Should I Travel to Puerto Rico to Hike in the Rainforest This June
Ah, Puerto Rico. It is appropriately called "La Isla del Encanto" — in English, the Isle of Enchantment.
This modest Caribbean island is vibrant and truly enchanting with its stunning beaches and wonderful people. Puerto Ricans are welcoming, lively, and resilient.
Puerto Rico is non always an easy place to alive — scars from hurricanes, colonization, and poverty will tell that story — but it is a cute one.
Above all, Puerto Rico is alive. Yous will observe incredible street fine art and the rumble of music on the streets of San Juan. You will be amazed as you snorkel above magnificent coral reefs with colorful fish darting below. The nutrient is delicious, especially for fans of mariscos (seafood), plantains, and tropical fruits.
While Puerto Rico is a beautiful identify, there is quite a complex history. While we can't embrace the bailiwick with any hope of comprehensiveness in a short weblog post like this i, we'll quickly attempt to introduce information technology.
PLANNING FOR PUERTO RICO AT A GLANCE: When to Go: Puerto Rico has a cute tropical weather about throughout the entire yr merely information technology's between Dec and April that it shines the most. It's perfect for relaxing on the beach and participating in other major activities, this is Puerto Rico's high season so you tin can expect prices to exist loftier. If you want to beat the crowds and pay a bit less, then you can consider visiting between mid-April to June. Avert late summer as this is hurricane season. Where to Stay: Puerto Rico is cute on every turn but for this itinerary, I recommend staying in these areas — San Juan, Fajardo, and Vieques. In San Juan I recommend staying atDorado Beach Ritz-Carlton for a luxurious experience,O: Live Boutique Hotel if y'all dear Mediterranean-inspired details andNomada Urban Beach Hostel for budget travelers. When in Fajardo, I propose staying at aprivate villa at the Rio Mar Embankment Resort if you love staying in villas,St. Regis Bahia Embankment Resort for a luxurious stay in a resort-style hotel, orSurfing Turtle Inn if you're looking for a budget-friendly hostel. In Vieques, opt for Finca Victoria for a bazaar eco farm stay, Tranquility by the Sea for a seaside cottage, and Lazy Hostel for a budget-friendly hostel. How to Go Effectually: While driving in Puerto Rico can exist a bit tricky (particularly for nervous drivers) since drivers tin can be a bit aggressive here, I think it's worth information technology. I like the freedom that comes with deciding where and when to make a terminate without feeling rushed or delayed. Alternatively, you lot tin choose to take tours but that can get expensive pretty fast. If you lot do choose to hire a car,compare car rentals and prices from hither. Best Activities: Don't want to drive or programme? Booking a few dissimilar activities can aid you eliminate the need for driving around. You tin book a food tour, a craft rum cocktail tour, or Old San Juan Sunset Cruise. iii Things Non to Forget to Pack: Since you'll spend enough of fourth dimension on the beach, I recommend taking thisDock & Bay travel towel which is 100% made from recycled materials. You'll need a swimsuit to fully enjoy the beaches --this is my favorite swimwear -- and of course sunscreen -- I loveSunBum SPF 50 with Vitamin E — it's moisturizing and soothing for yous and also harmless for marine life!
A Quick History of Puerto Rico
The island that is now known as Puerto Rico was originally inhabited past the Taíno people. Their name for the isle was Borikén, which meant "land of the brave lord", in their native natural language, Arawak.
Today, many Puerto Ricans identify themselves as "boriqua", the adjective deriving from the land's original name. When y'all consider the fact that Puerto Rico translates to "rich port" in Spanish, y'all can come across how the Spanish saw the state: a place to be conquered and looted, rather than respected.
Unfortunately for the Taíno people, Christopher Columbus made his way to Puerto Rico in 1493. Similar many other Caribbean nations, the Taíno way of life was changed drastically by this unwelcome arrival. Columbus placed the island under an encomienda system, similar to the feudal systems of Europe, which essentially enslaved the Taíno people on their own land, forcing them to work in gold mines and on plantations.
