The Best Day Trips and Excursions from San Juan

You may already know that I love Puerto Rico, and have visited its lovely shores more than once.  I am not alone, as the NY Times voted Puerto Rico the top place to visit in 2019.  Even though 2019 is past, Puerto Rico is an amazing place to travel, one of the best islands in the Caribbean.  I think the perfect vacation is a week or more, taking a Puerto Rico road trip, but if you are short on time, I recommend staying right in the historic part of the capital city, Old San Juan. There are a multitude of things to do right there in the city!  But, to satisfy your thirst for adventure, you can still explore a bit more of the country with some San Juan day tours, and some of the epic day trips from San Juan.  I put together this outline of the best excursions from San Juan, to help you decide which ones to add to your itinerary.  

One of the awesome things about the options for Puerto Rico day trips is the variety.  The tour everyone knows about in San Juan is probably the Bacardi distillery tour, but there are choices for every type of traveler.  From sailing in San Juan harbor to kayaking through the bioluminescent bay, from hiking through the rain forest to treking through caves, and even ziplining over the jungle, the choices are many!  Hopefully you can narrow your options as we go along.

If you prefer to be independent, it is entirely possible to embark upon all 7 of these San Juan day trips on your own. Puerto Rico is easy to get around, and very visitor friendly.  If you choose to go this route, plan your Puerto Rico excursions on consecutive days. That way you can minimize the number of days you need a rental car, as you really do not need one while staying in the city.  

On the other hand, if you prefer the comfort of a group and making acquaintances along the way, all of these Puerto Rico day tours are available through a number of travel companies.  The vast majority of these San Juan excursions pick up at several locations throughout the city, including Old San Juan. You don’t have to worry about getting trapped in a bus with 75 other travelers either, as the majority use small Sprinter type vehicles.  And, you gain the knowledge of the tour guide.

During my Puerto Rico travels, I have made some of my day trips from San Juan on my own, and I have made others in a tour group.  With each suggestion, I give my recommendation, and any necessary tips for those of you making the jaunt on your own.  I also provide the links for booking options for those of you who prefer a group tour. 

  

Day Trips and Excursions from San Juan

So let’s see what all the San Juan day trip options are without further small talk.  Hopefully you will find some to add to your San Juan vacation, to make it absolutely perfect for you!

The Bacardi Mixology Tour

The Bacardi tours are one of the most popular day tours in San Juan, drawing hundreds of tourists each day.  For exactly that reason, it is the type of tour that I normally avoid. However, when Keyauni and I traveled together on my last trip to San Juan, I decided we should give it a try.  We were pleasantly surprised, and had a ton of fun. 

Bacardi offers 3 different types of tours, a standard distillery tour, a rum tasting tour, and the mixology tour.  All Bacardi experiences begin with a free drink token in an outdoor courtyard, while awaiting the tour departure. The mixologists are jovial and entertaining, and there are plenty of photo opportunities to make for a pleasant wait.  Tours are organized by specific timed tickets, and groups depart the courtyard at the scheduled time in an open air tram.

The standard distillery tour gives more in depth information about the rum making process, and the rum tasting tour gives  information about distinguishing the varieties of rum. We opted for the mixology tour, which includes information about the origins of rum and the Barcardi family, a trip to the top of Casa Bacardi to look out over the distillery properties, and a classroom drink crafting experience.  During the class, 3 full size drinks are created, and each participant get a personalized certificate of completion.  

Believe me when I tell you this tour gets a bit rambunctious. Everyone gets a bit tipsy as they strive to consume all 3 of the beverages they have created. Someday I might attempt to put together the footage I took during the class for all to see, but, I did acquire a new skill- I can still make all 3 of these cocktails like a pro. This tour from San Juan is good fun for those who do use alcohol products, but not for those who drive to the distillery.

I recommend: Save some money, and make this San Juan excursion on your own!

If you choose to make this San Juan tour on your own:

• Buy tickets directly from the Bacardi website.
• From Old San Juan, use the Catano Ferry from pier #2, about an hour and a half before tour time.  The ferry costs $.50, and runs roughly every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 to 8 on weekends.
• Upon exit at the Catano terminal, look for the Bacardi shuttle, which is free transport to the distillery.  Frankly, it is not recognizable by sight, but there were some senior Bacardi employees with a handwritten sign that said Bacardi.  They will also be asking passengers if they are going to Bacardi as they exit. Yes, that is them, but make sure to get in with a group, just in case.
• The shuttle returns visitors to the dock after the tour as well.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

You might like this Bacardi Tour with direct pick up, and transport to and from the distillery. 

