If you’re an outdoor lover, then you can’t miss out on all the incredible things to do in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Located in the northeast of Puerto Rico, Rio Grande hosts El Yunque National Rainforest, one of Puerto Rico’s top attractions, beaches, rivers, and farms.
I’m a Puerto Rico local who has even penned an entire Puerto Rico ebook. I have a passion for outdoor adventures, and in this post, I’ll walk you through the best things you can do in the Rio Grande.
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21 Best Things to Do in Rio Grande
El Yunque National Forest
Explore the only tropical rainforest in the United States.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
El Yunque National Forest is one of Puerto Rico’s most iconic landmarks, and it’s mostly located in Rio Grande.
El Yunque is an outdoor lover’s paradise with multiple hiking trails, waterfalls, a rainforest zipline park, and viewing towers.
Travelers interested in its history can stop at the visitors’ center for a tour through exhibitions that showcase how El Yunque came to be.
Besides the waterfalls and hiking trails, El Yunque is home to historical structures like Baño de Oro, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Puerto Rico.
Juan Diego Waterfall
Bathe in one of the most frequented falls of El Yunque National Forest.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
Considered one of the most popular waterfalls in Puerto Rico, Juan Diego Falls is located on PR191 inside El Yunque National Forest.
The waterfall has multiple cascades making more than one natural pool where visitors can bathe and enjoy the surrounding nature.
The hike to the first and second falls is easy and takes just five minutes from the main road. After the second fall, a muddy steep path leads to a bigger fall that most visitors miss out on.
Yokahu Tower
Admire the area’s lush rainforest from this popular viewing tower.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 3:45 pm daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Book a Tour on Viator
The Yokahu Tower is a viewing tower with an elevation of 1,575 ft above sea level. The tower is right by PR 191 and is a popular stop for photographers and drone owners.
Spiral stairs allow visitors to climb to the top of the tower where you can see top-notch panoramic views of the forest and the northern coastline.
Rio Espiritu Santo
Take a boat tour through the only navigable river in Puerto Rico.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 612-3075 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 3 pm Thur-Sun, Closed Mon-Wed
Rio Espiritu Santo is the only river in Puerto Rico open to navigation. It sits in the Rio Espiritu Santo Nature Reserve between The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, and the Coco Beach Golf Club.
You can tour the river on your own with kayaks, but La Paseadora offers private two-hour group boat tours for $200. Individual tours take place on Sundays for a $20 fee.
Playa Las Picuas
Relax on this hidden beach in Rio Grande.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Playa Las Picuas is a Rio Grande beach with crystalline waters and soft sand that is often uncrowded. During the low tide season, you can walk quite far into the beach without the water going above your waste.
Nature lovers will love taking long strolls and sunbathing on this almost deserted coast. Although finding its access is a bit tricky, you’ll find multiple small access spots through Camino Las Picuas.
Don’t worry about walking near the resorts! All Puerto Rico beaches are public, so you are free to enjoy Rio Grande’s beaches on your own.
Santuario de Amosito
Visit this unique-looking mausoleum .
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-7559 | Website | Hours: Available with previous appointment, Closed Saturdays | Entrance: Free
Santuario de Amosito is both a museum and a mausoleum for Amós Tosado, the founder of Pueblo de Amós Church.
This unique-looking structure resembles the famous Taj Mahal with golden domes and multiple arches you’ll love admiring if you’re into architecture. Santuario de Amosito is also surrounded by a lovely green space you can tour with a guide.
Puente Roto
Enjoy a family-friendly river adventure.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
Puente Roto is a riverside area in El Yunque ideal for a family day trip from San Juan. The area is accessible without reservation and it has a space perfect for sitting and relaxing.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike through the Mameyes River, but families can swim in the large pond the river forms under the bridge.
Puente Roto doesn’t have any facilities, so make sure to take all your trash back with you, and bring all the hiking essentials you need for a day trip.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort
Showcase your golfing skills in this award-winning course.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 474-6627 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $150 tee time
Besides being one of the most luxurious resorts in Rio Grande and one of the best places to stay in Puerto Rico,Wyndham Grand Rio Mar also features two breathtaking golf courses.
The 18-hole River Course goes along the Mameyes River for 6,945 yards and it has El Yunque mountains as background.
