Gurabo sits in a part of Puerto Rico's interior that makes it a natural base for exploring the eastern mountain region, or a stop within a broader driving day.
Caguas (15km west, 20 minutes) is Puerto Rico's fourth-largest city and significantly more urban than Gurabo. The Botanical and Cultural Garden of Caguas is well worth a visit — a large green space with themed gardens, a reconstructed Taíno village, and good walking. The city centre has a handsome plaza and better restaurant variety than Gurabo.
Cayey (15km south, 25 minutes) is a cooler highland town set at higher elevation, with a noticeably different feel from the valley municipalities. The stretch of PR-52 near Guavate, between Cayey and the surrounding hills, is famous island-wide for its concentration of lechoneras — roadside pork restaurants that draw Puerto Ricans from across the island on weekends. If you're visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, combining Gurabo with a lechonera lunch near Cayey makes for an excellent half-day.
El Yunque National Forest (45km east, about an hour) is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system. The contrast with Gurabo's dry-season valley is striking: El Yunque receives extraordinary rainfall and the vegetation is dense, green, and loud with birdsong. There are well-maintained trails, waterfalls, and views from the higher peaks. It's busy with visitors but large enough to escape the crowds on the less-frequented trails.
San Juan (30km north, 30–40 minutes) is an easy full day in either direction. Old San Juan — the colonial walled city — is one of the most beautiful historic districts in the Caribbean: cobblestone streets, pastel buildings, massive Spanish fortresses, and excellent restaurants. The city also has beaches (Condado, Ocean Park, Isla Verde) within reach if you want to combine history with time in the water.