20 Must-Stay Resorts in Puerto Rico for the Ultimate Boricua Vacation

There’s something quietly captivating about Puerto Rico right now. It isn’t just the pulse of San Juan or the soft arc of Isla Verde’s beaches. It’s the way the island keeps unfolding the farther you go — west to the wild bluffs of Isabela, east toward the rainforest, or farther still, across the water to Vieques and Culebra, where time moves to its own slower clock. It’s a place where five-star luxury doesn’t live apart from the landscape; it rises out of it, wrapped in salt air and warm light.

What surprises travelers most isn’t the beauty — it’s the texture. A rooftop plunge pool one day, a barefoot ferry to a little island the next. A butler who seems to know what you’ll ask before you say it. The contrast is striking: colonial courtyards in Old San Juan, modernist glass towers in Condado, barefoot casitas on windswept cliffs. And each of these places feels singular — not a copy, not a template, but a story written into the island itself.

This is what makes Puerto Rico different from almost anywhere else in the Caribbean. You can go from a polished Condado terrace to a Vieques hammock in a single afternoon. You can wake up to old city bells, or to nothing but waves and trade winds. It’s that range — the diversity of experience and the strength of its hospitality culture — that makes these resorts not just beautiful, but unforgettable.

Here is our guide to the best places to stay in Puerto Rico right now, whether you’re looking for a sightseeing vacation in San Juan or a golf retreat.

Royal Isabela
Set on Puerto Rico’s northwestern cliffs in Isabela, this 20-villa hideaway is carved into the coastline itself. Each casita offers panoramic ocean views, plunge pools, and privacy, while the golf course stretches along untouched bluffs. Amenities include a farm-to-table restaurant, golf academy, and miles of nature trails.

What We Like: Mornings begin with salt air and end with blazing sunsets over the Atlantic. Service is discreet and perfectly timed. And, of course, the spectacular golf course.

How to Get There: Fly into San Juan and drive two hours west along the coast.