21 Best Weekend Getaways from San Juan (By a Local)
San Juan weekend getaways are the perfect way to see a ton of Puerto Rico without overcomplicating your itinerary.
I know it’s tempting to stick to the capital city, especially with so many fun and unique San Juan attractions. But with so many Puerto Rico gems less than 3 hours away, you should add at least one weekend trip to your vacation.
And as a Puerto Rico local I’ll help you choose the best destinations for your weekend getaway from San Juan.
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21 Best San Juan Weekend Getaways
Cabo Rojo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 30 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | Getting to Cabo Rojo from San Juan | 👉 Search Hotels in Cabo Rojo on Booking
While Isla Verde Beach is a tourist favorite, it has nothing on Cabo Rojo beaches. Located on the west coast, Cabo Rojo is a beach town with more than 100 beaches and more than five nature reserves.
The Boquerón State Forest is home to Los Morrillos Lighthouse, which should definitely be added to your Puerto Rico itinerary if you’re into sweeping views.
Getting there takes over two hours from Old San Juan, but as someone who has been there multiple times, I can tell you the things to see in Cabo Rojo are well worth the trip, especially for outdoor loving travelers.
Vieques
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 20 minutes to ferry terminal, 30 minutes on the ferry to Vieques | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | Best Hotels in Vieques | 👉 Search Hotels in Vieques on Booking
Just off Puerto Rico’s east coast, beach fans will find some of Puerto Rico’s most pristine beaches in Vieques. Vieques has beaches for snorkeling, diving, and swimming – whatever your flavor, it’s here.
The scenery and crystal-clear waters make Vieques perfect for families and couples alike. But, what you’ll enjoy most of all of Vieques’ attractions is Mosquito Bay, one of Puerto Rico’s bio bays, and the brightest in the world.
Of course, getting to Vieques from San Juan can be a hassle, as you depend on the ferry schedule. If you can splurge, opt for taking an airplane there.
Culebra
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 20 minutes to ferry terminal, 45 minutes on the ferry to Culebra | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | Best Culebra Hotels | 👉 Search Hotels in Culebra on Booking
When it comes to beautiful post-card perfect beaches, nothing beats Culebra’s beaches! Also off the east coast, Culebra is home to Flamenco Beach, considered one of the top beaches in Puerto Rico and the world.
What I like the most about this offshore archipelago (yes Culebra is also an archipelago!) is that it has the charm of a small town. You won’t find large hotels and condos crowding its coasts, but instead calming natural shores.
Most beaches are kid-friendly, as they are shallow and great for snorkeling. Prepare to spot everything from sea turtles in Tamarindo Beach to small sharks in Carlos Rosario beach.
Similar to the neighboring island of Vieques, you can get to Culebra either by ferry or by plane. Although it’s exhausting, you can go to Culebra and come back in a single day. I’ve done it myself!
Fajardo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | 👉 Search Hotels in Fajardo on Booking
Once a small fishing village, Fajardo’s popular attractions now make it a sought after destination by tourists, especially the Laguna Grande bio bay.
Fajardo’s shore offers some of the top Puerto Rico beaches like Seven Seas Beach, Playa Escondida, and Playa Colorá. This last one is a personal favorite for taking pictures!
The best of a weekend getaway in Fajardo is that you can also make day trips to offshore islands like Icacos.
Foodies can’t miss the area’s top-notch gastronomy, with dozens of restaurants serving fresh seafood and traditional Puerto Rican food.
El Yunque National Forest
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 45 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | 👉 Search Hotels in El Yunque on Booking
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States Forests System and one of the most popular Puerto Rico landmarks.
For nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts, exploring El Yunque in its entirety is the perfect weekend trip from San Juan. It houses top Puerto Rico waterfalls and some of the most challenging Puerto Rico hikes, like El Toro Trail.
You’ll find endless hotels and apartment rentals around El Yunque, from luxury to budget. I personally recommend a farm stay like Yuquiyu Treehouses, or camping, to add to the whole rainforest experience.
You can get plenty of shuttles and private tours from San Juan to El Yunque but renting a car in San Juan is recommended to explore with flexibility.
Luquillo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 50 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | 👉 Search Hotels in Luquillo on Booking
During your San Juan vacation, escape for a weekend to the coastal town of Luquillo. Although popular for its beaches, Luquillo is also famous for its food and cultural landscape.
For surfers, La Pared is the final stop, with frequent surf and strong currents that attracts surfing enthusiasts year-round. However, Balneario La Monserrate (aka Luquillo Beach) is the most popular beach in the area, with a shallow shore perfect for families.
Across this beach, the Luquillo Food Kiosks offer the best of the local cuisine and are one of Luquillo’s best activities.
If you’ve had enough of sand, sand, and saltwater (who does, honestly?), adventure into Luquillo’s mountainous region and find Las Paylas, a natural waterslide formed by the waters of El Yunque.
Some private shuttles and taxis can take you to Luquillo from San Juan if you don’t want to rent a car.
