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Hola from sunny Puerto Rico! My recent girls trip to Puerto Rico was one of my favorite trips to date! Mostly because we were attending a travel blogging conference and spent 4 days networking and talking about our passion, but also because of the warm weather and fun activities! If you are visiting from the US, Puerto Rico is extremely accessible. There are affordable, daily flights from most US cities, it’s easy to get to, and no passport is required for Americans since it’s a territory of the US. For these reasons, it’s an easy trip to plan and you don’t need much time to explore. Here are my best tips for how to spend 4 days in Puerto Rico.
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Know Before You Go: Puerto Rico Edition
As with all posts that cover a new country or region, here are a few simple facts and key pieces of information to help you prepare for an upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. Which BTW — is not an independent country, but rather a territory of the US.
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Cheap Flights To Puerto Rico
If you track departures on Google Flights or use Skyscanner, you’ll find many cheap flights to Puerto Rico from major US cities! Most major airlines fly down to PR, including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, United, and Frontier. On budget airlines like Spirit, flights can be as cheap as $50 one way. Direct.
The flight time from Boston / NYC can be as short as 3.5 hours.
Language
Spanish is the primary language spoken in Puerto Rico. It’s the most widely spoken of the two official languages — Spanish and English. Although, you will most likely find English spoken across the island as one of Puerto Rico’s top economic drivers is tourism (along with pharmaceutical manufacturing!).
Puerto Rico Currency
Puerto Rico does not have its own currency. Since it is a territory of the USA, it uses the US Dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted around the island, especially at resorts, but I recommend carrying some cash for tours and excursions.
Weather / Best Time To Visit Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is located in the eastern Caribbean, and therefore — a tropical environment. Year-round temperatures range from mid-70s to mid-80s, so it’s the perfect destination to visit for some sunshine!
Pro-tip: Be sure to pack for warm weather aka a few bathing suits, a cover up, sandals, shorts, a hat, and lots of sunscreen!
Puerto Rico has two main seasons — dry season and a rainy season. The best time of year to visit Puerto Rico is between December and April, when the island experiences the most sunshine and minimal rainfall. The winter season is also peak tourist season in Puerto Rico, so expect more crowds and higher rates for hotels and flights.
The island also has a hurricane season that takes place in early fall. I would avoid traveling here in August or September when Puerto Rico experiences the most amount of rain.
Water
Unlike many other Caribbean islands, you CAN drink the tap water in Puerto Rico. It meets the same standards as the water quality on the mainland of the US. You’ll definitely want to stay hydrated here as it gets HOT!
Cell Phone Service / WiFi
Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the US, all US-based cell phone plans will work across the island. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon should all have coverage, in remote regions. Additionally, almost all hotels + resorts in Puerto Rico provide complimentary WiFi to guests.
3 Reasons To Visit Puerto Rico ASAP
Now that you know the basics for visiting Puerto Rico, I want to provide 3 reasons why I think you should add a 4 day trip to Puerto Rico to your bucket list and plan a trip ASAP…
1. Vibrant Architecture + Art
Since Puerto Rico isn’t large (it’s smaller than the state of Connecticut!), you will undoubtedly spend a good bit of time exploring Old San Juan during your 4 days in Puerto Rico. I was blown away by the colonial architecture in the historic city center. All of the buildings are the colors of a rainbow. Plus, the city has incredible street art. The photo-ops here are never ending — another reason why I loved visiting on a girls trip!
2. The Rainforest
The main rainforest in Puerto Rico is the El Yunque National Forest. It’s the only tropical rainforest within the US National Forest System. It’s pretty unique to be able to visit such a dense rainforest on an island beach vacation — don’t miss it! The rainforest is only 25 miles southwest of San Juan, so it’s easy to visit on a day trip / excursion.
