15 Fun Things to Do in Luquillo
With all the great things to do in Luquillo, it isn’t surprising that locals prefer it over other destinations in Puerto Rico.
Located in the northeast of Puerto Rico, Luquillo is often one of my go-to towns when looking for activities within an hour of San Juan. The town combines some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico -aka La Montserrate- with the rainforest, home to some of the top sites in Puerto Rico.
I’m a Puerto Rico local, and in this post, I’ve put together some of the best activities to do in Luquillo for first-time visitors. Let’s get into it!
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15 Best Things to Do in Luquillo
El Yunque National Forest
Discover the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
One of my favorite destinations in Puerto Rico for hiking, El Yunque National Forest extends through multiple east coast towns, including Luquillo.
Shortly known as El Yunque, the rainforest is known as the sole tropical rainforest in the United States Forest System, and the heavy amount of rain it receives yearly makes it one of the most biodiverse, too.
The rainforest houses four different types of forest (the dwarf forest is my favorite!), plus numerous waterfalls and swimming holes located on Luquillo’s side.
La Monserrate Beach
Swim in the turquoise waters of an award-winning beach.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 889-5871 | Hours: 8:30 am – 5 pm daily | Parking: $4-5
You might often find La Monserrate Beach listed as one of Puerto Rico’s top beaches, and honestly, it is well worth the hype, even among locals.
Located a short ride from El Yunque, La Monserrate Beach is a long half-moon beach with soft sand, turquoise waters, and lots of palms and trees where you can find shade from the Caribbean’s blazing sun.
La Monserrate Beach has been recognized as a Blue Flag Beach multiple times for its facilities, which means you’ll find bathrooms, showers, lifeguards, and gazebos on site. There are plenty of rentals, too.
👉 Pro Tip: Closed parking lot? Just park at the nearby Luquillo Food kiosks and cross over to the beach.
Las Pailas
Slide through natural water slides in the mountains of Luquillo.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 8 am – 5:30 pm daily | Entrance: $10 per car for parking + $1 per person to access the trail to the river
Las Pailas is one of the best waterfalls in Puerto Rico to visit on a short day trip from San Juan. This waterfall, formed by the Pithaya River, runs over a 30-degree angle rock formations, creating a natural waterslide that ends in a waterhole below.
The hike to the river is fairly easy and short, but it can get muddy and slippery when it rains. Down the river, there is a smaller slide, a natural pond for swimming, and a rope for adventure lovers.
The river itself is free, but the access to it is, for now, through private property. But, on the days this house is closed, you can access through the back of other houses.
👉 Love Adventure? Book an El Yunque tour with Viator to enjoy a 2-in-1 adult day trip with a hike and waterslide adventure.
Luquillo Food Kiosks
Hop from kiosk to kiosk enjoying Puerto Rican delicacies.
As a foodie, you’ll find plenty of places to eat in Luquillo, including the infamous Luquillo Food Kiosks.
These 60-plus kiosks aligned next to each other right across Luquillo Beach are one of my favorite destinations in Puerto Rico to try some of the best Puerto Rican staples like bacalaitos, alcapurrias, and mofongo.
But, you’ll also find restaurants with international cuisine. Make sure to stop at the souvenir shops too. Most kiosks are open daily in the afternoon, but I prefer visiting on weekdays as it gets very crowded and loud during the weekends.
Carabali Rain Forest Adventure Park
Experience El Yunque while horseback riding.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 889-4954 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5:30 pm daily
Carabali Rain Forest Adventure Park is one of the most popular haciendas in Puerto Rico. This place promises a fun-filled, family-friendly outing regardless of the day or the season.
You can pick between an ATV countryside adventure or a horseback riding tour, both through the infamous El Yunque rainforest.
If you would rather visit the coast, there is also an option to ride at the beach. There is a restaurant on site that will add a memorable meal to your rainforest experience.
Playa La Pared
Catch waves in this surfer’s heaven in Luquillo.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
La Pared Beach is a famous surfing beach in the east of Puerto Rico with strong waves coming from the Atlantic Ocean, La Pared attracts surfing enthusiasts from all around the island.
One of its best perks? It’s accessible from downtown.
On weekends, the atmosphere turns lively in the surrounding bars and restaurants.
Even if you’re not into surfing, La Pared is great for trekking along the beach and taking beautiful photos. You can also rent a bike to ride down Herminio Diaz Street.
👉 Want to Learn Surfing? Book a surfing class on the famous La Pared Beach in Luquillo.
Corredor Ecológico del Noreste
Wander through almost 3,000 acres of virgin nature.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 534-3222 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily, Closed Sat-Sun | Entrance: Free
Very few people know about Corredor Ecológico del Noreste in Luquillo, but it’s a must-visit if you’re looking for an uncrowded place in the city. Corredor Ecológico del Noreste is a nature reserve with almost 3,000 acres of land from Luquillo to Fajardo.
The nature reserve hosts beaches, forests, wetlands, and coral reefs. It’s home to the astonishing Playa La Selva, a nesting site for sea turtles.
🚗 How To Get There: You can rent a Jeep or 4×4 vehicle using Discover Cars to reach the beach through the muddy and bumpy main road. If renting a car in Puerto Rico isn’t your preferred option, you can reach the beach after a 40-minute hike from La Pared Beach.
Angelito Trail
Hike and swim in one of the rivers of El Yunque National Forest.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Angelito Trail is part of El Yunque Rainforest hiking trails, and you can visit it from Luquillo.
