3 days in Puerto Rico might not be loads of time, however when you don’t get a lot day without work work and also you’re solely in a position to journey on weekends, then generally you simply need to work with it!
Since my pal was ready on her visa and couldn’t depart the U.S., we needed to go someplace a bit totally different for our lengthy weekend with out leaving the nation. An apparent alternative was Puerto Rico – a Caribbean island that additionally occurs to be an unincorporated U.S territory.
At 3.5 hours flight time, the journey from New York to San Juan is pretty brief and also you don’t need to take your passport because it’s a home flight. A U.S driver’s license will do. We stayed 3 nights in San Juan and rented a automotive for twenty-four hours so we may discover a bit extra of the island.
For the reason that island is pretty massive it’s not possible to cowl every thing there’s to do in Puerto Rico in 3 days, so we caught to the north and east coast. I actually loved my time in PR and totally intend to return one other time to discover different components of the island.
For those who plan to spend 3 days in Puerto Rico, right here’s my steered itinerary.
The place to Keep On Your 3 Days in Puerto Rico
First somewhat word on the place to remain. We stayed in an Airbnb, particularly this one. It has a pool and an unbelievable ocean view. It’s additionally centrally positioned in Condado so that you’re only a few steps from all of the eating places and bars, in addition to the seashore.
For those who don’t keep at an Airbnb, there are just a few motels in San Juan space I’d advocate.
Condado:
O:LV Lodge – That is for sure one of many nicest boutique Design Inns I’ve ever seen. Located in Condado, the OL:V has a classy rooftop with unbelievable views of the lagoon, which you’ll go to whether or not you’re staying at there or not. This isn’t simply your typical resort – the interiors are to die for, with brass, marble and velvet accents a-plenty.
La Concha Renaissance – For those who’re in search of a bigger resort, La Concha Renaissance boats an infinity pool overlooking Condado Seashore, a number of eating places, a health heart and a 24 hour on line casino. Rooms even have floor-to-ceiling home windows and balconies with ocean views.
Outdated City:
Villa Herencia Lodge – I you’d desire to remain in San Juan Outdated City, this boutique resort has previous world appeal, funky interiors, native artwork work and a soothing roof terrace. It’s additionally positioned only a brief stroll from Museum of the Americas and Santa Catalina Palace.
Easy methods to Get Round on Your 3 Days in Puerto Rico
To your 3 days in Puerto Rico I’d counsel getting a automotive so you possibly can discover the island. You’ll find rental automotive offers utilizing Kayak or Rentalcars.com. Don’t overlook to carry your U.S driver’s license with you in an effort to lease the automotive. For those who plan to stay round San Juan and Condado, then you possibly can simply get round by Uber, which is pretty cheap.
Day 1 – Calm down in Condado
Flying could be exhausting so plan to have a soothing day the primary day of your Puerto Rico itinerary. When you land at San Juan Airport (SJU), both order an Uber or decide up your rental automotive and make your technique to your lodging.
San Juan is mainly break up into two components. There’s the previous city, which is stuffed with colourful buildings and bars, then there’s the newer half, Condado, which is by the seashore. I’d counsel staying in Condado so you possibly can simply stroll to the seashore. You possibly can then Uber to Outdated San Juan within the evenings.
Calm down on Condado Seashore
When you’ve checked in an unpacked your stuff, head on over to considered one of San Juan’s major seashores, Condado, which is lined with motels such because the Marriott and La Concha Renaissance.
Condado Seashore is a windswept metropolis seashore lined with palm timber, motels and high-rises. The water can get fairly wavy and the present is robust so it’s not likely advisable to swim there. The seashore will get vigorous within the afternoons, notably on weekends, so it’s nice for folks watching. Spend the afternoon absorbing the solar and sip on a piña colada or two.
Lunch at Jose Enrique
For those who’re feeling a bit peckish you possibly can stroll alongside Ashford Ave, which has loads of eating places providing every thing from Puerto Rican meals to sushi.
One nice restaurant I’d advocate is Jose Enrique, which serves actually good Puerto Rican meals with a contemporary twist. The restaurant’s inside is vibrant and ethereal, with easy wood tables and mirrors adorning the partitions.
