5 Ways to Spend One Day in Puerto Rico (on a Cruise)
With golden-sand beaches and rainforest waterfalls, the history-drenched cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan, and some of the best rum in the world, Puerto Rico is one of my all-time favorite cruise ports in the Caribbean! 🇵🇷
If you want to get a taste of Puerto Rico’s charm while visiting on a cruise, you’ve come to the right place! I’m sharing all my favorite ways to spend a day here, like exploring Old San Juan on foot, relaxing at the most stunning nearby beaches, and chasing waterfalls through the dense rainforests of El Yunque.
And of course, all these adventures start and end in at the cruise port while maximizing your limited time on this vibrant island!
1. Explore Old San Juan on Foot
Old San Juan is the 500+ year old historic part of Puerto Rico’s vibrant capital, adorned with cobblestone streets, striking fortresses, pastel buildings, and plenty of local eateries and shops.
Old San Juan is easily walkable, and you can see the highlights in half a day or so, which makes it the perfect place to explore if you’re visiting Puerto Rico on a cruise.
And that’s exactly how I first experienced Puerto Rico—we spent a day in Old San Juan during our 8-night Virgin Voyages sailing and I fell in love with this charming little city!
We started off our day in Old San Juan with a historic walking tour, which I highly recommend! The walking tour only last a few hours (and isn’t too expensive) but will give you an deepened appreciation for local history an culture and introduce you to some hidden gems you’d otherwise miss.
If you will be around Old San Juan in the evening, I’d swap out the walking tour for this rum craft cocktail walking tour, which mixes Puerto Rico history with exceptional rum cocktails from three different local bars including a hidden speakeasy!
Either way, you’ll have the majority of your day to wander Old San Juan on your own (before or after the tour), and these are a few other things to do and places to see:
- 🏰 Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro): This 16th century fort is Puerto Rico’s most iconic historic site. Today it’s partof San Juan National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and costs $10 to visit.
- 🏰 Castillo San Cristóbal: Your entry for El Morro also gets you into this other fort, which is larger (actually the largest in the Americas) yet less visited!
- 🌅 Paseo del Morro, Paseo de la Princesa & La Puerta de San Juan: These stunning pathways connect and wrap around the city’s original stone walls with views of the glistening bay beyond and El Morro towering above! Along the way, don’t miss La Puerta de San Juan, the original city gate that once welcomed those arriving from sea!
- 🍹 Try the supposed original piña colada at Barrachina: This Old San Juan restaurant claims to be the birthplace of the piña colada and you can try the original for yourself (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). I tried it and personally don’t think its worth the usual long waits, but it might be for you!
- 🥃 Rum tasting at Scryer Rum Barrelhouse & Rooftop: Taste local rum and peer over the city at this barrelhouse located in the heart of Old San Juan! It’s a great alternative to Casa Bacardi and other rum distilleries that are a bit further away.
- 📷 Wander and take photos: The pastel buildings and cobblestone streets make Old San Juan incredibly picturesque, so one of the best things to do here is to go on a little photo walk! If you’re looking for the iconic Puerto Rico flag photo spot, you’ll find it here! And my personal favorite spot to take photos is around Plaza Felisa Rincón De Gautier.
A few excellent places to eat in Old San Juan include Verde Mesa for award-winning farm-to-table fare, St. Germain Bistro and Cafe for a relaxed vegetarian cafe, and Tropical Taste for local cuisine with veggie options. All these spots (and more) are pinned on my free Puerto Rico map!
🚢 Tip for cruise visitors: There are two cruise ports in San Juan, Puerto Rico. San Juan Cruise Port drops you off right in the heart of Old San Juan, but the Pan American Cruise Terminal is a little further away (expect a 10 minute taxi ride).
2. Chase Waterfalls and Hike at El Yunque Rainforest
On our more recent Puerto Rico trip we stayed right outside of El Yunque National Forest and spent several days exploring the surrounding waterfalls, rainforest trails, and swimming holes.
And if you only have a day in Puerto Rico but want to experience nature, El Yunque is an easy choice. It’s only about an hour from San Juan, and there are dozens of excellent tours to choose from—or you could explore on your own with a rental car (how to spend one day in El Yunque if you have a rental car).