The trail is easy to access and, after a 10-minute hike, you will come across Charcos Los Angelitos, a waterhole formed by the Mameyes River.
There aren’t any facilities in the area, so you’ll need to pack all the hiking essentials for a day trip adventure. Keep in mind that the area is prone to flash floods, so always check the weather before visiting.
Puente Roto
Have a family picnic in this riverside area.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Another great spot for relaxing outdoors in Luquillo is Puente Roto. This riverside area is popular among locals for escaping the rush of the city. It’s also one of the easiest spots to access the Mameyes River in El Yunque National Forest.
There aren’t any facilities in the area, so make sure to go prepared with everything you might need. Hiking enthusiasts can hike up or down the river but should wear water shoes, as rocks are often slippery.
Finca de Cacao La PruVite
Taste freshly made hot chocolate with local cacao.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 710-5619 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 6:30 pm Thurs-Sat by reservation
Chocolate enthusiasts can’t miss a stop at Finca de Cacao La PruVite during their Luquillo tours. La Finca de Cacao La PruVite cultivates organic cacao and visitors can tour the farm and learn about the whole harvesting process.
You can also enjoy drinks and desserts made with the farm’s cacao. When you make your reservation, you can choose to visit early to enjoy a fresh breakfast that includes drinks and dishes with cacao.
Costa Azul Beach
Watch the sunrise on this beautiful beach.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Costa Azul Beach is another picturesque beach you can find on the coasts of Luquillo, with reddish sand and contrasting turquoise waters.
The beach is a top spot if you want to see the sunrise and find out why the city is known as La Capital del Sol (the sun’s capital).
Surrounded by restaurants, rentals, and awesome places to stay, the beach is also a short walk away from Playa Azul.
Booking.com
Finding the perfect place to stay in Luquillo is made easy with Booking.com. There is a wide selection of hotels and inns, depending on your preferences.
Parroquia San José de Luquillo
Visit this peculiar church across the town center.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 889-2590 | Hours: 9 am – 1 pm Tues-Fri for visits, Sat-Sun for masses
For those looking for activities outside of the beach, a stop at Parroquia San José in downtown Luquillo is a must. This historical church, founded in 1797 and remodeled in 1931, boasts unique wood carvings on its altar.
Unlike other catholic religious images, the wood carvings in Parroquia San José de Luquillo combine both religious and natural images. People can find paintings of landscapes and carvings of animals throughout the altar.
This church is also one of the few in Puerto Rico that has an English mass every Sunday at 7:30 am.
Punta Bandera
Soak in the natural landscape of Punta Bandera.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
All the way east of Moserrate Beach, you’ll find Punta Bandera. Far more quiet than its neighboring beaches and a lot more paradisiacal, Punta Bandera is my preferred spot on the coast of Luquillo.
During the low tide season, the tide recedes and exposes numerous small pools of water filled with marine life, which is probably why you’ll find people fishing here. You might find people camping on this side of the beach, too.
Punta Bandera is great for taking a walk or simply sitting down to enjoy the beach landscape.
Festival del Tinglar
Catch this local festival in honor of the largest marine turtle species.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Every April, the Festival del Tinglar (Leatherback Sea Turtle Festival) takes place in Luquillo’s Plaza. The festival provides workshops, conferences, and orientations about the efforts to protect Puerto Rico’s coasts and marine species, including the leatherback sea turtle.
The festival also celebrates the start of this turtle’s nesting season, which goes from late February to June.
Besides that, you’ll find local artisans, food kiosks, and live entertainment.
Laguna Grande
Kayak in one of Puerto Rico’s bio bays.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Book a Laguna Grande Tour on Viator
A short ride from Luquillo, in the city of Fajardo, you’ll find one of the three bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico.
Known as Laguna Grande, this body of water offers visitors a chance to appreciate the rare phenomenon of bioluminescence.
Travelers can visit on a kayak or boat tour or by taking a walking tour with Para La Naturaleza. I loved the boat tour as it allowed me to admire the glowing water without worrying about tipping over.
Make sure to visit on a night with a new moon to appreciate the glow at its best!
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👉 Read Next: Puerto Rico Bachelorette Party Guide
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Thanks for reading about the top things to do in Luquillo! Wondering what else you can do in Puerto Rico? Continue reading my list of the popular activities to do in Puerto Rico.
Have fun discovering the things to do in Luquillo!
Is the beach in Luquillo calm? We are traveling in January/February and looking for calmer waters.
Hi Patty! Overall the beaches have very strong waves and currents during the months you’re visiting, particularly on the north coast. Luquillo Beach (Balneario de Montserrate) tends to be calmer, but you should check out the local ocean conditions during your visit. You can check out beaches with natural barriers such as Escambron Beach, Isla de Cabras, Poza del Obispo, and La Pocita. Beaches on the south and southwest coasts are also calmer during these months. Hope that helps!
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you so much for your review of Luquillo! My wife and I are vacationing there in early spring! This helps a great deal! Happy travels!
Hey Vanessa! Would love to hear what you think would be the best place to stay for a 48 hour bachelorette party. We’re arriving Friday at noon and departing Sunday around the same time. We’re going to the bio bay in Farjado Friday night and hiking for a bit in El Yunque on Saturday. Would we be better off staying in Luquillo, which is closer to those two attractions, or in Old San Juan, which has more options for food/bars. We’re not huge partiers, but options are nice. I’ve also heard that driving in Old San Juan can be crazy?
Tambien tiene luquillo a Corcovado Adventures zipline park beautiful and the people who work are very professional and save for the all family’s of world 🌎 I recommend 💯%