The Best Campgrounds to Book in Puerto Rico
For such a small island, Puerto Rico is packed full of exciting adventures and sights. If you’re a camping enthusiast, the island has many opportunities for you to camp in varied settings, from coastline to dry forest to mountains. Here are a few of the campgrounds in Puerto Rico you should consider.
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Parque Nacional Balneario Seven Seas
This National Park near Fajardo has a beautiful beach that is relatively empty during the winter months. It’s also lovely in the summer, albeit more crowded, as it’s popular with the locals. You can pay a $5 fee to park inside and use the restroom facilities, or just park on the road and walk in, as all beaches in Puerto Rico are public. The parking fee helps pay for lifeguards and police patrol. Camping at this spot in Puerto Rico is available at $10 per day and, as with most parks in Puerto Rico, accommodation must be booked in advance and a permit obtained. This beach has beautiful sand and lovely waters, and most of the time has a Blue Flag status, so it’s a great place to take the kids.
Punta Maracayo Camping Center
Punta Maracayo Camping in Puerto Rico has updated cabins and 16 villas equipped with air-conditioning and capacity for six people. There are also camping areas for RVs. Play areas have giant animal figures on which the children can climb, pools for children and adults, basketball court, plus an impressive water slide for infinite family fun. Reasonably priced with a two-night minimum, it’s across the street from the beach and within walking distance of many fabulous restaurants and shops in peaceful Hatillo.
Sun Bay Campground
Get the ultimate, and inexpensive, Vieques experience by camping at Sun Bay Campground. As with other national parks on the island, camping is just $10 a day. Sites must be reserved and paid for between 8:30am and 5pm at the National Park office (not the DNR office). There is no limit to the number of days you can stay at this Puerto Rico camping site. Sites are in a flat, grassy area next to the beach, and you won’t be allowed to camp on the sand. Charcoal grilling is permitted (you’ll have to bring your own charcoal) and there are permanent grills within the campsite area, and picnic tables on the beach. Bathrooms are available and there are outdoor showers for bathing. For peace of mind, there is security on duty from 3pm to 7am.
Parque Nacional Tres Hermanos
Parque Nacional Tres Hombres is a lovely park on the crystal clear coastline of Añasco. It is the perfect location to explore the northwest region of the island and its many sites, such as Cueva Ventana and the Arecibo Observatory, or you can go whale watching from the city of Rincón. For the rustic camper, Tres Hombres has campsites available for $10 a night, or $17 a night if you’d like water and electricity, while restrooms with showers are available. In addition to these sites, they also have spots for RVs, and they have 32 cabins and 120 villas available for rent. If the gorgeous beach is not enough for you, they also have a pool, basketball courts and areas for beach volleyball.
El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque National Rainforest is the only rainforest that can be found on United States soil. It can be found southwest of Las Croabas and has both rainforests and cloud forests. At the elevation point of 3088 feet (940 meters) there is a lookout tower that offers breathtaking views. You have the option of driving through the forest, or taking the Mount Britton hiking trail, which has three rest stops where you can relax and take pictures of the rarely seen Puerto Rican parrot or the indigenous coqui frogs. Rustic camping is available for the avid camper. You must hike to the sites, some of which have primitive cooking areas available, but you must bring your own supplies and wood is scarce. Remember to get your camping permit at least two weeks in advance.