10 Things to Do in Puerto Rico on a Budget
Puerto Rico is a US territory in the Caribbean Sea, with a history rich in Taíno, African, and Spanish traditions. The name Puerto Rico means “rich port,” and was dubbed this when the Spaniards found gold in the waters (source). This island is known for its beautiful beaches, diverse culture and history, and contains the only tropical rainforest in the US. I visited Puerto Rico for spring break and was on a budget (naturally, as a broke college kid).
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Read on for a list of free or budget-friendly things to do in Puerto Rico.
Snorkel or swim at Escambrón Beach
Escambrón Beach was my favorite beach I visited in Puerto Rico. The scenery was beautiful, there was plenty of shade from the palm trees, and it wasn’t too crowded. The water was calm enough to swim in and there are colorful fish you can look at! I brought snorkeling gear and packed it in my beach bag so I could save on renting gear.
Wander around Old San Juan
I’m a firm believer that the best way to explore a city is to simply walk around aimlessly and take in your surroundings. Old San Juan is the perfect place to do so… get lost walking around the cobblestone-lined streets and colorful houses. This part of Puerto Rico reminds me of the streets of Madrid or Lisbon. It is one of the last surviving places of 16th-century Spanish Gothic architecture in the Western Hemisphere (source). Plus, walking is always budget-friendly.
Hike El Yunque
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System. While you can explore El Yunque by yourselves, I highly suggest signing up for a tour. Although this isn’t free, there are tours that are more affordable or budget-friendly. I did a tour on Tripadvisor that cost $49 per person. Click here for the link to the tour. This was a whole day excursion and was definitely worth the price! Also, I recommend bringing a raincoat and a waterproof backpack or backpack with a waterproof compartment. This is the backpack I used and it worked really well for this trip as well as my month in Arizona. Additionally, wear old shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy in.
Relax at Condado Beach
Condado Beach was definitely more touristy and crowded than Escambrón Beach, but it is closer to the San Juan area. It’s still a fun beach to sunbathe, swim or walk around. Also, the waves are bigger here if you’re looking for more action.
Fly kites around Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro, is one of the must-sees or things to do in Puerto Rico. It was the second fort built on the islet of present-day Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra (source). Additionally, El Morro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is under the US National Park System. If you decide to check out the inside, it is a $10 admission fee for adults and free for children 15 and under.
However, the area outside the fort is beautiful and relaxing if you’d like to save money or time. You can also see Cementerio Santa María Magdalena de Pazzi, one of the most beautiful memorial parks in the world (source). The boardwalk to get to the fort, called Paseo del Morro, is very scenic– you’ll be walking right along the water. Relax on the giant lawn in front of El Morro and fly a kite– a tradition that has been around for generations. If you didn’t bring a kite with you (which is not exactly a must-bring item in your packing list), there are plenty of people selling kites in the area.
Enjoy the views from Castillo San Cristóbal
Castillo San Cristóbal is the largest fortress built in the Americas and is named after the patron saint of land travelers, Saint Christopher (source). As you can imagine, the fort is impressive in size. Also, it has amazing views! If you’d like to go inside, there are two different entrances– the Historic Entrance at the top of the hill on Calle Norzagaray and the Main Entrance at the bottom east end of the same street. It is a $5 admission fee for adults and free for children 15 and under.
Try traditional Puerto Rican food
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a different culture is to try the local cuisine. Some iconic Puerto Rican dishes include (source):
mofongo: deep-fried green plantain pieces mashed with garlic and either salt-cured pork, pork crackling, butter, or oil
tostones: savory deep-fried green plantain
pasteles: green banana masa stuffed with stewed pork meat
arroz con gandules: rice dish with gandules, salted pork/ham hock, and sofrito
Los Yeyos restaurant in Old San Juan was recommended to me by a friend, and I went twice during my trip and thought it was really good! The first time I ordered mofongo and the second time (as seen pictured above) I ordered chuletas fritas. It wasn’t too expensive either.
Watch the sunset from Puerta de San Juan
Puerta de San Juan (San Juan Gate) is the entrance to Old San Juan and also leads to a pedestrian promenade called Paseo de la Princesa. Directly past the gate is a perfect viewpoint to watch the sunset.
Walk under the umbrellas at Calle de la Fortaleza (Fortaleza Street)
Located in Old San Juan, Calle de la Fortaleza is one of the most photographed streets in Puerto Rico. It was well-known for its display of umbrellas covering the street, much like the famous umbrellas in Águeda, Portugal. However, when I went in March of 2022, the umbrellas were replaced with pink butterfly wings. It was still really pretty! Also, this street is in a central location– you’ll definitely walk by it sometime if you are walking around Old San Juan.
Go for a stroll at Isla Verde Beach
Another day, another beach. Isla Verde Beach was only a 10 minute walk from the Airbnb my friends and I stayed at, so I visited a few times. The waves are calmer than Condado Beach and it was peaceful to walk along the water. There are a lot of hotels and resorts in this area, but it wasn’t that crowded. If I had to rank the beaches I went to, the list would be: Escambrón Beach > Isla Verde Beach > Condado Beach.