El Yunque

El Yunque is the most popular day trip from San Juan, but one that I recommend you do not miss.  There are very few expanses of tropical rain forest in the United States, so opportunities to see this type of forest are slim without international travel.  And, El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest overseen by the US Forest Service. It has the infrastructure of many USFS managed forests, including ranger stations, visitor centers, and well maintained trails and services, but it is a unique and refreshing experience.  Most tours include a hike, a swim in a natural swimming hole, a visit to the popular La Coca waterfall, sometimes a second waterfall, a climb to the top of one of the observation towers, and a stop at Bano Grande.

The trees and plants in El Yunque are very different from those seen in most US forests.  There are over 150 different species of ferns, and 240 different species of trees, including the dwarf cloud forest at the highest peaks.  There are no large or harmful animals, so no need to worry about anything dangerous while staying on the trails, but there are numerous animals to watch for, including bright tropical bird species, and the Puerto Rican coqui frog.  The hiking trails include a variety of attractions, such as fast moving rivers, swimming holes, waterfalls, and the observation towers.  

The humidity is immediately felt upon entering the forest, however it is not stifling since the El Yunque maintains a pretty stable year round temperature of 73 degrees. The likelihood of rain is frequent though, so be prepared, as the higher elevations receive over 200 inches of rain a year.  Generally speaking it is quite comfortable in the forest, particularly at higher elevations. We got rained on a bit, and it actually felt good.

The main visitors center and the park headquarters have not reopened since hurricane Maria, but a temporary visitors center in the town of Palmer, El Portalito, features a 20 minute educational film and exhibits.  Forest maps and trail maps are also available at El Portalito, as well as the most current information regarding what areas of the forest are open.  

I recommend: If you want to do some extensive hiking, go on your own. Otherwise, either option is great for El Yunque.

If you choose to make this San Juan day trip on your own:

• The drive from San Juan to the El Portalito temporary visitors center in Palmer, Rio Grande, is just under an hour. Start your day there.
• Check out the exhibits, watch the informational film, and talk to a ranger about any weather warnings that may be in effect.
• Ask for a free trail map and begin your adventure. 
• The main attractions and trails in El Yunque are not all currently marked, but they are pretty easy to find along 2 primary roadways.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

We did a half day El Yunque tour with an added experience at the Loiza Cultural Center, where we learned about the African influences in Puerto Rican culture. We learned a bit of Bomba dancing too!

Another choice is the half day El Yunque tour with a visit to Luquillo Beach. This is one of the most popular half day options.

The full day El Yunque tours last about 9 hours from pick up to drop off. It allows more time at some attractions, and longer hikes.

Those who love an adrenaline rush may prefer the full day Wilderness Adventure in El Yunque.

Cueva Ventana

A relatively new San Juan day trip is the option to explore Cueva Ventana.  On my first trip to Puerto Rico, Cueva Venta, or Window Cave, was not even on the map.  Today, with the advent of social media and personal additions to Google Maps, Cueva Venta is known across the island, and has become a very popular adventure destination.  

The cave was once a holy site of the Taino, the indigenous people who lived in Puerto Rico prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in 1493.  This region of Puerto Rico is made up of a karst topography, so caves and sinkholes are quite common throughout the area. Some are known for their underground rivers, others for the petroglyphs, and Cueva Ventana is known for its spectacular view over the Arecibo Valley and the Rio Grande de Arecibo.   On a clear day some of the islands highest peaks can be seen.

Getting to Cueva Ventana includes a 20 minute hike through the forest at an incline, so it does require a certain level of fitness.  Due to the strenuous nature of the trip, children under 6 are not allowed, and a certain amount of safety gear is required. Exploration of the cave includes learning a bit about the Taino culture and seeing some petroglyphs, learning a little about cave creatures, with the possibility of seeing cave crickets and bats, and also learning about the geology of the area, and the resulting cave formations.  

Visiting Cueva Ventana is not a full day experience, so many people combine it with a trip to the Arecibo Observatory, which is the way I would do it.  For those who want more caves, a visit to Cueva del Indo can be combined with Cueva Ventana, and those who want to learn more about Taino culture should consider Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Cener. 

I recommend: Save yourself some wait time, and visit Cueva Ventana with a group tour.

If you do choose to make this San Juan excursion on your own:

• The drive from San Juan to Arecibo is just over an hour, but be prepared for a wait at the site. 
• Tickets can be purchased ahead of time online, at Cueva Ventana, but they are not time specific.
• Tours are offered on a first come first served basis upon arrival.  Plan that extra time into your day, and be certain to combine your trip with one of the other fine attractions in the area.
• You will likely get sweaty and dirty, so bring a change of clothes in your backpack.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

If you can’t get enough caves, try a full day option exploring both Cueva Venta and Cueva del Indio. 

I am a space nerd, so my preference would be a day tour from San Juan combining the tour of Cueva Ventana with a visit to Aricebo Observatory. 

For a less popular option, but one with a refreshing swim the hiking, you may prefer a trip that combines exploring Cueva Ventana and Gozalandia Waterfall. 

Bioluminescent Bays

A Bioluminescent Bay is a rather rare phenomenon, where tiny organisms in the water produce a glowing effect when agitated.  While this effect can occur in many places around the world from time to time, it is said that there are only 5 places in the world where it happens all year round.  While this is not specifically true, there are 3 of these rare bioluminescent areas in Puerto Rico, and a visit to one of them is a really a must.

An experience at one of the Bioluminescent Bays is always best during the new moon phase, so if you have the option of plnning your trip to Puert Rico with that in mind, do so.  In two of the bays, one in Fajardo and one on Vieques Island, visitors get a brief introduction to kayaking, and then head out onto the water after sun down. At Paraguay, guests are taken by boat and can actually swim in the water, watching the effect around themselves.  This tends to be a bit controversial, but I am not educated enough about the subject to take a stance on either side of that argument.  

Once everyone is in the midst of the areas that are heavily populated with the dinoflagellates (the organisms that cause the glow) the magic begins.  Every movement in the water brings about a burst of blue underwater illumination. It helps to envision it by thinking of it as a lot of underwater blue fireflies, with thousands of tiny lights that shine every time you put your hand in the water or row your kayak.  It really is a once in a lifetime experience!

Photographing the bioluminescence is impossible with standard camera equipment, so don’t risk your cell phone on the kayak. It is such a memorable experience, you will never forget it, even without photos. But, the most advance cameras can capture the effect, which is why we shared this old CNN clip, so you understand why the experience is not to be missed.

I recommend: Save yourself from the 1.5 hour drive back to your hotel at night by visiting a Bioluminescent Bay with a group tour.

If you do choose to make this San Juan day trip on your own:

• The closest Bioluminescent Bay to San Juan is LaGuna Grande, in Ceiba.
• The drive to Ceiba takes about an hour and 30 minutes.
• Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance from Eco Adventure, or Pure Adventure.
• Plan to have dinner in the Ceiba area, so you will be there well before your tour departure time.
• If you prefer an option that uses a boat, rather than a kayak, try Bio Island Tours.
• If you prefer the Parguera option, it is a 2.5 hour drive across the island.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

If you are traveling with a friend, try an option that allows you to ride with a partner in a double kayak to tour the Bioluminescent Bay, with hotel pick up and drop off.

If you have a day in your itinerary, you may like a full day experience traveling to Paraguera from San Juan, with snorkeling time as well as Bioluminescent Bay swimming. 

Sailing San Juan Harbor

I love the water, and wherever I travel, I try to get out on any water that may be a part of the landscape.  It adds an entirely different element to every trip. In a country composed of islands, the water was calling me! There are a number of ways to get out on the water as a day tour from San Juan, but I was particularly interested in San Juan Harbor.

San Juan Harbor is an inlet off the Atlantic, deep enough for huge cruise ships. The city sort of circles around it, so almost everywhere you go in the city, there is some view of water, whether it is the harbor, or the ocean proper.  The easiest and cheapest way to see it is on the Catano Ferry, but there are a couple of different tour and boat groups that offer a San Juan excursion around the harbor, in different styles of boats.   

We opted for a 1.5 hour mid-afternoon sailing tour. This tour goes out to the end of the harbor, and circles back, and it includes free rum punch and music along the route. The shipmates give a bit of commentary on the city and its historic walls, but not so much that I would call it educational.  The joy of the sail was the fresh breeze off the ocean, and the sunshine, as well as the stunning views in every direction. Seeing Old San Juan from the water is pretty amazing, allowing for photos of landmarks we had already visited, from a unique perspective. 

I recommend: Plan this San Juan day tour on your own. The times and meeting places are exactly the same as if you purchased it through a tour company.

If you choose to make this San Juan tour on your own:

• More than one company offers San Juan Harbor cruises, in a variety of different boat types. I prefer a sailing experience, but it does cost a few more dollars than a standard tour boat.  
• Buy your tickets to sail on the Amazing Grace schooner ahead of time at East Island Puerto Rico. You can opt for an afternoon sail or a sunset sail.
• Both trips include unlimited rum punch.
• Meet between cruise piers 2 and 3 for your sail, behind the I Love PR sign. You can’t miss the big schooner!

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

If you want to be in the open air and have the best views of the harbor and the city, choose a day time sail tour.

For something a bit more romantic, you may prefer the sunset sail.

For a different type of experience in an eco-friendly tour boat, you may prefer the Eco Historic Tour.

Culebra Island 

Puerto Rico is not actually an island, it is an archipelago of many islands.  Some of them are undeveloped, some protected, and others make for amazing excursions from San Juan.  Culebra is one of those islands, which may be most widely known for its fabulous white sand beaches.  The small island has a town with restaurants, shops, and other services specifically for tourists. There is even a small history museum. About 1,800 people live on Culebra, but for the most part, visitors come to the island for a day of relative solitude. Some travelers say it is their favorite day trip from San Juan.

