There are so many things to do in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – where does one begin? There are infinite possibilities to fit every mood and interest, but the crew here at Caribbean Trading Company have some personal favorites. Here’s some of the local spots that we return to time and again in the town of Rio Grande in Puerto Rico…

Rio Grande is located in the Northeastern corner of Puerto Rico, about 35 minutes from San Juan.

1. Palmer

An on-the-cusp artisan community, there are many things to do in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque Art District with a couple of boutique stores, artisan galleries, a bakery, deli, juice bar, and post office. Easily spend a couple of hours exploring. Well, and of course, you should visit us at the Caribbean Trading Company Store. As a Crew we all do our gift and souvenir shopping here – from holidays to celebrations to souvenir-buying, you can always find the right gift to give. Check out some of our reviews on Trip Advisor! Conveniently located at the foot of Rt 191 to El Yunque Rainforest so stop by to visit us on your way to El Yunque Rainforest or Luquillo.

2. El Yunque Rainforest

Between the whole crew, we’ve pretty much tried all of the trails. Different trails work for different reasons, there are many things to do in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque. In particular, we highly recommend the trip up Rt 191 – this main entrance has the Visitors Center and several trailheads and some great waterfalls and watchtowers and vistas along the way. Take it to the top and then pick the spots you liked the best on your way up. When it’s raining, don’t swim in the rivers, but if you take a drive up there you’ll see waterfalls along the road you wouldn’t normally see otherwise. South 191 is a little less centrally accessible but has a great new recreation area along the river that is perfect for a picnic and some great trails.

3. Rio Grande’s Beaches

Rio Grande offers a couple of beaches outside of the Resorts. Of course, the beaches to be found at the Resorts are excellent, particularly St.Regis Bahia Beach and the Wyndham Rio Mar. But if you are just in the area, then consider a visit to Coco Beach or Las Picuas. Coco Beach is not a great swimming beach, it is much better for beachcombing and fishing. The beach is located where to Rio Espiritu Santo meets the ocean so there are beautiful mangroves and plenty of wildlife to observe. Las Picuas beach is located past the Rio Mar resort and one can park on the street and take one of the beach paths over to the beach. It is a very calm beach and is ideal also for beachcombing. It is very popular with the locals, especially during the summer and local holidays.

4. Golf and Spa at Rio Grande’s Resorts

There are three excellent resorts to be found in Rio Grande and they are wonderful places to stay. But even if you are not staying at one of the resorts, you very well may want to consider them for your Golf or Spa needs. The spas are all world-class, but it is the golf courses that really shine. For example, Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the Bahia Beach courses, Tom Fazio designed the course at Rio Mar, and Tom Kite designed the four 9-hole courses at Coco Beach in Rio Grande. And, even the Pros come here to play every year at the PGA Puerto Rican Open at the Trump International Golf Club at Coco Beach.

5. Adventure Activities

Rio Grande is host to several adventure companies that provide adventure activities. Hacienda Carabali offers horse-back riding, ATV’s, Mountain Biking, Ziplining, and Go Kart racing. Also, there are several ziplines available of which children are welcome. Check it out here.

Or you can kayak the Espiritu Santo River with local tour companies. Click here to visit their page.

Liked this article? Join the Crew and Start the Journey! Connect with Us for News, Events, Lifestyle, and all things Caribbean by joining our Newsletter – Click Here to Join or find us on Facebook or Instagram.