Best Puerto Rico Excursions and Tours Beyond San Juan
Written By: Global Grit and Glam
April 2025
Juan Diego Falls (El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico)
So you’re headed to Puerto Rico, eh? Fantastic! Perhaps stopping in Puerto Rico is part of a cruise itinerary you began in the U.S. Or perhaps you’re kicking off a longer Caribbean adventure that begins or ends in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, itself (as our cruise did). Or perhaps you’re simply here for a day or two and are keen to explore what this wonderful island has to offer.
You may already know all about Old San Juan’s colorful colonial streets and historical charm. And you’ve probably decided to spend some time lazing on one of San Juan’s stunning white sandy beaches. Perhaps you’re wondering, what else can I add to my time on the island? Fear not, we’ve got you covered!
San Juan is fantastic, there is no doubt. But a little further afield you’ll find an island full of incredible natural beauty, even more rich culture, and an abundance of unforgettable experiences just waiting for you to hop aboard. Awaiting you are days’ worth of adventure kayaking in bioluminescent bays, hiking through rainforests, exploring underground cave systems, and ziplining some of the longest ziplines in the world.
We provide for you here, fellow travelers, some recommendations of our top things to see and do outside of San Juan whilst you’re in Puerto Rico: half- and full-day trips available to you that start right at the San Juan Cruise Port.
So it’s time to put on your explorer’s caps, pack your sense of adventure, and start diving a little deeper into La Isla del Encanto – the Enchanted Island!
Quick Tips
Plaza de Recreo (Río Grande, Puerto Rico)
Here are some insider tips to help you make the most of your visit to Puerto Rico.
Getting around Puerto Rico, outside of San Juan, is easy. Your best options are to join an organized tour or rent your own vehicle for a day or two.
Consider a half- or full-day trip to El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system.
Head out to Fajardo, Vieques Island or Laja to experience something truly unique: kayaking in glow-in-the-dark water!
For a day of pure relaxation and serenity far, far, far away from the crowds, head out to picture-perfect Cayo Icacos, on the far north-eastern tip of the island.
Brave your inner beast and take flight on the longest zipline in the Americas at Toro Verde Adventure Park.
Explore Río Camuy Cave Park, Puerto Rico’s incredible underground limestone cave network and waterways.
Follow these tips and you’ll be ready to visit Puerto Rico!
Plan Your Trip
Puerto Rican pride (Luquillo Beach)
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Planning to visit Puerto Rico? Take advantage of the following resources curated just for you.
Book Your Puerto Rico Adventure Now!
Prefer additional options? Click below to discover more incredible experiences tailored just for you!
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Book a cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico with Celebrity. We are big fans of this cruise line.
Book a cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico with Royal Caribbean
Research Caribbean cruises with CruiseDirect
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While it’s tempting to skip the extra cost, travel insurance should be considered for domestic travel, and it’s a must for international travel.
TravelInsurance.com is an excellent comparison tool.
EKTA provides affordable plans with different coverage levels.
If you're planning outdoor activities like hiking or kayaking, consider travel insurance that covers those activities.
Visit our Resources page for additional planning tips, strategies, and companies we recommend.
Getting Around Puerto Rico
Consider renting a car to take you a little further afield
Looking to explore more of Puerto Rico, outside the city limits of San Juan? There are several options available to you for getting to your chosen destination.
Consider joining an organized tour, to help you make the most of your time in Puerto Rico. We highly recommend researching your options and booking a tour in advance of your arrival into San Juan, either through your cruise line or another independent tour operator.
Taxi. Whilst certainly not the most budget-friendly of options on the island, taxis are readily available at the San Juan Cruise Port, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, and really anywhere else in San Juan you may need one (including designated taxi stands, tourist attractions and hotels). You can also simply hail a taxi on the street or call one for a scheduled pick-up. Trips are based on a metered fare and drivers accept credit cards – but be sure to advise the driver in advance if you’re paying with this method. Taxi drivers are appreciative of tips, with 10-15% being standard.
Uber is another popular option to get you to and from attractions in and around San Juan – and the only formal rideshare service available in Puerto Rico. Be sure to download the Uber app in advance to make it easy to request a ride once you’re on the island.
