Puerto Rico Beyond San Juan: El Yunque, Luquillo and East Coast

on Apr 22, 2025, Updated Mar 12, 2026

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On my second visit exploring Puerto Rico, I brought my 13-year-old son and my 79-year-old father. I knew we would be experiencing a few destinations outside of San Juan, along with some fun stuff in the city, so I had my planning work cut out for me.

Three people stand at the base of a large, ancient tree with thick, sprawling roots and a wide trunk, surrounded by lush green foliage.

This year, my husband and I decided to divide and conquer for spring break because our boys each have different schedules. It worked out perfectly, and it was so nice to have some one-on-one time with each of the boys. Having my dad along on this trip was also really cool, and we made some great memories.

On my last visit to Puerto Rico, we were mostly in Old San Juan and a few points nearby, This time, we headed east and south!

Keep reading to see what we did. I’ll link to as many resources as I can, but feel free to let me know in the comments if you have any questions. And for more Caribbean fun, check out our St. Kitts Adventures.

Getting To and Around the Island

We flew directly from Raleigh to San Juan with JetBlue. I am a huge fan of nonstop flights and seek them out whenever possible. It wasn’t fancy, but it definitely beats having a layover.

Once we arrived, we picked up our rental car, which we used for the first half of the trip. I booked in advance with Hertz and picked up right at the airport. Very easy and seamless. Driving in Puerto Rico can be an adventure, but it wasn’t as crazy as some say. My advice is to watch out for potholes, drive defensively, and be aware that most people don’t use their turn signals.

A blue SUV with its rear hatch open is parked in a parking garage, showing a blue suitcase inside the trunk.

When we returned to San Juan, we walked or used our hotel shuttle to get around, except for our Uber to the airport.

We also booked round-trip ferry tickets from Cieba to Vieques for our day there and parked the rental car at the port. If you plan to visit Culebra or Vieques, be sure to purchase tickets in advance, as they often sell out quickly. I downloaded the app from the Puerto Rico Ferry and booked right in the app.

A blue and white ferry is docked at a port under a cloudy sky, with a yellow spill kit container visible in the foreground.

Our friends drove us all over Vieques in their Jeep (thanks, Jariel and Lindsay!), but if we didn’t have them, we would have rented a vehicle to get around that day.

Where We Stayed in Puerto Rico

Our first four nights were at the Wyndham Palmas Resort in Humacao, in the east coast of the island. It was idyllic! I would definitely return for another relaxing stay, even if it weren’t booked with points. The room was comfortable and cool, we loved the scenery and golf course atmosphere, and the pool was delightful.

Modern hotel lobby with hanging rope decor, lounge seating, people at the reception desk, and plants scattered throughout the space.

I enjoyed coffee and quesitos (or empanadas) each morning from the lobby coffee shop, and we ordered food at the pool a couple of times. I highly recommend the yucca fries, and the pizza was quite good. We didn’t eat in the main restaurant, but it was always filled with people laughing and having a good time.

A sunny courtyard featuring lush green vines on a pergola, palm trees, and red-tiled roof buildings under a clear blue sky.

In San Juan, we stayed at the Hyatt Place, which I also booked with points. This is a no-frills hotel, but we were still comfortable there. Breakfast was included, which is always a lovely addition, and they have a great pool. I also appreciated the shuttle, as we no longer had a car.

A child swims in an illuminated outdoor pool at night, with a lit-up Hyatt Place hotel and palm trees in the background.

I liked being just a few minutes from Old San Juan, a mile from the beach, and within walking distance of the T-Mobile district. I stayed next door at the Hyatt House on my last visit, so it was nice to have familiar surroundings.

What to Eat in Puerto Rico

In a word, everything! The thing about Puerto Rico is that you can find a lot of American chain restaurants. But aside from our late-night Chick-fil-A run, we tried to avoid those and eat locally as much as possible.

A large sign reads "Yo [heart] Los Kioskos de Luquillo" in front of an outdoor food area with umbrellas and people sitting at tables. — Luquillo Beach, Puerto Rico

Notable meals were enjoyed at the Luquillo Kiosks (we chose #23), Duffy’s in Esperanza Beach, Vieques, Chocobar Cortes in Old San Juan, and if you must have fast food, opt for the local chain, El Meson, for delicious sandwiches.

People dine on the wooden patio of a two-story, colorful beachfront restaurant called "Duffy's" under a clear sky. — Duffy’s – Vieques

I also highly recommend snacking on empanadas, quesitos, and arepas wherever you can find them, which is nearly everywhere!

Our 7-Day Exploring Puerto Rico Itinerary

We arrived in the evening on a Wednesday and flew home the following Tuesday. We didn’t have seven full days on the island, but I’ve accounted for all the days so you can get an idea of how to plan your schedule.

On this trip, our focus was on the east side of the island and the rainforest. I guess we’ll have to come back to see the rest. Darn!

A large iguana sits on the edge of a swimming pool with blurred people and palm trees in the background.

Day 1: Arrival

We picked up our car rental at the airport (I had booked in advance), and drove to Humacao. This took approximately an hour and a half. We stopped at Walmart in Humacao before arriving at the resort so we could have a few snacks, drinks, and breakfast for the room.

I’m a big believer in room snacks! And if you enjoy an alcoholic beverage at the end of the day, the savings really add up. There happened to be a Chick-fil-a in the Walmart parking lot, and once my son saw that, he was on a mission. By the time we were done shopping, it was pretty late, so to the drive-thru we went.

After checking into our room, we unpacked and went to bed to get a full night’s rest for day two.

*A note on “fully rested”; in this part of Puerto Rico, the coqui (tree frogs) are especially prominent. If you have them right outside your door, they may, in fact, keep you up all night.