The Taíno population quickly started declining due to the introduction of European diseases that never existed on the island previously, such as smallpox, measles, and typhus, every bit well as through the harsh weather of slavery.
Who remained of the Taíno people were subject to cultural genocide practices, such as the Complementary Declaration of July 28th, 1513, which "freed" only the Taíno who were "clothed, Christian, and capable", further chipping abroad at Taíno identity.
By 1530, the effect of forty years of European colonization had taken an enormous toll. The original population of an estimated 50,000 Taíno dwindled downward to just 1,148 survivors in the 1530 demography. The remaining Taíno were even so oppressed, and many Taíno women intermarried with the Castilian conquistadors and assimilated.
There's no denying that the Taíno people every bit a singled-out Indigenous group are a shadow of what they used to be. However, Taíno blood runs in the veins of many Puerto Ricans, and Taíno identity is being shaped and defined past the descendants of these Indigenous people living today.
At that place are ancient sites all over the island to visit and honour these unforgotten people. At that place are a few towns in Puerto Rico that still retain their Taíno names: for example, Yauco and Utuado.
After over 300 years of Castilian colonization, the U.s.a. claimed Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War in 1898. Today, the questions of statehood and Puerto Rican independence are thorny ones, and the path forwards for Puerto Rico is not entirely clear.
Today, many Puerto Ricans phone call the island Borinquen, to honor their Taíno roots and acknowledge the Taíno, Caribbean, African, and Castilian influences on the isle's ethnicity and culture in a way that is more inclusive than the Spanish-given name of Puerto Rico.
How this Puerto Rico Itinerary Works
At present that you accept a bit of knowledge of the history of the island, allow'southward get into the nitty-gritty of this Puerto Rico itinerary.
The following suggestions simply cover a minor portion of the eastward side of the island, since this itinerary simply covers vii days in Puerto Rico.
We've highlighted all the most pop touristic hotspots in Puerto Rico and given some off-the-beaten-path suggestions where it makes sense to best maximize the time on your trip to Puerto Rico.
However, if y'all take more a week in Puerto Rico, we strongly suggest yous make your style around the entire island; yous volition be amazed at the variety of climates. Explore desolate salt flats, lush rainforest, coral reefs, mount waterfalls, lakes, and countless beaches that would make a postcard weep.
What to Pack for Puerto Rico
I'm in the process of creating a full Puerto Rico packing list, merely here are 5 things not to forget before your trip.
An crawly travel towel. A proper travel towel is a game-changer. I'm not talking about a sad little microfiber square that might likewise exist a washcloth. I'm talking a true microfiber beach towel that serves you just as well on a embankment day as information technology does afterward a long shower. I'm obsessed with this archetype cherry and white striped travel towel from Dock & Bay, which easily knocks off sand in a unmarried shake-out and is made of 100% recycled materials. Order information technology on Amazon hither.
Bathing suits you beloved. On an island trip, yous've got to have swimwear you can stand behind! I beloved wearing a two-piece, but I hate feeling bloated while I travel and feeling bad-mannered in my swimwear after as well much mofongo. Solution? High-waisted swimsuits! I love this one, and this one is a great plus-size option with a loftier waist and a classic shape. I would bring iii swimsuits for i calendar week in Puerto Rico so I never accept to endure the indignity of putting on a moisture bathing suit. Ick.
Reef-safe sunscreen. This is and then essential! The hereafter of marine life in Puerto Rico depends on the actions visitors and locals take now, so do your part to go on Puerto Rico's reefs pristine for generations to come. I love SunBum SPF 50 with Vitamin E — it's moisturizing and soothing for you, and harmless for the animals who call Puerto Rico's waters their home!
Comfortable travel sandals. I volition be buried with my Birkenstocks, or you can try to pry them from my cold, dead hands. Dramatic? Mayhap. But they're a must for travel! I love the Birkenstock Gizeh leather thong style personally, simply the archetype 2-buckle Arizona slides are really beautiful likewise. These are the exact shoes I take and love!
