Puerto Rico is the perfect island getaway! With flights being only hours from anywhere in the US, it is an easy travel destination. Although it is an island, Puerto Rico has a very diverse landscape. There’s much more than beaches in Puerto Rico! Can you believe there are rainforests, waterfalls, mountains, salt flats, and wetlands in Puerto Rico? Follow this ultimate 5-day Puerto Rico itinerary for the perfect trip!

How To Get Around Puerto Rico

The best way to get around Puerto Rico is by driving! I highly suggest renting a vehicle with high clearance and 4WD as the roads in Puerto Rico can be rough. There are some portions where the road is not in the best condition or the roads are very narrow so I would drive with caution. I definitely do not want to discourage you on the road trip, but I do want to be realistic with you. The scenic beauty around the island is worth the drive!

Many people only stay in San Juan when they visit Puerto Rico and they are missing out! Although San Juan is a lot of fun, I definitely recommend venturing out of the capital city and seeing all that the island has to offer. You wouldn’t have experienced the real Puerto Rico if you only stay in one place!

Puerto Rico Itinerary

Day 1: Old San Juan

Start your Puerto Rico trip by spending time in Old San Juan! If you’re flying into Puerto Rico, chances are that you’re flying into the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. The airport is about 30 minutes from Old San Juan and you can either pickup your rental car at the airport when you land or you can use a rideshare to get to Old San Juan. I chose to use Uber to get to Old San Juan because parking could be tricky, and I picked up my rental car later when I was leaving the city.

Old San Juan is a very charming and colorful place, and it is the perfect first stop on your Puerto Rico Itinerary. There is a lot to see, but honestly you only need one day here as most of it is sightseeing. Here are some spots you shouldn’t miss in Old San Juan:

• Fortaleza Street: Street leading up to the Governor’s Mansion that often has colorful displays of either umbrellas or Puerto Rican flag
• Cuartel de Ballaja: Former military barracks that serves as multipurpose building today
• Hotel El Convento: Stay at this luxury hotel in Old San Juan or stop by for food and drinks
• El Morro: Learn about the history of a historical fort and its importance to Puerto Rico
• Calle Imperial: Great spot to take a photo with the Puerto Rican flag
• Cementerio Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi: This cemetery is the final resting place of many of PR’s most prominent natives and residents. This cemetery also offers sweeping ocean views!

As you see, Old San Juan is full of fun photo opportunities! If you want to see the full list of best photo spots in Old San Juan, check out my article here.

I highly recommend dining at Barrachina. It is a very popular restaurant serving Puerto Rican specialties and it claims to have invented the pina colada! The food and pina colada (had to order one) were absoutely delicious.

Day 2: Aguadilla

Next on the Puerto Rico itinerary is Aguadilla! Leave Old San Juan early in the morning and head to Aguadilla. Pick up your rental car (if you haven’t already) and head west to the beaches of Aguadilla. It is a 2 hour drive from San Juan to Aguadilla and you’ll be on a major interstate so the ride should be smooth.

Aguadilla is known for its beautiful beaches! Here are some spots in Aguadilla that you should definitely check out:

• Survival Beach: Take a fun hike to a secret beach
• Crash Boat Beach: You can find colorful rowboats at this beach
• Las Ruinas Faro de La Ponderosa: Check out these ruins in Aguadilla!
• Avion Abandonado: Climb inside an abandoned plane

Don’t miss watching the sunset from the beaches of Aguadilla!

Day 3: San Sebastian, Cabo Rojo, and La Parguera

On Day 3, drive to San Sebastian to see some beautiful waterfalls! It is about a 30 minute drive from Aguadilla and you can find two waterfalls here. Gozalandia Falls is one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico! You can actually find two waterfalls here. There is an official parking lot so be sure to bring cash ($10) for parking. The hikes to the falls are short and easy. Bring your bathing suit to swim here!

After your morning adventure at Gozalandia Falls, head south to Rojo Cabo. It is about an hour and a half from the waterfalls are there are two main attractions in this area.