Dishes are designed for sharing and are made with substances from native producers. The menu adjustments each day however you possibly can count on every thing to be tremendous recent and scrumptious. I notably loved the tuna crudo and pork stomach with shishito peppers.
Sundown Drinks at ARYA Rooftop
For sundown you possibly can head on over to ARYA rooftop on the O:LV resort, which arms down is without doubt one of the most fashionable motels I’ve ever seen. Artsy, daring and splendid, the resort is so stunning that it was awarded Greatest Design Lodge of the World and Greatest New Boutique Lodge by London’s Boutique Lodge Awards. When you’ve got the money to remain there, then do it!
The rooftop has a gorgeous pool/fountain and views of the Condado lagoon, so head on over at sundown to snap some photographs and luxuriate in a cocktail or two. A spotlight of the rooftop is the ’77 Rolls Royce that’s been transformed right into a DJ Sales space.
La Placita de Santurce
For those who nonetheless have some power left in you, head over to La Placita de Santurce which is a bustling market space that comes alive after 6pm. Locals flock there to have meals, cocktails and dance salsa – it’s tremendous enjoyable!
La Placita has been round for 100 years and began as a two-tiered market the place folks may purchase recent produces akin to fruit, greens and meat. At this time it nonetheless capabilities as a market throughout the day nevertheless it transforms right into a vibrant native hangout at evening. It’s notably vigorous Thursday by way of Sunday, so be sure you go to on considered one of lately.
Day 2 – El Yunque Rainforest and Bio Bay
For the second day of your Puerto Rico itinerary you’re going to drive out to El Yunque Rainforest and go to the city of Fajardo, which is on the east coast of the island. You’ll want a automotive for this half, because it’s too far to Uber from San Juan.
Breakfast at Cafe Regina
For an Instagram-worthy (and wholesome) breakfast, go to Cafe Regina in Condado/Ocean Park, which is positioned one block from the seashore. This neighborhood cafe serves high quality espresso and wholesome menu objects made with substances from native producers. You have to, should, should get their avocado toast with black garlic, it’s so good!
One other must-try from the menu is the Cashew Milk Iced Latte, which is made with cashew milk, two pictures of espresso, natural maple syrup, and cinnamon.
Cafe Regina is open each day from 8am to 4pm.
Tackle: 58 Calle Taft, San Juan, PR 00911.
El Yunque Nationwide Forest
For those who haven’t already, decide up a rental automotive and drive to El Yunque rainforest, which is a tropical rainforest within the northeastern a part of Puerto Rico. This various rainforest covers an space of almost 29,000 acres and boasts breathtaking views, stunning waterfalls, and loads of mountain climbing trails.
Entry to the rainforest is managed and to enter you’ll have to guide on-line from a alternative of morning or afternoon slots. We selected the morning slot so we may beat the crowds and luxuriate in the remainder of our day doing different issues.
For the reason that entrance is timed, I’d advise reserving upfront at a few days beforehand so that you just aren’t upset. Tickets to El Yunque could be bought on the Recreation.gov web site.
You’ll enter El Yunque Rainforest on the customer’s heart after which drive up steep, windy roads stopping at numerous lookout factors alongside the best way.
For those who get automotive sick in any respect (I positively do) don’t go on an empty abdomen and be sure you get out of the automotive for recent air. The parking areas are tremendous small so I can’t think about how busy it could get if we had gone later within the day.
For those who’re up for some train you possibly can hike one of many trails, or when you’d reasonably do one thing extra leisurely, you possibly can take some photographs and cease at one of many waterfalls for a swim.
Luquillo Seashore
After visiting El Yunque it’s time to loosen up, so drive over to Luquillo Seashore, which is roughly 20 minutes away, simply off Route 3.
This tranquil bay is nice for swimming and snorkeling and is lined with palm timber that present some shade. There are restrooms, showers and picnic spots, so you will have every thing you want proper there. For those who get hungry or thirsty, there are a variety of kiosks subsequent to the seashore serving issues like empanadas, ice cream and piña coladas. I cherished the piña coladas right here and thought they had been significantly better than those I attempted in Outdated San Juan.
Luquillo Seashore has its personal car parking zone and parking within reason priced at $4 for the whole day.
