1.) Stay in a hostel

I have stayed in countless hostels over the years, alone, with a partner, and with groups of friends. Hostels provide so much: you can meet new people, get the best recommendations, use the kitchen to prepare your own meals, rent equipment, and go on guided excursions with other travelers.

There are a lot of hostels in San Juan, but I picked Casa Santurce. It had decent reviews, it was a great location, and I liked the outdoor kitchen on the patio. I stayed in a 10-person mixed (co-ed) dorm, but most nights there were only 3-5 other people in my room, so it didn’t feel crowded. Private rooms and female-only dorms were also available for a slightly higher cost.

Compared to most other hostels I have stayed in, I found people to be particularly friendly at Casa Santurce. It also seemed that most people there were traveling alone. I spent a lot of time at the hostel with one of my roommates, and I talked to a few other people while making dinner, but I chose not to travel with anyone else. Although many of my hostel-mates offered to accompany me on my excursions, I came to Puerto Rico to spend time alone, so I politely declined. You should know, however, that if you want to meet travel companions, you will have no trouble finding them.

Their website also provided a detailed travel guide which gave me a ton of ideas as I was planning my trip, and the people at the front desk gave me a lot of advice as well. Every day, Casa Santurce offers a guided outing, and they sometimes offer multi-day excursions to other corners of the island. (The day I arrived they were offering a weekend trip to Rincon which made me regret booking other things in advance!)

2.) Keep your phone charged

If you are from the U.S., your phone should still work in Puerto Rico (but double-check with your provider before you go!). I relied on my phone a lot for safety (getting directions, ordering Ubers at night), so it was really important for my phone to stay charged.

I purchased a power bank that I charged every night and carried with me all the time. I use the Anker PowerCore 10000 ($31.99) and it has been totally reliable, compact, and easy to use.

3.) Be aware of your surroundings

I never really felt unsafe, but I chose to use Uber to get around after dark. During the day, I walked whenever I could – I was close to Old San Juan and several beaches, so it was easy to get around on foot.

4.) Don’t drink too much

There are great bars in Old San Juan (shout out to Mono Stereo!), and I felt totally safe going out alone. However, it’s still so important to maintain your awareness to stay out of bad situations. Before you go out, set yourself a limit and stick to it.

5.) Be mindful of the conversations you have with others

You don’t have to tell anyone that you are traveling solo. I found that in Puerto Rico most people thought it was very strange that I was alone, and although no one made me feel unsafe about it, it did invite a lot of annoying questions (“Don’t you have any friends?” “Why did your boyfriend let you go alone?”).

Instead, there’s no harm in saying that you are meeting up with a friend later. You also don’t have to tell anyone where you are staying or what your travel plans are. I don’t mind telling people general plans (“I want to go to El Yunque this week”) but I try to avoid specifics.

6.) Tell someone your travel plans

Share your itinerary and hostel information with someone – your parents, your partner, your friend, your roommate – just make sure there is someone that knows where you are. If you are going away for multiple days, tell another hosteler or the hostel staff where you are going and when to expect you back.

If you are from the U.S., your phone will still work in PR, so it will be easy to stay in contact with someone from back home.

7.) Bring a book

There is going to be some down time. Bring something to do when you are waiting for your meal, sitting on the beach, drinking coffee, or just recharging in bed. It’s also a great way to avoid unwanted conversations in public places. Honestly, I’m not much of a reader at home, but on vacation it feels really good to finish an entire book.

Remember: Don’t spend too much time on your phone unless you are sure you have the battery life for it (see #2).

8.) Learn some Spanish

Almost everyone you meet will speak English, but if you don’t already know Spanish, you should at least learn some basic phrases to help you get around and communicate. It will be especially helpful to know how to communicate in stores and restaurants. Learn basic greetings and manners, and learn how to order food and to ask how much something costs.

9.) Don’t be afraid to hike alone

I quickly found that there is no reason to be nervous about hiking in El Yunque National Rainforest, especially if you are on the more popular trails (El Yunque trail, Mt. Britton Tower trail). The trails are very well marked and you will almost certainly cross paths with other hikers.

When I went (April 2019), a lot of trails were still closed because of hurricane damage. Check the website ahead of time for the most up to date information.

Bring a swimsuit and check out Juan Diego Falls while you’re there too!

10.) Plan a lot…

… then do as much or as little as you please.

I like to make a detailed itinerary to fall back on, but I don’t really follow it. For me it’s more about the process of finding things I want to do and figuring out what individual days could look like. Google maps has a feature called My Maps where you can customize your own map with pinned locations. This is the main tool I use for planning because it helps me see where everything is. I can find places that are close together and plan to visit them in the same day.

For this trip, I only booked one thing in advance (Bioluminescent Bay tour with Pure Adventure). Everything else I planned the night before based on ideas from my itinerary.

11.) Ask locals for tips

The best travel recommendations I got came from my conversations with locals. Ask your Uber driver, bartender, kayak guide, or anyone else you meet for tips on the best places to go.

They can also tell you which areas to avoid. Before my trip I read a recommendation online about exploring La Perla, a historic neighborhood on the north side of Old San Juan, but when I asked locals about it they told me it wasn’t a good idea, especially if I was going alone.

12.) Prepare for negative emotions

This one’s a general solo travel tip for your mental health and happiness.

I have found that the first night of being in a new place tends to be disorienting, and it makes me question if I made the right choice going alone. Dinner-for-one can also be a lonely experience if you’re not used to it.

When I travel alone, I prepare myself to feel lonely, nervous, and disappointed. If you’re like me, these feelings are bound to arise at some point. I believe that finding the strength to overcome these things is what makes the solo travel experience so rewarding.

Check out this awesome podcast about why we travel and how to get the most out of the experience. Remembering why you are traveling might just help you get out of your funk and back in the moment of all the amazing things you can learn and experience.

---

I had a blast in San Juan and I’m sure you will too! Best of luck on your adventure!