The Ocean Course has a view of the Atlantic Ocean and is often considered one of the best golf courses in the Caribbean.
If you’re interested in staying at this or any of the resorts in the area, you can browse hotels in Rio Grande through Booking.
Finca Neo Jibairo
Enjoy a meal with fresh ingredients from the farm.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 598- 0240 | Website | Hours: 3 pm – 10 pm Fri-Sat, 3 pm – 8 pm Thurs and Sun, Closed Mon-Wed
Finca Neo Jibairo is a farm in Rio Grande that offers multiple experiences for nature lovers, camping enthusiasts, and even foodies.
The half-day tour allows you to walk around the fields of the farm and learn about sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico.
But the highlight of the Finca Neo Jibairo is the Farm to Table pop dinner nights. During this dinner, you’ll delight your taste buds with Puerto Rican dishes and ingredients that come directly from the farm itself.
But, you can also visit to try something from their daily menu, including pizzas and cocktails.
Carabalí Rainforest Park
Ride a horse surrounded by the beauty of a forest.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 889-4954 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5:30 pm daily
For those who like to combine the outdoors with a little adventure, Hacienda Carabalí is one of the best places to visit near Rio Grande.
This ranch on the outskirts of El Yunque offers a traveler ATV countryside adventures with plenty of mud, rain, and green foliage.
An alternative? Check out the hacienda for horseback riding either in El Yunque or on the beautiful beaches.
Laguna Grande
Kayak in a bioluminescent bay.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
Located a short ride from Rio Grande, Laguna Grande is one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.
Tours to the lagoon run daily and you can choose between kayak and boat tours to visit this attraction in Fajardo.
But, you should visit on a night with a new moon to appreciate better the glowing phenomenon.
Tito’s Paintball Park
Play paintball on the largest paintball field in Puerto Rico.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 642-7755 | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Sat-Sun, Closed Mon-Fri
Another great way to spend the day in Rio Grande is at Tito’s Paintball Park. This park offers large facilities with many obstacles like boats, buses, tires, and airplanes.
Besides playing paintball, families can ride ATVs or swim in the nearby Mameyes River. If you want to celebrate a birthday, you can also rent a gazebo on their property.
👉 Pro Tip: Call ahead to know if they have space available for the time you’re planning to visit.
Luquillo Beach
Take a beach tour to Luquillo Beach.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 889-5871 | Hours: 8:30 am – 6 pm high season, 8:30 am – 5 pm low season, closed Monday and Tuesdays | Parking: $4 | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
A short ride away from Rio Grande you’ll find one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico, Luquillo Beach.
This beach is popular among locals and tourists for its duality, perfect for doing water sports or swimming with your kids.
Also known as La Montserrate Beach, you’ll find rentals, showers, bathrooms, and shops that will make your beach day trip easier, and your beach packing list shorter.
Luquillo Beach is also right across the Luquillo food kiosks, where you can enjoy some of Puerto Rico’s top foods.
👉 Local Tip: Even if parking is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, you can access the beach from Luquillo Food Kiosks.
Brew!!! Brewery and Tap Room
Pour yourself a locally-made beer in this Rio Grande brewery.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 942-5819 | Hours: 2 – 9 pm Fri-Sat, 2 – 5 pm Sun, Closed from Monday to Thursday
Brew!!! Taller Experimental is a Puerto Rico brewery located in Rio Grande. Open only on the weekends, this nano brewery inspires its beers in the municipal island of Culebraand other Puerto Rico landmarks.
It produces a variety of beers including lagers and pale ales that you can try in the brewery’s tap room, but you’ll also find other Puerto Rico beers.
Zipline Rainforest Park
Zoom between trees and over rivers in El Yunque.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 370-1010 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $79-$160 | 👉 Book a Zipline Tour in El Yunque
The Zipline Rainforest Park in El Yunque is an outdoor adventure park that offers thrill seekers the chance to explore El Yunque differently.
This Rio Grande park hosts rock climbing, hiking, and top Puerto Rico zipline tours.
You can take them individually or combine them to spend the whole day having fun in the rainforest. If you’d like more adventure, check out my guide to the best tours in El Yunque.
Portal El Yunque
Learn about the flora and fauna of El Yunque.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $8
Portal El Yunque is El Yunque’s visitor center located in PR 191. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to learn about the rainforest’s ecosystem as well as the recovery efforts post Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The site has exhibitions that dive into how El Yunque came to be and what makes it special. You’ll also find a cafeteria, bathrooms, and a gift shop on-site.
El Yunque Food Truck Family Park
Grab a meal at this outdoor food truck park.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 212-6147 | Hours: 12 – 9 pm Thurs-Sun, Closed from Monday to Wednesday
El Yunque Food Truck Park is a great stop to grab dinner after being out exploring El Yunque’s trails all day. The food truck park has multiple options for foodies, including sushi, pasta, and Puerto Rican food at moderate prices.
If you’re not hungry, you can also grab a beer and sit down to enjoy the music.
El Yunque Food Truck Park has outdoor seats, bathrooms, and parking. Check out its social media to learn about events and entertainment options.
Mt. Britton Tower
Admire the rainforest from 3,087 feet above sea level.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free
Mt. Britton Tower is another lookout masonry-style tower created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in El Yunque.
But, unlike its neighbor Yokahu Tower, the Mt. Britton Tower is hard to get to. To reach the tower you’ll have to hike 45 minutes on a muddy uphill trail.
But, the view from 3,087 feet above sea level on a clear day is worth checking out if you’re into hiking and landscape photography.
👉 Local Tip: As of May 2024, the trail’s part to get to the tower is temporarily closed. Some visitors decide to walk around the fence, but doing so might earn you a fine. Proceed at your own risk.
Cayo La Mancha
Walk on a sandbar in the middle of the ocean.
Cayo La Mancha is a Puerto Rico offshore cay outside Rio Grande’s coast. Contrary to other offshore islands, Cayo La Mancha doesn’t have any mangroves and is more like a sandbank.
Visiting makes you feel like you’re almost walking over water. It’s a nice spot to take pictures and float in the middle of the ocean, but you’ll need a jet ski or kayak to get there. Make sure, however, to visit only during days with low tide and without weather advisories.
👉 Local Tip: You can rent kayaks and jet skis at Luquillo Beach.
Fiestas Ciudad de El Yunque
Dance and eat all you can at this Rio Grande festival.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
During the second week of July, catch Fiestas Ciudad de El Yunque, Rio Grande’s patron’s festival and carnival. The multi-day Puerto Rico festival takes place in Estadio Ovidio de Jesus.
The festivity includes iconic carnival events such as the entrance of King Momo and the Carnival’s beauty pageant. You’ll also see the infamous Puerto Rican vejigantes and parades.
Noche de Observación Astronómica
See the stars from within El Yunque.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: $12 per person
If you’re staying in Rio Grande with your kids, sign up for a Noche de Observación Astronómica (Astronomical Observation Night) by Amigos del Yunque.
Amigos del Yunque is a non-profit organization that organizes these stargazing events frequently during which you’ll enjoy conferences and spot celestial bodies and constellations through telescopes.
Amigos del Yunque also hosts night walking tours in El Yunque, yoga classes, and conferences that usually take place in El Yunque’s visitor center.
Follow the organization’s social media to keep up with new events.
FAQs
What is Rio Grande Puerto Rico known for?
Rio Grande is known as the city home to El Yunque National Rainforest. Although El Yunque covers multiple cities, the main entrance to the forest is located in Rio Grande. The city is also popular for its luxury hotels and internationally renowned golf courses.
Does the Rio Grande have waterfalls?
Rio Grande has multiple waterfalls you can find inside El Yunque National Forest. Some of the most popular waterfalls in Rio Grande are La Coca Falls, La Mina Falls, Juan Diego Falls, and Cascada Rio Espiritu Santo.
How do you get to Rio Grande Puerto Rico?
Travelers who want to visit Rio Grande need to arrive at the San Juan Airport and from there take a taxi or rent a car to get to the town on the northeast coast. The trip driving from San Juan is under an hour. Public transportation doesn’t reach the city of Rio Grande from Old San Juan but it does reach nearby Luquillo.
📚 Continue Reading: Renting a Car in Puerto Rico
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Thanks for reading my picks for the top attractions in Rio Grande! If you’re looking for more awesome things to do, check my list of the best activities to do in Puerto Rico.
Enjoy Rio Grande!