3. The Beaches
Puerto Rico is known for its beaches. Many of the resorts outside of Old San Juan are on the beaches. Additionally, it’s worth your time to venture to the west coast of the island where you’ll find the island’s most beautiful beaches. Ricon, for example, is the most western part of the island and is a top surfing destination — drawing ocean lovers to Puerto Rico from every corner of the world. The Isabela area was another favorite for secluded, beautiful beaches. You can visit the west coast on a full-day tour.
Where To Stay In Puerto Rico
Budget ($): Navona Studios
Navona Studios is located in the heart of Old San Juan and less than a mile from the El Morro Fort. This budget-friendly guest house has private bedrooms and bathrooms, a shared lounge space, and rooftop terrace. There’s also luggage storage and laundry facilities here!
You can stay here for less than $100 per night (split between 2 people!).
Mid-range ($$): Caribe Hilton
The Caribe Hilton is nestled among 17 acres of beautiful tropical gardens, and features a private beachfront location. This family-friendly hotel offers an ocean-front swimming pool and spacious accommodations with free WiFi. There are 9 on-site restaurants here, so it’s the perfect place to base yourself for 4 days in Puerto Rico.
Luxury ($$$): Fairmont El San Juan Hotel
The Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is 100% my top recommendation for a more luxury stay in Puerto Rico. This hotel is situated directly on 2 miles of the award winning Isla Verde Beach and features an iconic lobby of nightlife and entertainment. Here, you’ll find many lobby bars and a few restaurants, most of which offer live music at night.
The suites are luxurious and the pool area is incredible. There are day beds and cabanas for rent, and swim-up bars all around. There was even a DJ out here when we visited!
How To Spend 4 Days In Puerto Rico
Now that you know the basics about visiting Puerto Rico and I’ve convinced you to book a trip, here the things not to be missed in Puerto Rico! This is not an hour-by-hour itinerary, but rather my top recommendations for sights, restaurants, and things to do during 4 days in Puerto Rico. I think 4 days in Puerto Rico is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights!
Photo-ops Around Old San Juan
Assuming you will be based in the San Juan area (as most tourists are!), let’s dive into some recs for Old San Juan. The first thing I recommend doing is wandering the historic city streets to get acclimated!
Old San Juan is technically the oldest city in the United States and its territories — packed with over 500 years of history! It was built by the Spaniards, and most of its colonial architecture is still present today. Furthermore, the buildings in Old San Juan are all aligned in grids, allowing for cross-ventilation between its buildings and squares. The city is very walkable and easy to navigate.
Pro-tip: The oldest houses in Old San Juan, aka the ones that date back to the 16th-century, were single-story and had an inner garden. Second floors and balconies were added onto the homes later on.
The entire city looks like a postcard with its brightly colored facades and cobblestone streets, but there are two sites in particular that have become “Insta famous” and shouldn’t be missed.
Calle Imperial
This small side road in Old San Juan has one of Puerto Rico’s most famous murals — its flag! The mural plus all the colorful homes that surround this area make it the perfect photo-op. I recommend visiting early so you can avoid crowds and get the best lighting, but remember to be respectful of the locals!
Umbrella Street On Calle Fortaleza
This street has to win the award of Old San Juan’s most colorful block! The entire street is covered in hanging umbrellas. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but when we visited, the street was blocked off the local traffic only. You may have to work some angles, but you can still get some cool shots of the umbrellas!
Calle Del Cristo
The oldest street in Old San Juan. This street has the largest number of religious buildings in the city, so it’s the perfect place for some sightseeing.
Shopping In Old San Juan
Aside from taking photos and maybe a walking tour (these are always the BEST way to efficiently see the highlights of a historic city center!), I would leave some time in your schedule and room in your suitcase for shopping. Old San Juan is full of local souvenir shops, tourist boutiques, art galleries, and so much more.
One of my favorite stores was called Caribbean Beads on Fortaleza Street. Here, you can pick out charms to customize a bracelet or necklace. My friends and I had so much fun doing this, and also brought home such a special souvenir to remember our trip by.
Can’t-Miss Historic Sites During Your 4 Days In Puerto Rico
The entire city is full of historic sites, but make time for a dedicated visit and tour to El Morro Fort during your 4 days in Puerto Rico. Located on a hilltop in Old San Juan with an impressive landscape, El Morro is older than the country!
