5 incredible road trips in Puerto Rico

05.01.2024 - 15:51 / lonelyplanet.com

Puerto Rico may be small but it is also perfectly formed when it comes to incredible attractions.

The island has a wide array of delicious food, lush landscapes, wildlife and culture jam-packed into an area only 100 by 35 miles. Its relatively small size makes it an ideal road trip destination. Here, no drive is too long or too far, and it’s easy to embrace “island time” and savor every beach, roadside kiosk and photo op along the way. 

From north to south, east to west, mountains to beaches, the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, here are the best road trips in Puerto Rico. 

Best route for dramatic coastline
Barceloneta–Arecibo; 11.5 miles  

The northern coastal roads of Barceloneta and Arecibo offer easy drives by the seascapes of the rugged, dramatic Atlantic shore. Start your journey on Route 684 north and follow the farmlands along the river until the road becomes coastal Route 681.

Make a quick pit stop at Rolyn’s seafood kiosk, known for manta-ray empanadillas (turnovers), as you make your way to La Cueva del Indio (the Indian Cave). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and featured in movies including Pirates of the Caribbean, this seaside grotto has Taino petroglyphs dating back nearly a millennium.

Any seafood restaurant further along the road – Salitre is a local favorite – makes a great spot for lunch or dinner. We recommend unwinding at La Poza del Obispo beach, with its turquoise waters, towering limestone rock formations and historic lighthouse.

End your day in Islote, where countless bars look out over the sea and afford ideal spots to take in the sunset with a refreshing drink in hand.

Planning tip: You’ll come across plenty of beaches en route, but swimmers beware: the tide is strong on the north shore, with large waves in the winter months that are perhaps better suited to surfing. 

Best route for roadside restaurants
Bayamón–Comerío; 23 miles 

A chinchorro is a small, typically roadside restaurant or kiosk that serves all kinds of Puerto Rican foods, especially the deep-fried variety. No road trip experience in Puerto Rico is complete without a day spent “chinchorreando,” which usually consists of scenic drives through the mountains with stops at variousestablishments to experience food, drinks and sweeping views of the lush countryside along the way.

Start in Bayamón, a suburb of San Juan, and head southwest towards Naranjito on Route 167. Snap a photo at the Mirador al Puente Colgante (hanging bridge) or keep going to the many chinchorros along Route 152, including La Casa de la Morcilla, Caldoso, Calichi Gastro Bar, Asador San Miguel and others. 

From there, continue south to Comerío on Route 809 toward Doña Elena for some of the best carne ahumada (smoked pork) on the