14 Places In Puerto Rico That’ll Look Great On Your Instagram

Puerto Rico is not exactly a best-kept travel secret. It’s a Caribbean island known for its natural beauty, amazing food, and rich culture, and it’s been a longtime favorite with American travelers because you don’t need a visa to go (Puerto Rico is an American territory) and most people there speak at least some English. But too many of those who make it to Puerto Rico, known by locals as the Island of Enchantment, limit their experience of the island to the capital, San Juan, and don’t take the time to see the other amazing sights the rest of the island has to offer.

So, whether you’re planning to go sometime soon, or you just want to see what all the fuss is about, here are 14 places in Puerto Rico that are truly worth a visit and will look amazing on your Instagram.

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Old San Juan

Along with La Habana, Cartagena de Indias, and Mérida, Old San Juan (the capital’s historical district) is one of the most beautiful Spanish colonial cities in the Caribbean. Founded in 1521, it’s also one of the oldest cities on this hemisphere, boasting imposing stone walls, cobbled streets, picturesque pastel architecture, and views of the Atlantic from almost everywhere you look. It’s impossible not to fall in love with it, and feel like you’ve been transported to a different time.

@oscura811

El Morro

Built in the 16th century and declared a World Heritage Site in 1983, Castillo San Felipe del Morro is Old San Juan’s crown jewel, a stone citadel at the tip of the city, looking out toward the ocean. The structure itself, surrounded by water and an open rolling plain of green where children fly kites and families have picnics, is simply majestic, and it’ll make even the least enthusiastic traveler’s imagination run wild, picturing a history of soldiers and pirates. Once you’re inside, every nook and cranny provides intimate peeks at the ocean, and you’ll feel like El Morro is your own personal playground.

@exploremyparadise

El Yunque

El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, and it is a must for anyone visiting Puerto Rico. Only an hour’s drive away from San Juan to the east, El Yunque is a breathtaking fantasy of a jungle, packed with waterfalls, trails and hikeable peaks that’ll give you unforgettable views. It boasts some of the cleanest air on the island, greenery for as far as the eye can see, and even indigenous petroglyphs that you won’t find anywhere else.

@welovepuertorico

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Cueva Ventana

This hidden gem of a view is tucked away at the top of a cliff in the north of the island, in the town of Arecibo. It’s a cave that, once you walk all the way to the exit, opens out to a “window” of sorts, overlooking the Río Grande. Words cannot do justice to the experience of crawling your way out of the guano-slippery darkness and into the glorious, open view of the river and the valley below. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’ve got the knees for it, and you’re not afraid of the dark, it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.

@ana.and.clarixa

Piñones

The neighborhood of Piñones in Loíza is only a short drive away from Old San Juan, but it feels like a different country. It is a seafood and fritter haven sitting right on the beach that also offers some pretty exciting nightlife options. It’s everyone’s favorite place to take their family for the day and enjoy the water, but it’s also a neighborhood of great cultural and historical importance, since it is one of the few communities on the island that really celebrates their African heritage.

@welovepuertorico

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

At the southwesternmost tip of the island, there is the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, a historical heritage site and also the home to one of the most dramatic and breathtaking views in Puerto Rico. Walking around the lighthouse’s grounds, you’ll find plenty of spots to take great photos with the ocean in the background, and once you’re done with the selfies, you can climb down to Playa Sucia and enjoy one of the chillest and most secluded beaches on the west coast.

@lala_vibes_with_you

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Tamaná River

If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie and picturesque sights aren’t enough for you, the Tamaná River will call your name. The river, which begins in the mountain town of Utuado, is located in a green, tropical valley, and offers visitors every single kind of extreme outdoors adventure you can think of, from rappelling, to cave tubing, to spelunking. For those who are a little less daring, there are also small boat tours and walking expeditions. Whatever way you choose to explore it, just don’t miss Río Tamaná.

@dragonflygroup

Playa Flamenco: a world class beach

Recently named the third best beach in the world by TripAdvisor, Playa Flamenco is most Puerto Ricans’ pick for the most beautiful beach, and it’s not hard to see why. Located in Culebra, one of the two smaller island towns adjacent to the “Big Island,” you need to take a ferry or get on a plane to get to Playa Flamenco, but even this extra step is completely worth it. The beach is stunning, with calm, clear blue waters and the whitest powder-soft sand, making it look more like a “beach desktop wallpaper” than a real-life natural wonder.

@moluvart

Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques

Located in the neighboring island town of Vieques, Mosquito Bay is a bioluminescent bay that you have to see to believe. The Guinness Book of World Records named it the brightest of only five bioluminescent bays in the world, so it’s safe to say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The glowing effect is produced by tiny organisms called “dinos” that burst into light when they come in contact with other organisms. You could visit the beach during the day, but you can only appreciate the bioluminescent effect at night, especially during the New Moon.

@yendotandil

Guavate: The Pork Highway

There are plenty of delicious and gram-worthy restaurants all over the island, but Guavate holds a special place in every pork eater’s heart because it is 100% devoted to all things pork and traditional Puerto Rican delicacies. All along the “Pork Highway,” about 30 miles south of San Juan, you’ll find open-air eateries where they roast pork and cook every traditional side you can think of, from rice and peas, to pasteles, fried sweet potatoes and yam, and even blood sausage. Anywhere you go, you’ll get a slice of the most authentic Puerto Rican culture and the best roasted pork of your dreams.

@lechoneralosamigos

Santurce: art and nightlife

Old San Juan is the capital’s crown jewel, but if you’re looking for a more modern and young vibe, Santurce is the place to go. In recent years, the neighborhood has become a hub for the arts, food, and nightlife. Sure, these things go hand in hand with some serious gentrification issues, but despite this problem (at least for now), Santurce retains the soul and the cool factor that has drawn artists to its streets for over a century. Come here if you want to look at some great street art or if you’re in the mood for local music.

@nilkagiselle

Northeast Ecological Corridor

This natural reserve in Puerto Rico’s northeast coast is as off-the-grid as it gets when it comes to tourism on the island. It’s a stretch of coast that offers a diversity of habitats, such as mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands, and beaches, and it’s home to several endangered species, such as the West Indian manatee and the leatherback sea turtle. Coming here does involve a little bit of planning because visitors have to book official tours in advance, but the extra effort is well worth it, and the Corridor will surely be one of the highlights of your trip.

@prvive

Guánica Dry Forest

When you think of Puerto Rico, the last word that probably comes to mind is “dry,” but hidden away in the islands southwest region there’s a tropical dry forest that’s also a UN International Biosphere Reserve, and it’s austerely beautiful. The forest features 12 different trails that you can walk or bike on and that will take you to all kinds of different environments, like remote beaches or quiet hills with cacti. You will find almost no tourists here, and the only sounds you’ll hear will be the waves crashing below and the song of the birds that live there.

@lfdelvalle

Gilligan’s Island (Cayo Aurora)

This tiny key off the coast of Guánica, in Puerto Rico's southwest, has nothing to do with the classic show of the same name. It's real name is Cayo Aurora, but someone gave it that nickname and it stuck. Getting there is a little tricky because the first boats leave early in the morning and the place can get filled up very quickly, but if you plan accordingly and actually make it to Gilligan's Island, it'll be one of the most amazing experiences you could have in Puerto Rico. The key is just gorgeous, as tropical and lush as you can imagine, with calm, clear waters, and amazing views of the Caribbean sea.

@louise.enevoldsenWhat are you waiting for? Puerto Rico is an amazing travel destination, a cultural melting pot full of natural wonders that is hard to make sense of unless you go and see it for yourself.

Cover picture: @travelincurls

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