Puerto Rico is the ideal setting for adventure sports enthusiasts looking for their next adrenaline rush. Puerto Rico gives adventure seekers a paradise-like setting with a gorgeous coastline, vibrant marine life, and incredible landscapes. There are many adventurous things to do in Puerto Rico, including many water activities like surfing, snorkeling, and diving all around the island, and most of the underwater world is in excellent condition. There are also waterfalls and hiking treks in the El Yunque rainforest, which every tourist to the island visits. The middle of the island has some fun adventure areas with ziplines and an underwater river with an incredible cave system to explore.

Top Adventurous Things to Do in Puerto Rico

Wondering what our adventurous activities list looks like? With so many fun activities in Puerto Rico, we tried to give you a comprehensive idea of the adventurous things to do. We hope that will get you as excited as we are!

Surfing

Surfing in Puerto Rico combines breathtaking waves, tropical beauty, and vibrant culture. Dubbed a surfer’s paradise, Puerto Rico has many surf spots for surfers of all experience levels, from beginners to pros. The best place to surf on the island is in Rincon, a town on the east coast. Rincon is a surf town, and you will find it filled with surfers from around the world during the winter season.

Surfing in Rincon is an exhilarating experience, and the town has the best waves on the island. Lots of international championships have taken place at Tres Palmas Beach. Rincon has consistent swells during the winter, as high as 20ft. The warm blue waters of the island make for a great surf vacation. For beginners, beaches like Sandy Beach in Rincon and Escambron Beach in San Juan are good places to learn surfing in Puerto Rico. Many surf shops and schools in Rincon and San Juan charge around $70 for a 1.5-hour surf lesson, including the board.

Hiking

There are many hiking trails all over Puerto Rico and its surrounding islands. There are lots of protected areas on the island that have trails running through them. El Yunque National Forest is the crown jewel for hiking, where adventurous hikes go through the dense rainforest with waterfalls. El Toro Peak trail has excellent views of the rugged coastline and emerald forest. The trails to La Coca Falls and La Mina Falls are also impressive. In the rainforest, you will see lots of native wildlife and birds, including the coqui, whose sound you can hear vibrating in the rainforest.

El Yunque Rainforest Photo Wenhao Ryan Pixabay

You can also explore Rio Camuy Cave Park, home to one of the world’s largest cave systems. They have daytime and nighttime treks into the caves. The Guajataca Forest Reserve has great treks through woodlands with scenic viewpoints. Cabo Rojo’s Salt Flats are for hikers seeking an unforgettable hiking experience amidst pink salt flats. The lighthouse at Cabo Rojo also has some exciting hikes that take you up on the cliffs from where you can see the entire west coastline of Puerto Rico.

Cabo Rojo Photo Wei Zeng Unsplash

Zip Lining

Puerto Rico has plenty of ziplining places with unforgettable flights across its skyscapes. Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park in Orocovis has one of the world’s longest zip lines, providing adventurers with a thrilling ride over treetops and valleys while taking in beautiful mountain views. Carabali Rainforest Park in Luquillo has an exciting combination of ziplining and horseback riding. Hacienda Campo Rico in San Juan has an exciting ziplining adventure, where participants glide above plantations and mangrove forests for an experience that combines adrenaline and nature.

Horseback Riding

Experience an exhilarating horseback adventure throughout Puerto Rico at its finest spots. Many companies in El Yunque National Forest take you on a ride inside the forest. Luquillo Beach is another place where you will see people horseback riding. Camuy River Cave Park is an idyllic countryside for horseback riders to ride through rolling hills and farmlands, revealing another aspect of Puerto Rico’s rural life. Rincon is also famous for horseback riding adventures that take you through the town’s forest.

Horses in Puerto Rico

Kitesurfing 

Puerto Rico is also a great destination for kitesurfing. Head to the big bay and wide beach of Isla Verde, where the side-shore conditions are perfect for kiteboarders of all levels. The water tends to be choppy in winter, so if you prefer flatter water, consider going in the summer.

Kayaking 

The best place to kayak in Puerto Rico is in Vieques and Fajardo’s Bioluminescent Bay, where paddlers will see the water light up at night because of the bioluminescence caused by microorganisms in the water. You are not allowed to swim here, so kayaking and paddleboarding are the only way to experience this. This is one of the top things to do in Puerto Rico since these biobays are very rare worldwide. Puerto Rico has one of the brightest bio bays in the world, making it unique and one of the most adventurous things to do at night in Puerto Rico! You can do a tour where you get picked up in the evening in the city, transported to Fajardo, go kayaking, and then get dropped back at the hotel.

Mar Chiquita Beach Kayaking Wei Zeng Unsplash

Paddleboarding

Condado Lagoon in San Juan is also an excellent place for beginners to paddleboard while taking in its spectacular cityscape. Another very unique place to kayak is at La Parguera. La Parguera lies at the island’s southwestern tip and has a maze of mangrove channels best navigated via kayak, leading to spectacular snorkeling sites.

Rappelling

Puerto Rico has the ideal tropical setting for adrenaline-packed activities like canyoning and waterfall rappelling. Adventurers can explore beautiful canyons, rappel down breathtaking waterfalls, and swim in crystal-clear pools surrounded by the rainforest. Tanama River region is a notable travel destination, with spectacular waterfalls, natural rock slides, and narrow canyons to conquer. Expert guides lead participants safely through these terrains while providing in-depth knowledge of Puerto Rico’s ecosystems. If you have never rappeled before, this might be one of the most adventurous things to do on the island!

