Everything you need to know for your first trip to Puerto Rico

*Collaborative Post*

Puerto Rico is the ultimate long weekend getaway, the perfect location to find some winter sun, or explore a tropical island paradise without a long, involved journey. With lush green scenery, gorgeous sandy beaches, a vibrant culture and some fantastic food, it pretty much has it all. 

So if you are looking for somewhere picturesque to visit for your next vacation, or just fancy slinging a few things in a bag and getting away for the weekend, take a look below for everything you need to know for your first trip to Puerto Rico. 

Getting there

Getting to Puerto Rico from mainland USA is pretty simple. The main airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín in San Juan, connects to cities across the US, and all over the Caribbean. Recently, regional airports at Aguadilla and Ponce have started accepting direct flights from some US airports too. Another option is to cruise to Puerto Rico, or if you are already in the Caribbean there are ferry connections from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, as well as St Thomas and St John in the US Virgin Islands.

What to see and do

Old San Juan is an absolutely gorgeous place to start. A colorful, picture-perfect joy, filled with stunning colonial architecture and with amazing historic sights around every corner, a day spent wandering the streets of the capital’s historic center will not be a day wasted. Make sure you check out El Morro Fort, the Plaza Del Quinto Centenario, and Fortaleza Street, for the full experience of Old San Juan.

Once you’ve explored the city, head out of town and take in the natural beauty of El Yunque National Forest. This lush green tropical rainforest is astonishingly beautiful, and full of wonderful hiking trails that offer the perfect way to discover this stunning slice of the great outdoors. Climb Yokahu Tower for an amazing panoramic view of the whole forest, then head to the watery delights of La Coca Falls and Juan Diego Creek, where you can swim underneath the torrent of a beautiful waterfall. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a tropical island getaway without a trip to the beach, and luckily Puerto Rico has some of the best in the world. Aguadilla’s Crash Boat Beach is a local favorite, and the vibe is always lively and exciting. If you are looking for something a little more relaxed, try a trip to Culebra Island. This tiny speck in an azure lagoon is perfect for just laying back on the sand and letting the cares of the world wash away.

Finally, Puerto Rico is one of the few places in the world where you can catch one of nature’s most magical and mysterious phenomena, bioluminescence. When the sun goes down, head out to one of the three bays on the island where this extraordinary natural wonder exists, Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Laguna Grande in Fajardo, or La Parguera in Lajas. Swim or kayak through the water, and watch in awe as it explodes in a glowing natural light show!

Puerto Rico is a great spot for a lovely vacation in paradise, and should be high on everyone’s list for their next vacations. What are you waiting for, getting planning today!