One tip, though: Break them in for 2-3 days before you lot travel, equally they form to the verbal shape of your foot! They'll be slightly uncomfortable at first, just zero major (I merely bought a second pair and they fit like a glove later on a twenty-four hours of use), but they're not shoes I'd want to walk around a cobblestoned metropolis in on their offset solar day!
Chemical-free insect repellent: Like reef-safe sunscreen, it's important that the issues spray y'all use won't damage the sensitive ecosystems of Puerto Rico, specially when you go in the water! A simple lemon eucalyptus spray like this will proceed most mosquitos away without the harsh chemicals which tin mess up delicate ecosystems.
Where to Stay in Puerto Rico
This Puerto Rico itinerary has yous staying overnight in iii separate destinations: San Juan, Fajardo, and Vieques. Nosotros'll give you some suggestions for each!
San Juan
Bazaar | I love the Small Luxury Hotels of the Globe make and I've stayed at many a property of theirs over the years! They have a gorgeous offering called O:Live Boutique Hotel located in vibey Condado that I'm looking frontwards to staying at on my next trip to the isle! Gorgeously designed rooms with Mediterranean-inspired details, rain showers with hydromassage jets, a roof terrace with an infinity pool with views of the Condado Lagoon? Swoon. Sold.
>> Bank check availability and rates on Booking.com
LUXURY | Nothing says luxury quite like the Ritz-Carlton brand! At Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton, nosotros're talking on-site golf grade, multiple swimming pools, four on-site restaurants, and spa and fitness centers. Plus, some rooms even have their own individual plunge pools for the ultimate luxury vacation! It's not cheap, that'due south for sure, but information technology's past far the best choice if you're looking for a blowout accommodation choice for a special occasion (or just a really baller vacation).
>> Bank check availability and rates on Booking.com
Upkeep | Looking for a hostel pick? Nomada Urban Beach Hostel is a fantastic choice for travelers on a budget, located well-nigh Isla Verde Embankment. Options include dorm-style rooms and private rooms. The dorms are modern with amenities like curtains and hangers allotted for each bunk bed: fiddling touches that frequent hostel-goers are sure to boost a sigh of relief over. There'southward likewise a roof terrace for travelers to relax on and chitchat.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
Fajardo
VILLA | If you lot want to stay in a villa, at that place are some peachy choices in this area! This charming private villa at the Rio Mar Beach Resort in nearby Rio Grande is a great choice for people who want to spread out and enjoy a larger space without paying a huge price. It can sleep up to six guests in its ane chamber, two sofa bed configuration. The villa likewise has two bathrooms, a total-size kitchen and dining expanse. It's not fancy, but information technology's spacious and mannerly.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
LUXURY | If yous want resort-style luxury, the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is a astounding option virtually 12 miles north of Fajardo. Amenities include a golf course, body of water-view pool, spa center, yoga and pilates classes, and best of all? Every room includes butler service for that special ultra-luxury touch, plus either gorgeous garden or sea views.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
Upkeep | For a cute hostel feel, go outside of Fajardo 5 miles to Luquillo, a charming beachy surface area with lots of great food. The Surfing Turtle Inn offers dorms and private rooms at affordable prices for the area. Dorms and rooms are fairly bones, only offering all the standard upkeep amenities at a reasonable price, with a clean reputation.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
Vieques
Bazaar | Eco-friendly and chichi, Finca Victoria is the identify to go for a stunning, Instagrammable retreat-style hotel at an affordable cost. It has beautiful treehouse-inspired rooms with soaringly loftier ceilings and exposed beams, loads of natural light, and vintage farmhouse details in the effects. Daily gratis yoga classes are included, equally well as a delicious Caribbean area breakfast fabricated with Ayurvedic principles in mind. There are loads of thoughtful touches like hammocks on the balcony, outdoor showers, and minor kitchenettes.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
COTTAGE | The lovely Repose by the Sea offers a iii-sleeping room oceanside cottage perfect for families and groups at a good value. Information technology's non fancy, but information technology is well-appointed and spacious with enough of room to enjoy a holiday home style rental. A full kitchen, washer & dryer, and a wraparound veranda are some of the all-time perks of this rental. Best of all? You can often meet wild horses grazing right from your window.
