I'm from Puerto Rico and these are 11 activities I think every tourist should do around San Juan, from rainforest hikes to rum tastings (2024)

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Explore the forts of Old San Juan.

There are two forts in Old San Juan: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristóbal, on which the Spanish began construction in 1539 and 1634 respectively. Both are open to the public for visitation — one ticket includes access to both forts — and include scenic picture spots and exhibits to learn about the forts as the first line of defense for the city. El Morro is on a hill and gets a great breeze, so people often fly kites on the lawn.

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Learn about Puerto Rican culture in Loiza.

Loiza is a neighborhood in San Juan that prides itself on preserving Afro Latino culture, so I highly recommend exploring the area if you crave substance and immersion in your travels.

There's a small store and museum called Artesanias Castor Ayala, where you'll find handmade vejigante masks typically used during Carnaval.At Taller de Bomba N'Zambi, you can take a bomba class, dancing on the beach to rhythmic drums under expert instruction.

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Take a street-art tour of Santurce.

Santurce is reminiscent of Miami's Wynwood Walls project, where the city transformed an "undesirable" location through street art. Start your tour at El Patio del Solé, a restaurant built in the owner's family home that serves classic Puerto Rican food to give you energy for your walk. Some murals in the surrounding blocks take up entire facades of buildings. You can explore on your own or book a tour with an artist that participated in painting some of the works through The Art Walk PR.

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Visit the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico.

You don't even have to go inside Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico to appreciate its artwork since the entrance itself is a magnificent mural. This is one of the premier museums in Puerto Rico with larger-than-life art installations, with topical social issues inspiring many pieces.

When I went, the art vividly elucidated topics including domestic violence, the diaspora, and feminism. There's also a 2-and-½ acre sculpture garden behind the museum where you'll see 13 statues and a 55,000-gallon koi pond.

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Get an adrenaline rush at Toro Verde Urban Park.

Toro Verde is a fun adventure park that's famous on the island for their zipline in the mountains of Orocovis, one of the largest in the world. They recently expanded and opened an urban zipline at Distrito T-Mobile, San Juan's newest nightlife-and-entertainment venue.

Fly Superman-style over the dancing fountains on the Blazing Bull, or fly seated through the main plaza on the Sky Bull. Besides the ziplines, there's also an obstacle course, a climbing wall, an arcade, and a restaurant.

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Take a day trip to El Yunque National Forest.

El Yunque is Puerto Rico's national rainforest and the only rainforest in the US National Forest System. The visitor's center, "El Portal," reopened in 2022 after being closed for five years following Hurricane Maria. It has new interactive exhibits, artwork made with reclaimed wood from after the hurricane, accessible trails, and tours in Spanish and English. There's also a new introductory movie to the park that Benicio del Toro, a Puerto Rican actor, narrates.

Popular trails include La Mina Falls and the Mount Britton Tower Trail. I recently climbed up the Mount Britton Tower Trail and it's one of my favorite viewpoints in El Yunque. If you're hiking, wear non-slip shoes and bring plenty of water. There are no bathrooms or fountains along the trail. There is a café in El Portal, but it's best to bring your own snacks.

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Try kayaking at night.

While I recommend kayaking in one of Puerto Rico's three bioluminescent baysif you have time to travel outside of San Juan, kayaking at night with Night Kayak off the shore of Condado is a good option if you're not able to go far from the capital or if you're visiting during a full moon, when there's limited visibility.

LED lights illuminate the kayaks, and the tours provide life vests and glow-in-the-dark body paint for some extra fun. It's an enjoyable, non-strenuous activity where views of the night cityscape reward you.

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Take a food tour of Old San Juan.

There's no better way to orient yourself in a city than by tasting your way through it. I recommend signing up with Spoon for a three-hour guided walking tour of Old San Juan, either in the morning or at sunset, where you'll sample everything from authentic Puerto Rican coffee to mofongo along the way.

I especially appreciate how knowledgeable the Spoon guides are, giving you the history of San Juan as you go along and pointing out intriguing architectural details about the area. They also offer cooking classes in case you want to make the recipes yourself.

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Go rum tasting.

Rum enthusiasts consider Puerto Rico the rum capital of the world, with six local rums that have earned Rums of Puerto Rico quality seals, two of which are within easy reach of San Juan. Go to the Bacardi Factory for a tour that includes a free drink and sample of reserve rum not sold anywhere else in the world.

Another option is to head to Hacienda Santa Ana and the Ron del Barrilito distillery, where you can tour the premises, see the freedom barrel that the distillery is saving for the day of Puerto Rico's independence, and sample Ron del Barillito 5 Stars, which retails at $750 per 750-milliliter bottle.

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Catch a game at the city's ultimate sports restaurant.

Arena Medalla in Distrito T-Mobile is an ode to Puerto Rican sports legends and one of the liveliest places to spend an afternoon or evening. It's more than a restaurant; it's a tribute to Puerto Rican triumph. Murals on the walls depict local legends in action, including Monica Pugh, the first athlete to win a gold medal for Puerto Rico at the Olympics. A statue of Roberto Clemente greets you at the entrance, along with the names of Puerto Rican Major League Baseball players, and a horizontal-flag installation serves as an indoor canopy.

They have live entertainment, beer pong, ping pong, darts, a life-sized Scrabble board, pool tables, and three private karaoke rooms. The menu includes burgers, chicken wings, tacos, and more — there's also self-serve draft beer.

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Have a picnic by the bay or the beach.

If you're looking for a romantic, relaxed activity, consider having a picnic by the bay or the beach. Oasis Picnic, a local company, will set up the picnic for you, complete with picnic tables, pillows, basket, tulle, and centerpieces.

They also provide food and drinks with a variety of different menu options, ranging from grazing boxes of cheeses and fruits to full pizzas and pasta dishes. I recommend this for special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays.