One Week in Puerto Rico: The Perfect 7 Day Itinerary

Puerto Rico is the perfect destination for travelers looking for a mix of adventure and relaxation. In just one week in Puerto Rico, you can explore the colorful streets of Old San Juan, hike through the trails of El Yunque Rainforest, try your hand at surfing in Rincón, and unwind on the many beautiful beaches this island has to offer. So pack your bags and get ready for an amazing week in PRdise!

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The best time of year to spend one week in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 80 degrees, so it’s pretty warm there year-round. That being said, you’ll definitely want to avoid hurricane season, which runs from June-November.

If you’re trying to escape cold winter weather, opt to go December-February, but expect higher prices. March-May is more of a shoulder season so it can often be cheaper. I visited in mid-April, but if you go in the spring make sure to avoid Easter since many places will be closed.

What to pack for one week in Puerto Rico

Since the weather here is hot & humid, you’ll want to pack accordingly. I brought lots of lightweight/flowy dresses, sandals, and swimwear. You might want to bring a hat as well since you’ll be in the sun often, and of course, plenty of sunscreen – this one is a favorite of mine & great for reapplying throughout the day.

Another thing you’ll need is some form of water shoes (ugly as they may be). These are necessary for El Yunque Rainforest and some of the rocky beaches around the island. I brought my Chacos, which worked perfectly. I’d also recommend having a backpack for the same reason. I’ve had this backpack for years, and it’s great for hikes, day trips, etc.

How to get around Puerto Rico

You’ll need to rent a car to get around the island. I opted to get one at the airport because I found that easiest, but if you follow this itinerary, you technically won’t need one until day 3. The great thing about Puerto Rico is that it only takes a few hours to get from one coast to the other, so you don’t have to spend much time driving.

Day 3: El Yunque Rainforest

Visiting El Yunque Rainforest is a must while in Puerto Rico! It’s an easy day trip from San Juan (around a 45-minute drive) and well worth the visit. Once you get to El Yunque, you’ll be met with waterfalls, amazing viewpoints, and hikes that take you through the rainforest.

I have an extensive guide to visiting El Yunque that covers everything from how to get there, what to wear, trail difficulty, and more!

After El Yunque, I highly recommend visiting Charco el Hippie. This local spot has multiple waterfalls, swim spots, and cliff jumping. You can find more information on Charco el Hippie in my El Yunque guide.

Day 4: Playa Las Golondrias

Now it’s time to hop in your car and head west to spend the day at Playa Las Golondrias. This beach was one of my favorites during our time in Puerto Rico, and it’s easy to spend a whole day here.

It takes about 45 minutes to get there from San Juan, and it’s free to park/enter. If you’re anything like me and the thought of sitting in a beach chair for hours sounds like torture (hello ADHD 🙃) Las Golondrias is perfect because there are multiple beaches, trails, and a cave full of sea urchins to explore!

First is the beach pictured above, which I would consider the main one. Here you can swim in the cove and walk on the rocks that surround it. Once you’ve spent some time here, head to the left of the cove, where you’ll see steps that lead up into the trees.

Follow the path to the right and you’ll come upon a sign “Cueva de las Golondrias” which will take you to the cave. There are several trails that go through this area, and we wandered for a bit before actually finding the sign, so don’t get discouraged if you get a bit lost!

Once you get there, you’ll see TONS of sea urchins and some small fish. You’ll definitely need your water shoes – flimsy flip-flops ain’t gonna cut it here! But most importantly, make sure to be careful and not disturb any wildlife. Also be aware of the waves coming into the cave, as they can get strong depending on the tides.

After you’ve explored this spot, head back to the trails and follow the path down to a stream that leads to the next beach.

This beach was more secluded than the first one and had fewer people. The water was crystal clear and very calm too. If you want to relax, this is the perfect spot to do it!

Now for the not so fun part – leaving and making the two hour drive to Rincón. For this reason, we didn’t stay and watch the sunset, although I’m sure it would’ve been amazing.

Day 7: Crash Boat Beach – Aguadilla

Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla is another must while spending one week in Puerto Rico! It takes about 45 minutes to get there from Rincón and is an easy stop to make while heading back to San Juan. With crystal clear waters for snorkeling, a pier for jumping off, and fresh pina coladas made to order on the beach, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here!

When you’re ready for lunch, head to Cocoloba for delicious mahi mahi tacos, ceviche, and other fresh dishes. It’s located right off the beach, so you don’t need to go far. They have other drink options too – if you don’t want the best pina colada you’ve ever had in a fresh pineapple that is! There were also some food vendors set up along the beach, although they only took cash, so we didn’t try those out.

After lunch, head out to do some snorkeling (we brought our gear from Rincón) and you’ll see lots of fish swimming around the pier. Then head to the very end of the largest pier to jump off into the water. We had a blast doing this and stayed out there for a long time because it was so much fun. There was also a guy on the pier throwing bread to the fish so they’d swim around you (if you wanted) after you jumped in.

Depending on your departing flight, you could stay in Rincón another night or head back to San Juan to stay there instead after your day in Aguadilla.

Other notable spots in Puerto Rico

Anytime I plan a trip, I do a TON of research and typically find more to do than I have enough time for. This was the case while planning how to spend one week in Puerto Rico because there’s so much to see & do there. You could add 2-3 more days on the island to include some of these amazing places that were on my list:

• Cascada Gozalandia (~1 hour from Rincón) area for swimming with multiple waterfalls
• Cabo Rojo (~1.25 hours from Rincón) very southern tip of the west coast of the island where you’ll find beautiful beaches, including Puente de Piedra
• La Parguera (~1 hour from Rincón) go here to see the mangroves and take a bioluminescent tour at night. I actually had a tour scheduled for this, but it was storming the day of and got canceled 😭
• Vieques (ferry from Ceiba or flight from San Juan) home to Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world! I desperately wanted to visit this island during my trip, but didn’t have enough time. Plan to spend 2-3 days in Vieques.

Save this post for your future trip to Puerto Rico! 📌

Hi! I’m Jordan

A travel addict who loves nothing more than planning my next adventure – and sharing my tips with you! If you want to create memories in some of the best places on Earth without breaking the bank, you’ve come to the right place. From amazing hikes in the U.S. to historic cities in Europe and relaxing beaches in the Caribbean, here you’ll find guides to my favorite destinations to help you plan your next trip! {LEARN MORE}