How to plan a budget-friendly 7-day trip to Puerto Rico
Welcome to my detailed guide to planning your next week-long budget-friendly trip to Puerto Rico.
Hi! I’m Laurie, and I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I lived in PR until I was 22 years old, and I visit almost every year. So I’m pretty familiar with the whole island, know A LOT of things you can do while visiting, and I can’t wait to share them with you in this blog post.
A little bit about Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an archipelago (meaning that it consists of small islands) in the Caribbean, whose main island spans 100 miles x 35 miles. So you can basically go from east to west in around 3 – 4 hours, and north to south in around 1 hour. This means you can explore so much of the island in just a few days.
Because PR is in the Caribbean, the temperature year-round is always around 70F – 90F (21C – 32C), and it can get pretty humid. It also rains quite a bit, especially in the summer.
Since PR is a territory of the United States, the currency is US dollars $$; we speak Spanish, English, and Spanglish (not kidding); and if you’re a US Citizen, you don’t need a passport to fly to PR (you do need a valid ID).
Puerto Rico has the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service, is home to the famous Piรฑa Colada and the biggest rum distillery in the world, and has 1 of the top 10 best beaches in the world.
What to pack to Puerto Rico
Based on the warm and tropical weather that PR has all year long, here’s what I recommend packing to PR.
๐งณ Flowy and lose shirts/tank tops
๐งณ Dresses
๐งณ Shorts
๐งณ Bathing suits
๐งณ Sneakers and flip flops
๐งณ Hats and sunglasses
๐งณ Beach towel
๐งณ Small umbrella
๐งณ Phone and camera
๐งณ Electronics chargers
๐งณ Valid ID (driver’s license or passport)
๐งณ Cash (USD currency)
๐งณ Vaccination card (or a picture of it)
๐งณ And of course face masks
7-day Itinerary for Puerto Rico
This itinerary is packed with outdoor and budget-friendly activities, the opportunity to explore (or at least drive through) the whole island, and is a mixture of chill days by the beach and exciting days exploring 500-year-old towns.
Also, I did this trip with 6 of my friends, so a lot of the expenses (like Airbnbs and car rental) were divided evenly amongst all of us, making the cost super affordable. So if you’re planning on visiting PR, I highly recommend coming with friends to split some of the expenses, and because it’s so much fun!!
Day 1 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Stay at an Airbnb in Condado. It’s central to the San Juan area, has lots of restaurants around, and the beach is within walking distance.
๐น Then go grab dinner and drinks in Old San Juan and explore beautiful El Morro at night.
Day 2 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Wake up early and take a road trip to El Yunque National Forest (it’s only an hour away!). Spend the day hiking the mountains or swimming in one of its many rivers. You’ll feel like a native, and one with nature.
๐น Then go grab a late lunch at Los Kioskos de Luquillo for some local street food and cold beers by the beach before driving back to San Juan.
Day 3 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Grab all your things and take a road trip through the north and west of Puerto Rico.
๐น Stop at Cueva del Indio in Arecibo for some beautiful views, before grabbing lunch at a local restaurant (I highly recommend Martin’s BBQ!)
๐น Then take an afternoon swim at Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla, and jump off the pier a few times!
๐น And finish the day all the way down in Cabo Rojo. We stayed at an Airbnb in Combate Beach close to the restaurants and bars.
Day 4 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Cabo Rojo has a lot of beautiful beaches but one of my favorites is Playa Sucia (don’t let the name fool you though). Bring plenty of snacks and drinks and spend the whole day swaying with the soft waves and soaking in the sun.
๐น Then spend the night drinking, eating, and walking around the quaint town of Boqueron just 20 minutes away.
Day 5 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Pack all your things again, and drive through the south coast on your way back to San Juan
๐น Make a quick stop in Guavate for some mouth-watering lechon and arroz con gandules.
๐น Once in San Juan, stay at another (or the same) Airbnb in Condado and spend the night walking around the area and exploring its bars, restaurants, and casino.
Day 6 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Drive less than 20 minutes to spend the day in beautiful Old San Juan. There are so many little streets and corners to explore, as well as plenty of gift shops, bars and local restaurants to visit.
๐น Make time in your day to bar hop in San Sebastian street, and visit the Castillo San Felipe del Morro and it’s surrounding grounds.
Day 7 ๐ต๐ท
๐น Condado is full of amazing street art and little brunch restaurants, so walk around and explore it a little bit before heading for the airport.
Quick tips:
๐ฉ Best time to visit PR is from January to July, and the worst (mostly because of hurricane season) is from August to November.
๐ฌ I recommend arriving in PR in the afternoon (if possible) so you can make the most out of Day 1.
๐ Rent a car so you can explore the WHOLE island.
๐ป Bring plenty of water, beers, and snacks to Playa Sucia since there are no vendors or stores/restaurants nearby.
๐ While in Playa Sucia, explore the nearby lighthouse.
๐ซ Don’t forget to leave enough time to return your rented car, get to the airport, and pass through security.
๐น Bring some delicious Puerto Rican rum home with you by buying it at the airport, tax-free, after passing through security. I always bring a few with me when I visit. ๐
Total cost for a 7-day trip to Puerto Rico
๐ธ Cost per person was: Flights ($382 USD) + Airbnbs ($118 USD) + Car rental ($108 USD) = $608 USD
Additional expenses like food, drinks, and souvenirs: Around $200 – $300 USD
What did you think of this 7-day Puerto Rico trip? Let me know in the comment section below!
Heads up: As a way to earn passive income, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you buy something through one of those links, I might get a commission at NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support! ๐
February 15, 2022
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