Hooray! You’ve chosen Puerto Rico as your next travel destination. By now you’re probably researching things to do, places to see, and adventures to be had, as you should -kudos! We’re here to talk about the Must-See places on the East Side of this beautiful island some of us call Borinquén.

El Yunque

If the beaches are the hallmark, El Yunque is the icon. As the biggest rainforest in the Caribbean and only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service, El Yunque offers a uniquely immersive experience. Drive up the mountain with your windows down and you’ll quickly realize why it’s called a rainforest. The abundant waterfalls and rivers fed by the constant rain form the landscape that feeds the wildlife (parrots, boas, hawks, Coqui frogs, all sorts of lizards, and more!). Rent a car and take the group for a (wet) hiking trip. Yup, you’ll thank us later. 

Pro tip: Make sure to read the weather forecast before heading up.

Ekelekua

Think of Ekelekua as the (re)fueling station before or after your tropical adventures. Rated #2 on TripAdvisor and with thousands of five-star reviews across multiple platforms, it’s safe to say you don’t need to take our word for it. Conveniently located in Rio Grande, you can find Ekelekua on your way to El Yunque or any of the spots mentioned in this blog post. Serving breakfast until 3:00 pm with locally sourced produce, Ekelekua is the ideal place to kickstart your day!

Menu       Location         Reviews (Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook)

Luquillo Beach (Balneario La Monserrate)

One of the most beautiful beaches on the east side of the island, Luquillo Beach features miles of powder-white sands and warm Caribbean waters -the ideal spot for a relaxing day with the group. Bring a cooler with drinks and a sunbrella for more beachin’ and less worrying.

Icacos

By far one of the more exciting things to do in this part of the island. Icacos is a small uninhabited island off the coast of Fajardo. There you can hop on a boat tour that will take you to Icacos for some of the best snorkeling in the country. You can find manatees, dolphins, rays, tons of tropical fish, and more!

Kioskos de Luquillo (Luquillo Kiosks)

You could say the Luquillo Kiosks are a gastronomic experience, but it’s much more than that. The food tastes great, although heads up everything is fried! But more than the food itself this is a window into local culture through the eyes of their food. Using local produce only, these kiosks offer travelers fresh Puerto Rican seafood straight from the sea and into a fried Alcapurria. (If you don’t know what Alcapurria means then you’re in for a treat. Order it.)