The 6-floor fort was originally built in 1539 to defend the city from attacks by sea. Construction concluded around 1790, and was used as a fort up until 1961 when the US Army retired it to the National Park Service as a museum. To this day, the castle houses the oldest lighthouse on the island!
During your 4 days in Puerto Rico, I also recommend visiting San Jose Church. It was built in 1532 and is one of the oldest churches in America.
Finally, the Casa Blanca Museum is worth the visit as well. It’s the oldest example of Spanish architecture in the United States and Puerto Rico. It has 14 rooms and original furniture dating back to the 1500s — a rarity on this side of the Atlantic!
Try Traditional Food: Restaurants To Visit During 4 Days In Puerto Rico
During your 4 days in Puerto Rico, you must try traditional Puerto Rican food. This includes various spiced meats with rice, beans, dishes made with plantains (tostones and amarillos), and deep fried frituras. One of top rated restaurants in Old San Juan for this cuisine is called Deaverdura. It’s very traditional and also very affordable. The menu is limited and the staff mainly speaks Spanish, but I recommend eating at this traditional Puerto Rican restaurant and splitting dishes family style.
Pro-tip: A food tour is a FANTASTIC way to see the sights and learn about an area while traveling! This top rated foodie walking tour is the perfect way to explore Old San Juan while tasting local foods along the way.
Stuffed Avocado Shop is my top lunch / casual restaurant recommendation for Old San Juan. We went here 2x it was so good. You can get a rice bowl as the base and then add on tons of meats, veggies, and other toppings — including avocado, obviously.
Another dish you MUST try during your 4 days in Puerto Rico is mofongo. This dish is traditionally made from deep-fried green plantains mashed with garlic, butter, and meats (usually pork). This dish can be served as an entree or side dish. When I tried it, it was made with potatoes and yuca and had the most delicious salsa! Don’t miss out!
Pro-tip: As a bonus recommendation, you must try Paletados Popsicles. This place is so popular there may be a line out front, but I couldn’t recommend it more. They are delicious, and the store is also very Instagrammable.
San Juan Nightlife
Aside from its food, beaches, architecture, and literally everything else… Puerto Rico also knows how to do its nightlife right! The nightlife in Old San Juan is SO fun and if you like to dance, I highly recommend taking advantage of it and going out one night.
The La Placita neighborhood is the best area in San Juan for nightlife. We went here on a weekend night and it was one of ht most lively party scenes I’ve experienced. There were couples passionately dancing in the streets, block parties of people just drinking — spilling out from the bars, and of course, night clubs with DJs, hype music, and dim lights. We stayed for a few hours and just bopped around.
The streets itself are the party so you don’t even need to pay much in drinks, cover, etc. Plus, there are no lines!
Pro-tip: If you want to stay in the heart of Old San Juan, you HAVE to visit La Factoria during your 4 days in Puerto Rico. This is one of the top bars in North America. It has mood lighting and many rooms to explore. It’s a very old cocktail bar. It can get crowded, but I recommend grabbing a cocktail here at some point during your trip!
Bonus: Visit The West Coast
As mentioned above, the west side of Puerto Rico is much less touristy, but is where the most beautiful beaches on the island are found. If you have time, I recommend taking a day trip out here for a day. Aside from spending time at the beaches, the town of Aguadilla is worth visiting too. This is one of the most colorful towns on the island and is beautiful for photos!
There’s not too much to do here, but we did enjoy walking around a little bit before the 2 hour bus ride back to San Juan.
Pro-tip: Aside from visiting the west coast, the south coast is another popular day trip and excursion from San Juan! This Ponce Guided Walking tour is a great way to explore the area for a day.
And that brings us to the end of another travel guide! I hope these recommendations inspire you to book a 4 day trip to Puerto Rico yourself (or longer!). The island really has it all, and I’m already looking forward to my next trip back.
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