I generally choose my hotels through a combination of price vs. quality and by how likely I am to see birds right from the property. I’ve visited the island a couple of times and these are my top recommendations of where to stay in Puerto Rico!

If you’re looking for more information about any of the locations and things to do in the area, check out my other post about Puerto Rico.

Casa Coral is in Luquillo, which is about 30 minutes east of the San Juan airport. An Uber here will cost you about $40, however there is free parking if you rent a car. This was a last-minute trip for me and I had already see some of the highlights in the area (El Yunque National Forest and a snorkeling trip out of Fajardo) so I did not rent a car.

It is about a 5 minute walk into town where there are plenty of restaurants to choose from.

If you want to cook some of your meals (I did not), the kitchen looked to be very well stocked (microwave, toaster, stove, oil, etc.).

Casa Coral is so clean!! It really was impressive, from the common areas to the bathrooms, just how clean the place was. It is so appreciated!

The property is right on the beach and you can even rent paddleboards or kayaks right from the hostel to paddle up the river. The beach in Luquillo is best for surfing–it is a bit rough to swim. But the river is very clean and refreshing, making it a great option for swimming.

The wifi and cell coverage (Verizon) was good here. I was able to work onsite with limited interruptions.

I stayed in the female dorm in Casa Coral. There were a few women I estimated to be in their mid 20s and a few that were in their 40s or older. This is NOT a party hostel so if that’s your vibe, go elsewhere. Everyone here was very respectful for dorm life and most people were in bed around 10pm.

All the bunks have privacy curtains, shelves, and an outlet. The rooms and bathrooms have lots of hooks. It is one of the most well thought-out hostels I’ve stayed in.

If dorms aren’t you’re thing, there are also a few private rooms. Most are shared bathrooms but there is one with a private bath.

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of birds in the area. I only saw some bananaquits and spotted sandpipers from the hostel grounds.

Book Casa Coral on Booking or on Hostelworld.

This property is in Caguas, about 30 minutes south of San Juan. A car is pretty much a necessity to get here and move around (which is true for most or Puerto Rico, unfortunately). I did a zipline tour here

This was such a cool property and the hosts were wonderful. There are several shelters up the hillside, some look a bit nicer than others. Keep in mind the word camping in the title – the accommodations are a bit rustic. As a camper, they are nicer than camping, but probably not quite at a glamping level either.

Breakfast is amazing and we had dinner here both nights which was also great. There is wifi at the restaurant area, but not in the rooms.

At the top of the hill is a communal area with a swing, fire pit, and some seating. There wasn’t a fire while we were there, but we were getting up early anyways for the birds and the activities.

There’s not much to the rooms: a bed on a platform, covered by a mosquito net. We felt comfortable in ours and slept well. Each shelter is unique and some look nicer than others. You can’t choose ahead of time. The host will show you what’s available and you choose once you’re there. It is a steep walk up the hill and bathrooms are at the bottom.

The birding here was excellent! I spent the early mornings and evenings birding around the property and saw at least 10 species (highlights: Mangrove Cuckoo, Adelaide’s Warbler).

Book Mi Casa Eco Camping on Booking.

This interesting property is near El Yunque National Forest. It’s about a 20-minute drive to the main entrance (could be 30 depending on how bad the traffic is). Or, if you’re looking to explore the less popular side of El Yunque, it’s about 5 minutes from route 186. There are several hiking trails of this road.

There are several different rooms on the property and even a yurt. The rooftop yoga platform was perfect to bird from every morning and evening! There’s also a short walking trail around the grounds.

There is a communal kitchen, but I did not use it. The reviews look to be mixed on it. There are many restaurants at the bottom of the hill about 15 minutes away.

We stayed in the papaya room (the one with the outdoor shower) and it was very nice. Personally, I loved the outdoor shower.

The accommodations range greatly in style and price.

The birding was great here too. The rooftop yoga platform was such a great vantage point to bird from. I saw over a dozen species here including the Puerto Rican Oriole and Red-legged Thrush.

You can book La Casa de Vida Natural on Booking.

I haven’t made it out to the western half of the island so don’t have any recommendations for that area. Let me know if you do!