Things to Do in Puerto Rico

Spanish engineers built two castles to protect San Juan from the attacks: Castillo San Felipe del Morro, guarding the city from the sea, and Castillo San Cristobal to defend it from the land. Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, is a six-level fort built on top of a high promontory, standing guard from anyone coming from the ocean. It was completed in 1787 and was attacked in 1595 and again in 1598, by the Dutch in 1625 and by the US Navy in 1898.

Today, its 60-foot tall walls and old cannons make for a great destination when you want to take a trip into the past, and the walls offer a spectacular view of the ocean. Castillo Can Cristobal was completed in 1790 at the eastern gate of the walled city. It covers 27 acres, the biggest fort the Spanish built in the New World. The fort and its sentry boxes are very well preserved and are fun to explore. Don’t miss seeing Devil’s Sentry Box, from which, as legends say, soldiers used to disappear mysteriously.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro & Castillo de San Cristobal , Calle Norzagaray | Old San Juan, San Juan00901, Puerto Rico, Phone: 787-729-6777

El Yunque Rain Forest, one of very few rainforests in the U.S., is located in northeastern Puerto Rico high up on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains. It covers 28,000 acres of land.

The highest peak, El Toro, rises 3,494 feet above sea level. Rainfall and high humidity create lush, dense jungle rich in tropical species and diverse ecosystems, including unique dwarf forest.

El Yunque is a popular tourist spot and excellent hiking trail allow visitors to enjoy waterfalls, dense foliage, rivers and crags, as well as Taino Indians petroglyphs. Two observation towers offer spectacular views. There are lodging opportunities at the edge of the rainforest, but not in it.

El Yunque, Carolina, Puerto Rico | 65664556, El Yunque National Forest 00979, Puerto Rico, Phone: 787-888-1880

Whatever your age and interests, Puerto Rico Tour Desk has specially chosen well trained guides and the most interesting tours for you. They combine thorough information about the places you will visit with a focus on safety, support of local small businesses, and care for the environment.

You can choose from the large range of tours, from “Off the Beaten Path” Hiking Tour in El Yunque Rain Forest and kayaking in the Bio Bay to exploring the caves and tarpoon fishing. If you are interested in history, the tour of Old San Juan will enchant you. For the adrenaline junkies, there are several zip lining tours over the jungle canopy, handgliding, or hiking through the jungle.

Puerto Rico Tour Desk, Kiosco numero 1 Plaza Colon, San Juan00901, Puerto Rico, Phone: 787-710-1109

Must-see if you are a first-time visitor:

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

One of the best art museums in Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte de Ponce is the biggest art museum in the Caribbean and is also considered one of the most significant in the Americas. It is home to a collection of 4,500 artworks located in 14 galleries, mostly focusing on European art and the most important Puerto Rico artists. There are also a number of exceptional pre-Raphealite works.

The museum was established by philanthropist, industrialist, and art collector Luis A. Ferre in 1959 and moved to its current building in 1965. The magnificent structure on Avenida Las Americas has 14 hexagonal galleries full of natural light, two gardens, and a spacious amphitheater. The front yard of the museum features Roy Lichtenstein’s 28-foot-high aluminum sculpture Brushstokes in Flight, and it is considered "the largest public artwork in Latin America.”

2325 Ave. Las Americas, Ponce 00717,Puerto Rico, Phone: 787-840-1510

Culebrita Island (Culebra) is a small, one kilometer long uninhabited coral island off the coast of Culebra Island in Puerto Rico. The entire island is a nature reserve and is accessible by boat from Culebra. The island has six magnificent sandy beaches. Playa Tortuga is famous as a breading and feeding ground for turtles, and people can be seen swimming with these gentle giants.

On the east side of the island are large tidal pools that many people use as bathtubs. They are rich in sea life trapped in low tide. There are two small shallow lagoons on the west side of the island and the Culebrita Reef off the southern coast, both of which are great for snorkeling and scuba diving. The island is home to 97 species of plants, 32 birds, four reptiles, and two mammals. The oldest lighthouse in the Caribbean is on Culebrita.

There is so much to see in Puerto Rico on land and on the water, and you can easily miss some very special places unless you have exceptionally good guides to show you around. If you like to spend time on the water and enjoy kayaking, let Kayaking Puerto Rico take you to the pearls of the country such as Seven Seas Bay, which is located on the secluded Northeast corner of the Island.

There is also a protected, spectacular snorkeling area with abundant marine life or the bio-luminescent Laguna Grande. You can combine kayaking and snorkeling with their Aquafari Culebra trip, or can have fun on land and water by hiking through El Yunque Rainforest and kayaking in Fajardo’s Bio Bay. They provide all equipment, instructions, light refreshment, and the best guides and instructors you will find anywhere.

Kayaking Puerto Rico, Rt. 987 Km. 5 Las Croabas, Fajardo, PR 00738, Phone: 787-245-4545

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

One of the most romantic spots in the magnificent Puerto Rican Caribbean waters is Puerto Mosquito Bio Bay, hidden on Vieques Island where the mysterious green light called bioluminescence created by micro-organisms will mesmerize you. The Bioluminescent Bay is a very special environment with unique conditions necessary for the tiny animals to thrive. A night trip with Island Adventures Biobay will be the highlight of your visit to Puerto Rico.

Their highly trained guides will explain the fragile, unique ecology of the bay and the plants, animals, and mangroves that live in this fascinating world. After an interpretive lecture aboard the boat, they will stop where the bioluminescence is high and let you enjoy the spectacle created by nature. Island Adventures Biobay Boat Tour’s electrically powered double-pontoon Luminosa II glides slowly and quietly through the glowing waters of Puerto Mosquito Bay.

Laguna Grande | Las Croabas, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Phone: 787-435-1665