Fajardo and Bio Bay
End your day by driving to Fajardo, which is on the east coast of the island. It’s a few 15 minute drive from Luquillo Seashore. Fajardo is a well-liked place to do a bioluminescent bay tour. We had been feeling peckish earlier than the tour, so we stopped for some fried snapper and arepas at Pescaderia Don Candi, which is a tiny native spot on the water with a bar subsequent door. Don’t count on something fancy; it is a no-frills restaurant serving recent seafood straight from the ocean. You order on the counter after which sit on bar stools overlooking the water. Be sure that to carry money!
Our Bio Bay kayaking tour with Kayaking Puerto Rico was severely one of many highlights of our journey. We kayaked in nearly full darkness and it was so enjoyable below the celebs that I needed I may keep longer.
If you wish to see bioluminescence then it’s finest to go near a brand new moon when the sky is as darkish as attainable. Nonetheless, when you go to when the moon is out don’t fret! They provide you a tarp to place over your head so you possibly can create shade and see the glint. It truly is magical, and appears such as you’re holding glitter in your hand.
Day 3 – Pinones and San Juan’s Outdated City
On the ultimate day of your Puerto Rico itinerary, head to Piñones, which is an space near San Juan airport that has stunning, palm tree-lined seashores. It’s a few 15-20 minute drive from San Juan, relying on the place you’re staying.
You possibly can both take an Uber there or drive you probably have a rental automotive. Two in style seashores are La Pocita and VacÃa Talega, each of that are nice for snorkeling.
Ocean Lab Brewing Firm
Begin by visiting Ocean Lab Brewing Firm, an award-winning brewery that serves craft beers brewed on the seashore in Puerto Rico! Common beers brewed by Ocean Lab embrace Mambo – a hazy wheat beer with a scrumptious passionfruit aroma, and Blood Orange Blonde – a lightweight, crisp beer infused with blood orange from California.
Personally I really like a very good IPA within the solar and their yellowfin tuna poke bowl is basically recent.
Drift Seashore Bar
After Ocean Lab, seize some cocktails on the seashore at Drift Seashore Bar, which is barely additional alongside the coast. Their restaurant/bar Hook’d is true on the seashore with oceanfront seating and a soothing chill space.
Drift has some nice blissful hours and drinks specials, plus there are particular occasions all through the week. There’s salsa on Wednesdays, reggae on Fridays and a ‘Sundaze brunch’ on Sundays…you get the thought!
Outdated San Juan
Within the night, head again to San Juan to discover town’s Outdated City, which is thought for its cobbled streets, and colourful buildings and historic sights that date again to the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Outdated San Juan is residence to the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website, which incorporates the previous metropolis partitions, San Cristóbal fortress and a citadel known as Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Sip Piña Coladas
Puerto Rico is thought for being the birthplace of the piña colada though from what I learn on-line, folks can’t resolve on the place it was invented. Some folks say it was invented in 1954 by a bartender on the Caribe Hilton Lodge. Some say it was invented by a bartender at Barrachina – a cocktail bar positioned within the heart of the Outdated City.
We visited Barrachina to attempt their piña colada and I’m unhappy to say, it was not good. It tasted to me prefer it had come out of a machine and I used to be a tad upset. I’m guessing that since they get so many vacationers coming by way of they maybe rush and even have them pre-prepared.
To me a piña colada must be creamy and made with love (me and my pal love making them at residence!), and this was simply not like that, however yow will discover loads of nice pina coladas on the island! I haven’t tried the piña colada on the Caribe Hilton however chances are you’ll wish to give that one a attempt as a substitute.
San Juan has numerous cocktail bars and eating places – our favourite bar being La Factoria, which was tremendous busy. It seems fairly small if you first stroll in however there’s really a a lot bigger space for dancing by way of the again.
A Remaining Phrase…
3 days in Puerto Rico will permit you to have somewhat style of the island and see in style sights akin to Outdated San Juan, El Yunque Nationwide Forest and a few of Puerto Rico’s unbelievable seashores.
I actually loved my time on the island and it’s positively value renting a automotive so you may get out of San Juan and see the much less touristy areas. There are all types of locations to go to in Puerto Rico, akin to Rincon, Vieques and the island of Culebra, so I’ll positively be making a visit again in some unspecified time in the future to see extra. An extended weekend in Puerto Rico is simply sufficient to get somewhat taster however there are such a lot of issues to do.
Extra Itineraries:
