez
Rincón is a stunning area to visit in Puerto Rico. Home to some of the best surfing and beaches in the Caribbean, this is the place to let loose and enjoy yourself.
For those looking to surf, you’ve come to one of the best places to learn in the Caribbean!
The area next to Playa Doña Lala is the best, with lots of spots to watch the sunset, with cheap local restaurants and bars to explore.
The Rincón Beer Company is our top recommendation for a bar in the area.
You can also see some cool gems here, including El Faro Punta Higüeras, which is a beautiful lighthouse with impressive views of the coastline.
It’s also a great place to base yourself to explore the Mayagüez region. Some cool day trips include to Aguada, the Maricao Jungle and the city of Mayagüez. To get an idea of pricing, take a look at our guide covering travel costs in Puerto Rico for more clarity.
The Maricao Jungle, Mayagüez
This gem is so underrated from an international tourism point of view, with most instead opting for El Yunque.
El Salto Curet waterfalls are located here and are really impressive. These can be hiked within a half-day.
The Torre de Piedra is a lookout tower that perches on top of the jungle, and gives some really awesome views of the scenery and nature.
Maricao as a town itself is worth the visit, with lots of colonial architecture and a chance to spend time away from the big cities for some peace and quiet.
The Maricao Jungle is located in the west of the island, and can easily be accessed by either renting a car or public transport (although buses can be infrequent).
The closest city is Mayagüez, which is only two hours from the town of Maricao.
Of course, El Yunque is still an amazing destination to visit, and remains the more popular choice. However, for true untouched Puerto Rican Jungle, as well as culture, Maricao hits the sweet spot.
Viejo San Juan, San Juan
Last but not least on our list is the old town of San Juan.
This area was the oldest settlement of San Juan, and as such retains lots of historic and colonial features compared to the rest of the city.
The area of Plaza de Armas is the best to get a great authentic feel for Puerto Rico, with lots of both cheap and upper-class restaurants located here.
Some of the best things to see here include a visit to the imposing fort of San Felipe del Morro, the churches of San Juan Bautista and San José, as well as the colorful neighborhood of La Perla.
As a whole, it’s much better to stay in this sector if backpacking in San Juan.
Much of San Juan feels like any other city, whereas this region retains its cute colonial vibe, as well as being a lot safer too.
Got travel insurance for Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico Bucket List
There you have it, some of the very best things to do in Puerto Rico, which from our experience have been the most memorable while exploring the island.
We really do hope you have found this guide useful. If you have any questions about planning a trip to Puerto Rico, drop a comment below, and we’ll help you out!
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