There is so much to do in the area, but if you only have one day, you’ll maximize it by exploring with a local guide. This local-led tour costs less than renting a car and includes roundtrip transportation from San Juan, with stops at some of my favorite areas including a natural waterslide down a waterfall, swimming holes, waterfalls, and a short hike!
If you want to explore specific areas of the rainforest on your own, here are my favorite areas:
- 🌿 El Yunque National Forest (free to visit): See La Coca Falls, climb Yokahú Tower, explore Juan Diego Falls, and hike to Mt. Britton Tower.
- 👙 Natural Waterslide at Las Pailas ($10 parking, $1 per person): Low-key river swimming hole with two natural waterslide and swimming holes!
- 🌺 Charco El Hippie ($5 parking): My favorite area in El Yunque, with beautiful waterfalls and calm swimming holes, plus hidden Taíno petroglyphs.
- ✨ Zip-lining: Soar through the rainforest canopy at award-winning Yunque Ziplines. The experience lasts 2 hours and includes five scenic zipline routes (with mountain views), an optional 50-foot rappel and trek across a hanging canopy bridge.
While you’re in the area, check out the Luquillo Kiosks for tons of local street food options, and Degree 18 Juice Bar for delicious acai bowls!
3. Uber to a Beach
Uber (or rent a car) and head to a beach nearby!
If you don’t want to go far, Condado Beach and Escambron Beach are great options right in San Juan, but my favorite is Playa Piñones. This tranquil beach is 30 minutes away from Old San Juan, but so worth the journey if you want to get out of the city!
Playa Piñones features a calm, turquoise bay, lined with golden sand and lush tropical foliage. It’s a great place to swim with gentle waves, and I love the laid-back, local vibe.
The beach is located on the outskirts of Loíza (the hub of Afro-Caribbean culture in Puerto Rico), but be sure to bring everything you need for the day since there aren’t any stores or restaurants within walking distance.
Besides wading in the waves and soaking in the Caribbean sun, you can also search for Cueva Escondida, which literally translates to hidden cave. It’s about a 5-10 minute hike from the northern part of the beach. Follow the directions on Google Maps and make sure you have proper footwear to navigate the sharp rocks and rugged landscapes.
And if you have extra time after the beach, check out the Batey de Los Hermanos Ayala, a small cultural center in Loíza with traditional vejigantes masks—and if you’re lucky, drumming and dancing!
4. Sail San Juan Bay on a Catamaran
See Old San Juan the way explorers, traders, and pirates once did—by sailing into the bay just as they did centuries ago. This 90-minute catamaran cruise through San Juan Bay lets you experience Puerto Rico from the same vantage point that ships had when arriving from Europe during colonial times.
Photo via Viator
You’ll enjoy complimentary rum punch, mimosas, and local beer as you peer up at the towering walls of El Morro, the Governor’s mansion, and the colorful streets of Old San Juan. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins or sea turtles along the way! The crew also shares insights into the city’s history as you sail.
The boat tour lasts just under 2 hours, making it an easy add-on to your day. I’d pair it with a walk around Old San Juan or an afternoon of rum tasting!
5. Rum Tastings & Mixology at Ron del Barrilito
Another one of the best ways to spend one day in Puerto Rico is by indulging in the island’s oldest rum, Ron del Barrilito—and maybe learning to make a cocktail or two!
Head straight to the gorgeous historic Hacienda Santa Ana (15 minute Uber from Old San Juan) where Ron del Barrilito has been produced in small batches by the same family since 1880!
You’ll want to sign up for a rum tasting or mixology class in advance (they sell out!) Regardless of which tour you choose, your experience will start with a welcome cocktail and a short tour of the historic hacienda and barrel rooms.
Photo via Ron del Barrilito
If you sign up for the tasting, you’ll get to sip all of Ron del Barrilito’s famous runs, including including the $800 bottle of Ron del Barrilito Five Stars. Your tasting also includes a complimentary rum cocktail at the stylish onsite bar.
Alternatively, sign up for the mixology class to become a bartender for the day. The small group class is taught by a professional mixologist and you’ll learn to master three classic rum cocktails—and get to enjoy them all, of course!
More Caribbean Travel Guides:
- Caribbean Cruise Packing List for First Timers
- The Ultimate Guide to St Croix, US Virgin Islands
- Where to Stay in Miami Before a Cruise
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