Great Runs in Puerto Rico
Note: For the Full Guide to Running in Puerto Rico, see the GR Website
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast of the Caribbean’s Greater Antilles archipelago. The island is a popular tourist destination, known for its scenic beaches, lush rain and cloud forests, and rich heritage that blends Taíno, Spanish, African, and American roots with various other cultures. The capital city of San Juan is a thriving historic and cultural center, rich with colonial Spanish architecture and gorgeous palm-lined beaches. We have two guides covering the best of running in Puerto Rico: this one, covering the overall island, and a separate one focused specifically on the San Juan area.
San Juan Running Overview: Highlights of San Juan running include two beaches, a tour of lovely Old San Juan, historic Paseo del Morro out to the Fort, and a linear path around Isla Verde. See our separate guide for all the best runs in San Juan.
Best Puerto Rico Beaches for Running: The best beaches for running on the island of Puerto Rico, with long distances and firm compact sand.
Malecón de Cataño: A wonderful coastal run in Cataño, at the south end of San Juan Bay. Combination boardwalk and asphalt paths make up the 1 mile long malecón along Ocean Drive. Can be extended on nearby sidewalks. A great 5k out and back.
Paseo Real Rio Bayamón: A long multi-use asphalt pathway along the river Bayamón, ending at the Ensenada de Boca Vieja (bay). Very pretty, as most of the path is through a beautifully manicured linear park. Up to 5.5 miles one-way, though options for shorter distances.
Parque Nacional Julio Enrique Monagas: This national park in Bayamón features a good variety for running. There are easygoing, wide dirt paths that make for a good ~2 mile loop, and some additional technical singletrack trails that are more challenging.
Cerro Gordo Mountain Bike Trails and Beach: In the Cerro Gordo National Park area near Dorado, there’s great running on the paths of the Cerro Gordo Mountain Bike Trail and on the firm sands of Cerro Gordo Beach.
La Marginal de Arecibo: The cement walkway/boardwalk along Avenida Victor Rojas in Arecibo on Puerto Rico’s northern coast offers stunning ocean views. It’s nearly 2 miles between the bridge over the Río Grande to the point of Obrero. A great spot for a sunset run.
Route 466/Paseo Tablado de Isabela: Great water views in this run between Jobos Beach and Punta Sardina, along Isabela’s beaches. Combination of good shoulder on Route 466, bike lane, and Paseo Tablado de Isabela (boardwalk). Up to 8.4 miles out and back.
Villa Montana to Survival Beach: A low-key trail running spot stretches from the Villa Montana resorts to the gorgeous sands of Survival Beach. This area is in the northwest corner of the island, not far from Isabela.
Paseo Real de Aguadilla: One of the longest and most beautiful promenades in Puerto Rico is the Paseo Real Marina de Aguadilla.
Mayagüez, Paseo del Litoral/University of Puerto Rico: There are some nice running options in Mayagüez, on Puerto Rico’s west coast. The Paseo del Litoral along the coast, the University of Puerto Rico campus, the Parque Lineal, and Parque de Los Próceres.
Jájome/PR-15: Cool long distance running in the mountains of inland Cayey can be found in the village of Jájome, a popular local training spot. We’ve mapped 8.3 miles between Guayama and Cayey, along the scenic PR-15 road. Hilly!
Vieques: Varied running options on the destination island of Vieques. The best places include Route 200, Sun Bay, Esperanza, the Puerto Ferro Lighthouse, and Punta Arenas. Nice combination of beach, trails, quiet roads.
Roosevelt Roads: These rural roads surrounding a former military base on Puerto Rico’s east coast are mostly out-of-use, making this a great spot for a longer run on paved, untrafficked roads. Can easily put together 8+ miles. Recommended to run in groups.
El Yunque National Forest: Puerto Rico’s prized national forest has many great running options, including the trails to El Yunque Peak and La Mina falls.
Original Post by: Kelsey Perrett. For the full running guide to Puerto Rico, see greatruns.com.