>> Check availability and rates on Booking.com
Upkeep | While the decor is definitely goose egg to write dwelling house about, if yous want a cheap and clean place to lay your caput at dark, Lazy Hostel is a good pick. Information technology has a social vibe and it offers a variety of room types including dorms and individual rooms. It's good for solo travelers and anyone on a upkeep in Puerto Rico.
>> Bank check availability and rates on Booking.com
A Few Final Tips About Visiting Puerto Rico
A few quick tips before you arrive on the isle!
Cell service tin be spotty. So brand sure you download maps of the areas you are in to exist sure yous can notice your way. That ways yous should too keep your phone charged.
Google Maps are not e'er accurate either. I try to cantankerous-reference with Maps.me and ever check my accommodations or destinations to see if they accept alternate directions.
Anti-theft bags are peachy for San Juan. While Puerto Rico is overall safe, San Juan is a large urban center like any other, and you should use caution. When traveling in cities, I bring my PacSafe CitySafe haversack — information technology's chichi, sleek, and almost theft-proof, with things like double-locking zippers and mesh slash-proof structure.
The driving in Puerto Rico can be wild. If yous're not used to information technology… watch out! The right lane is the fast lane, the left lane is the slow lane, and merging onto highways via the right lane is practically a course of cardio. While renting a automobile in Puerto Rico will give you freedom, it can as well be stressful. I suggest a scattering of guided tours on this Puerto Rico itinerary then that you tin reduce your driving and focus on relaxing, while likewise having your adventure improved by local guide knowledge.
Watch for mosquitos. Puerto Rico has a tropical climate and therefore a handful of tropical diseases you don't have to worry almost in almost of the U.Due south. mainland. Dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, and other diseases are transmissible through musquito bites. Habiliment mosquito repellent during day and night, and exist peculiarly careful around sunrise and sunset, when mosquito activity is at its tiptop. Reapply and vesture long-sleeved, loose-plumbing equipment article of clothing at this time for the most coverage.
To Rent or Not to Hire?
We've washed a lot of the hard work for you in putting together this itinerary for Puerto Rico, but there's one large decision you lot need to make: to rent a car or not to rent a car?
As I mentioned above, driving in Puerto Rico can be difficult. Drivers are a bit on the ambitious side, and the fact that the right lane is the fast lane and the left lane is the deadening lane tin can be a real mind#(*@ for broken-hearted drivers like myself.
I've been to Puerto Rico twice, one time without a rental car and once with. I was able to adjust to the driving, simply there were definitely some centre-pounding moments! Ultimately, I liked the liberty it gave me, though I didn't savor driving on the tiny streets of Former San Juan.
There are tours and taxis you can take which make having a automobile unnecessary; plus, you ought to go out your rental behind when you go to Vieques, every bit the car spots on the ferry are limited and are needed by locals. Plus, many rental companies do non permit it.
However, tour and taxi costs tin can add together up, so you'll desire to exercise some cost benefit analysis at that place. Renting a motorcar probable skews cheaper, merely it will mean some headache. Tours and taixs will probable skew a flake more expensive, just be more relaxing.
If you practise choose to rent a car, at that place are ways to get a good bargain on your rental. I've rented cars dozens of times through various search engines and have settled on Detect Cars as the best machine rental search engine – it searches over 500 trusted rental companies to discover the cheapest price for your rental! Compare prices for car rental from San Juan Airport here.
Puerto Rico Itinerary: 7 Days on the Island of Enchantment
Day 1: Explore Old San Juan
Old San Juan is i of the well-nigh lively areas of the islands!
The colorful and stunning architecture reflects the early on days of San Juan soon after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, and some of the earliest buildings dating back to 1508.
The historic forts and old city walls are especially impressive. Beyond the architecture, San Juan has some of the best eating in Puerto Rico, so bring your appetite!
Start your day off with a cup of coffee.
You're in Puerto Rico, so it'd be a shame to commencement the mean solar day without a proper café con leche. Puerto Rico is full of coffee farms so be prepared for fresh, delicious java that'southward local and delicious.
