Puerto Rico

Destination: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Duration: 4 Days (Mid February)
Airfare: $205
Housing: $49
Food: $3 - $20 per meal
Adventure/Transportation: $150

Old San Juan

There are a few main spots to stay when you arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You'll find the high rise hotels and resorts in Condado and the rest of the bunch in Old San Juan. I stayed in the BASE Hostel in the heart of Old San Juan and absolutely loved the location. I met a group of travelers there and spent the rest of the week with them. This part of the city is filled with rich history, great food, and many things to see and do within walking distance. You'll never tire from walking up and down the cobblestone streets and admiring the differently colored shops, buildings, and restaurants. I visited Castillo San Cristobal for a few hours and then walked straight to Playa Peña beach to enjoy the sand and surf. Check the links for more things to do in Old San Juan.

Typical Street in Old San Juan

Coastal View from Castillo San Cristobal

Playa Peña Beach

El Yunque National Forest

One of the most beautiful tropical rainforests is just a quick 40-minute drive from San Juan. I took a rental car on a day trip and hiked to a beautiful waterfall deep within the forest. I took a quick dip in the pools below La Mina Falls and had a great time with other hikers. The park is free to enter and there are many hikes anywhere from 15 min to a few hours. I skipped the $5 fee to see the visitors center and went straight to the trails. There are little souvenir shops all along the way and plenty of beauty to see. Check out this link for more info. I highly recommend making a stop to El Yunque, whether for an hour or a whole day.

River Feeding into La Mina Falls

Fajardo

Fajardo is a small town on the eastern end of the island (About 1 - 1 1/2 Hours from San Juan) that is a gateway to some of the most talked about Puerto Rican islands. I took a half day catamaran/ snorkeling trip that launched from Fajardo to the uninhabited island of Icacos. The trip cost about $80 and was well worth the money. There are many little day excursion options leaving from Fajardo. Check on Viator.com to see what peaks your interest. There are also ferries that depart from Fajardo to the world renowned Flamenco Beach on the Island of Culebra and the beautiful Island of Vieques. Cheap ferry rides are available out of Fajardo if you skip out on the more expensive tours.

Lounging Under the Palms on Icacos Island

Crystal Clear Water Surrounding Icacos Island

Budgeting Tips

Airfare: There are cheap round trip flights from all over the US, especially during the off-season. I found $300 Round Trip from Salt Lake City, Utah (Using a $100 travel credit). Look for deals on Secretflying.com and Travelpirates.com and be ready to book. (Puerto Rico is perfect for weekend getaways)

Transportation: The buses are super cheap ($0.75) per ride and can get you most places in San Juan. The schedule is a little wacky and you may have to wait a long time to get a ride. Check the bus routes or try mapping your destinations on Google maps to see the best public transit route. Uber rides are fairly cheap and a little bit less expensive than taxi rides. I mainly used the buses and a few Uber rides late at night.

Housing: The best bang for your buck as a single traveler are the hostels. The hostel I stayed at was $25 a night, which is cheap for the location. Poke around on Airbnb and see what suits your needs. You'll find typical American prices for all other hotels/resorts.

Food: Food is about the same price you would find in the United States. I ate a lot of Mexican food and had some delicious tacos almost every day. You can eat cheap if you chose fast food but I recommend trying food from local restaurants or street carts/food trucks.