Cheap Backpacking; Dreams Hotel Puerto Rico

Backpacking is one of the most economic and adventurous ways to vacation.

The world is changing, and there are some tips you need to know before you go; where to backpack?, safety tips, what to bring, are you willing to camp?, or where will be staying at hostels or budget hotels?.

Top ten best places to backpack you are guaranteed to see the Puerto Rico without breaking the bank:

Reserve your room in advance, that way you will get a room at Dreams Hotel, that is a very clean hotel with the cheapest rates in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Old San Juan. By public transportation you can visit Old San Juan, the most touristic place in San Juan Puerto Rico. Old San Juan has a lot to offer everyone, no matter your age or your interests. Just $1.50 USD for the ride, per person. At Old San Juan you can visit:

Plaza San José
Said to be the oldest of the plazas in Old San Juan. The plaza is named after the San José church that is close by.

Casa Blanca
Built for Ponce de Leon, now a museum for mid 16th century life
End of Sebastian Street

El Morro Fort
Guarding the entrance to San Juan Bay; 6 level fort, now maintained by the National Park Services. This is one of the most spectacular buildings here in Old San Juan.

Museum of African Roots
Highlighting Puerto Rico’s African heritage

Museum of the Americas
Highlighting the islands African and Indigenous heritage

National Gallery
Showcases Puerto Rico art from the 1800’s to 1960’s. Includes artists such as Jose Campeche and Francisco Oller.

Pablo Casals Museum
Memorabilia of the famous cellists life.

San José church
Located just by the plaza it is currently undergoing renovations.

San Juan Cemetery
Final resting place of several famous Puerto Ricans.
Located next to El Morro Fort.

San Juan Museum
Showcases the history and culture of Puerto Rico.

Plaza de Armas
Name is derived from the military defense drills that were carried out there.

Casa del Libro
Showcases rare and precious books
255 Cristo Street

Casa de Ramon Power y Giralt
Showcases the works of Puerto Rico’s Conservation Trust
155 Tetuan Street.

Children’s Museum (Museo del Nino)
Interactive exhibits on 3 different floors. Children can learn about TV reporting, caring for animals as well as things like recycling and Space exploration. Focused on children under 15 years of age.

Cristo Chapel
Small chapel dedicated to the Christ of Miracles
Lower end of Cristo Street.

La Fortaleza
Now home to the Governor of Puerto Rico

Pigeon Park
Small park where you can see awesome views of San Juan Bay and also feed the pigeons
Close to Cristo Chapel

San Juan Cathedral
Last resting place of Ponce de Leon.

San Juan City Hall
Built after the city hall in Madrid. Now has a gallery room and information center

San Juan Gate
Last remaining gate that was built into the massive defensive walls that protect the city of Old San Juan
Gate is closed at night

Plaza de Armas
Small plaza overlooking San Juan bay.

Casa Don Q
Small museum highlighting the history of the Serralles rum making family and Don Q rum – free samples available.

La Casita
Home to the Tourist Information Center.

La Princesa
A former jail is now home to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Now has an art gallery
Paseo La Princesa.

Paseo La Princesa
Promenade that follows the San Juan Bay and the city walls. Takes you to the San Juan Gate.

Plaza Colon
The plaza now honors Christopher Columbus and center stage is a statue of the explorer.

Pharmacy Museum and Museum of 19 Century Puerto Rican Family
Fortaleza Street, corner of Callejon de Capilla.

San Cristobel Fort
5 independent units connected by tunnels. Impressive structure that can be seen when you arrive in Old San Juan by car. Maintained by the National Parks Service.

Tapia Theater
The theater is over 170 years old and is named after local playwright, Alejandro Tapia.

Rumba Boat
Operates Thursday to Sunday evenings. Tour the San Juan bay to the sounds of Latin music.

Escambron Beach. By public transportation you can arrive to Escambron Beach, a Blue Flag Beach in the Caribbean. Just 1.50 USD for the ride, per person.

Cataño City. A trip by ferry across the bay of Old San Juan to Cataño is a must in San Juan. You will have a nice view from the ocean, to the forts of Old San Juan. Just .50n cents each way.

Bacardi Rum Plant. At Cataño City is the Bacardi Rum Plant, one of the famous rums in the world. At Cataño side is a free trolley that give you a ride to the plant. The entrance fee for the Plant are $15 USD per person.

Condado Area. With the combination of train and bus you can visit the area where all the large hotels are. There is also Condado Beach, where you can spend a whole afternoon in a white sand beach.

Botanical Garden. Walking distance from Dreams Hotel is the Botanical Garden of Rio Piedras. Is a lovely place full of nature, wonderful birds, flowers, take plenty of nice photos.

Market Place. Walking distance from Dreams Hotel is the Market Place. Is the oldest market place in Puerto Rico. There you can buy all kind of tropical fruits, souvenirs, typical food and a lot more.

“Placita de Santurce”. 2 miles away from Dreams Hotel is “Placita de Santurce”, an area full of pubs, restaurants, night life to enjoy with friends.

Piñones Area: 3 miles away from Dreams Hotel is “Piñones”. This beautiful area, located just minutes east of Isla Verde, has beaches, mangroves, restaurants, and an 11-kilometer nature trail. It feels like a totally different world than the busy tourist areas of Isla Verde and Condado. While Piñones is famed for its kiosks, you can also find gourmet eateries here. I love this area, it is so pretty and you can get a million beautiful pictures. The trail runs along the ocean and beach, then into the mangrove forests. I really enjoy biking on it – it is mostly flat and the breeze is great. Beyond the beach and food, there are two other reasons to visit this part of the island. A small wooden facility, the cultural center offers a terrific mix of cultural activities and excursions at affordable prices. Visitors can rent a bike and take off on a tour of the Piñones State Forest, which follows an elevated boardwalk through the largest mangrove forest in Puerto Rico; or they can rent a kayak and row their way through densely woven mangrove tunnels out into the Torrecilla Lagoon, which will take you so close to the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport that you can catch close-up views of airplanes taking off above you. Both excursions offer the chance to spot some of the local fauna and birds.

At day time, you can swim in Piñones and drink a wonderful Margarita, Mojito or Piña Colada, under beautiful palms, and beautiful view.

Luis A. Ferré Science Park at Bayamon City: By train you can arrive to the Science Park at Bayamon. Is an educational and recreational park located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico focused on science-related exhibitions. It is one of multiple touristic attractions inaugurated under the leadership of longtime mayor Ramon Luis Rivera and is named in honor of former Governor of Puerto Rico Luis A. Ferré. Some of the main features of the park are a natural observatory set on a hill at 285 feet (87m) above sea level, a zoo, and an artificial lake. It also features exhibitions of archaeology, space exploration, transportation, science and health, among many others.