To indulge your coffee peckish, head to Cuatro Sombras. This is the coffee house of option if you lot are looking to try locally-grown coffee. Enjoy shade-grown java from the mountains of Yauco in El Yunque National Park.
Their food carte du jour includes pastries, breakfast plates, sandwiches, and paninis. It is the perfect identify to start the day and fuel up with some locally grown coffee.
But resist the urge to overindulge here — next up on this Puerto Rico itinerary is enjoying a delicious walking food tour to get a sense of Puerto Rican flavors.
Gustation the flavors of Onetime San Juan.
On my showtime day in a destination, I love to do a food tour for a variety of reasons. For one, information technology's a great way to acquire what you like and what you don't — too as what you oasis't sampled yet! — so you can order tastier and more adventurous dishes on your travels.
Information technology'south also a cracking way to inquire a local for their point of view on the best restaurants in San Juan, so yous can program futurity meals and make certain y'all don't miss out on any tin't-miss foodie experiences.
This highly-rated food & walking bout volition provide you with the opportunity to savor Puerto Rican cuisine and practise some more java tasting. Plus they provide a cocktail, if you don't listen imbibing on the early side (y'all are on holiday, afterwards all!).
This bout will take you through the streets of San Juan while you lot adore the compages and learn about the history of this colonial city and how San Juan came to exist. It is a well-rounded (and delicious) Puerto Rican cultural experience and a bully manner to start off a weeklong Puerto Rico itinerary.
Book your food tour online here!
Relax on the beach in Condado or Isla Verde.
From there, you may want to residual your legs for a bit and relax on the beach and assimilate all that delicious Puerto Rican nutrient!
Caput to Condado Beach to experience the beach, enjoy the view, and relax…. plus there is a lot of shopping in Condado for those wanting to explore more and observe some Puerto Rican souvenirs to accept home.
However, Condado Beach is in one of the most built-up areas of San Juan. If yous would like a more than laidback Puerto Rican beach feel, head to Isla Verde Beach, otherwise known every bit Playa Isla Verde in Carolina.
At that place are multiple bars and restaurants along the embankment here which is how it is done at many popular beaches in PR!
Relish San Juan at night one of iii means.
No affair what you cull, you'll want to swallow a big dinner before yous explore more of San Juan. This selection is up to you. Both Condado and Isla Verde provide plenty of opportunities to consume well, or possibly your food tour guide gave you a can't-miss recommendation for where to consume. If they did… mind it!
There are a few unlike things you lot can do to cap off your beginning dark in Puerto Rico. One suggestion is to have a arts and crafts rum cocktail tour, to learn why Puerto Rico is the rum capital letter of the earth!
Y'all will gustation many succulent rum-centric beverages while exploring the colorful nightlife of Old San Juan. You will get to feel a variety of bars in the city and learn nigh the drinking civilisation of Puerto Rico. Get to know the city and its history while getting your buzz on!
Book your rum cocktail tour here!
It besides must be said that viewing the forts at night is especially impressive! Walk from Castillo San Cristobal to Castillo Felipe del Morro. Enjoy the sound of the ocean while taking in the impressive view.
There are multiple celebrated citadels, sometime city walls, and forts in this area, representing the previous Castilian military presence in the old Spanish colony. Some of these looming structures date back to the 16th century and are in remarkably practiced shape for their age.
Add Paseo Del Morro to your dark exploration to continue along on a boardwalk flanked with the city walls on one side and the bay on the other. It runs into Paseo de la Princesa which will permit for y'all to exist able to do about a full loop around the old city walls.
Day 2: Do it all in San Juan
Hopefully, yous volition wake up well-rested for some other stellar mean solar day in San Juan! This is the last total day in San Juan on this PR itinerary, so permit's make the most of it.
I highly suggest y'all start the twenty-four hours with an early morning swoop if you're certified, or do some snorkeling. Then we'll explore a chip more of San Juan to close out the day.
Start the day with a fantastic breakfast.
This means fueling upward with something calorie-free like fruit or a pastry with some more than local coffee before you hit the water.
