Puerto Rico 3 Day Itinerary

Puerto Rico has always, always been on my list of places to visit.

I finally decided to go for my birthday. This trip was be epic trip. I celebrated my birthday and see Marc Anthony…live…in Puerto Rico…for his last concert of the tour. What!

Let me tell you, although Puerto Rico is relatively small, there is so much to do and see. Since we planned on being in Puerto Rico for three days, my friends and I decided to spend most of our time in San Juan.

Here is our 3-day itinerary:
It allowed us to enjoy our time while being able to explore the city.

Day 1: Bacardi Tour & Biolumescent Tour

Rum Tasting

If you like rum, learning about different qualities of rum, and the processes of making rum, this tour is for you.

Once you are done with the tour, you head over to the tasting room. This was my first rum tour, and the moment I walked into the tasting room, I was impressed. Everything was very chic and welcoming. You selected your seat and you were immediately introduced to what rums you would be tasting.

Bacardi Tour

There are 3 Bacardi tour options to choose from. A historical tour, rum tasting tour or a mixology tour.

We opted for the rum tasting tour. At first, it was your standard tour. You hop on a bus and drive around to look at property, then you go to a building and start to learn about the rum making process and the different kinds of rum Bacardi makes. I had no idea how many different qualities of rum Bacardi makes.

The experience was great. Our tour guide went into a lot of detail of Bacardi history, rum differentiation and what we can expect and look out for when tasting the rum. Also…you get a lot of rum. A lot. So be prepared to drink a lot.

Overall, I loved the tour. It was a great experience. However, the rum itself, I wasn’t too impressed. If you asked me what I suggest…I would say do that mixology class. We walked by it and it looks like so much fun.

After the tour, we were escorted to the tourist shop. Unless you are planning on purchasing rum, there is no reason to hang around.

After the shop, we headed over to have a mojito and some food. The ambiance was great. Music was playing, food was good and the bartenders were great.

Tip:

Don’t do the regular tour. It will not be worth it. The mixology class is probably the best because it’s fun and the rum tasting is more for the person who likes to taste the rum it’s undertones.

Bioluminescent Tour

This tour is in Fajardo which is about an hour from San Juan.

Once we made it to Fajardo we were so excited. We got to our tour group, put on our wet suits and we were off. The water was cold and the night was pitch black. The only light that we had was from the moon. The water current was strong so it was a struggle to get a good rhythm and maneuver easily to our destination.

Once we got the hang of it, and we were rowing away, it was all good. You kayak for a good 30 minutes into a larger body of water. All the kayaks huddled together and covered ourselves with a thick dark blanket….then the magic happened. We were able to see the glowing water once we placed our hands in the water. It was very magical.

Our tour company, Glass Bottom PR was great. They were helpful, funny and very informative about our tour.

I highly recommend them based off of our experience, but there are many tours going on at the same time.

Tip:

Don’t take a camera. Unless you have a great night camera, you won’t be able to capture amazing photos.

Dinner in Fajardo

There are so many great food options in fajardo.

El Pescador is a total gem. It is a great place to swing by and have dinner or at least a drink. You have the option of indoor and outdoor seating. To begin, the ambiance and decor will suck you right in. I’m always looking for creative cocktails…and you will find them here.

Day 2: Beach, Marc Anthony & Nightlife

Beach & Lunch

Carolina Beach & Degetau Seafood

Carolina beach is a must! Disclaimer, we only went to this beach so there is no comparison, but hear me out. I’ve been to many beaches on my travels and the more I travel, I more I just want to relax at the beach without the craziness….unless that is why I’m going to the beach…to party.

This beach was perfection It was quiet, clean and beautiful. We paid to park, grabbed our stuff and ejoyed the day.

After the beach, we had lunch at a spot off the highway. Let me tell you….this place was delicious! I highly recommend it. It’s very laid back and low key. We were the only tourists, always a good sign. The plating was simple, but the food was very flavorful. Degetau Seafood is off a beaten path but definitely worth the drive.

Tip:

Servers speak little English, but they are super sweet and patient. So maybe have google translate ready.

Some photos from the Marc Anthony Concert

Finally, the day was here! We went to see Marc Anthony. Let me tell you, he is absolutely amazing to watch in concert. If you are a fan, I highly recommend seeing him live.

Once the concert was over, we were ready to check out the San Juan nightlife. There are so many great options in Old San Juan. You can salsa dance, go clubbing, go to bars or sit on a patio and have a cocktail.

Old San Juan Nightlife

Before we decided on a spot, we enjoyed the beautiful city at night. The buildings, street art, and people made the night feel full of life.

We finally decided to end our night at La Factoria which is considered one of the Worlds 50 Best Bars of 2019. So knowing this and in Puerto Rico, you know it was a place I had to go to

It’s so famous it doesn’t need a sign outside, which makes it all the more mysterious and adventurous. Once you think you found it, you will walk into the wrong bar….but wait…keep walking and you will go into another room….and there it is. You are at La Factoria. The moment you walk in you will feel the life that exists in the bar. The ambiance, the dancing, the drinks…it was contagious. The cocktails were deliciously combined and the food was finger-licking delicious. It lives up to all the hype.

There are so many cool spots to go to in Old San Juan. Just walk around and see what you dig. There is a vibe for everyone. It’s definitely a very safe city to walk around it, but as always be aware.

I would also recommend to just walk around and enjoy the city at night. It is absolutely beautiful.

Tip:

If you are having a hard time finding the bar…look it up on your phone in the iPhone map.

Old San Juan

The city. The Sites. The Food.

Once we were ready and our bags were packed, we headed to Old San Juan. Driving into Old San Juan was breathtaking. The colors, the old buildings, El Morro….everything! We parked our car and walked the entire day. We didn’t have a set plan except to eat and check out some historical sites.

Top: Walk around the city and be sure to grab some ice cream from a street vendor.

Left: Raices is a fun touristy restaurant where they have traditional food. This is not my first choice because I try to stay away from tourist traps, but the food was good…especially the steak.

Historical Tours

Castillo San Cristobal

You must see both castles! Of course everyone knows about Castillo San Felipe Del Morro…it’s the most popular one. Let me tell you Castillo San Cristobal is just as great. It’s much smaller and less visited and I think that’s why I enjoyed it more. You get to see it pretty quickly, so I would suggest that you go here first.

Castillo San Felipe Del Morro

Now…Castillo San Felipe Del Morro is amazing. It’s huge! Even to walk up to the castle is a journey. It is definitely worth taking your time here. There is so much to see.