Ponce
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 40 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Best Hotels in Ponce | 👉 Search Hotels in Ponce on Booking
While Old San Juan has that old-world charm with cobblestone streets and fortresses surrounded by the San Juan Bay, it does get very crowded.
For a similar historical town with good restaurants and an acclaimed art scene, check out Ponce’s attractions. Ponce has a historic downtown filled with historical landmarks but without the throngs of people.
It also houses the Ponce Art Museum, one of the top Puerto Rico museums, and a variety of street art that art connoisseurs will enjoy. For beach bums, la Guancha stands as one of the most popular in the town plus is right by popular food kiosks in the area.
You can reach the town by driving from San Juan or booking a tour.
Guánica Dry Forest
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 20 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Guánica on Booking
Out of Puerto Rico’s forests, the Guánica Dry Forest is probably one of the most mesmerizing (and a personal favorite), stretching over five municipalities on the southwest coast.
Despite being a dry forest, this coastal forest has even more biodiversity than El Yunque, and it’s of UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves.
But while hiking and birdwatching are the big attractions here, I recommend photographers to bring their camera and hunt down the forest’s picture-perfect spots, including The Caprón Fortress and El Vigia Peak.
To get there, you’ll have to either rent a car or hire a taxi/private shuttle, as these are the best ways to get around Puerto Rico.
Isabela
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 50 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Isabela on Booking
Isabela is ideal for a quick weekend getaway from San Juan for surfers and beach bums. This beach town in the north is home to top Puerto Rico hotels and budget-friendly outdoor attractions.
There are plenty of free things to do in Isabela, including walking (or biking) through Paseo Lineal, snorkeling at Shack’s Beach, and visiting the Train Museum. But, if you’re willing to splurge a bit, I definitely recommend booking a horseback riding tour through the beach!
Do save for the food! The local restaurants are great for enjoying fresh seafood and some of the local treats like stuffed mofongo. In town, you’ll find a popular luxury hotel, the Royal Isabela, with a full-service spa, outdoor pool, golf course, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Utuado
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 30 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Utuado on Booking
Once destroyed by Hurricane Maria, Utuado has now recovered and ranks as one of the best destinations in Puerto Rico for couples and romantic getaways.
However, exploring this part of the countryside is not for the faint-hearted, as you’ll have to drive through narrow and curvy roads. Still, Utuado’s beauty is one of a kind and worth the trip (and motion sickness!).
Utuado’s best things to see include caves, rivers, canyons,and waterfalls. To that add the town also houses popular Puerto Rico farms like Finca Remedio, in which you can stay at!
History also comes to life in Utuado, where you can find important Taino archeological sites like the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park.
But even without going out to explore, the tranquility of the mountainous side will be enough for a perfect vacation.
La Parguera
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 15 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Destination Website | 👉 Search Hotels in La Parguera on Booking
La Parguera is a fishing town on the south coast that makes the best weekend getaway for beach and boat enthusiasts.
It’s home to La Parguera Nature Reserve, where you can kayak or sail to multiple mangrove cays. The most popular ones are Cayo Mata La Gata and Cayo Caracoles.
La Parguera also houses one of Puerto Rico’s bio bays, and it’s officially the only one out of them you can swim in!
If you want to combine both beach and nightlife, know that La Parguera is also known for being a lively destination during the weekends, with live events and crowds hopping between food kiosks.
Best of all, you can book tours on Viator that take you from San Juan to La Parguera, so you don’t have to rent a car.
Maunabo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 30 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Maunabo on Booking
Located on the southeast coast, Maunabo is a hidden gem ideal for couples and solo travelers that want to slow down and relax.
This coastal town has multiple beaches, rivers, and nature reserves. Staying on a budget is easy as many of the outdoor activities are free, including the Punta Tuna Wetlands Reserve, one of my recommended destinations for hiking and birdwatching.
Once in the reserve, don’t miss a visit to the infamous Punta Tuna Lighthouse, one of Puerto Rico’s lighthouses.
Foodies can’t miss the local crab stew known as salmorejo, but you’ll also find crab in most of the town’s cuisine.
Rincón
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 45 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Best Hotels in Rincon | 👉 Search Hotels in Rincón on Booking
Rincón offers the perfect combination of beaches and sunsets. Surfers fans rave about this beautiful town on the west coast, especially Domes Beach and Maria’s Beach, two of Rincón’s best beaches to catch waves.
Not far, Steps Beach attracts snorkelers, as one of the top places for snorkeling in Puerto Rico, with some of the best preserved elk-horn corals in Puerto Rico. Worry not! Rincón also has plenty of beaches ideal for swimming, like the Rincón Public Beach and Sandy Beach.
Downtown is a colorful neighborhood, where every Thursday night you’ll find a local market, with music, artisans, and food. It’s one of Rincón’s popular things to do!
Although you can find private shuttles that take you to this town, generally, it’s best to rent a car to explore it.
San Germán
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 25 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in San Germán on Booking
If you love San Juan’s historic sites, then you’ll love San Germán. Located in the west, San Germán is the second oldest town in Puerto Rico. Its downtown seems frozen in time, exhibiting historic structures including the Porta Coeli church, built in 1609.
