17 Best Things to Do in Fajardo (Fun Activities & Sites)

Spending part of your vacation in Fajardo is a decision you won’t regret. Fajardo is a diverse city that sports an attraction for beach lovers, nature lovers, and even for sailing enthusiasts. 

But, how do you know where to go and what to do?

I’m here to tell you all about the best places locals like myself love, so don’t miss a single one of these top things to do in Fajardo.

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17 Best Things to Do in Fajardo

Swim in Seven Seas Beach

📍 Map It: Fajardo 00738 | Entrance: $5 parking | Hours: 8:30 am – 5 pm October-April, 8:30 am – 6 pm May-September 

Awarded with a Blue Flag, Seven Seas in Fajardo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico. This popular beach sports brilliant turquoise waters plus facilities like gazebos, lifeguards, and bathrooms, although you have to pay $1 to use them. You can also camp on this beach just for $10 a night.

⛱️ Read Next: Best Beaches in Fajardo

Explore El Yunque National Rainforest

📍 Map It: El Yunque National Rainforest | Phone: (787) 888-1880 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $2 / car | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top El Yunque Rainforest Tours

El Yunque National Rainforest extends all through Luquillo, Rio Grande, and Fajardo. This national landmark is home to an impressive biodiverse ecosystem, multiple waterfalls, a rainforest zip line park, and thrilling hiking routes.

Note that you have to book your ticket ahead of time. Alternatively, if you prefer someone else to handle the logistics and transportation, check out my guide to the best tours to El Yunque National Rainforest.

👉 Want More Things to Do? Check out my guide to the top activities you can do in Puerto Rico!

Take a Catamaran to Icacos Island

📍 Map It: Cayo Icacos, 00738 | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top Icacos Tours

Icacos Island belongs to Fajardo and is easily one of the top beaches in Puerto Rico. It’s most definitely one of the things to do in Fajardo. You can reach Icacos Island by water taxi, or by catamaran from the main island.

East Island Excursions is one of the companies that offer a catamaran sailing cruise with music, lunch, drinks, and snorkeling equipment included to admire the abundant coral reefs in the area.

Kayak in Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay

📍 Map It: Fajardo 00738 | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top Laguna Grande Tours

Puerto Rico is home to three bioluminescent bays and you can find one of them in Fajardo.  Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay, as it’s known, is one of the top things to do in Fajardo. 

You will find multiple companies that offer kayaking tours and will take you through the narrow and long canal to the bioluminescent bay. Just make sure to book your tour during a night with a new moon to better appreciate the glow!

Hike to La Zanja

📍 Map It: Puerto Rico Puerto Rico, Fajardo, 00738

If you love finding hidden gems, then pay a visit to La  Zanja, a natural pool created by the open sea waters in a ditch in Fajardo. To get to La Zanja, you have to hike around 30 minutes from Playa La Matita. 

At some point, you will have to get your feet wet crossing the water to get there and the five last minutes are the most challenging, but being able to swim in this natural beauty is worth the effort.

📚 Bookmark for later: Top Destinations to Visit in Puerto Rico

Cool Off in Las Tinajas Waterfall

📍 Map It: Las Tinajas | Entrance: Free | 👉 Book a Tour to Las Tinajas

If you rather spend your days swimming in the river rather than the beach, then set Las Tinajas Waterfall as your destination. 

Las Tinajas is one of the top waterfalls in Puerto Rico. Spend a day relaxing or experiencing the thrill of jumping from a rope swing. Just make sure to ask the locals how to do it safely.

Have a Blast in Coqui Water Park

📍 Map It: Fajardo, 00738, Puerto Rico | Phone: (787) 863-1000 | Hours: 9 am – 7 pm daily | Entrance: $20, adults, $15 under 12 

Coqui Water Park is inside El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo. It sports pools and water slides for a family fun day. You don’t have to stay in the resort to enter the park, but it would certainly add to the whole experience!

El Conquistador Resort sports a prime location from where you can see the beach, plus it offers boat tours to Palomino Island, where you can practice snorkeling with your kids.

Hang Out a Marina Puerto del Rey

📍 Map It: 4900 State Road 3 Km. 51.4, Fajardo, 00738 | Phone: (787) 680-1000 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily

Las Croabas Park is one of the best places to visit in Fajardo with your kids. It offers playgrounds and food kiosks right by the waterfront where you can see boats navigating the sea. You can also ride a bike, skate, and take a picture with the giant mural of Puerto Rico’s flag, one of the many painted around the island by artist Hector Collazo.

Stroll in Las Croabas Park

📍 Map It: Fajardo, 00738 | Entrance: free

Las Croabas Park is one of the best places to visit in Fajardo with your kids. It sports playgrounds, and food kiosks all right by a waterfront where you can see boats navigating the sea. Once you’re visiting this recreation park, don’t miss the chance to take a picture with the giant mural of Puerto Rico’s flag, one of the many painted around the island by artist Hector Collazo!

