A Escape to San Juan: Sun, Snorkeling, Mofongo and Pina Coladas

Would you like to trade the dull and cloudy days of the Bay Area for a beach side view of a tropical resort? In San Juan, Puerto Rico, nothing beats some relaxing beach time with the quaint and charming rows of multicolored streets. Come with me and my family as we collected our best hacks and views so you don’t have to imagine the possible.

Though it was an unusually wet weather in April which made us to tweak some of our plans but worth it.

Getting There: Points and Seating

Here’s a game changer that will save you some money and exchange it for a memory- use points and assign seating. Most airlines have removed assigned seating, so in order to avoid confusion it’s best to book before hand. Been a frequent flyer? Make sure you check with your airlines to see what you can book and save.

Where We Stayed: Royal Sonesta San Juan, Isla Verde

We booked our stay through Expedia at the Royal Sonesta San Juan in Isla Verde — just a 10-minute drive from the airport, which made for an easy start to the trip. Here’s the rundown:

The view: The view of the ocean and palm trees really was when it hit to us that we were in Puerto Rico. The warm fresh scent of a sapphire blue sea is like no other, and San Juan doesn’t disappoint.
Breakfast: The buffet was included in our package, but if yours isn’t, you can reserve a seat and pay for breakfast separately — worth checking your booking details ahead of time. The food was an incredible variety consisting of fresh fruits, meat, and egg. They showcased their beautiful and rich culture with incredible meals; all over an even more breath taking view.
Location: Being in Isla Verde put us close to the airport and away from the density of Old San Juan, which worked out nicely for the rental car logistics (more on that below). I’d describe as the area around us as a city-like rugged charm. It was fascinating to see how even the environment of the birds and native plants interacted with the surrounding buildings.

Getting Around: Cabs vs. Rental Car

We made one smart call early on: we didn’t rent a car right away. San Juan often charges extra for parking (especially in hotels) so using a cab came in clutch. The heart of San Juan is tight winding buildings that often call for extra traffic. However, we did eventually switch to a rental when going to a longer distance.

Day 1: Dinner at Los Gordita’s

After settling in, we walked to Los Gorditos, a local Puerto Rican spot within walking distance of the hotel. We got there early, before the dinner rush, and it was fairly quiet — but by the time we left, the place had completely filled up. The food was reasonably priced, and this is where I tried mofongo for the first time. Verdict: it did not disappoint.

Day 2: Castillo San Felipe del Morro & Old San Juan

The next morning started with breakfast at the hotel and a bit of early rain — but it cleared up and left us with beautiful weather for the rest of the day. We took a cab to Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and from there discovered that several of San Juan’s forts and castles are all within walking distance of one another, making it easy to see multiple sites in one outing. I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer size and beauty of the castles, as well as its view entirely over looking the sea. It is a bit of a walk, so I recommend bringing some water and caps.

Worried about food? My family and I simply wandered around the main plaza sampling the meats and sweets galore. The plaza consisted of shops of all kinds and I found that Puerto Rican jewelry is a unique souvenir that I promise won’t disappoint. The colored soft patterns and textiles are like no other, along with its even richer history.

That evening we had dinner at Barrachina, birthplace of Piña Coladas then stroll around the old streets of San Juan with music and street market.

Day 3: Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour at Escambrón Beach

We booked a last minute “San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour” through Viator, based out of Escambrón Beach, which came with complimentary photos and video of the excursion — a nice touch since it meant we didn’t have to worry about bringing a camera into the water ourselves. A few practical notes for anyone doing the same:

Arrive early: we planned to get there 30 minutes ahead of time, but the rental counter took longer than expected and we ended up running late. The tour was kind enough to shift us to the next available slot, but be warned: batches fill up fast, so don’t cut it close.
What to bring — the outfitters provide the snorkeling gear, and you can leave your bag in a locker or in the car. All you really need is your swimsuit and a bit of courage to get in the water.
The water — coming from Northern California, we’re just not used to warm ocean water. But that’s the beauty of snorkeling at this latitude — the Atlantic here is warm, clear, and tropical.

Our group was split by swimming ability, and since I was in the beginner group, our guide let us hold onto a flotation aid while we explored. Even as a beginner, I got to see sea turtles and fish up close — it was genuinely one of the best parts of the trip, and we came away with some great photos and video to remember it by.

Money-saving tip: if you know swimming and already own your own snorkeling gear, you don’t need to book a tour at all. Escambrón has a free public beach right next door where you can snorkel on your own schedule, for as long as you like, at no cost.

Day 4: El Yunque National Park

We started early, but rain claimed our morning before we’d even left the hotel. Once breakfast was done, we drove out to El Yunque National Park — the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. The weather that day was unusually wet, with rain falling almost the entire time we were there, aside from a few short breaks.

We wore quick-dry clothing since it wasn’t really a heavy-hiking kind of day — most of El Yunque’s viewpoints sit right along the road or close to the parking areas, so you can see a lot without committing to a long trail. That said, we did hike up to Mt. Britton Tower, and it was absolutely worth it. We got drenched, dried off, then got drenched again. By the time we reached the tower, the rain had actually stopped, and we got a rare, brief view out toward San Juan in the distance — but it only lasted a few minutes before the rain picked right back up as we started heading down.

If you don’t mind getting wet, it’s completely worth the hike. I wore sandals, which made it much easier to dry off quickly compared to sneakers. Bring water with you regardless of the weather.

Day 4 (continued): Bioluminescent Kayaking

Straight from the rainforest, we headed toward the coast for a bioluminescent lagoon kayaking tour Puerto Rico Bio Bay Tours LLC. We arrived ahead of time, though the weather flip-flopped on us twice while we waited. We passed the time with piña coladas at a nearby restaurant, which conveniently had public restrooms where you could change into kayaking clothes. A couple of tips here: wear something you don’t mind getting wet, and bring a dry set of clothes to change into afterward.

Honestly, we were skeptical the tour would even happen — we worried the rain might wash out the bioluminescence entirely. But luck was on our side: the rain stopped right around our check-in time, and the team confirmed we were good to go.

We kayaked out through open ocean into the lagoon, and by sunset reached a spot where the water turned dark enough that just touching it made it spark with bioluminescence. It wasn’t an overwhelming, glowing show, but it also wasn’t a letdown — a genuinely cool thing to see in person.

One honest note: two-person kayaking takes real coordination. My teen and I actually butted heads a couple of times out on the water, since the anxiety of it all got to them — though in hindsight, maybe that’s just forced team-building. Either way, it turned into a memory we’ll laugh about later.

We ate dinner at a small Puerto Rican kiosko/chinchorro, sampling some local delicacies after the tour and headed back to our rooms for the night — a short excursion overall, but well worth it. We spent the rest of the evening on the balcony, enjoying the breeze and the ocean view.

A few more practical notes from the day:

Driving in Puerto Rico isn’t difficult overall, but pay close attention to exits and highway ramps — they can come up quickly.
Spanish helps. Having a kid in our group who spoke Spanish made ordering at the local kiosks much smoother — most locals we encountered spoke Spanish as their primary language.

Day 5: Heading Home

We started early the next morning. Checkout was quick — we returned our key bands, grabbed one last breakfast at the hotel, and headed to the airport. Everything moved fast, and before we knew it, we were wheels up back to the Bay Area.

What to Bring Home from Puerto Rico

If you’re wondering what to pick up as souvenirs, here’s our list: local coffee, wall décor like handmade masks, fridge magnets (a personal collecting habit), and — my personal favorite — pressed pennies. 🙂

Final Thoughts

San Juan packed in a little bit of everything: history at the forts, color and culture in Old San Juan, sea turtles in the Atlantic, a soggy but unforgettable hike through El Yunque, and glowing water under a kayak at sunset. If you’re planning your own trip, my biggest takeaways are: reserve your Southwest seats early, skip the rental car for city days, grab your hotel parking code before you park across the street, show up early for any tour reservation, pack quick-dry clothes if you’re headed into the rainforest, and bring a dry change of clothes for anything on the water.