👉 Jump to: Budget Tips | Free and Low-Cost Things to Do | Where to Stay | Cheap Eats | FAQ
While challenging, accomplishing Puerto Rico on a budget is entirely possible.
While it is accurate that Puerto Rico has higher costs than some other Latin American destinations, as a local resident I can confidently state you will be able to enjoy some of the top activities Puerto Rico has to offer for less than your online shopping expenditures so far this year.
You merely need the local’s insight into how to experience Puerto Rico on a restricted budget – and in this article, I will give you the best recommendations to realize it. Then, if you’re still looking for additional budget tips after you’ve read this post, check out my extensive Puerto Rico ebook!
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Table of Contents
6 Tips to Do Puerto Rico on a Budget
I have an entire article outlining dozens of my best suggestions for Puerto Rico, but here are 6 of them that will specifically aid you in experiencing Puerto Rico economically:
Stay in an Apartment Rental
Most accommodations in Puerto Rico cost over $150 every night. For this reason, budget travelers regularly prefer Airbnbs compared to hotels. You can also find VRBOs, hostels, or paradores, which are little local hotels with a Caribbean feel.
Eat Where The Locals Eat
Local cuisine can be enjoyed without draining your wallet by eating where locals do. Look for chinchorros, small food vendors, chicken barbecues, and local bakeries. Cheap local eats in the area will be covered later in this post.
Rent a Car
Renting a car may seem like an unconventional tip to save money, but taxis in Puerto Rico can be costly, particularly for long distances. Public transportation, on the other hand, isn’t great.
Renting one`s own vehicle for travel around Puerto Rico proves more cost-effective than paying for excursions or shuttles, and as highlighted in this resource, navigating the island by car presents minimal challenges for those used to driving in the USA.
To obtain the most inexpensive pricing for a rental car, it is advised to use an online search tool like Discover Cars. As mentioned in my guide on Puerto Rico vehicle rentals, Discover Cars is beneficial because it enables the comparison of pricing and client assessments on a single page.
Make Your Own Food
Food can quickly deplete your budget, especially if you’re traveling with children or remaining in Puerto Rico for an extended period.
Book a place with a kitchen so you can prepare some of your meals and snacks. You’ll find everything you need in local groceries, from bread to pasta.
Walk as Much as you Can
Few locales within Puerto Rico allow for walking, but Old San Juan is one option. If you`re staying inside Old San Juan, you can save considerably by walking around instead of taking taxis. Alternatively, you may consider renting bicycles or scooters too!
Travel Off-Season
While winter brings the driest season to tour Puerto Rico, it isn’t the most affordable time to take a trip. You can find flights for as little as $60 round trip during the fall because of the hurricane season in the Caribbean.
👉 Pro Tip: Use Google Flights to inspect ticket costs, and wait from 6 to 1 month before your journey to locate cheaper flights.
Drop the Tours
I understand many individuals feel more secure with a guide, and that is great if you have the funds available. If that’s you, check out our breakdown of the best Puerto Rico tours to find one that works for you.
But, if you’re on a financial plan in Puerto Rico, taking tours will empty your wallet fast. And many places visited on tours are free or economical anyway.
It’s a bit more work, but you can save by personally researching and plotting your own routes. If you need assistance, check out my guide to the premier spots to see in Puerto Rico.
Travel with Someone
You can double the fun, and lower your trip costs if you plan to share your Puerto Rico activity schedule with a friend.
One of the most universal strategies for touring on a budget is to journey with a friend or a group of people. You can save by sharing hotel and transportation costs.
Traveling with your family? Be sure to peruse my guide regarding planning a vacation to Puerto Rico with family.
6 Cheap & Free Things to Do in Puerto Rico
I’ve compiled a more extensive list of 17 complimentary activities in Puerto Rico, along with an even more extensive guide covering nearly 72 entertaining options around Puerto Rico, but here are 6 of my preferred selections if exploring low- or no-cost possibilities:
Walk Old San Juan
Exploring the medieval streets and historical buildings in San Juan like El Morro, Paseo de la Princesa, and La Fortaleza is one of the most inexpensive activities you can do in the islands, without forfeiting the culture or the history.
