What to see in Puerto Rico: 10 must-sees

Walk through the interior of Cueva Ventana, in Arecibo, until you reach the enormous natural opening that frames the green valley of the Río Grande de Arecibo. Explore its galleries among stalactites, bats, and Taíno petroglyphs while guides explain the karst geology of Puerto Rico. Admission includes a helmet and flashlight, and the tour lasts about an hour. At the end, peer out the window: the most photographed viewpoint in the north of the island appears with a view that takes in the entire valley.

Take in the scenery from behind the wheel on Jayuya's stretch of the Ruta Panorámica, in the heart of Puerto Rico's Cordillera Central. Here the road winds between highland coffee plantations, green mountains, and waterfalls that peek out at every bend. Stop at the lookouts, follow short trails down to the falls, and breathe the fresh air of the mountainous interior. You can spot endemic birds among the trees, learn about coffee growing at local farms, and understand how the island's geology shaped these valleys. Ideal for a leisurely drive, stopping wherever the landscape beckons.

Discover Condado Beach, the busiest stretch of sand in San Juan, facing Ashford Avenue. Walk the shoreline with the neighborhood's resorts and restaurants at your back, snorkel in the crystal-clear water, and swim with care in waves rougher than at other city beaches. At sunset, take in the view of the open sea and the tourist district's skyscrapers as the breeze cools your stroll. It's the perfect spot to combine swimming, Puerto Rican cuisine, and city life just minutes from Old San Juan.

Enter the old town through the San Juan Gate and walk over bluish cobblestones among colorful houses with wrought-iron balconies. Stroll down Calle del Cristo to the chapel of the same name, climb the ramparts, and visit La Fortaleza, the governor's residence since the 16th century. The city walls and Castillo San Felipe del Morro bear witness to 500 years of colonial history under Spanish and American flags. At night, salsa and bomba fill the little squares as the facades light up.

Follow the trails of El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national park system, located in Río Grande. Listen to the song of the coquí among giant ferns and sierra palms as you walk toward waterfalls like La Mina or La Coca. Climb Yokahú Tower to see the green canopy stretching to the ocean, and hike the Mount Britton trail amid mist and orchids. Here the Puerto Rican boa, the Puerto Rican parrot, and hundreds of bird species coexist—ideal for hiking and birdwatching. Bring a rain jacket: rain arrives without warning.

Stroll through Old San Juan among bluish cobblestones and colorful colonial houses, from La Fortaleza, the governor's residence since the 16th century, to the promenade along Fortaleza Street with its awnings and umbrellas. Climb the ramparts of El Morro and San Cristóbal to watch the Atlantic crash against the walls, then head down to the markets and squares where mofongo and local coffee are sold, and end the day at La Placita de Santurce, where music and bars fill the night with salsa and conversation.

Visit the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Utuado, where the Taíno built 15 plazas and bateyes for the ball game some 800 years ago. Walk among the monoliths that border the courts, stop at the petroglyphs carved into the stones, and visit the small museum with artifacts recovered from the excavations. Surrounded by karst mountains, this site hosted rituals and areytos that brought together communities from across the island, and today its interpretive trail explains each structure at an easy pace.