Don’t worry, it’s endearing (eventually!).

Day 2: El Yunque Rainforest

Puerto Rico boasts the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, so a visit was high on the list for us. I booked a morning hike to see waterfalls, learn about the vegetation, and swim in the cool, fresh water pools. We had a great time!

A woman in a black swimsuit and cap stands in a rocky river with small waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery.

Tall palm and fern trees covered in dense green foliage rise against a cloudy sky in a tropical rainforest setting.

Afterward, we made our way to Luquillo Beach for a tasty lunch at one of the renowned food stalls, known as Los Kioskos de Luquillo.

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We feasted on arepas, fried pizza, seafood rolls, pork rice, and beans. It was delicious!

Beachgoers swim and relax under clear blue skies and palm trees at a sandy shoreline next to calm, turquoise ocean waters. — Beautiful Luquillo Beach

Back at the hotel, we spent time relaxing and swimming. For dinner, we enjoyed some delicious pizza poolside.

Day 3: Day Trip to Vieques

We took the ferry to Vieques for a day trip and to see friends who live on the island. This was such a fun day full of free-roaming horses, snorkeling, great food, and a beautiful sunset. This day is a whole post so stay tuned for all the details on how you can plan your own day trip to Vieques.

A calm bay with clear water, several small boats anchored, and two green islands under a cloudy sky. — Esperanza Beach, Vieques

Day 4: Pool Day at the Resort and Driving South

With our first two days being action-packed, we were ready for a quality resort day. We loved seeing the wildlife, swimming and lounging by the pool, and resting up.

Person's legs on a lounge chair by a pool, with palm trees, sunbathers, and a clear blue sky in the background at a resort.

By the afternoon, we were ready to explore so we hopped in the car and drove south to the Punta Tuna Lighthouse. It was closed by the time we arrived, but we ended up walking to a nearby beach with a beautiful view of the lighthouse. It couldn’t have been more picturesque!

A lighthouse stands atop a rocky, palm-covered cliff overlooking a sandy beach with waves and patches of seaweed under a cloudy sky.

On the way back, we ate at a cliffside restaurant in Yabucoa with a fantastic view. This is when it started to rain. The rain slightly blurred the view, but it was very pleasant sitting on the open-air deck, listening to the rain fall on the tin roof.

Covered outdoor dining area with wooden tables and chairs overlooking a scenic coastal landscape and ocean under a cloudy sky.

We drove back to the resort and spent some time exploring the harbor scenery before heading back.

Day 5: El Yunque Views and San Juan

We checked out of our hotel and drove back to San Juan. On the way, we stopped at the official entrance to El Yunque, where we drove up to the Yokahu Tower to see the amazing 360° views.

A person stands in front of a tall, cylindrical observation tower with small windows, set against a backdrop of green hills and a blue sky with clouds.

It was so interesting to see how the island terrain changes so much depending on where you look. I loved this!

View of lush green forest and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky, seen through an arched window frame.

View of lush green vegetation in the foreground with a distant landscape and blue sky filled with scattered clouds.

Then we made a quick stop at the visitor center for some shopping before heading back to San Juan.

A brown sign reading "El Portal de El Yunque" stands in front of lush green trees and plants under a partly cloudy sky.

In San Juan, we checked into our hotel, and I returned the car to the airport. I’ve learned that you really don’t need a car in this part of town, and in many ways, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

We had a nice walk after dinner to Distrito T-Mobile and then a quick night swim at the hotel before turning in.

Day 6: Snorkeling and Old San Juan

After my last trip to Puerto Rico, I knew I wanted to snorkel at Escambron Beach again. This time, after taking the shuttle from the hotel, we rented all the gear from Scuba Dogs at the beach and hopped in the water. It was amazing!

Two people wearing snorkeling gear and orange life vests smile at the camera while in the water, with palm trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

We saw sea turtles, tons of colorful fish, crabs, and even Caribbean Reef Squid. It was a very satisfying morning in the water, and I wish I could start every day like that.

A sea turtle swims underwater above a sunlit, greenish seafloor.

Three fish swim near rocks and coral underwater in clear, blue-tinted water.

We walked back to the hotel to shower and change, then took the shuttle to Old San Juan. I love simply walking around and discovering the city one corner at a time. It is a lovely place to wander.

A sunny street corner with colorful colonial-style buildings, parked cars, lush trees, and a person walking on the sidewalk under a clear blue sky.

We explored the coastline around El Morro Fort, saw lots of cats, checked out the cruise port (I’m coming back for you!), and had some tasty sandwiches.

A stone sentry box overlooks the ocean and harbor, with clear blue skies and historic fort walls visible nearby.

View of a historic coastal fort with stone walls, green lawns, and the ocean under a clear blue sky in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Of course, we had to sip on some cold drinks at ChocoBar and do a little shopping too.

A woman with curly hair smiles excitedly at the camera, sitting at a table with a chocolate cocktail in a martini glass in front of her.

We went back to T-Mobile for dinner, and they were all in on the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans, which was fun. Then it was back to the room to pack!

Day 7: Hotel Breakfast and Departure

We enjoyed a tasty hotel breakfast and then took an Uber to the airport. Don’t worry, if you forgot a souvenir, there are plenty of options to choose from, especially if you love coffee and chocolate!

Our Boricuan adventure may have come to an end, but if you know me, you already know it’s just the beginning. We still have the other half of the island to explore!

Aerial view of a coastal city with turquoise waters, white waves, sandy beaches, and scattered clouds in the sky.

Let me know your questions below, or give us a suggestion for our next trip! 🗺️