El Yunque Rainforest Waterfalls Photo Wenhao Ryan Pixabay

Waterfall Swimming

There are a vast number of waterfalls on the island. The best ones are inside El Yunque. La Coca and La Mina Falls in El Yunque are two of the most gorgeous waterfalls on the island. They have huge pools at the bottom where you can swim in the waterfalls. There are also natural waterfall slides in Las Paylas near the east side of El Yunque Forest. There are also many natural pools inside the forest, like the ones at the end of Angelito Trail, that are amazing for just lying down and tanning in the sun.

On the island’s west side is Cascada Gozalandia, another beautiful waterfall with one waterfall at the top and another with a massive pool at the bottom. The bottom pool is deep enough to climb to the top and dive off the waterfall. Charco El Ataud is another calm waterfall with a clear pool at the bottom that feels great to dive in. You will always see locals hanging out at these spots during the weekends. It’s definitely one of the best adventures in Puerto Rico!

Cave Exploring

Cave exploration is a great way to uncover stunning geological formations and cultural artifacts that exist only here on this island. Rio Camuy Cave Park is one of the top destinations in Puerto Rico, an exceptional cave exploration destination promising adventurers an extraordinary journey. Rio Camuy’s extensive system of caves gives adventurers numerous options for cave exploration. The park has one of the largest cave networks in the Western Hemisphere, featuring stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers. The park’s Cueva Ventana (“Window Cave”) has stunning views towards the surrounding valley.

Top Adventurous Things to Do in Puerto Rico // Cueva Ventana Arecibo Photo Wei Zeng Unsplash

Cueva del Indio offers a glimpse into Taino culture through ancient petroglyphs painted on its walls. These caves, and others in Puerto Rico, have the perfect combination of natural beauty and cultural significance, making the island a great destination for novice and expert cave explorers. If you want to explore Rio Camuy Park, they have tours day and night that you can book in advance. It’s an exciting experience, especially if you have never been cave exploring before.

Scuba-Diving

Puerto Rico has an extraordinarily varied marine ecosystem, making every dive a fantastic adventure. One of the premier diving destinations in Puerto Rico is Mona Island Reserve, a protected area rich in biodiversity. Nobody is allowed to set foot on the island because it used to be a military base, but you can still dive around it. Mona Island has dramatic underwater landscapes and caves teeming with marine species.

Another well-known spot is Desecheo Island Marine Reserve, where divers may encounter schools of vibrant fish or playful dolphins! This island is near the coast and can be done during the day by chartering a boat from Rincon. Puerto Rico also has thrilling cave diving adventures for those seeking an exhilarating underwater experience. There are mysterious underwater caves, such as Cuevas Las Palmas or Cueva del Indio, where ancient rock formations and hidden chambers can be explored.

There are other less intense dive sites where you can take your first dive, like Escambron Park in San Juan. Islands like Vieques and Culebra are two places where you can see the endangered Antillean Manatee while diving. You might also encounter reef sharks if you get lucky.

Snorkeling

For beginners and advanced enthusiasts, Puerto Rico has numerous exceptional snorkeling spots on beautiful sandy beaches. Flamenco Beach in Culebra stands out as a gorgeous spot, known for its white sands and vibrant coral reefs with abundant fish species and sea turtles. Tres Palmas in Rincon is known for its surfing, but Steps Beach also has some of the best snorkeling on the island since it’s a protected marine park.

If exploring diverse marine life is your goal, La Chiva Beach in Vieques has an underwater paradise of coral gardens and exotic species. Closer to San Juan is Escambron Beach, which has calm waters that are great for novice snorkelers. The beach is in the city, so you won’t need to travel far to snorkel. Puerto Rico has many snorkeling sites, so it is an excellent destination to explore marine life.

Camping

El Yunque National Forest is one of the top places you must visit in Puerto Rico. As such, it stands out as an outstanding camping destination where campers can immerse themselves in its wilderness, listen to cascading waterfalls, and discover exotic wildlife. Flamenco Beach in Culebra is an excellent setting for seaside camping with its blue waters and white sands. Additionally, Guanica Dry Forest Reserve has unique terrain and plant life, which are both perfect for exploring.

History buffs will enjoy exploring Camp Santiago, a military training facility turned campground with outdoor adventure and cultural immersion. Puerto Rico’s camping scene is great because of the tropical climate, which means you can camp out year-round with opportunities for stargazing, bonfires, and connecting with nature.

Puerto Rico Travel Tips

• The island is part of the United States, so American citizens and residents don’t need any visa to enter.
• The island has great hot weather year round except during the hurricane season from August to November.
• A good duration for a trip to experience a good amount of adventure activities would be at least one week to 10 days. Any less than this, and you will miss out on things and other cities on the island.

Puerto Rico is a gorgeous Caribbean destination with many adventure activities across the island. The island has great surf spots with pumping waves and calm seas perfect for snorkeling and diving. The beautiful rainforest on the island’s northeast is great for exploring waterfalls, trekking, and camping. Zip lining is another adventure best done at Toro Verde National Park. There is no shortage of adventure sports in Puerto Rico!

Guest Post Author

I am Kanupriyaa, and I have a solo women’s travel blog called My Lost Camel. The blog focuses on in-depth travel guides and lesser-known places for each location to promote slow and sustainable travel and encourage women to break all barriers and travel where they please.

Have you been to Puerto Rico? Did you enjoy your experience? Are there any other fun activities in Puerto Rico we missed?

If you want more trip ideas in the US, check out our posts on USA travel blog articles. Or, if you are looking for other Caribbean islands, check some of the below Caribbean blog posts!

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