Sunbathe on Puerto Rico’s Beaches
Most visitors could spend their entire vacation relaxing on beaches. You can access Puerto Rico’s stunning beaches free of charge, or for a small daily parking fee.
If you’re here for a brief time (1-2 days) and want to be as centrally located as possible, we’d choose downtown Seattle.
Hike the Only Tropical Rainforest in the US
📍Google Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free
A helpful introductory guide to common words, vocabulary, and grammar structures in Modern Greek. The book presents Greek terms in their original alphabetic script rather than transliterated to English letters
🌩️ A storm known as Hurricane Hortense in 1996 caused damages despite being a category 1 hurricane – the eye crossed the west coast of Puerto Rico in just 1 hour and 15 minutes, and although it was category 1, the heavy rainfall caused floods and losses totaling $150 million. Hurricane Hortense.
To see more hiking options around the island, be sure to refer to my list of the top hikes in Puerto Rico.
Swim in the Waterfalls
If you dislike sand, then head over to one of the numerous waterfalls available in Puerto Rico.
La Coca and La Mina Falls can be found in El Yunque.
However, if you don’t want to wait in line at gate PR-191, you can head to Naguabo, Peñuelas, Canóvanas, Arecibo, San Sebastián, Utuado, or Orocovis to visit beautiful waterfalls for free.
Soak in the Historical Plazas
Exploring through the plazas is one of the best attractions in Puerto Rico for history and architecture enthusiasts.
Plazas in Puerto Rico were the original town centers, so they usually have a noteworthy church with amazing architecture.
Large public squares or plazas can be found in nearly all cities and towns, commonly located near downtown areas.
Explore Puerto Rico’s Caves
Puerto Rico’s attractions involve hundreds of breathtaking caves.
Some Puerto Rican caves like Camuy Caverns require entrance fees, others such as Cueva del Viento, Cueva del Indio, and Cueva de las Golondrinas allow free admision.
Check out my full list of the primary Puerto Rico caverns for additional information.
👉 Searching for additional pursuits in Puerto Rico? Peruse my complete guide to top activities you can experience visiting the island.
Where to Stay in Puerto Rico on a Budget
📍 Google Maps | Website
You can lower your expenses by traveling off-peak times, staying in hostels, or staying off the main tourist area. Here are some budget tips for choosing where to lodge:
Old San Juan
👉 Best Area For Sightseeing | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: Casa Blanca Hotel
While hotels in San Juan can cost more, their central locations mean renting a car is unnecessary for reaching most affordable free attractions, helping offset expenses.
Ocean Park
👉 Best Region For Affordable Stays | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: Nomada Urban Beach Hostel • The Dreamcatcher
If the hotels in Old San Juan are still exceeding your budget but you want to remain near the core area, stay in Ocean Park where you`ll find inexpensive lodging like hotels and hostels in close proximity to the beaches.
Cabo Rojo
👉 Best Area For Beaches & Surfing | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: Mi Tierra
🌩️ Hurricane Hugo, 1989 – category 4, caused 8 fatalities and $2 billion in losses. It made landfall in Vieques and later on the main island through Fajardo.
Cabo Rojo is also close to other attractions like La Parguera, one of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays.
👉 Local Tip: If vacationing outside the tourist areas of San Juan, endeavor to learn some basic Spanish, as not everyone on the island speaks English fluently.
Ponce
👉 Best Area For History Lovers | ✨ Best Budget Hotel: Bélgica Boutique Hotel
Within downtown lies several sub-districts that drive the city`s nightlife and entertainment scene:
Remain in downtown and tour some of the main attractions in Ponce. While exploring the area, be sure to stop at a few of the highly rated restaurants in Ponce to sample the diverse and appetizing local cuisine.