First up is Salinas de Cabo Rojo! Did you know there are salt flats in Puerto Rico? They even turn pink on a sunny day. To visit these salt flats, park your car at Centro Interpretativo Las Salinas and walk along the road until you see an opening to the fence to the salt flats. It is free to visit but please do be respectful and leave no trace! Do not litter as throwing trash into the salt flats ruins the salt.

Then, drive just a little further south to Faro Los Morrillos. The views from this lighthhouse are stunning! There are trails that takes you along the ocean cliffs and there are several unique rock formations you can spot from here. If you have extra time and want to go for a swim, head to Playa Sucia nearby for an isolated and picturesque beach with views of the lighthouse! At the end of the day, drive 45 minutes from Cabo Rojo to the town of La Parguera.

The town of La Parguera is small and quaint but it is the gateway to incredible nature! Did you know that it is a bioluminescant bay? The waters near La Parguera glow due to the microorganisms in the water, and many tour companies offer kayak tours or boat excursions to explore the bay’s waters! I highly suggest booking a tour since you can only see the waters glow at night.

Day 4: La Parguera, Yauco, and Ponce

Start your day off by exploring the town of La Parguera! There are several great restaurants and boutiques in town that you should check out. I also recommend taking a trip to Cayo Caracoles which is a mangrove forest near La Parguera. You can get a boat at Gina’s Johnny’s Boats in town to take you there. You can get a tour and guide as well!

Depart La Parguera for the city of Yauco and stop by Finca El Girasol on the way. Finca El Girasol is a beautiful field of sunflowers and makes a fun stop. It is only Take a quick detour here and snap some photos with the sunflowers.

Then, continue to the city of Yauco! Yauco is a super colorful city and it is a fun place to simply walk around. Yauco is also another quick stop and then you’ll leave for the city of Ponce.

Ponce is one of Puerto Rico’s largest cities and there’s plenty to do here! I suggest taking a walking tour through town and admire the beautiful architecture around town. Some of the attractions you shouldn’t miss include:

• Museo de Arte de Ponce: One of the best art museums in Puerto Rico with an extensive collection of over 4,500 pieces, consisting of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs/video, and more!
• Plaza Las Delicias: The main plaza in Ponce with ornate buildings and shady trees – be sure to visit Parque de Bombas, Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the many cafes and restaurants around the square!
• Castillo Serrallés: A grand estate with sweeping views of Ponce that once belonged to owners of the Don Q rum distillery! Today, you can take a tour to see the ornate architecture, beautiful gardens, and learn about how the family lived and grew their business.
• La Guancha: Popular and picturesque seaside boardwalk lined with restaurants and kiosks selling food and beverages.
• Hacienda Buena Vista: Visit this coffee plantation to learn about how coffee was grown and processed in the 19th century

Day 5: El Yunque National Forest

Depart Ponce early in the morning for El Yunque National Forest! It is about a 2.5 hours drive, but there is a super cool spot you should stop by on the way to the rainforest. The stop is called La Curva del Arbol and it is a scenic overlook with a swing! This is a very popular photo spot in Puerto Rico and the view is absoutely worth the detour.

It is 50 minutes from Ponce to the swing and then 1.5 hours from the swing to the entrance of El Yunque National Forest.

El Yunque National Forest is actually one of the smallest rainforests in the world, but one of the most biologically diverse. Come experience the beauty of the national rainforest and do go chasing waterfalls!

Here are some of the most beautiful spots to visit in El Yunque National Forest:

• Puente Roto
• Las Pailas
• Las Tinajas Falls
• Charco El Hippie WaterfallTorre Britton
• Bano Grande
• El Yunque Peak Tower
• Juan Diego Falls
• Torre Yokahu
• Cascada La Mina

Depending on when your flight is, you can either head to the airport after visiting El Yunque National Forest or head back to San Juan and spend the night there if your flight is the next day!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Puerto Rico itinerary! You should definitely spend a few days on this beautiful island and see all that Puerto Rico has to offer.

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