The Ultimate 3-Day Puerto Rico Itinerary

We may earn income from links in this post. Please read this Disclosure for details.

This 3-day Puerto Rico Itinerary highlights the best things to do in Puerto Rico as well as some insider tips on sights, restaurants and activities for the trip of a lifetime.

I fell in love with this magnificent island the second I laid my eyes on it and have returned to vacation here many times over the past several years. 

In this Puerto Rico itinerary, I’ll share details on the best things to do in Puerto Rico as well as some insider tips for you to have the ultimate Caribbean vacation.

Located in the Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands, the island archipelago of Puerto Rico will steal your heart the second you step foot on its soil! 

 Is Three Days Enough in Puerto Rico? 

If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Puerto Rico, it’s worth considering that the island of Puerto Rico is one of North America’s most under appreciated treasures. There’s lots to do but it’s relatively compact. 

This means that while there is plenty to keep you busy for 10 days, it’s possible to have a great vacation in Puerto Rico even if you just have three days or a long weekend.

If this is your first time visiting Puerto Rico, I recommend staying in the capital city of San Juan. More people know English in San Juan and Old San Juan than in the outskirts of the city which was handy for me since I don’t know a lick of Spanish.

Also, most of the major tourist sights are located in that general area which makes things fairly easy. Puerto Rico also happens to be the most gay-friendly Caribbean island and San Juan is home to tons of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes. 

If you’d like to go exploring further afield, check out these suggestions for a 3-day Puerto Rico road trip.

Day 1: Relax in San Juan

After you get settled into your hotel, I recommend dedicating the first day of your vacation to relaxation. As we all know, traveling can be quite exhausting and depending how far you traveled, you may even have jet lag.

It’s always good to give the body the rest it needs to prepare it for the upcoming adventures your vacation will bring.

Breakfast

Start your day right with the most important meal of the day – breakfast!  If you’re staying in San Juan I would recommend grabbing breakfast at Pannes. (1129 Ashford Ave, San Juan)

This little breakfast joint had some amazing food to kick off our day the right way. All at a great price too!

Also, make sure to try the tostones. Tostones are deep fried plantains chips that are extremely popular in Puerto Rico as well as the Dominican Republic.

Spend a Day on the Beach

I don’t know about you but when I think of the perfect way to relax, drinks on the beach always comes to my mind. Spend your day relaxing on either Condado Beach or Isla Verde Beach – two of the best beaches in San Juan.

I spent my day on Condado Beach and loved how they delivered food and drinks as you relaxed on the beautiful beaches.

If you’re not a big drinker, make sure to grab yourself a Coco Rico while you lay out on the beach. Coco Rico is a traditional Puerto Rican coconut drink, also known on the island as the Coke of Puerto Rico.

Grab Dinner in San Juan

Okay, I will let you in on a little secret, Di Zucchero (1210 Ashford Ave, San Juan) is hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been to.

If you love Italian food (Who doesn’t love Italian?) then this place is for you! Although, they have more to the menu, the pizza at this restaurant is absolutely delicious!  I highly recommend the 4 queso pizza or the John Gotti pizza. Yum!

Day 2: Explore Old San Juan

From the beautiful Spanish styled architecture, the cobble stoned streets and vibrant colored buildings, Old San Juan will forever hold a piece of my heart. A must-add to any Puerto Rico itinerary is spending a day in Old San Juan.

There are so many different things to do in Old San Juan, whether you’re looking to shop till you drop, indulge yourself in some authentic Puerto Rican cuisine or just let your wanderlust run free. Old San Juan is where it’s at!

Don’t Forget Breakfast!

Again, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Before wandering the streets of Old San Juan, grab a nice, healthy breakfast at Genesis Restaurant. (327 Calle Recinto Sur, San Juan) I ordered a vegetable omelet and it surpassed any and all expectations.

Pro-Tip: On my trip I tried for the first time empanadallas, another popular Puerto Rican dish, and they were absolutely delicious.

I highly recommend trying them during your time on the island. They are almost the same as empanadas but empanadallas have a thicker crust.

Explore Old San Juan

Alright, now that you got your hearty breakfast out of the way, it’s time to explore the beautiful attractions around Old San Juan.

With so many different things to do in this colorful, vibrant city I will list the most popular.

• View all the beautiful doors, buildings and the famous Puerto Rican Door. One of Old San Juan’s most famous photo ops.
•  Visit Fort El Morro: El Morro is a fort that was built by Spain to protect Puerto Rico from attacks and unwanted visitors in 1843. It is 140 feet above sea level and has a gorgeous, panoramic view of the vast ocean. It was created with different levels including towers, tunnels, dungeons and more. It’s definitely a sight worth checking out.
•  Visit Fort San Cristóbal: Another popular fort to see that was built by the Spanish.
•  Shop and eat on Fortaleza Street: One of the most famous streets in Old San Juan. Filled with all kinds of shops, boutiques and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to learn about some of Puerto Rico’s wonderful and unique culture.
• Browse the bright regional fruits, spices, fish and flowers in lively regional markets such as Plaza Mercado and Mercado de Rio Piedras.
•  For an immersion into the flavours of Puerto Rico, take the Flavor of San Juan Food Tour.  There is no better way to find out about the islands’s authentic Puerto Rican cuisine than going on a food tour.

During the Flavor of San Juan Food Tour, a local guide will take you around Old San Juan on a 1-3 hour food tasting excursion.

Not only will you learn about the city’s history on your walk but you will be taken to different establishments to sample the best authentic food on the island. From vegetable stuffed fried plantains to mofongo and so much more!

Dinner at Punto de Vista Rooftop Restaurant and Cocktails

End your night by grabbing dinner and a cocktail at Punto De Vista (307 Calle Fortaleza, San Juan). A popular rooftop restaurant located in Old San Juan.

Make sure to try some pastelon, pastelon is pretty much Puerto Rican lasagna and it is to die for!

The mojitos in Puerto Rico are absolutely DELICIOUS but there are many hidden bars and cool places for sipping craft cocktails in Old San Juan so plan to spend some time exploring OSJ in the evening.

Day 3: Include El Yunque Rainforest on Your Puerto Rico Itinerary 

Spend last of your three days in Puerto Rico exploring El Yunque Rainforest, just a short 45 minute drive from the capital city of San Juan, El Yunque is truly a Puerto Rican treasure and should be added on anyone’s Puerto Rico itinerary.

Breakfast

Before venturing off into the vast and wild rainforest, give your body the right nutrients by eating at Cafe del Angel (Av. Doctor Ashford 1106, Condado, Puerto Rico) in San Juan. This little breakfast joint serves some exquisite food.

Be sure try the Asopao de Pollo while you’re exploring the island. It is a blend of broth, chicken, rice, olives, oregano, onion, tomato and garlic. Yum!

Hike El Yunque Rainforest

You’ll be glad you added El Yunque National Forest to your Puerto Rico trip. It’s one of the most beautiful wild spaces in the Caribbean.

Featuring a lush  landscape dotted with beautiful waterfalls, tree ferns and 240 tree species of which 23 are found only here,  this one-of-a-kind rainforest requires a full day to experience it fully.

When I visited recently, much of the forest was closed to the public due to damage from Hurricane Maria  but there were still hiking trails to take and waterfalls to see. I hiked La Coca trail which was gorgeous but a tad strenuous. Revered as a holy place for over a thousand years by the indigenous Taino inhabitants, there are  five endangered species in this rainforest but no large mammals.

Pro-Tip: Be sure to pack on the bug spray, these mosquitos are brutal. Also, make sure to wear some good hiking shoes. The ground is so slippery and it’s easy to fall.

Get our 12 tips on avoiding mosquito bites and mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue fever, zika and chikungunya.  

Dinner at Oceano Restaurant in San Juan 

After an eventful day of hiking in the forest, head to San Juan and relax over dinner at Oceano. (2, Calle Vendig, San Juan). This  upscale restaurant sits right on the beach and overlooks the ocean for a wonderful fine-dining experience with plenty of ambiance from the twinkling lights.

There’s nothing quite as magical as listening to the waves crashing on the shore. Although a bit pricey, the quality and presentation of the food made it worth it.

Take a Kayak Tour to the Bioluminescent Bay

Wrap up your vacation in Puerto Rico by taking a nighttime kayak tour to the bioluminescent bay. Puerto Rico is home to three bioluminescent bays out of the five that are in the world.

The blue lights that emerge from the water are caused by microorganisms that inhabit the water and when they are disturbed, they glow briefly. Puerto Rico offers kayak tours to check out this awesome phenomenon and they are highly recommended.

I hope you enjoyed this 3 day Puerto Rico Itinerary!

What I learned on my recent three days in Puerto Rico was that the local food is fresh, authentic and delicious, the people are  welcoming and it’s a great place to relax and unwind if you’re looking for a close-to-home, affordable Caribbean vacation.

Author Biography

Caresa Lamers is a blogger, traveler, fashion lover and adrenaline junkie who sold everything in July 2018 to travel the world and live her dream life. Ever since then she has been traveling full time with Vegas as her home base. 

For more destination tips, lifestyle guides and travel posts to inspire you to live your dreams, visit her blog at This Spontaneous Life and follow her on Instagram.

All photos by Caresa Lamers unless otherwise noted.

Save to Pinterest!