3 days in Puerto Rico might not be a number of time, however in case you don’t get a lot break day work and also you’re solely in a position to journey on weekends, then typically you simply need to work with it!
Since my buddy was ready on her visa and couldn’t depart the U.S., we wished to go someplace a bit completely different for our lengthy weekend with out leaving the nation. An apparent selection 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 quick 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 automobile for twenty-four hours so we might discover a bit extra of the island.
Because the island is pretty huge it’s unimaginable to cowl all the things there may be 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 absolutely intend to return one other time to discover different components of the island.
In case you plan to spend 3 days in Puerto Rico, right here’s my advised itinerary.
The place to Keep On Your 3 Days in Puerto Rico
First a bit of word on the place to remain. We stayed in an Airbnb, particularly this one. It has a pool and an unimaginable ocean view. It’s additionally centrally situated in Condado so that you’re only a few steps from all of the eating places and bars, in addition to the seashore.
In case you don’t keep at an Airbnb, there are just a few accommodations in San Juan space I’d advocate.
Condado:
O:LV Resort – That is for sure one of many nicest boutique Design Inns I’ve ever seen. Located in Condado, the OL:V has a stylish rooftop with unimaginable views of the lagoon, which you’ll be able to 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 – In case you’re searching for a bigger resort, La Concha Renaissance boats an infinity pool overlooking Condado Seaside, 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.
Previous City:
Villa Herencia Resort – I you’d favor to remain in San Juan Previous City, this boutique resort has outdated world appeal, funky interiors, native artwork work and a soothing roof terrace. It’s additionally situated only a quick stroll from Museum of the Americas and Santa Catalina Palace.
Methods to Get Round on Your 3 Days in Puerto Rico
To your 3 days in Puerto Rico I’d counsel getting a automobile so you possibly can discover the island. Yow will discover rental automobile offers utilizing Kayak or Rentalcars.com. Don’t neglect to convey your U.S driver’s license with you to be able to hire the automobile. In case you 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 automobile and make your method to your lodging.
San Juan is mainly break up into two components. There’s the outdated city, which is filled 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’ll be able to then Uber to Previous San Juan within the evenings.
Calm down on Condado Seaside
When you’ve checked in an unpacked your stuff, head on over to one in all San Juan’s fundamental seashores, Condado, which is lined with accommodations such because the Marriott and La Concha Renaissance.
Condado Seaside is a windswept metropolis seashore lined with palm bushes, accommodations and high-rises. The water can get fairly wavy and the present is powerful so it’s probably not 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
In case you’re feeling a bit peckish you possibly can stroll alongside Ashford Ave, which has loads of eating places providing all the things 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 shiny and ethereal, with easy wood tables and mirrors adorning the partitions.
Dishes are designed for sharing and are made with components from native producers. The menu adjustments each day however you possibly can anticipate all the things 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 among the most trendy accommodations I’ve ever seen. Artsy, daring and splendid, the resort is so stunning that it was awarded Finest Design Resort of the World and Finest New Boutique Resort by London’s Boutique Resort Awards. You probably have the money to remain there, then do it!
The rooftop has an exquisite pool/fountain and views of the Condado lagoon, so head on over at sundown to snap some images 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
In case you nonetheless have some vitality 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 might purchase recent produces corresponding to fruit, greens and meat. Immediately it nonetheless capabilities as a market throughout the day however it transforms right into a vibrant native hangout at evening. It’s notably vigorous Thursday by way of Sunday, so be sure to go to on one in all as of late.
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 automobile 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 situated one block from the seashore. This neighborhood cafe serves high quality espresso and wholesome menu gadgets made with components from native producers. You should, 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
In case you haven’t already, decide up a rental automobile 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 mountaineering trails.
Entry to the rainforest is managed and to enter you’ll have to e book on-line from a selection of morning or afternoon slots. We selected the morning slot so we might beat the crowds and luxuriate in the remainder of our day doing different issues.
Because the entrance is timed, I’d advise reserving prematurely at a few days beforehand so that you just aren’t disillusioned. 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 way in which.
In case you get automobile sick in any respect (I positively do) don’t go on an empty abdomen and be sure to get out of the automobile for recent air. The parking areas are tremendous small so I can’t think about how busy it will get if we had gone later within the day.
In case you’re up for some train you would hike one of many trails, or in case you’d slightly do one thing extra leisurely, you possibly can take some images and cease at one of many waterfalls for a swim.
Luquillo Seaside
After visiting El Yunque it’s time to loosen up, so drive over to Luquillo Seaside, which is roughly 20 minutes away, simply off Route 3.
This tranquil bay is nice for swimming and snorkeling and is lined with palm bushes that present some shade. There are restrooms, showers and picnic spots, so you could have all the things you want proper there. In case you get hungry or thirsty, there are a variety of kiosks subsequent to the seashore serving issues like empanadas, ice cream and piña coladas. I liked the piña coladas right here and thought they have been significantly better than those I attempted in Previous San Juan.
Luquillo Seaside has its personal parking zone and parking within reason priced at $4 for the complete 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 Seaside. Fajardo is a well-liked place to do a bioluminescent bay tour. We have 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 anticipate 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 convey money!
Our Bio Bay kayaking tour with Kayaking Puerto Rico was significantly one of many highlights of our journey. We kayaked in nearly full darkness and it was so enjoyable below the celebs that I wanted I might 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. Nevertheless, in case 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 Previous 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’ll be able to both take an Uber there or drive you probably have a rental automobile. Two standard seashores are La Pocita and Vacía 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! In style 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 absolutely recent.
Drift Seaside Bar
After Ocean Lab, seize some cocktails on the seashore at Drift Seaside 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 joyful 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 concept!
Previous San Juan
Within the night, head again to San Juan to discover the town’s Previous City, which is understood for its cobbled streets, and colourful buildings and historic points of interest that date again to the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Previous San Juan is residence to the San Juan Nationwide Historic Web site, which incorporates the outdated metropolis partitions, San Cristóbal fortress and a citadel known as Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Sip Piña Coladas
Puerto Rico is understood for being the birthplace of the piña colada though from what I learn on-line, folks can’t determine on the place it was invented. Some folks say it was invented in 1954 by a bartender on the Caribe Hilton Resort. Some say it was invented by a bartender at Barrachina – a cocktail bar situated within the heart of the Previous 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 disillusioned. 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 needs to be creamy and made with love (me and my buddy love making them at residence!), and this was simply not like that, however you’ll find loads of nice pina coladas on the island! I haven’t tried the piña colada on the Caribe Hilton however you might wish to give that one a attempt as an alternative.
San Juan has a number of cocktail bars and eating places – our favourite bar being La Factoria, which was tremendous busy. It seems fairly small while you first stroll in however there’s really a a lot bigger space for dancing by way of the again.
A Last Phrase…
3 days in Puerto Rico will can help you have a bit of style of the island and see standard sights corresponding to Previous San Juan, El Yunque Nationwide Forest and a few of Puerto Rico’s unimaginable seashores.
I actually loved my time on the island and it’s positively price renting a automobile 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, corresponding to Rincon, Vieques and the island of Culebra, so I’ll positively be making a visit again sooner or later to see extra. An extended weekend in Puerto Rico is simply sufficient to get a bit of taster however there are such a lot of issues to do.
Extra Itineraries:
