Caribbean Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Guide Things To Do Essentials Where to Stay Itineraries Getaways All Puerto Rico Where to Play and Watch Sports in Puerto Rico By Zain Deane Zain Deane LinkedIn Zain Deane is the author of "Explorer's Guide San Juan, Vieques & Culebra: A Great Destination" and several other guidebooks for Puerto Rico. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 07/14/19 Fact checked by Michelai Graham Fact checked by Michelai Graham Michigan State University American University Michelai Graham is a technology and business reporter who has written for The Urban Institute and Scoop News. She reports for AfroTech, Lifewire, and The Plug. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email A tropical island with ideal weather and diverse geography means Puerto Rico is naturally a paradise for athletes and fans of a variety of sports. Here's a rundown of what you can play and watch around the island, throughout the year. 01 of 12 Baseball Allen Donikowski/Getty Images Baseball is one of the most popular sports on the island, with homegrown stars (Carlos Beltrán, Roberto Alomar, Roberto Clemente, and more) and its own league (the Liga Profesional de Beisbol). Where to Go Baseball is played all over Puerto Rico, but the most well-known park is the Hiram Birthorn Stadium in Hato Rey, San Juan. The Season Puerto Rican baseball runs from November to January. 02 of 12 Boxing Al Bello/Getty Images In Puerto Rico, boxing has a storied legacy that began in 1899. This island has produced some of the sport's all-time greats, including Hall of Famers Carlos Ortiz, José "Chegui" Torres, Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario, and more recent icons Hector Camacho, Felix "Tito" Trinidad, and Miguel “Junito” Cotto, to name just a few. There are currently seven Puerto Ricans in the Boxing Hall of Fame, a staggering number for the size of the island and testament to its boxing tradition. Where to Go The Coliseo de Puerto Rico, or Coliseum, is host to the biggest showdowns and tickets in the sport. The Season There is no specific season. 03 of 12 Equestrian Rory Doyle/Getty Images The Spanish brought several things to the New World, including horses. In particular, they brought Paso Fino horses to Puerto Rico, a breed much prized for its elegance and smooth gait, which provides a remarkably smooth ride. This makes Paso Finos a joy to learn on as well as show off, and there are competitions, trails, and stables around the island. Where to Go Here are just a few places where you can hop in the saddle: Hacienda Carabali in the foothills of the El Yunque rainforest Tropical Trail Rides in Aguadilla Pintos R Us in Rincón Rancho Buena Vista at the Palmas del Mar resort in Huamaco The Season Year-round Special Events Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated with a Paso Fino Competition in Vieques. 04 of 12 Golf Tony Roberts/Getty Images Puerto Rico offers many temptations to the avid golfer: a diverse landscape that offers stunning ocean views, verdant slopes, and lush flora; championship courses designed by some of the biggest names in the business; and the credibility of its recent addition to the PGA circuit. The Puerto Rico Open was inaugurated in 2008. Finally, there's this handy golf portal that lists just about everything the golfer needs to tee off around the island. The SeasonYear-round Special Events The PGA Puerto Rico Open is the biggest tournament on the island, held annually in March. The Puerto Rico Golf Association also hosts a tournament each year. Continue to 5 of 12 below. 05 of 12 Hang Gliding Daniel Chetroni/Getty Images This round-up says it all about hang gliding in Puerto Rico. Team Spirit will take you high above the treetops of El Yunque, giving you breathtaking birdseye views of the island while you float on thermal wind currents. Where to Go Team Spirit flies from Cubuy. The Season Year-round, weather permitting. 