Puerto Rico Attractions

Puerto Rico's various terrain make it a wonderful island to explore. From the restored architecture and history of the old cities of Old San Juan and Ponce to modern wonderments like Arecibo Observatory. From terrestrial wonders like The Caribbean National Forest and Rio Camuy Cave Park to underwater delights like Bio Bay and Mona Island. Below, we've outlined some of the must-sees and a few off-the-beaten path highlights for those with an aching to get out an explore.



Architecture & History:

The restored architecture in Old San Juan sets the perfect back drop for this vibrant city. The city is filled with incredible museums, the most dramatic of which is Fort San Felipe del Morro. The six-level fort was completed at the end of the 18th-century. Religious relics like San Juan Cathedral punctuate the beautifully restored, and colorfully painted buildings that line the blue cobblestone streets. Walking tours of Old San Juan can be made on a circulatory route through the city taking in most of the major sites in just a few hours. Tourist information offices can be found throughout the city with maps and directions.

Ponce offers its own share of incredibly restored buildings as well as a traditional plaza. Standing sentry in Plaza Las Delicias , Parque de Bombas is home to a unique fire fighters museum. As in San Juan, a hop-on, hop-off trolley services most of the area's attractions.

Along Puerto Rico's west coast, Rincon, boasts a beautiful lighthouse with a museum and gift shop. Just inland, Arecibo Observatory offers a look at modern scientific architecture at the home of the world's largest radio telescope.

Natural Attractions:


The most popular of Puerto Rico's natural attractions are the beaches - long strands of relatively deserted (compared with more popular Caribbean islands) beaches. In San Juan, Isla Verde is the beach fronting the cosmopolitan stretch of San Juan tourism. More remote, but worth the extra effort are the beaches of Puerto Rico's west coast around Rincon. The area is world renown for its surfing and the laid back atmosphere of the area reflects it. Also popular for its beaches are the islands of Vieques and Culebra off Puerto Rico's east coast.

Other ocean bound attractions include Bioluminescent Bay with its glowing waters on the island of Vieques. And Mona Island with its unparalleled scuba diving.


Out of the water, there are many natural attractions inland on Puerto Rico. By far the most popular is The Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque) with its miles of hiking trails, waterfalls and incredibly verdant forest surrounds. For a glimpse of what's below the surface in Puerto Rico, Rio Camuy Cave Park is one the most extensive cave systems in the world and offers easy access to the huge chambers, sinkholes, rock formations and subterranean rivers usually only accessible to more experienced spelunkers.