169 Best Sights in Puerto Rico

The small beach doesn't compare to some of the longer beaches on the southwestern coast, but it's a convenient place for a quick swim. There's also a square dock built like a picture frame where locals gather to splash in the center of this natural swimming pool. 

A statue of Christopher Columbus stands atop a soaring column and fountain in this bustling Old San Juan square, catercorner to Castillo San Cristóbal. Once called St. James Square, it was renamed in 1893 to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in Puerto Rico; bronze plaques on the statue's base relate episodes in his life. Local artisans often line the plaza, so it's a good place to hunt for souvenirs. Cool off with a fresh fruit frappé or smoothie at the kiosk.

The Old City's original main square was once used as military drilling grounds. Bordered by Calles San Francisco, Rafael Cordero, San José, and Cruz, it has a fountain with 19th-century statues representing the four seasons as well as a bandstand, a small café, and a kiosk selling snacks and fruit frappés. The Alcaldía commands the north side. This is a popular, bustling meeting place, often filled with artists sketching caricatures, pedestrians in line at the food stands, and hundreds of pigeons waiting for handouts.

Downtown's broad square is anchored by Concatedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús (Sweet Name of Jesus Cathedral), which dates from 1869. It has a castlelike facade, and even when its grille door is locked, you get a peek at the sleek altar, polished floors, and stained-glass windows dominated by blues. Across the plaza, four fountains splash under the shade of old trees. People pass through feeding the pigeons, children race down the promenade, and retirees congregate on benches to chat.

Though often overlooked by tourists, charming La Placita (as it's known by locals) is one of San Juan's liveliest spots. At its center is a market hall (circa 1910) where you—perhaps alongside chefs from the city's top restaurants—can shop for fruits and vegetables, including exotic options like guanábana and caimito. The many restaurants and bars facing the central square are quiet during the day but busy in the evening, especially on weekends. Nearby are Santaella, a stellar restaurant by renowned chef Jose Santaella, and Junglebird, known for its craft and tiki cocktails. The area also has many botánicas—small shops that sell herbs, candles, and religious items. The square is between the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, making it a good place to stop for dinner and drinks after a day of museum-hopping.

According to legend, the British, while laying siege to the city in 1797, mistook the flaming torches of a rogativa (religious procession) for Spanish reinforcements and beat a hasty retreat. In this little plaza, a monument of a bishop and three women commemorates the legend. The striking contemporary statue was created in 1971 by the artist Lindsay Daen to mark the Old City's 450th anniversary. The fine view of La Fortaleza and the harbor is a bonus.

Dating from 1520, this was one of the five original entrances to the city and is the only one still in its original state. The massive gate, painted a brilliant shade of red, gave access from the port and welcomed diplomats into the city. It resembles a tunnel because it passes through La Muralla, the 20-foot-thick city walls.

This Olympic museum showcases the history of the island's amazing athletes. Displays can change to showcase the latest sporting representatives as well as historic figures.

On the western edge of the island, at the end of a long unpaved road marred by potholes, this beach faces the Vieques Passage. Miles of coral reef just offshore attract snorkelers and divers, but caution is required due to strong currents. From the shore you can catch a glimpse of El Yunque on the mainland. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude.

As you travel from Naguabo to Humacao, you'll pass stretches of beach and swaths of undeveloped land, including the swamps, lagoons, and forested areas of the Reserva Natural de Humacao. Walk along the trail to discover abandoned military bunkers and murals amid the wilderness. This nature reserve has an information office, restrooms, and campsites. No pets are allowed.

Puerto Rico has incredible geographic diversity for such a small island, from the rain forest of El Yunque to the dry forest of Guánica. But along the northern coast, there are all sorts of micro-habitats, including marshes and lagoons and flat stretches of grasslands that have reclaimed their territory after their use as sugarcane fields for much of the 20th century. If you're speeding past in a car, they're hard to appreciate, so stop at this nature reserve, which is crisscrossed with mountain-biking trails and has a kayak launch point. Marsh and coastal birds, as well as an occasional caiman, can be spotted here especially earlier in the morning before the weather becomes too hot.

In 1508, Ponce de León established the island's first settlement here. The Caparra Ruins—just a few crumbling walls—are all that remain of an ancient fort. The small Museo de la Conquista y Colonización de Puerto Rico (Museum of the Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico) contains historical documents, exhibits, and excavated artifacts, although you can see the museum's contents in less time than it takes to say its name. Both the ruins and the museum are maintained by the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.

The crowd is casual and the decor tropical and bubbly at this spacious gaming room. Right outside, there's a huge bar where Latin musicians perform on weekends, and an adjacent café.

This beach, which takes its name from the mysterious concrete steps at the water's edge, is home to the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. It's a good place to find sea glass; on calm days, it's also an excellent snorkeling spot. At other times, the waves can be huge. On a handful of days each year, the waters deliver epic rides that draw surfers from around the globe. The beach is hard to find—look for the turnoff at a whale-shape sign reading "Playa Escalera." Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; sunsets.

This theater was restored in 1941 after an earthquake and fire damaged the original 1864 structure. The striking interior contains seats for 1,047 and has excellent acoustics. It's generally open for a quick peek on weekdays. Tickets for plays and events taking place here can be found via the TicketCenter website. 

The Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust was established to help save Puerto Mosquito, one of the last remaining bioluminescent bays in the world. The small museum, located on the main drag in Esperanza, has interesting information about the bay, as well as the island's flora and fauna and history. A little pool lets kids get acquainted with starfish, sea urchins, and other denizens of the not-so-deep. There's also a tiny gift shop, the profits from which are funneled back into the foundation. Call ahead if you're coming at lunchtime, as the place is sometimes closed for an hour or more. If you're interested in history and architecture, ask about a guided tour of the Playa Grande sugar mill ruins.

A portion of the west and the entire eastern end of the island is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. With almost 18,000 acres, it's Puerto Rico's biggest protected natural reserve; in 2015, it was voted the fourth-best refuge in the entire Fish and Wildlife system. Many of the beaches on the northern and southern coasts—where an asphalt road leads to six of them—are open to the public. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are allowed on designated trails. Fishing (both shore and from kayak), swimming, snorkeling, and diving are also permitted in designated zones. Much, though not all, of the eastern region is pristine, astonishingly beautiful, and well forested, with a hilly center region overlooking powder-white sandy beaches and a coral-ringed coastline. Some of the refuge—including 900 acres that once served as a naval bombing range—remains off-limits to visitors, though, as authorities continue to search for unexploded munitions and contaminants, the byproducts of the area's 60 years as a military base.

The Teatro Yagüez is an extravagant yellow-and-white theater dating from 1902 that's famed throughout the island for its lavish, columned facade, impressive chandeliers, and domed roof. The structure is still the main venue for theater in Mayagüez.