After exploring downton, I recommend heading to the Maricao State Forest, which extends over ten thousand acres between San Germán, Sabana Grande, and Maricao. Go hiking, birdwatching, camping, or swim in one of the forest’s waterfalls, like El Pilón Waterfall.
San Germán is off-the-beaten-path for many tour operators, so you’ll likely need a rental car to get to this town.
Yabucoa
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 25 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Yabucoa on Booking
You’ll hardly ever find Yabucoa mentioned in tourism guides, and yet there is so much to do in the city for families, couples, and solo travelers.
This town houses hiking trails, rivers, and beaches with dramatic landscapes. It also has a colorful downtown with street art and is a great foodie destination. Within walking distance of the plaza, stop at Dulce&Sala’o By Chef Yey, one of the best restaurants on the east coast.
Since it’s a detour even for most Puerto Ricans, public transportation is limited in the town and you’d need a car to visit.
Manatí
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Manatí on Booking
With all the things to do in Manatí, you’d be missing out on a lot if you don’t escape to this beach town during your San Juan vacation.
Sitting on the north coast, Manatí is a popular destination for beach lovers with over a dozen beaches. While Mar Chiquita and La Esperanza Beach are the most popular for swimming, Los Tubos is also great for surfing.
But, Manatí is more than beaches! In the town, you’ll find a freshwater spring known as Manantial Guayaney as well as Hacienda La Esperanza, a historical plantation.
Getting here is a short car ride from San Juan, but you can book a tour from San Juan to Manati to visit too.
Arecibo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 25 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Arecibo on Booking
Arecibo is a top family-friendly destination in Puerto Rico. It offers beach fun, parks, rivers, and waterfalls. In particular, kids visiting the city will love stopping at Arecibo’s Lighthouse and Historical Park, where Puerto Rico’s history is interactive.
For something a little more adrenaline-inducing, the Tanamá Canyon offers thrilling fun, with tours that include rappelling, tubing, and caving.
Arecibo is also home to multiple caves, including the infamous Cueva del Indio. Remember, visiting is one of the many free things to do in Puerto Rico, so you don’t want to miss it.
If you’re not booking a car on your trip then check out this Arecibo tour with transportation from San Juan – it’s a great way to get the jist on just a day trip.
Aguadilla
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 2 hours 10 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | Best Hotels in Aguadilla | 👉 Search Hotels in Aguadilla on Booking
While Aguadilla is famous for its beaches, it’s also a paradise for foodies! This small town in the east has hundreds of restaurants, food trucks, and small kiosks. You’ll find everything from local cuisine to Asian cuisine.
But don’t leave this town without experimenting outdoors. Go snorkeling at Crash Boat Beach or camp at Playuela, an endangered coastal zone that activists are fighting for.
To refresh yourself another way, head with your kids to Las Cascadas Water Park, one of the best activities to do in Aguadilla.
You can either rent a car, book an Aguadilla tour through Viator, or arrive directly at Aguadilla’s airport.
Cayey
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 45 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Cayey on Booking
Cayey is one of the most visited mountain towns in Puerto Rico thanks to the Pork Highway.
This gastronomic route allows you to try every single Puerto Rican delicacy in a single place. Stopping and trying food at the different lechoneras will take foodies all weekend!
And while spending your days eating is all well and good, make sure to visit other local attractions like the Carite State Forest where you can swim in Charco Azul. For a more immersive experience try the El Pretexto food experience.
Driving in the mountains is a bit challenging, so you can opt for booking a Cayey tour to visit.
Hatillo
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 1 hour 30 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Hatillo on Booking
Famously recognized as the Puerto Rico town with more cows than inhabitants, it isn’t hard to guess why the best cheese and yogurt come from Hatillo. This beach town is known as the home of Vaca Negra, where you can take a cheese-making tour.
The beaches in Hatillo are worth a visit and are often considered hidden (and uncrowded) gems on the north coast, especially Playa Sardinera.
By the coast, you’ll also find Parque del Norte, a beachfront boardwalk ideal for touring with kids. From this town, it’s also easy to visit the Camuy Caves, Puerto Rico’s top caves.
Naranjito
🗺️ Distance from San Juan: 50 minutes | 📍 Google Maps | 👉 Search Hotels in Naranjito on Booking
Although small, Naranjito has plenty to offer for foodies and couples. The town has one of the Puerto Rican gastronomic routes where you can try local cuisine, which means you can hop between restaurants, bars, and bakeries in PR-152.
Chocolate lovers will especially get excited about this one, as one of the main highlights is Hacienda Terruño JS, where you can take cacao-making tours.
The small town is also home to La Plata Lake, popular for kayaking, and kayaking. Many families spend the day by the lake enjoying a picnic in the gazebos, but you can also tour the waters with La Plata Boat Trip.
Although it’s a short ride from San Juan, keep in mind you’ll be driving on mountainous roads if you decide to escape to this town.
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You’ve reached the end of my recommendations for weekend getaways from San Juan! Before you go, check out my epic list of fun Puerto Rico activities, and let me know in the comments which weekend getaway you plan to take. Safe travels!