If you feel comfortable driving in Puerto Rico, we recommend renting a car as the best way to get around, especially if you want to explore a little further afield. Renting a car from the Luiz Muñoz Marín International Airport (as we did) affords you the luxury of exploring Puerto Rico more independently: on your own terms and at your own speed.
Once you’ve figured out how you’d like to get around on the island and are ready to start exploring, why not consider including one of the following Puerto Rican attractions in your itinerary? We have included these in particular, as they are just a short hop, skip and a jump away from San Juan!
Puerto Rican Adventures in Nature
La Coca Falls (El Yunque National Forest)
El Yunque National Forest
Some say the “real Puerto Rico” can only be found in El Yunque National Forest – the only tropical rainforest in the United States’ national forest system. And whilst we may disagree with this particular disclaimer, it’s absolutely worth a visit for a few hours!
We’ve written an in-depth article on El Yunque National Forest, but we’ve also provided a basic overview for you here.
A solid 45-60-minute drive from the San Juan Cruise Port you’ll find the entrance to El Yunque National Forest, a lush rainforest filled with an abundance of natural wonders and a rich biodiversity. Here you’ll be afforded opportunities for hiking, picnicking, swimming, standing beneath thundering waterfalls, incredible landscape views, and encountering plenty of diverse wildlife. A visit here is a must for nature-lovers, anyone looking to immerse themselves in Puerto Rico’s vibrant natural ecosystem, and for those simply looking to escape the hustle of the city!
Bioluminescent Waters
If water adventures are your jam, and you’ve already been snorkeling or diving in Puerto Rico - or simply want to try something you can only find in two other places on earth – consider booking a bioluminescent bay tour during your time on the island. Joining one of these tours is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Bioluminescent bays – or “bio bays” – are bodies of water where microscopic organisms (plankton known as dinoflagellates – say that three times fast!) grow in quantities large enough to produce a magical “glow in the dark” effect in the water. When you place your hand in the water, or splash your kayak paddle around, the dinoflagellates emit light that shine in neon colors, making the water look as though it’s being lit up by thousands of little stars. This effect is known as bioluminescence – and it’s really pretty neat! (Beck actually says it’s one of the most amazing things she’s ever seen in nature – and we know that’s saying a lot!)
Note that bioluminescence is most visible, and indeed most vibrant, during the dark of the night – as such, tours of bioluminescent bays can only be conducted once the sun sets. So make sure you add one to your itinerary either before or after your cruise!
Insider tip. Moonlight interferes with, and can actually wash out, bioluminescence. As such, the best day for a bioluminescent bay tour is on a moonless night – either when there’s a lot of cloud cover or around the time of a new moon.
Insider tip. We recommend booking a bio bay tour in advance with a reputable tour operator who will provide knowledgeable guides and suitable safety equipment.
Fun fact. There are only five ecosystems on the planet where the concentration of dinoflagellates is high enough to be considered a bioluminescent bay. One is in Jamaica, another in Vietnam, and the other three are in Puerto Rico!
Icacos Island (Cayo Icacos)
A day trip out to the tiny, uninhabited, picture-perfect Cayo Icacos – just shy of 70km (43mi) directly east of the San Juan Cruise Port – makes for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of San Juan. Cayo Icacos is popular for its unspoiled palm-fringed beaches, stunning views, and superb snorkeling opportunities in calm, turquoise waters. Together with Palominos Island, Cayo Icacos forms part of the La Cordillera Reef Nature Reserve – in fact, it’s the largest (and some say the most picturesque) of the cays that make up the reserve.
The only way to reach Cayo Icacos is by boat – choose either a water taxi or a private boat trip. Water taxis depart from Fajardo, most charging around US$50-$60 per trip. Each boat generally holds between 6 and 12 people, and reservations are highly recommended (though not mandatory). Catamaran tours out to Cayo Icacos often include all your snorkeling gear, as well as drinks and light refreshments.
Insider tip. Be sure to bring cash if you plan to take a water taxi to Cayo Icacos – some taxi providers do not accept any other forms of payment.
Time on the small island of Cayo Icacos is all about pure and utter relaxation! It’s the perfect place to unwind, disconnect, and experience the more tranquil side of Puerto Rico. Swim, snorkel and explore the colorful marine life within the reefs, take a leisurely stroll along the white sandy beach, or simply lounge around with a cocktail in hand and soak up the beautiful Caribbean sun!
Insider tip. There are no facilities on Cayo Icacos: no restrooms, no showers, no shelter, no beach chair or umbrella rentals, no lifeguards, no restaurants or bars. Take everything with you that you’ll need for your time there – and make sure to return to the mainland with everything you took with you (that you didn’t already consume).
Insider tip. Cayo Icacos is just a 15-minute water taxi ride from Fajardo, the home of one of Puerto Rico’s three bioluminescent bays. Consider combining a day trip out to the island with an evening kayak through bioluminescent waters. You’ll definitely have something to tell your family and friends after this spectacular day!
Insider tip. Cayo Icacos is particularly popular on weekends. Consider visiting on a weekday – you may just find you have the entire beach to yourself!
Fun fact. For some time, back in the day, there was a limestone quarry on the southern tip of Cayo Icacos, connected to a short railway line that shuttled limestone from the island to the pier.
Toro Verde Adventure Park
For adrenaline junkies, you may be interested in a half- or full-day trip out to the Toro Verde Adventure Park. Located in Orocovis, about 75km (46mi) southwest of the San Juan Cruise Port amongst rolling mountains covered in dense forest, Toro Verde is an ecological park with high-thrill activities – it includes one of the longest ziplines in the world, and the longest zipline in the Americas (“The Monster”) at a whopping 2.5km (1.55mi) in length. Think of it as ziplining across the top of 28 football fields … without stopping … and with a bird’s-eye view of stunning island landscapes directly below you. Pretty cool, huh?
Toro Verde first opened in 2009 and has continued to expand its network of ziplines and suspension bridges since then. Zipline The Monster or The Beast, or be extra brave and take a tour of all eight regular ziplines, each longer and higher than the one before it. Or perhaps you’d like to try riding a Toro Bike, the 326m-long (1,070-feet) cable bike circuit (the longest of its type in the world)? Or brave your inner beast by tackling the Toro Roller, climbing towers, screaming in delight as you leap off the Toro Jump, or trying the aptly named “Escape If You Can”? I mean, since you’re already there, why not, right?
Safety is of utmost importance at Toro Verde and the friendly, professional bilingual guides continue to receive rave reviews from visitors. Closed-toed shoes are required – and a helmet, goggles and harnesses are provided. There are also minimum height requirements, as well as minimum and maximum weight loads, for the ziplines, so make sure to do some extra research before you head out there.
There are two dining options within the park: a coffee shop (for hot and cold drinks and snacks) and the Toro Verde Restaurant (with a terrace that, if you’re visiting on a clear day, provides incredible views all the way to the Puerto Rican coast).
Toro Verde Adventure Park is open from Thursday through Sunday from 8am to 5pm. Fees for the ziplines and suspension bridges vary, depending on the sort of adventure package you’re seeking. Ticket prices start at US$13.
Insider tip. Not sure if you’re quite ready for The Monster? Consider tackling one of the smaller ziplines first, to help prepare you (mentally and physically) for the longer, higher adventures.
Insider tip. Once popular only with Puerto Ricans, Toro Verde has seen increased interest from foreign visitors over the years. As such, we highly recommend making reservations ahead of time, else joining a tour, to guarantee availability once you arrive.
Río Camuy Cave Park (Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy)
UPDATE: At the time of writing, and since our last visit to Puerto Rico, Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy has closed temporarily. We have been unable to locate accurate information on when it will re-open (it has closed in the past due to hurricane damage, but always re-opened), but have chosen to share information with you about this attraction all the same.
About an hour-and-a-half by road directly west of the San Juan Cruise Port you’ll find the 268-acre Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy, one of Puerto Rico’s top natural attractions. You’ll find the main entrance to the park in Camuy, and it’s here you can explore Puerto Rico’s incredible underground limestone cave network and waterways.
