SydneyPaige I’m excited to share the exact travel guide I created and followed for my trip to Puerto Rico. This 4 day adventure is packed with unforgettable experiences around the whole island—and it’s budget-friendly! I visited in 2025, so you can count on this being a current, up-to-date guide.
This fast-paced 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary includes top destinations across the island, and a day trip to the island of Vieques. From San Juan to Crash Boat Beach, discover how to see the best of Puerto Rico in just 4 days.
Before my trip, I found that a lot of online information was outdated, especially from the post-COVID era. For example, you no longer need a reservation to visit El Yunque National Forest, and you can explore it with or without a guide. Me and my boyfriend celebrated our anniversary in Puerto Rico in January 2025.
Planning/Pre-Travel Thoughts:
Puerto Rico is such an affordable destination to fly to from Connecticut. Avelo and Jet Blue have great prices to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico. You can view my full budget breakdown below. Flying out of Bradley International and into San Juan International to start the adventure in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
You can drive the entire island in one day, but how many days do you need to experience/see Puerto Rico?
Well, it depends on what you are interested in.
When I started planning this trip, I knew I wanted to do a full circle around the island of Puerto Rico and visit the island of Vieques. I also had a free hotel stay lined up in Ponce using IHG points, so that ended up being a key anchor in my itinerary. From there, I started filling in the gaps—El Yunque and Crash Boat Beach were already high on my list, so I made sure to work the route around those spots too.
This trip includes a little bit of everything from hiking the rainforest to horseback riding on Vieques Black Sand Beach, Playa de Negra. It is a fast pace itinerary but perfect if you are limited on time and want to see every side of the island.
Budget Breakdown
Budget Breakdown for 4 Days in Puerto Rico (Based on 2 people)
I always like to share the exact cost that was spent, so as you are doing your planning you can have idea of a range that’s obtainable for the location. My focus with planning the accommodations for this trip was to ensure we had a clean, budget friendly space with prime locations. Boogie on a budget vibe.
This trip is apart of a bigger trip where we explored Puerto Rico, and all the US Virgin Islands. So our total budget for the week trip was $2,000 for 2 people. But in this blog post, I will breakdown cost for two for 4 of the days spent in Puerto Rico.
When planning our trip, I aimed to keep our nightly stay under $200—which is absolutely doable across the island! For a two-person trip, that worked out to about $100 per person per night.
Accommodations:
1st Night – Metro Art Hotel $161 – San Juan
2nd Night – Airbnb $170 – Vieques
3rd Night – Holiday Inn Ponce Free/Used Points (Value $200) – Ponce
One of the biggest reasons we chose Puerto Rico for this trip was how affordable and accessible it is to visit from Connecticut. We scored a $128 flight per person from Hartford (BDL) to San Juan and a nonstop return flight to New Haven for just $79 per person making total per person roundtrip $207.
We rented a basic car through Enterprise for around $205 total, which was perfect for our itinerary. After researching the roads and areas we planned to visit, we realized we didn’t need a 4WD or AWD vehicle—most destinations were easily accessible with a standard car.
Additional costs to consider:
- Ferry tickets (to/from island – Vieques): Budget around $2–$11 each way per person, depending on the ferry type, timing, and how many bags.
- Tolls: Puerto Rico has several toll roads, Enterprise billed for the tolls
- Gas: Similar to mainland rates
Overall, with some planning, Puerto Rico can be an easy and budget-friendly island getaway!
After this 4 day trip I spent the rest of the week island hopping in the US Virgin Islands. But I felt like we didn’t get to do everything I wanted in San Juan (Due to late in the day arrival). So during a 5 hour layover on my way home, we were able to uber to Old San Juan. Which worked out perfectly because having a car in Old San Juan and parking sounds like a nightmare.
Day 1: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Caught a Saturday afternoon flight from Bradley International Airport to San Juan International. After landing, picked up rental car at enterprise. If you have a early morning flight you can spend the day in San Juan. We had a afternoon flight so we didn’t get into San Juan until 8pm. So I utilized the 5 hour layover at the end of the trip to explore San Juan during the day.
If you can fly in early you will have the extra couple of hours I used during my layover to explore San Juan.
Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico
I had the pleasure of visiting Old San Juan during Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. It was such a fun experience! Part of the reason, we visited San Juan on the back end of our trip was so we could attend festivities.
Here are some of the things we did while in San Juan:
- San Juan National Historic Site
- Ate at one of the oldest restaurants – La Mallorquina
- Walking tour in Old San Juan
Check into Metro Art Hotel
Check into the Metro Art Hotel in San Juan and get some sleep before a fun day ahead. Our room was so tiny, but perfect for a quick, safe and quiet night stay.
Day 2: El Yunque & Vieques
Breakfast in San Juan at The Egg Joint to start the day. The openness off the restaurant with the music was the perfect vibes to start off our trip. After breakfast, we make our way to El Yunque National Forest.
El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the entire U.S. National Forest System, making it a truly one-of-a-kind destination. Located just 30 minutes outside of San Juan, this lush paradise is easily accessible, but renting a car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, stopping whenever something catches your eye.
For those who don’t have their own transportation, guided tours are a great option, offering an expert-led adventure through the rainforest’s beauty.
We only had a few hours to explore El Yunque before heading to Ceiba to make the ferry. Keep in mind, Ceiba is over an hour drive from the rainforest. So I am going to highlight some memorable spots you want to make sure to see when you visit:
Yokahu Tower Observation Point
The Yokahu Tower is easily accessible, you can drive right up and park in the lot. There are a lot of steps to reach the top of the tower, where you can view the rainforest from all angles.
Juan Diego Falls
This area provides a short trail to a natural pool along Juan Diego Creek with a beautiful waterfall that you can wade into. The photo to the left showcases the lower falls, but if you keep on going up there is a upper falls area. It does require more rock scrambling than the lower falls, so wear good shoes it can get muddy!
Take ferry from Ceiba to Vieques
To make sure we secured our ferry tickets, I pre-purchased them online weeks prior — it’s definitely the best way to guarantee your spot. One important tip: always check the weather before heading out, as it can impact whether the ferry runs.
Fortunately, when I went, everything went smoothly — though I will say, the ride was really bumpy. Since I’m prone to motion sickness, I made sure to take Dramamine beforehand, which definitely helped. The ferry costs $2 roundtrip, $1 per bag, per person. Now while it cost us $8 round trip for two people – we had to park our car at a lot and take shuttle over to ferry. So the parking was $15 for the day.
Where to Stay in Vieques
If your like me the more aesthetically pleasing hotel will stand out when looking for your accommodation to book. El Blok was a popular one that kept popping up. Keep in mind, El Bok is in Esperanza. Which you need transportation to get to from the ferry drop off in Vieques – it’s not the city where the ferry drops you off.
If you’re only spending 24 hours on the island, like I did, there’s no need to rent a car. Taxis, like 741, are available around Vieques, so getting around is a breeze, but can quickly add up. You can call the company directly to book, or download the app.
However, for simplicity and easy access to the island’s best spots, I highly recommend staying in downtown Vieques. It’s central, convenient, and perfect for soaking up the local vibe without the hassle of transportation. I booked the Airbnb above Beatriz Beauty Boutique which was an amazing spa/Airbnb. It’s perfect for couples and solo travelers.
Where to Dine in Vieques
Tin Box was originally on our dinner list—it’s a popular spot on the island known for it’s fun vibe and great food. But once we arrived, we realized we didn’t feel like taking a taxi out far when there were plenty of great options within walking distance.
Instead, we had dinner at Taverna, just a short stroll from our Airbnb. It was a cozy little spot where we ordered salads, pasta, and a couple of drinks—the perfect low-key evening after a day of exploring. After dinner we grabbed some drinks at Mar Azul, a local bar in downtown Vieques.
Day 3: Vieques to Ponce
So due to poor planning/not realizing until everything was set in stone about the moon and mosquito bay (You cannot see the bioluminescence while there is a full moon). Which is a huge reason people visit Vieques. But I still wanted to visit black sand beach, and the things I read about Vieques intrigued me. The remoteness, slowness. So I decided to find a different activity while we were there; horseback riding with Esperanza Riding Co.
Go Horseback Riding with Esperanza Riding Co.
The guided ride will take you on a loop trail through the hills, open meadows, woods, river bottoms and two special beaches in the Esperanza area; idyllic palm tree-lined Playa Coqual & remote Playa Negra. Me and my boyfriend did the 7am tour which was $90 per person for 1.5 hours.
Enjoy a late breakfast at D’Frozz
Although I didn’t mind, we waited over an hour for breakfast. So, its great for a slow relaxing morning, but not if your trying to get a meal prior to an activity. D’Frozz is one of the only places on the island to serve breakfast all day.
Grab drinks before taking ferry back to Ceiba
We stopped for drinks at the local bar, Mar Azul, before catching our ferry, and my boyfriend loved it so much that we ended up coming back a second time! It’s the perfect spot to relax with a drink either before you board or right after you arrive on the island. Great atmosphere, friendly service, and conveniently located near the ferry terminal—definitely a go-to hangout in Vieques.
Drive to Ponce, Puerto Rico
From the ferry in Ceiba to Ponce is almost a two hour drive, and could be more with traffic. The 3pm ferry was perfect so we had plenty of time to spend the morning in Vieques and then can use evening time for the drive.
Where to Eat in Ponce
After a full day of exploring, we grabbed a casual dinner at Jalapeño’s, a local Puerto Rican chain known for its Tex-Mex flavors. We were totally wiped, so we kept it low-key—but if you have more energy, I definitely recommend spending your evening in downtown Ponce. The historic Plaza Las Delicias is beautifully lit at night and perfect for a relaxing stroll.
If we had more time, I had a few places on my list I would’ve loved to check out, like the Museo de Arte de Ponce.
Check into hotel: Holiday Inn Ponce
What prompted me to book this hotel specifically was my IHG membership—I had been saving up points and was ready to use them. Out of the three IHG hotels in Puerto Rico, the Holiday Inn in Ponce was the only one accepting points during the dates I wanted to visit. So my stay was free! I’d definitely recommend it, even if I paid the nightly rate. Although, I didn’t get to take full advantage of all the amenities, they had a the pool and a onsite tropical casino.
This is a great budget friendly option too! Although I used points, you can get a room at this hotel for under $200 a night. Take advantage of the hotel breakfast. It’s always a good idea to check out the hotel amenities and use them to the fullest.
Day 4: Crash Boat Beach to Airport
Continuing with our drive around the island – we make our way to Anguilla. One of Puerto Rico’s BEST beach, Crash Boat Beach. I loved how vibrant the beach was between the colors, waves and vendors.
Grab a drink at Cocoloba Beach Bar
This covered restaurant and bar is, Cocoloba, right at the entrance of Crash Boat beach.
Enjoy a beach day at Crash Boat Beach
No trip to Puerto Rico’s west coast is complete without a stop at Crash Boat Beach! And it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. I would dedicate at least half of your day to spend here.
But, you could spend the entire day here – they have many vendors with food and beverages along the beach. But our flight at San Juan International Airport is at 4pm and is almost two hours from the beach.
Drive to San Juan International Airport
The Puerto Rico portion of our trip is coming to an end. What to do next? Fly home? Or extend it and visit the US Virgin Islands. Fly with Silver airways to St. Croix. I was able to score flight tickets for $38 per person!
Thank You For Reading!
If you are interested in another gorgeous beach location in North America check out my Cabo, Mexico blog post.