Cheque out Cafe Cola'o. This is a woman-endemic coffee shop that features coffee from Utuado, Adjuntas, and Ponce. Cafe Regina is some other spectacular spot representing Puerto Rican agronomics. Sample starfruit jam, locally made ice foam, and fantabulous coffee.
Head to Escambrón Beach.
One of the all-time ways to go effectually the city and become the heart pumping is to hire an electric scooter. Skootel is a new app-based scooter rental service in PR. You tin find information technology on the Bird app. The options are varied as to how you volition want to take advantage of your scooter rental.
Head to Escambrón Beach whatever way you like. Nosotros advise a scooter, of course! You may want to head out and become the long way to view the forts again, this time past twenty-four hours.
Quondam San Juan is and so small that any way you choose to go to the beach volition be relatively fast and easy to navigate. It is, of form, very fast if you lot drive, if you were brave enough to rent a car.
Playa El Escambrón is a bang-up spot to relish the beach for anyone non wanting to snorkel or dive. However, the shining star of Escambrón is the snorkeling and diving adventures that look you under the sea!
Be prepared for ocean turtles, coral reefs, and at-home waters. When you explore Escambrón Marine Park, yous will discover incredible sunken structures throughout.
Picture show the columns of Atlantis, statues, and a sunken "fish protection wall". This is a great spot to try scuba diving for the first time with its piece of cake beach access and shallow waters.
Delight call back to use reef-safe sunscreen any time y'all get in the water. The hereafter wellness of the marine ecosystems of Puerto Rico is dependent upon information technology! I employ and love SunBum SPF 50 with Vitamin E — information technology's great for your peel and for the marine environment.
Have a delicious brunch.
Afterwards you take had your fill of the water, it'southward time for one of the best brunches of your life!
You volition be very pleased to refuel at Waffle-Era Tea Room. This place is the ultimate breakfast spot. They feature an extensive list of savory and sugariness waffles, plus salads and bowls.
Of course, you can also bask an all-encompassing tea menu! Think fragrant earl grey, peony, or lemongrass chai. At that place are all kinds of varieties of tea, plus there are mimosas, bloody marys, and cocktails…. it's fifty-fifty encouraged to fasten your coffee (hey, vacation, correct?). It's a grand advantage after you accept spent time in the water and sunday!
Cheque out the beautiful shops of Erstwhile San Juan.
The afternoon will be your take a chance to bank check out some of the unique shopping experiences Old San Juan has to offer and support the local businesses.
Ane such location is at the enchanted library, chosen Quimera, Café Literario. You will mostly find books about spiritual development, fairy tales, and magic, though, this magical bookstore-meets-café is much more than that!
The Poet's Passage is just downwards the mode from Quimera. Information technology is cocky-described to be a "living museum of poetry and local art". This is certainly true. They too host spoken-word and music events, and because it's Puerto Rico, land of delicious coffee, there is a café here as well.
Looking for a souvenir? Check out Seafoam for locally fabricated rare jewelry. El Gapon hat shop is a keen spot to check out, too.
Take a dusk sheet.
As the day begins nearing a shut, head on out for your sunset sailing bout!
The meeting place is between Pier three and 4 at San Juan Bay at 5:30 PM (though double-check as varying dusk times throughout the twelvemonth may impact this).
Climb aboard the Amazing Grace, a sailing vessel dating back to the American Revolutionary War. Enjoy beverages, cocktails, and appetizers equally you cruise San Juan Bay viewing historic buildings like La Fortaleza, the Governor'southward mansion… plus you can relish local music aboard the vessel. The views are stunning on this pocket-sized-group tour!
Be sure to clothing comfortable shoes and bring your ID!
Volume your tour here: Old San Juan Sunset Cruise
Have a delicious dinner.
Afterward your happy hour aboard the Amazing Grace, it is fourth dimension for dinner in San Juan. In that location are some world-class restaurants in San Juan ranging from upscale to casual fare of all kinds.
If you are looking for a casual feel, you should bank check out Lote23 in Santurce. This gastro park will provide y'all acme-notch fare from some of the best chefs in Puerto Rico!