First documented in the late 1950s (though with archaeological evidence suggesting the caves were explored hundreds of years earlier), this cave system has been carved out naturally by the Río Camuy, the third-largest underground river in the world. Río Camuy Cave Park includes over 10 miles (16km) of caverns, over 200 caves, and at least 17 different entrances to the overall cave system – though it is believed this is only a small fraction of the entire underground network. Visitors can visit several of the caves, including Clara Cave (Cueva Clara de Empalme - the main attraction, at 212m (695ft) long and 65m (213ft) high), Sumidero Tres Pueblos (Tri-Towns Sinkhole) and Cueva y Sumidero de Espiral (Spiral Cave and Sinkhole). When you’re inside, make sure to look out for some interesting limestone formations that include “the gorilla sitting at a table” and the Christmas tree.
Reservations are required to visit the caves and we recommend booking in advance, as daily visitors to the park are limited. It is possible to visit without a reservation, but tickets are issued on a first-come-first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early. The caves may also be closed if there has been heavy rainfall in the area. Bilingual tours are available with a professional guide (every hour, on the hour) and includes a headset for an audio guide to help you learn more about the geology and history of the area. There’s also a small gift shop, as well as an open-air waiting area complete with bathrooms, and food and souvenir vendors.
Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday (except for several major holidays) from 8am to 3pm. Entrance costs are US$18 for adults and US$13 for children aged 4-12. A senior discount is available and all tickets include the guided tour. We recommend allowing 2 hours for your visit.
Insider tip. The caves can be very dark! Make sure to bring a flashlight, or ensure you have enough battery on your phone to use its flashlight, inside the caves.
Insider tip. Inside the caves you’ll come across a “fountain of youth”, a natural spring from which you can drink (go on, you know you wanna try it!).
Insider tip. The walkway through the caves is often slippery and wet. Make sure to wear good shoes and use the handrails as necessary. Also be careful of low-hanging stalactites when inside the caves.
Insider tip. This activity may not be suited to those with mobility issues, as visitors must walk down a steep 205-step boardwalk to reach the entrance to the caves – and then back up again. A round-trip can take up to an hour, with sturdy, closed-toed shoes highly encouraged.
Feeling Hungry?
Fresh drinks menu at Bocas del Mar (Kioskos de Luquillo, Puerto Rico)
Since you’re already out and about, and you’ve probably worked up an appetite after all that adventure-seeking in nature, we highly recommend a quick detour on your way back to San Juan to visit the fabulous beachside food kiosks at Luquillo. Here you’ll find more than 30 family-owned restaurants, bars, and souvenir shop fronts, offering everything from local fried seafood, to smoothies and dragonfruit mojitos, to novel Puerto Rican souvenirs and live music … and everything in between!
We strolled the lively and authentic shop fronts for about 20 minutes before landing on a restaurant that seemed to offer the best menu, style and price to suit our tastes – Bocas del Mar. Service was quick and friendly, the menu (mostly authentic Puerto Rican cuisine) large, and the meals fresh and delicious! Like the majority of the bars and restaurants along “the strip”, Bocas del Mar was open-air and offered a wonderful view of the beach from the back of the kiosk. The Luquillo Kiosks are definitely the perfect pit-stop following a half- or full-day adventure outside San Juan!
Final Thoughts
Just chillin’ (Puerto Rico)
There’s no question that San Juan – the vibrant capital city of Puerto Rico – is worth exploring in depth, and indeed makes for an excellent starting point to any visit to Puerto Rico. But if time permits, we highly recommend considering spending additional time outside the city limits exploring more of what the Enchanted Island has to show you.
Whether it’s kayaking in glowing bays or hiking rain forests, spending a day relaxing on uninhabited islands or exploring vast networks of underground caves, or indulging in high-thrill activities through misty mountain peaks, these Puerto Riccan excursions will never leave you short of something to fill your day.
And whilst you’re touring around the island, take a moment to seek out glimpses of local life and authentic Puerto Rican culture in smaller towns, away from the tourist crowds … and ensure you satisfy your empty stomach with some of the most delicious cuisine the Caribbean serves up. Don’t be shy about stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new whilst you’re here.
I think it’s time to rent a car, get behind the wheel, step off the beaten path, and see where the roads take you – don’t you? Let’s start planning your trip to Puerto Rico!
