That’s basically how I felt during my entire one week in Puerto Rico last summer. And lemme tell you – I wasn’t expecting half the stuff that ended up happening.
I’m the type who usually just lays on a beach with a book and calls it vacation. But Puerto Rico?
Why This Island is Different
So one week in Puerto Rico turned out to be perfect timing, though I initially thought we’d run out of stuff to do by day four. Wrong. So wrong. The island isn’t huge, but every section feels like a different country almost. The north side has these big Atlantic waves. The south side is way calmer. The East has all these little islands you can explore. The West has crazy good sunsets.
What got me hooked was the water sports scene. I’m talking about jet skis, parasailing, those inflatable floating things, kayaking through mangrove tunnels – basically if it involves water, someone’s figured out how to make it fun here. And the companies running these activities actually know what they’re doing, which made me feel way less nervous about trying new stuff.
Starting Slow in San Juan
Then we found this jet ski rental place near Condado Beach. Gave us this whole safety talk, showed us how everything worked, even let us practice in shallow water before heading out.
The actual tour blew my mind. We went along the coastline for maybe ninety minutes, and you see San Juan from the water which is completely different from walking around.
When Things Got Really Good
Day four we drove to Fajardo on the east side. Traffic was kinda brutal getting out of San Juan – took way longer than Google Maps said it would – but once we got there I understood why everyone recommends this area.
The water sports company we found there had this deal where you could do multiple activities for less money.
What I really liked about the people running these activities is they weren’t just handing you equipment and saying good luck. They explained everything, made sure you felt comfortable, and answered dumb questions.
The Mangrove Experience
Okay so day five we did something completely different. Drive down to the south coast near Salinas, and the whole vibe there is more chill. Less tourists, more local people, and the water is super calm.
We booked this jet ski tour that goes through mangrove channels.
Can’t Miss Stuff
If you’re doing one week in Puerto Rico and you like being on the water, there’s a few things you gotta do. Not optional in my opinion.
The bioluminescent bay is first. We went to the one in Fajardo – Laguna Grande I think it’s called. Some kinda tiny organisms that light up when you disturb the water. We went when there was no moon which makes it brighter, and every stroke of the paddle left this glowing trail behind. My girlfriend kept saying this is magic over and over, and honestly she wasn’t wrong.
Also definitely do a trip to one of the small islands. We took a jet ski tour from Fajardo out to Icacos Island. The water getting there was a bit rough – I got bounced around pretty good on the jet ski – but once we got to the island it was worth it.
Good for families with kids too if that’s your situation.
Booking Stuff and Practical Things
Here’s what I learned about planning water activities during one week in Puerto Rico – book ahead if you can, especially on weekends. We tried to get a last minute jet ski rental on Saturday in San Juan and literally everything was booked. I had to wait till Sunday which worked out fine but taught me a lesson.
Most places want you to be eighteen to drive a jet ski by yourself. If you’re younger you can ride with someone older. They check IDs so bring your license. Also there’s weight limits on the equipment which makes sense for safety reasons.
The weather in Puerto Rico is pretty consistent but you get afternoon rain showers a lot. We had one parasailing trip get cancelled because winds were too strong, but they rescheduled us for next morning no problem. Most good companies will do that if the weather makes it unsafe.
Finding Good Companies
The water sports company we ended up using for most stuff was really solid. They had jet skis, boats for island trips, parasailing, paddleboards, snorkel gear – pretty much everything. We used them three or four different times during the week and they gave us a discount for coming back.
What made them good wasn’t just the equipment – it was the people working there actually cared about safety and making sure you had a good time. They weren’t rushing you through to get to the next customer. They took time to explain things, show you the best spots, give you tips about the island.
I saw some sketchy operations on beaches where the equipment looked beat up and the people running it seemed kinda careless. Not worth saving twenty bucks to risk your safety in my opinion. Go with companies that have good reviews and proper insurance.
How I’d Plan It Again
Days five and six either stay east or go to the west coast near Rincon – we didn’t make it there but I heard surfing and sunset boat rides are incredible. Last day back to San Juan for anything we missed.
Safety Stuff
Gotta mention this cause I saw people doing really stupid things on the water. Could’ve been way worse without it.
Listen to your guides and respect the ocean. It’s not a pool. There’s currents and waves and rocks and coral that can mess you up if you’re not careful. Every guide we had was big on safety which actually made everything more fun cause you felt secure trying new things.
Wrapping Up
If you’re thinking about one week in Puerto Rico and you like water activities, just book it. Don’t overthink. The island is easy for tourists, most people speak English, you don’t need a passport if you’re American, and the water sports options are really good.
I left with a camera full of photos and wanted to come back immediately. Already looking at dates for next year because there’s still stuff I didn’t get to – mainly the west coast and trying to surf in Rincon.