Once a pirate hide out, and later the site of US military marine exercises, much of Culebra was off limits for centuries.  It was only in 1975 that military operations on the island were halted, and some of the natural order began to return.  The island flows with natural beauty. It is hard to imagine such a gorgeous place being seen as an area appropriate for military activities!  

Many visitors to the island rent a jeep upon arrival and head out to discover the pristine beaches, but there are golf carts, scooters and bicycles available for rent too. Most start at the long stretch of white sand at Flamenco Beach, which is the most popular on the island. It is often ranked one of the 10 finest beaches in the world, but it is truly never packed.  It is picture perfect, and the abandoned army tank on the end of the beach makes for interesting photos.

For those who crave other adventures, there are other options. Some boat tour operators specialize in snorkeling tours at Culebra’s bountiful reefs. There are also 2 nature preserves on the island, with hiking trails and opportunities for wildlife viewing. For most people though, a visit to Culebra is simply about relaxing in a beautiful place.  

I recommend : Visit Culebra on your own. It will take a bit of planning, and an early morning start, but it is worth it to have the entire day to explore as you wish.

If you do choose to make this San Juan day trip on your own:

• To get to Culebra, you will need to catch the Ferry at Ceiba, or take a flight.
• The drive to Ceibe takes about 1.5 hours. Plan to arrive about an hour before your ferry departure.
• The morning ferries leave Ceiba at 5:00, 9:00, and 11:00. The ride takes about 45 minutes.
• It is best to purchase your tickets online in advance at Pro Ferry. Tickets are $2.25 per adult. 
• Those who plan to really explore the island may wish to take their car along, provided the rental company allows it, which costs $15.  This should be arranged ahead of time.
• Once on the island, rent a jeep ($70), golf cart ($50), or scooter ($40) to get around for the day. Culebra is small, but not small enough to walk.
• Be mindful of the time so you catch your return ferry. The last trip departs at 7:00.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

If you want a structured day, you can opt for a scheduled day tour from San Juan to Culebra, with morning snorkeling, lunch, and the afternoon on Flamenco Beach.

If you prefer to explore on your own, you can opt for day tour transportation, that picks you up at your hotel and drops you off at the Ceiba ferry, then picks you up after your day of adventure.

Toroverde Adventure Park

Generally I do not recommend activities that can be had almost anywhere at a destination that has amazing and unique options.  A ziplining trip would normally fall under that purview, and I would not suggest it in a country with as many world class options as Puerto Rico.  However, Toroverde Adventure Park is amazing enough to earn a recommendation.

Sitting in the midst of the central mountain region, the experience automatically comes with gorgeous scenery.  The features of Toroverde include a series of suspension bridges, ziplines and in-the-air obstacle courses, set up in tours ranging from 1 to 4 hours.  This includes The Monster, the longest and fastest zipline in the Americas, which is over a mile long and reaches speeds of almost 90 miles per hour.  Through all of these adrenaline pumping features, you have views over the Mountains of Orocovis, making Toroverde a one of a kind adventure.  

We did not make it to Toroverde on our last trip. although Keyauni would have loved it. (We both had to fight to get a mere 5 days off of work, and we just couldn’t fit it in.) While a smaller zipline would have been more up my alley, I can picture Keyauni flying through the air at 90 mph on the Monster, with the the lush valley and river below. So you get the picture too, Jimmy Fallon aired his ride on the Monster Zipline for all the world to see. Yeah, I think that makes it a worthwhile excursion from San Juan!

Toroverde is not for the faint of heart.  Those looking to try ziplining for the first time may find some of the smaller lines a good starter and the beautiful setting enough distraction to ease the nervousness.  And remember, it is that first jump that is the scary part. After that, it really is fun.

I recommend: Make this day tour from San Juan on your own. You will save a bit of cash, and can do more than one tour if you choose.

If you choose to make this San Juan excursion on your own:

• Buy tickets in advance on the Toroverde website.
• The drive from San Juan to the adventure park is about an hour and 15 minutes. 
• Plan to arrive about an hour before your scheduled tour.
• You will likely get sweaty and dirty, so bring a change of clothes if you plan to stop for other attractions.

If you prefer a pre-arranged group tour:

You can opt for a full day experience in the Toroverde Adventure Park with hotel pick up.

Have You Picked Your San Juan Day Tour Yet?

Certainly our list is by no means an exclusive list of the San Juan day trips, however, we believe it includes the options that will make your trip more memorable and enjoyable. Each of these tours is unforgettable in its own way. Be sure to spend plenty of time exploring the beautiful historic center of Old San Juan, and some time on the beach, but add a couple excursions from San Juan to take your short vacation over the top!

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