Activities in Puerto Rico

During your trip to Puerto Rico, you may be faced with a number of difficult decisions, such as what to do first in this dynamic Caribbean paradise. Puerto Rico is filled with multiple activities and attractions to satisfy sports-lovers and adventurous vacationers.

Sports

Puerto Rico offers the most challenging and exciting golf you can find in the Caribbean. In fact, the island is famous the world over for its high-end golf courses, some of which were designed by world-famous architects and golf professionals. The island is also home to a number of important people from the world of golf as well as thousands of golf aficionados. Tourists often visit the island just to play in annual tournaments held at Puerto Rico's top-notch courses.  The island's year-round gorgeous weather and moderate temperatures make going to the greens possible almost any time of year. Warm weather and tropical sunshine keeps Puerto Rico's golf courses emerald green, and you'll be putting amid gorgeous island landscaping including waterfalls, rivers, and much more.

There are other ways to remain active in Puerto Rico.  Although it doesn't have a very large following as a spectator sport, tennis is popular to play, and you can find courts at most resorts.  You can also swim laps at resort pools, get in on a few games of volleyball, or explore the island on hiking trails. 

If spectator sports are your thing, baseball and football (known as soccer in America) are Puerto Rico's most popular sporty pastimes. Click here to read more about sports in Puerto Rico.

Watersports

The continental shelf that borders Puerto Rico's coastline creates a perfect atmosphere for snorkelers and divers to enjoy some amazing underwater explorations. There are plenty of spectacular ocean sites for vacationers to visit while checking out Puerto Rico's unique and wondrous underwater habitats.

The best snorkeling to be found while visiting Puerto Rico is off the southern shores of the island. The best scuba diving is on the East, South, and West coasts, which feature an extensive coral reef structure that is home to a wide variety of tropical fish species. Travelers can pick up snorkeling and diving equipment at local dive shops located around the island.

For those who prefer reeling in fish than swimming with them, a large number of game fish reside in the Caribbean Sea and especially near Puerto Rico. Game fishermen can tackle large game fish such as marlin, dolphin fish, tuna, and other fish species. Along with saltwater fishing, travelers can catch freshwater fish at man-made freshwater lakes on the island.

There are a number of other watersports that vacationers can participate in, from parasailing and kite surfing to jet skiing and wind surfing.  Surfing is especially popular in Puerto Rico, where it is not uncommon for international surf competitions to be going on along the northwest coast. 

Shopping

Make sure you plan to spend some cash when you head to Puerto Rico on your vacation.  Shopping is duty free, and there are a lot of great items to be bought.  Locally made items that seem to bring in the most revenue (and can be found on most street corners) are hand-rolled cigars, homegrown coffee, rum, and Mundillo lace.  San Juan is where most visitors go to shop, despite the lack of bargains to be found there.  Perhaps it is because the island's largest shopping center, Plaza Las America's, is located in San Juan.  Shoppers in other parts of Puerto Rico should be on the lookout for locally owned arts and crafts shops for the best deals and most unique souvenirs. 

Nightlife

For the most active nightlife, check out San Juan.  Here you will find the largest number of bars and clubs in Puerto Rico.  Make sure to wear nice clothing, because Puerto Ricans see going out clubbing as a reason to dress up and look their best.  Many locations have dress codes in full effect and you will be turned away if you are wearing shorts and flip flops.  If you are looking for something more laid back, try bars and pubs in some of the smaller surrounding cities. To read more about Puerto Rico's nightlife, click here.

Events and Festivals

Although Puerto Rico has a hopping nightlife, the island's daytime activities will not be outdone.  Events and Festivals run the gamut here, from family-friendly events to intense sports competitions, and even some adult-theme celebrations where  rum is king and the drink never stops flowing.  Events and Festivals hosted by the island are a great way to get to know what is important to those that live there.  Check out cultural celebrations such as the San Sebastian Street Festival, where vendor booths sell local crafts and foodstuffs as regional music fills the air.  As dusk falls, the celebration turns into a  huge dance party. 

Even More Activities

The simple act of exploring the island is enough to keep you busy throughout your entire vacation.  There is so much to see and do in Puerto Rico that it simply can not be done in one trip.  Aside from participating in the above listed activities, you should make it a point to visit some of Puerto Rico's most fames attractions. 

First and foremost for many vacationers is a trip to at least one of Puerto Rico's beaches.  The beaches in San Juan are the most popular on the island, mostly because they are easy to reach by most tourists who often stay in the San Juan area, but also because of the calm waters that make the beaches great for families.  Of course, you should not discount all that the beaches on other parts of the island have to offer.  Read more about all of the country's beaches at our dedicated guide to Puerto Rico's Beaches. 

Gambling in one of the island's casinos is another activity that many vacationers enjoy.  All of the island's casinos are situated on hotel property, which means it is likely that you will be able to play the slots or throw some dice without having to venture too far.  Remember that you must be 18 or older to enter a casino in Puerto Rico, and most people dress up for a night of gambling.

Touring Puerto Rico's most important landmarks is at the top of the list for travelers who feel that learning about the culture of their vacation spot is an essential part of the vacation experience.  Visiting one of the island's twenty museums is a great place to start, with exhibits that focus on the history and culture of Puerto Rico, as well as visual arts and even pop culture at the ready.  A tour of Puerto Rico's historic churches is a great option for lovers of great architecture, as is a visit to each of the island's lighthouses.  Read more about Puerto Rico's landmarks when you click here.  This guide includes more detailed information on all of the above mentioned sites, as well as discussions about the three forts that guard the country, Puerto Rico's most popular zoo, and many other historic attractions.

If one thing is certain about Puerto Rico, it is that its interior is awe-inspiring.  If you have the opportunity to explore Puerto Rico's natural attractions, it is absolutely an activity you should ad to your to-do list.  There are ten reserves and refugees in Puerto Rico, which carve out paths and specific sites where you can be certain to find indigenous flora and fauna, and even some locations where you can visit with endangered species.  One of the most unique natural features of Puerto Rico is the collection of waterways that naturally light up as night falls.  These are called bioluminescent bays, and there are plenty of tours available to take you see them.  Click here to read more about Puerto Rico's nature.

No matter what kind of activities you enjoy, Puerto Rico offers an assortment of impressive things to do that will make your Caribbean vacation truly unforgettable.