06 of 12 Kayaking Justin Lewis/Getty Images Kayaking is a popular activity all over Puerto Rico and can be enjoyed in a variety of settings: bioluminescent lagoons, mangrove forests, lakes encircled by mountains, and the splendor of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Hotels in Vieques, Culebra and along the coast frequently have kayaks available for guests, and several companies offer tours or rentals. Where to Go Virtually all over the island, but here are a few useful contacts: Island Adventures in Vieques and Yokahú Kayak Trips in Fajardo for biobay trips Las Tortugas Adventures for eco-kayaking tours San Juan Waterfun in Isla Verde Kayaking Puerto Rico in Fajardo (including biobay tours) The Season Year-round 07 of 12 Rappelling, Canyoning, and Caving Danita Delimont/Getty Images There's one company that stands out above the rest for its adventure tourism programs; even other tour guides nod respectfully in their direction and say, "yup, they're the best." They, in this case, is Aventuras Tierra Adentro, and they should be the first people you call if the idea of leaping across chasms, rappelling down mountains, exploring subterranean rivers, and zip-lining over thousand-foot drops is your idea of a good time. Where to Go Aventuras arranges all the details, including pick-ups and meeting points. Excursions explore the area above and below the El Yunque rainforest. The Season Year-round 08 of 12 Running and Hiking Michael Hanson/Getty Images Puerto Rico offers trails and tracks along beaches, through forests, and in its verdant parks. Where to Go Hikers will love the trails that snake through El Yunque and the milder treks through the Guánica Dry Forest. Eco Action Tours and Legends of Puerto Rico organize tours to both. Runners should check this handy list of routes around the island. San Juan also has many parks with jogging/running tracks, including Parque Barbosa (Ocean Park), Parque Lineal Enrique Marti Coll, and Parque Luis Muñoz Marín (Hato Rey), and the Botanical Garden (Río Piedras). The Season Year-round Special Events The World's Best 10-K Race kicks off in San Juan in February/March; it's the largest participatory sport on the island. Continue to 9 of 12 below. 09 of 12 Sailing Onne van der Wal/Getty Images The sailing capital of Puerto Rico is Fajardo, but you can also learn how to sail and attend regattas in San Juan, Rincón, and Culebra. Note: This section doesn't cover charters and tours. Where to Go Caribbean Sailing School in Fajardo offers sailing courses throughout the year. Sail Caribe in Fajardo offers sailing courses on their beautiful Hunter 33 yachts. Rincón Sailing has very affordable 3-hour and 12-hour courses, as well as a summer youth sailing camp. The Club Náutico de San Juan in Miramar has classes tailored for kids and adults. The Season Year-round Special Events The biggest event on the island is the Club Náutico's International Regatta. 10 of 12 Surfing Ken Cedeno/Getty Images If Fajardo is the sailing capital, Rincón is the unquestioned home of surfing. But you'll find surfers, wind-surfers and kite-boarders riding the waves in other parts of Puerto Rico as well. Where to Go Velauno in Ocean Park is your best surfing resource in San Juan. As for where to go, Punta Las Marías, between Ocean Park and Isla Verde, is where the surfers gather. Rincón Hangout lists the best surf spots along the west coast. Playa Azul and Playa La Pared near Luquillo Beach are popular local hangouts. The Season The Surfing season in Rincón runs from November to March, and on the rest of the island generally from October to April. Special Events The Professional Surfing Association of Puerto Rico hosts pro meets throughout the year. 11 of 12 Swimming John and Tina Reid/Getty Images It's no surprise that you can dive into the water from almost anywhere in Puerto Rico. Between sea, ocean, lagoon, lake, and pool, there is no dearth of destinations for swimmers. Where to Go The list is almost endless: San Juan? Check. Vieques and Culebra? Yup. Fajardo? Of course. Rincón? Absolutely. The Season Year-round 12 of 12 Scuba Diving Steve Simonsen/Getty Images One of the most popular water sports in, or under, the island, Puerto Rico has many spots for scuba divers and even more for snorkelers. We'll have to save snorkeling for another time, but here's the scoop on scuba. Where to Go Check out the top dive sites in Puerto Rico. Blackbeard Sports in Vieques is the island's most complete scuba outfit. Culebra Divers is my choice for diving excursions from Culebra: Walter and Monika Rieder are wonderful guides. Ocean Sports in Isla Verde is a good resource for divers who want to stick to the San Juan area. Sea Ventures in Fajardo is a PADI 5-Star Dive Center. The Season Year-round Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit