Why Southwest Puerto Rico?
Most people fly into San Juan and never leave but Puerto Rico has so much more to offer. This time we partnered with Discover Puerto Rico to explore the southwestern side of the island, and honestly? It completely blew us away. From lush mangroves and stunning beaches to mountain waterfalls and vibrant street art, this part of the island is a dream waiting to be discovered.
Getting There & Where We Stayed
We landed at 4:00 in the morning, picked up our rental car a 2024 Nissan Versa for just $144 for the entire stay and hit the road. About 50 minutes later we arrived in La Parguera, a charming fishing town nestled on the southwest coast. Our Airbnb was $125 a night, beautifully open with natural lighting, plenty of windows, and stunning water views. Best of all, it was right in the heart of town so everything was within walking distance.
Day One: Dry Forest, Kayaking & Sunset Vibes
Breakfast at Paramar Bakery & Deli
We started our first morning with a short walk from the Airbnb to Paramar Bakery and Deli open early, which was perfect for us. Scrambled eggs with peppers, toast, a caramel almond latte, and a massive Medianoche sandwich stuffed with salami, pastrami, turkey, pork, cheese, peppers, lettuce and tomato. Safe to say nobody was hungry again for a while.
Guánica Dry Forest & Fuerte Cañón Hike
We drove about 35 minutes out to Guánica Dry Forest a dry forest, which was a first for us. The hike up to Fuerte Cañón took about 25 to 30 minutes on a gradual, well-marked rocky trail. When we reached the top, we had the entire view of Guánica Bay completely to ourselves. Absolutely worth every step. One tip go early. We were there around 11:30 AM and the sun was intense. Aim for 7:00 AM if you can.
Pro tip: If you search Fuerte Cañón on Google Maps it will take you to the 3-hour hike starting point. The 30-minute hike starting point is different check the blog for exact coordinates.
Kayaking to Gilligan's Island 🌿
One of the most highly recommended stops in the area is Gilligan's Island a stunning mangrove island with crystal clear water and beautiful marine life. Since the ferry no longer runs, the only way to get there is by kayak from Copa Marina Resort. Pricing is $40 for one hour, $55 for two hours, and $70 for three hours.
The paddle took us about 35 minutes each way. Tiring? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. The water was crystal clear, the mangroves were gorgeous, and we had the whole island to ourselves. We used the kayaks for just under 2 hours so we paid $55 total for both of us.
Sunset Dinner & Piña Coladas 🍹
We ended the evening at Puerto Barrera with the most recommended dish in town the Mofongo. We had shrimp mofongo in Creole sauce and chicken mofongo in garlic sauce, paired with piña coladas. Fun fact: the piña colada was actually founded right here in Puerto Rico. Our total bill for two including drinks was around $65, and we watched the sun melt into the water as we ate. Perfect evening.
Day Two: Chili Boats Through the Mangroves
Morning Chili Boat Tour
We woke up early for what became the highlight of the whole trip the Chili Boat Tour through the mangroves of La Parguera. We booked the 8:00 AM slot at $65 per person, arriving 45 minutes early for the safety briefing. These little pedal-powered boats glide through the mangroves effortlessly. No tired arms, no intense paddling just leaning back, pedaling gently, and taking in the most beautiful calm blue water, tiny fish beneath you, and lush green mangroves all around.
We made it all the way to Cayo Enrique with its stunning light blue water, and stopped at a shallow sandbar called Mahimó where we got off and walked around in crystal clear shallow water. This is an absolute must-do in La Parguera we can't recommend it enough.
Breakfast at Wakey Monkey 🥞
After the tour we found Wakey Monkey for breakfast $30 for two people including drinks. The pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs and mushrooms was cakey and delicious, and the French toast with bacon was equally phenomenal. Friendly staff, great food, great prices.
Sunflower Farm & Street Art in Yauco
Next we stopped at Finca Deleitar Soul, a sunflower farm that's just $2 per person to enter. The best time to visit is June or July when the sunflowers are in full bloom. We were there in February so many hadn't fully bloomed yet, but it was still a lovely stop.
From there we drove into Yauco and it was one of those places that immediately makes you smile. Colorful, vibrant, full of history and art. The crown jewel is Acromática, the largest open-air art installation in Puerto Rico with over 60 murals. It's steep to climb but the views from the top overlooking the entire city, the mountains, and the church are absolutely worth it. There's also a market at the entrance selling local baked goods and souvenirs support local!
Day Three: Cabo Rojo Beaches & Lighthouse
Breakfast at Bruha Restaurant
We started day three at Bruha, the restaurant inside Hotel Perla Plaza right next door to our Airbnb. The aesthetic was stunning all white and tan, very Tulum vibes. The chicken gouda mac and cheese with egg on top was rich and creamy, and the whipped avocado toast with zesty flavors was so good that even the avocado skeptic in us was sold.
Pink Salt Flats & Playa Sucia
On the drive toward Cabo Rojo we looked for the famous Pink Salt Flats. We did get the drone up and caught a glimpse, but you really need strong direct sunlight to see the pink hues clearly something to keep in mind depending on the weather.
From there we navigated some seriously rough unpaved roads deep potholes made even trickier after rain the night before to reach Playa Sucia. It's a local, lowkey beach with crystal clear water. It's not the most postcard-perfect beach on the island, but it has its own rugged charm.
Cabo Rojo Lighthouse Views 🔴
From Playa Sucia we climbed up toward the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse and the views are some of the most breathtaking on the entire island. Red cliffs, multiple shades of blue and green ocean, panoramic views as far as the eye can see. This is why they call it Cabo Rojo — the red cliffs are something else entirely. Do not skip this.
Lunch at Buena Vibra & Playa Buyé 🐟
For lunch we stopped at Buena Vibra in Cabo Rojo a fun open-air restaurant decorated with license plates from around the world. The coconut crusted grouper stuffed with churrasco steak in guava sauce was an absolute chef's kiss. The plantain basket stuffed with shrimp was equally incredible, paired with a piña colada of course.
We finished the afternoon at Playa Buyé, widely recommended by locals as one of the best beaches in southwestern Puerto Rico and we completely understand why. Soft white sand, clear baby blue water, and gorgeous views. It does get crowded so arrive early to secure parking. We walked all the way to the far end of the beach and found a quiet peaceful spot just for ourselves.
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Day Four: Mountain Waterfall & Mangroves
Salto Curet Waterfall — Center of the Island 💧
We drove up into the mountains of Maricao in the center of the island a stunning drive on smooth, well-maintained roads. After a short hike and about 20 minutes of walking upstream through a cool shallow river, we arrived at Salto Curet a gorgeous double waterfall in the middle of the rainforest, with little fish swimming in fresh water at the base. And once again we had it completely to ourselves.
Water shoes are an absolute must for this hike. The rocks are slippery and you'll be walking through water. Check the full blog post on choosetoexplore.com for exact Google Maps coordinates for parking and the waterfall.
Lunch at Caracol
After the waterfall we stopped at Caracol for lunch. Known for winning first place for their mojitos back in 2016, this spot did not disappoint. The lobster mofongo and snapper with rice, beans and Creole sauce were both fantastic. The watermelon mojito was a must.
Mango Chito Mangroves
Our last nature stop was Mango Chito in Guánica about 25 minutes from La Parguera. What makes this one special is that you don't need to kayak or rent anything. You just drive up and walk right in. The water is impossibly calm and clear, the mangroves are dense and beautiful, and you'll likely have it entirely to yourself. Just bring bug spray — the mosquitoes are serious out here.
Final Thoughts 🌴
Southwest Puerto Rico is one of the most underrated travel destinations we've ever visited. It has everything — beaches, nature, food, culture, art, and adventure without the crowds you'd find in San Juan. Whether you're kayaking to a private island, watching the sunset over mofongo and piña coladas, hiking to hidden waterfalls, or standing on red cliffs above the Caribbean Sea, this part of the island will leave a permanent mark on your heart.
If you've only ever seen San Juan, it's time to venture further. Southwest Puerto Rico is waiting — and it is absolutely worth it.