Each stand has something unique and spring to exist mouth-watering. Enjoy mofongo (mashed green plantains) at El Cuchifrito or Puerto Rican pork shoulder sandwiches at Pernilería Los Proceres. Plus you will observe poke bowls, fried chicken, cocktails, and more.
Caput home early on or keep the night out.
If you are looking for more to practice afterwards dinner yous may want to feel the Condado nightlife.
Condado has the best nightlife scene on the island. In that location are many cool bars, lounges, and clubs. We love Oceano for its rooftop views and splendid outdoor seating, La Terraza for cheap margaritas and reggaeton, and Cerise Coral Lounge for the artwork and ambiance, particularly the giant coral sculpture.
This is the spot if yous want to go out dancing and stay out late… but be sure to go some residue. You lot accept another jam-packed solar day alee of you lot!
24-hour interval 3: Journey to the rainforest
Today is all nearly El Yunque National Wood, the only tropical rainforest in the Us! It's an absolute must-visit on whatsoever Puerto Rico itinerary.
Getting to El Yunque by car is absolutely doable! It's near a 45-minute or 1-60 minutes drive, depending on traffic. However, Puerto Rico driving is not for everyone, so we've also vetted and suggested a tour that will show you around El Yunque stress-free.
Take hold of a tasty breakfast with a side of history.
Outset the day off with a good for you breakfast steeped in history at St Germain, which is a bang-up spot for vegetarians peculiarly!
You lot will dine in a historic building that was once habitation to Don Pedro Albizu Campos, widely considered a hero in Puerto Rico.
He was the leader of the Puerto Rico Nationalist Party from 1933 to 1965, leading uprisings to overthrow the United States government. He was imprisoned for many years of his life. Dine at this restaurant and pay homage to the struggle that Puerto Rico has lived through due to colonization.
Head out to the rainforest.
Once you are satiated, information technology is fourth dimension for your rainforest and waterslide bout in El Yunque National Forest! Yes, this tour takes you on natural waterslides — null manmade about them! We suggest going by tour, but we'll also include how to become there on your ain beneath as well.
Information technology is an insanely awesome, one-of-a-kind take chances. It is not every 24-hour interval you get to experience this! Plus you can cliff jump, rope swing, and savour beneath waterfalls. There is likewise a stop at a restaurant on this bout where you lot can Puerto Rican cuisine.
Book your El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide Tour!
If you accept rented a vehicle, you lot tin can make this trip without a bout. You will want to head to Las Pailas in Luquillo. At that place is a $five parking fee. The lot is in a local'south yard at these GPS coordinates: 18.337856, -65.731060.
Follow the path from the parking area down to Río Pitahaya where you will venture to find the 2 waterslides.
In one case yous have exerted yourself head over to La Muralla, located nearby, correct in El Yunque. Get elementary, succulent Puerto Rican food and fresh coconut water to recharge earlier yous caput back towards San Juan for dinner.
Walk around San Juan a fleck before dinner.
Before dinner, you may have some time for resting, or you lot can tour more of San Juan.
I fun fashion to see the city is to do a DIY landscape tour, as there are enough of thought-provoking, electric murals in this metropolis. You will become a modern idea of what is happening in PR by observing the artwork of real Puerto Ricans.
Dine at one of San Juan'due south all-time restaurants.
The dinner options in San Juan are endless! If you lot want to dine near the h2o, La Casita de Rones is the place. They accept corking food and craft rum cocktails. The eatery is close to where the cruise ships dock, though, and then information technology can go very decorated: be warned!
El Jibarito is a great place to go if you want to endeavor ane of Puerto Rico's national dishes, mofongo. Mofongo is a dish consisting of mashed green plantain and goop.
The plantain is mashed to the within of the bowl where they pour in various types of broth. It can be made with beef, craven, seafood, or creamy broth, and so it'due south typically served with meat or seafood inside.
Any yous choose, every bit they say in Puerto Rico, "buen provecho!".
Cap it off with a night paddle or get an early dark's sleep.
If you lot want one more than exciting activity to cap off your evening, go dark kayaking! Y'all can paddle through Condado Lagoon on a clear-lesser kayak with LED lights gently guiding the mode.
