We visited Puerto Rico right after Christmas and stayed on the island for 8 days. We had 3 nights and 2 full days in Old San Juan and 5 days in Rincón. This was definitely a great way to split our time between sightseeing, relaxing on the beach, and seeing the rest of the island.
Here are some great ideas on how to spend 8 days in Puerto Rico.
How to spend 8 Days in Puerto Rico
Enjoy Old San Juan
We spent 2 full days in Old San Juan and enjoyed it greatly. Old San Juan is a vibrant, colorful neighborhood with long and rich history. It was established in 1521 by the Spaniards and it is the second oldest city in the Americas (after Santo Domingo). As you stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets, you’ll be impressed by the colonial architecture, lovely plazas, and vivid colors. There is a lot to do in the city but make sure to find some time to relax as well. Sample Puerto Rican cuisine, enjoy a couple of rum cocktails, and drink some great coffee. For more details read my post on 2 Wonderful Days in Old San Juan here.
Check out Mar Chiquita Beach on your way to Rincón
45 minutes after leaving San Juan, we made our first stop at Mar Chiquita Beach north of Manatí. Mar Chiquita is a lovely cove that’s surrounded by rocks protecting the entrance to the beach. It’s a gorgeous spot great for swimming and sunbathing, which makes it popular with locals and tourists alike. There were a couple of food trucks there on the weekend although we didn’t sample anything. We did, whoever, stop at one of the shacks on the way to the beach and had some arepas, fried bread with meat.
Admire Crashboat Beach
Crashboat Beach is another scenic spot worth stopping at. It’s located a few minutes west of Aguadilla. The beach is lovely with palm trees, teal colored water and yellow sand. It’s a perfect place for swimming and playing in the water. It was extremely busy when we visited on Sunday, so either get there early or come on a weekday. It was virtually impossible to get a parking spot.
Explore Rincon
Rincon stretches along the west coast for several miles. We stayed close to the town square, across from Rincon Beach. It was a great location as we were within walking distance to both. Rincon’ s Town Square is quite charming, with an old church, a fountain and nice trees.
We enjoyed visiting coming there every morning for coffee and pastries and most evenings for dinner. The brewery was a lot of fun. Every Thursday night there is a night market where vendors sell their arts and crafts items. We were hoping for some food as well but unfortunately no food was available.
Visit Rincon’s Beaches
Rincon has many great beaches. Some are best for surfing and others are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. We stayed in an Airbnb across the street from the Balneario, Rincons pubic beach. There is a nice swimming area between the main parking lot and the Harbor restaurant, so we spent a lot of time there. Tres Palmas and Steps Beach are a bit north of the Balneario. They were not great for swimming in the winter as the waves were quite big. The beaches themselves were very pretty, though, and perfect for relaxing. Sandy Beach and Domes Beach have great surfing. It was fun to watch the surfers catching waves from the Punta Higueras Lighthouse. There is a bar there that serves big piña coladas and other cocktails.
Take a trip to Cabo Rojo
After reading about the pristine beaches at Cabo Rojo, in the southwest corner of the island, I knew they would be our destination. It was worth the 45 minute drive from Rincon as they were truly beautiful. Our first stop was Playa Combate, which offered lovely scenery and great swimming. We then headed for the Salt Flats, Salinas de Cabo Rojo. There is an interpretive center with a view tower where you can learn more about this sight. Further down the road, you can walk into the salt flats on a board walk and enjoy interesting views pf pink and blue water basins. Afterwards, head for Playa Sucia aka La Playuela. This is the most scenic of the beaches, with stunning cliffs and natural bridges. Perched above it is the Los Morillos Lighthouse, from where you can enjoy spectacular views over the Caribbean and La Sucia.
Visit Ponce
While we were in Ponce for only about an hour, we certainly enjoyed it. We spent the time around Plaza Las Delicias, the town square, which is a popular gathering spot. The main plaza is a wonderful place to relax. It features a lovely fountain, lots of trees and many benches. It is surrounded by colorful colonial buildings, many of them turned into restaurants and coffee shops. There are several interesting sites to see, the old fire station, Parque de Bombas being one of them. The Ponce Cathedral is another lovely Puerto Rican church you should pop into. The town seemes like a great place to spend several days in, exploring its history and enjpying the souther coast.
Eat lechon in Guavale
We had our minds set on Guavale ever since we started doing research on Puerto Rican food. The descriptions of lechon and the many lechoneras along the highway in this area certainly did not disappoint. Lechon is a traditional dish of roasted whole pork and you typically order a portion with two side dishes. It was interesting to see the server cut off pieces of meat with a machete and the aroma of roasted pork permeated the air. We absolutely enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.
Pay tribute to Roberto Clemente
My husband is a huge baseball fan, so going to Carolina, a town near San Juan, where Roberto Clemente was born, was on our to do list. We visited the Roberto Clemente Stadium and appreciated the large monument of the baseball star. Coming here is a must to any baseball aficionado.
