East of San Juan
Here we go! The East! Its eccentricity and relatively easier system to navigate due to its functional public transportation makes it a pleasure to explore while meeting locals and tourists combined. An island that can emanate distant tendencies, the east gives visitors an opportunity to really understand the people and the culture.
Caguas
The Creole heart of Puerto Rico.
Directions: You must rent a car to go to Caguas, unless you meet someone that is willing to take you
All Day
-
The Creole Heart Trail: a historic and cultural planned 12-stop tour to 8 museums, public art expos, arts & crafts galleries, monuments, and historical sites.​
1. Oficina de Turismo: The cultural tour begins here, originially the first headquarters of La Democracia newspaper. Calle Muñoz Rivera esquina Segundo Ruiz Belvis
2. Casa AlcaldÃa/ Museo de Caguas: Architecture from 1887 and formerly the King's House is now dedicated to the preservation and history of the Creole city. Calle Muñoz Rivera
3. Museo del Tabaco: Created to conserve the important history of an industry that sustained the town for many years. Calle Betances, 87, esquina Luis Padial​
4. Museo de Arte: Museum that promotes the inner beauty of the town through the visual arts. Calle Padial, esquina Segundo Ruiz Belvis​
5. Centro de Bellas Artes: A three-level structure that introduces the best works of international and local performing arts. Calle Padial, esquina Ruiz Belvis​
6. Casa del Trovador: A place for t​he​ preservation and celebration of traditional singing, where they hold workshops and activities. Calle Alejandro Tapia y Riviera, 10​
7. Casa del Compositor Héctor Flores Osuna: House of the most prolific composers in Puerto Rico. Calle Segundo Ruiz Belvis, 46​
8. Casa Rosada Abelardo DÃaz Alfaro: A pink house, where the first literary voice of Puerto Rico lived. Calle Intendente Alejandro RamÃrez, 12​
9. Centro Musical Crillo José Ignacio Quintón: A musical center dedicated to the author of the beautiful dance "El Coqui." Calle Segundo Ruiz Belvis, esquina Intendente Alejandro RamÃrez​
10. Catedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús: Situated in the same land of the first shrine in the village of Barrero in the 18th century. Calle Manuel Corchado Juarbe​
11. Plaza Santiago R. Palmer: The plaza has many notable structures, relevant to the history of Caguas. Calles Muñoz Rivera, Betances, Corchado y Ruiz Belvis​
12. Museo de Artes Populares: Pays tribute to local artists whose work are recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Calle Betances esquina Padial​
Santurce, Carolina and LoÃza
Directions: Take the A5 to Santurce
-
​Museum of Art of Puerto Rico: Located in Santurce, this beautiful architectural museum is a must for art lovers. Museum of Contemporary Art, its sister, is also a must-visit.
-
La Placita or Plaza del Mercado: This open-air plaza of bars and restaurants was very Dominican when I went a few years back, each bar blasting either Bachata or Merengue. It's worth bar-hopping, experiencing the San Juan nightlife and meeting friendly locals. Parada 18, between Ponce de Leon and Baldorioty de Castro
La Bodeguita del Medio in La Placita plays Salsa music every Thursday.
-
Krash Club: still, the most popular gay club in Puerto Rico, ​1257 Juan Ponce de León Avenue, Santurce
Directions: Take the A5 bus to Isla Verde, make sure to ask the bus driver where to get off
-
Carolina Beach: A less touristic beach compared to many others around the San Juan area, this beach is not too close to the heavy crowds and not so far away from the center of activity of the capital.
Directions: You may have to find a local to take you here or rent a car, little transportation comes here
-
LoÃza Festivals:
- Mayombe Carnival in February, ​
- San Patricio Patron Festival in March
- Santiago Apóstol Festival in July

-
San Patricio Church: one of Puerto Rico's oldest Catholic parish churches located in the main plaza of LoÃza​
-
​Piñones: A beachfront community of kiosks and local eateries to eat; the most popular kiosk being "El Boricua."
-
Maria de la Cruz Cave: This cave discovered in 1948 became an important landmark because it provided evidence of the first inhabitants on the island dating back to the archaic period.​
Rio Piedras
Directions: From Old San Juan, take the M3 to Sagrado Corazón and then take the Tren Urbano to Rio Piedras or the M1 to Rio Piedras Terminal. Buses are 50 cents and the train is 75 cents.

Early morning
-
Paseo de Diego: A relatively long, run-down passageway with some shops selling music, instruments, clothes and much more. Here would be a good opportunity to buy music of Puerto Rico in the many music shops.
-
Blocks of outdoor shopping: Walk to the middle of the town and hop around all the stores and shop in all the madness. You can find very cheap souvenirs, clothes shoes and little attractive items, like colorful coin purses and wood flutes.
Lunch
-
Mercado de Rio Piedras: This huge air-conditioned building houses many vendors selling fresh vegetables and fruits as well as fish, meat, souvenirs and herbs. ​Order the bacalao salad with rice and beans at the food court or any of their other delicious Criollo dishes. for lunch. In the middle of the market, there is a brightly painted jÃbaro (poor farmer) on the wall surrounded by fruits and veggies.​ The market is open 9am-6pm, Monday through Saturday and Sunday mornings​
Rest of the Afternoon
-
University of Puerto Rico: This could potentially be a security hazard when my friends and I were able to walk into the university without any questions. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for the no hassle admission because the controversial campus has huge murals showing the political side of the school, given that the institute has constant student protests. The gardens are paradise so much it almost made me want to apply. Avenida Ponce de Leon​
-
​LibrerÃas (Bookstores): Oh my! There are endless mountains of books throughout the many bookstores located on one block. You may need more than a whole day to find what you want. If you are as obsessed with reading as I am, especially with classics and Latin American literature, then this is Utopia! ​
-
Murals: Look to the side, up, down and in front of you because Rio Piedras is an outdoor museum with all their captivating murals waiting for you. You can spend a whole day discovering, observing and taking pictures of the street art.
Rio Grande, Luquillo and Fajardo
Directions: The first time I went to El Yunque, it was a tour which included visiting Luquillo Beach. When I went recently, I met a local who took my friends and I in exchange for gas. Your third option would be to rent a car.
Morning
-
El Yunque National Forest: Located on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains in Rio Grande and expanding 28,000 acres of land, El Yunque is the biggest extension of public land in Puerto Rico and the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System. There are endless opportunities to explore the immense forest due to its hiking trail systems. Many tourists visit Las Minas waterfalls year-round, making this area extremely crowded. I suggest taking a dip in the ice cold fresh water where there are little people. Ahh, peace!

One of the things visitors wouldn't think about is staying overnight in El Yunque, but it is definitely an option. Check here for places to stay.
Directions: Renting a car would be best.
Afternoon
-
Luquillo Beach: This huge plantation of shady palm trees and glistening sand is the most popular beach in the San Juan area.​
​Directions to Vieques or Culebra, from Old San Juan to Fajardo:
Wake up extremely early, around 8am! Take the M3 to Sagrado Corazón, then the train to Rio Piedras. You can also take the M1 bus to Rio Piedras but it takes longer.
Or you can take the T5 to Rio Piedras straight from Old San Juan but I heard it also takes long.
Once you arrive in Rio Piedras, ask around for the station where the publicos go to Fajardo. The trip will take about 2 hours from Rio Piedras.
The price of the publico varies on how many people are going to be on the bus. The average price is $50. So if there is 5 people going then each person will pay $10; if its just you then you choose to pay $50.
After getting to Fajardo, purchase your ticket at the booth for $2 to Vieques or Culebra Island. The ride is like 45 minutes.