Ponce’s location is ideal to take a day trip to the naturally glowing bay in La Parguera, or Isla Caja de Muertos.
👉 Keep Reading: Don’t miss my full guide to the best regions to reside in Puerto Rico.
Cheap Eats in Puerto Rico
Even with a limited food budget, one can eat inexpensively in Puerto Rico as long as they are not too particular about appearances.
You’ll find the most affordable food selections at small street vendors, bakeries, and restaurants outside the busier tourist zones, but you may need to use some basic Spanish to order.
Piñones
Traditional Puerto Rican
📍 Google Maps | Price Range: ($-$$)
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While the appearance may not be the best and air conditioning is absent, you can eat authentic Puerto Rican dishes for a few dollars.
By Cheff’s
Traditional Puerto Rican
📍 Google Maps | Price Range: ($-$$$)
If you want to enjoy a well-stuffed mofongo for less than $15, you need to eat at By Cheff’s in Isabela. Besides the traditional mofongo, you can enjoy other local delicacies.
Deaverdura
Puerto Rican & Caribbean
📍 Google Maps | Price Range: ($-$$)
Deaverura is great for an inexpensive lunch before continuing to explore San Juan. It offers local cuisine in a casual and relaxed environment.
Guavate
Puerto Rican
📍 Google Maps | Cost Variation: ($-$$)
You’ve likely heard of the famous Puerto Rican roasted pork delicacy, and Guavate is the ideal place to sample it.
This culinary route between Cidra, Cayey, and Patillas is famous for its restaurants called lechoneras where you can enjoy a good meal for under $10.
La Guancha
Puerto Rican, Mexican
📍 Google Maps | Price Range: ($-$$)
La Guancha is the south coast’s alternative to Piñones. This beachfront area in Ponce has dozens of food kiosks where one will find an assortment of common Puerto Rican beverages and dishes.
Luquillo Kiosks
Puerto Rican, Mexican, Seafood
📍 Location on Google Maps | Price Range: ($-$$)
The beachfront food stalls at Luquillo Kiosks in Puerto Rico offer the finest selections of snacks, sands, and surf you’ll encounter on the island. With over 40 eateries, hunger won`t be an issue!
To escape the crowds that congregate at this popular spot, simply take your fritters and cross over to Luquillo Beach, one of Puerto Rico’s top beaches.
Luquillo and the nearby town, Rio Grande, are both great escapes for a weekend in Puerto Rico.
FAQs About Visiting Puerto Rico on a Budget
How much should I budget for a trip to Puerto Rico?
A weeklong vacation for two individuals in Puerto Rico can cost between $1,500 to $3,000 generally. Travelers would be wise to budget an additional $200 or $300 for unexpected expenses.
Is Puerto Rico cheap to visit?
Puerto Rico isn`t the most affordable destination when comparing it to other islands within the Caribbean region, but solo travelers can expect to spend approximately $1,000 for a weeklong trip to San Juan, while couples could budget $1,500. Thrifty visitors may cut costs even further by preparing their own meals or visiting during the off-peak season.
How can I go to Puerto Rico on a budget?
Visitors who want to visit Puerto Rico on a budget should travel during the fall and stay at a bed and breakfast, hostel, or Airbnb. Travelers can also save on their travel expenses by cooking their meals and visiting absolutely free attractions on the island.
How much money do I need per day in Puerto Rico?
Overall, budget travelers will need an average of $100 per day in Puerto Rico if they get good deals on hotels and car rentals, and eat at reasonably priced places.
What is the cheapest way to get around Puerto Rico?
The most cost-effective way of traveling around Puerto Rico is via public transportation, although for most tourists this method is only convenient within San Juan. Rental cars are more practical and can be found for affordable prices if you book ahead through Discover Cars.
🏝️ Read Next: How to Visit the US Virgin Islands Inexpensively
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Now you know all the suggestions to visit Puerto Rico economically! To finish your planning, keep reading our guide to the best pursuits in Puerto Rico.