Visit Las Cabezas de San Juan Lighthouse

📍 Map It: Carr. 987 Km 5.9, Las Croabas, 00738 | Phone: (787) 722-5882 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Wed-Sun, Closed Monday to Tuesday | Entrance: $12, adults, $9 minors 

Las Cabezas de San Juan Lighthouse, also Cape San Juan Light, is one of the 15 lighthouses around Puerto Rico and it’s located inside a Nature Reserve in Fajardo. This lighthouse sports a neoclassical style and from its observation deck, you can appreciate great views of the coast.   

👉 Local Tip: As to fall 2021, the lighthouse is temporarily closed due to renovations, but visitors can still explore other areas of the Nature Reserve. Just remember to make a reservation ahead through the Para La Naturaleza website.

Snorkel Around Palomino

📍 Map It: Fajardo 00740

Palomino is a private island next to Fajardo. This island is almost exclusive to the guest’s activities of El Conquistador Hotel in Fajardo. But, if you’re not staying in El Conquistador, you can visit the island on a private tour or through a water taxi. Besides Palomino you can go island hopping and visit Cayo Icacos, Cayo Largo and Cayo Diablo.

👉Local Tip:  Nature and beach lovers should consider staying in Fajardo since they’ll have more activities to do close to them. Check out my guide to learn about the other places to stay on the island.

Walk in Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

📍 Map It: Carr. 987 Km 5.9, Las Croabas, 00738 | Phone: (787) 722-5882 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wed-Sun, Closed Monday to Tuesday | Entrance: $12, adults, $9 minors

I already said you should visit the lighthouse but you absolutely need to explore the rest of this lovely green space if you’re a nature lover. 

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve is home to Laguna Grande Bio Bay, mangroves, coral reefs, a dry forest, and beaches. There are even records of sightings of whales from here.

Go Diving 

👉 Browse Viator’s Top Diving Tours

Whether you’re an experienced diver or you just want to know what it feels like to be underwater at least once, you’ll get to live the experience in Fajardo. With crystal clear waters, beautiful coral reefs, and diverse marine life, diving in Fajardo makes the perfect adult half day tour.

Sunbath in Playa Colora

📍 Map It: Puerto Rico, Fajardo, 00738 | Entrance: $5 parking in Seven Seas 

Just a 20-minute hike from Seven Seas Beach, you’ll find a beautiful hidden beach to take a romantic walk. Playa Colorá is a small beach with scenic views, clear waters, and distinctive red-ish sand. 

The beach is never crowded as you have to hike to get there, so it’s perfect to enjoy your own paradise for a few hours while enjoying the ocean breeze.

👉 Local Tip: Playa Colorá is not a beach for swimming. It’s home to strong rip currents that are dangerous even to the most experienced swimmer. There aren’t any facilities nor any lifeguards on this beach so if you do go into the water, it’s at your own risk.

Eat Local Food at Las Croabas

📍 Map It: Fajardo, 00738 

Las Croabas is one of the top areas to eat in Fajardo. You can find multiple restaurants and bars aligned in front of the sea, where you can eat local food. Some of the most popular restaurants in Las Croabas are Las Vistas Cafe, La Estación, and Restaurante El Pescador.

Take the Ferry to Flamenco Beach

📍 Map It: Flamenco, Culebra, Puerto Rico, Culebra 00775 | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top Culebra Tours

While not exactly in Fajardo, the ferry terminal to go to Vieques and Culebra is just 20 minutes away by car, and with half an hour more by ferry, you can reach the municipality with the top beaches on the island, Culebra. If you’re a beach lover, then you can’t miss the opportunity to swim in Flamenco Beach or Tamarindo Beach.

👉Local Tip: If you also love snorkeling, make sure to hike from Flamenco Beach to Playa Carlos Rosario too. Check out my list of the other top beaches in Puerto Rico to find other great beaches to visit.

Get Lost in Vieques Wildlife Refuge

📍 Map It: Vieques Wildlife Refuge | 👉 Browse Viator’s Top Vieques Tours

While Flamenco Beach is undoubtedly popular, the Vieques Wildlife Refuge is also worth a spot on your list of what to do in Vieques. This refugee sports stunning beaches, bays, flora, and lovely wild horses. 

A whole day wouldn’t be enough to explore this refuge, and during the low season, you will have the beaches mostly for yourself. Like Culebra, Vieques is only a 30-minute ferry away.

👉Did you Know?: Vieques is home to one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico, and the one that holds the Guinness record for the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Multiple companies offer a bio bay kayak tour, and you can book a tour through Viator.

FAQ’s About Fajardo

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Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, kayak in a bio bay, or hike inside the forest, you’ll find the perfect choice between all the things to do in Fajardo. 

👉 If you’re looking for more adventure, don’t miss my list of the top activities to do in Puerto Rico.