It volition be a unique feel as you observe the lights of San Juan and perhaps a sea animate being or two. This will be one of two excellent kayaking adventures you can experience in PR. Notice more than information online hither.
Sleep well and wake rejuvenated for a relaxing day into a magical nighttime — bursting with bioluminescence!
Solar day iv: Head to Fajardo and the Bioluminescent Bay
Spend the forenoon in San Juan your mode before heading to Fajardo.
Did you want to try a new cafe? Did yous see a museum you want to check out while in San Juan? Exercise you just need some time to relax at your hotel? This would exist a great time for any of that!
If y'all're heading to Fajardo, at that place are a few options, all of which involve driving. It'southward most an hr'southward drive away if yous've rented a car. Not driving? You can hire a public taxi, Uber, or apply a private car service (speak to your hotel to run into what they can accommodate). Exist prepared to spend about $fourscore-100.
In that location is no public transit from San Juan to Fajardo. If yous're comfortable driving, we recommend renting a machine for the entire week in Puerto Rico, or at to the lowest degree from Days 4-7 of this itinerary. This will save you money and hassle in the long run.
Grab lunch at La Casita Blanca.
On your manner to Fajardo, stop for lunch. For a quiet and wonderfully accurate dining experience head to Santurce for La Casita Blanca, aka "the little white house".
The restaurant is full of tropical plants, eclectic artwork, and tchotchkes. But really, you lot're here for the food: it is incredible! The skirt steak and accompanying rice are oral fissure-wateringly flavorful. You have to try the tres leches block, too! You volition be served plantain soup upon arrival and given chichaito, a digestif, at the end of your meal, a really nice touch. It's a bona fide Puerto Rican experience!
They are open daily for luncheon and serve dinner on Fridays and Saturdays only. They also have valet parking, which is convenient for parking in this small residential neighborhood.
Arrive in Fajardo and relax on the beach.
Whenever yous are ready to go adventuring, caput over to Fajardo to check into your new hotel. From there, y'all can go out and capeesh some of what this area has to offering!
Fajardo offers a slap-up mix of historical sites and some cute beaches. Become your snorkel on or telephone call in your inner embankment bum for some relaxing fourth dimension.
Playa Escondida is a cracking beach to striking if you desire to avoid the crowds. It takes virtually 30 minutes to walk to Playa Escondida from the trailhead, which is near the Governor's Beach House. However, this beach is one of the about dangerous swimming spots in Puerto Rico, so it is strictly for exploring or relaxing while taking in the view.
If you are looking to swim, Seven Seas Beach is a great place to snorkel, plus, it does non require a long expedition to get to the beach. The waters are calm and the sea life is thriving. Palm trees grow and there are enough of shady spots to enjoy.
There is a eating house here that may or may not exist open up. There are also showers and restrooms. Sometimes you can rent kayaks, SUP paddleboards, and snorkeling gear on the beach here.
To guarantee your gear, head five minutes south of Vii Seas Beach by motorcar. You lot will hit Pirate Snorkeling Shack. At that place are snorkels, kayaks, and SUP for rent on the beach here.
Either of these beaches will be a prissy place to spend the golden hour earlier yous prep for your take chances on the Bioluminescent Bay!
Have a BBQ dinner, island manner.
Firstly, you lot'll want to get dinner. A trip to PR is not complete without a visit to a BBQ. A lot of the beef consumed in Puerto Rico comes right from the isle, and then there are many BBQ spots around.
La Estación is the identify to go for locally sourced, buttery, delicious steaks in Fajardo. They take American charcoal-broil classics and merge them with Caribbean flavors. Bask locally sourced fish, meats, and produce. Their brisket is award-winning, the ceviche is fabricated daily, and vegetarian options are available.
Have an enchanting kayak ride through the bioluminescent waters.
One time yous have had your make full, grab your gear for kayaking. You will want to bring a towel and perhaps a alter of clothes for when you exit the water.
The tour provides bottled water, snacks, life vests, and bug spray. Utilize simply eco-friendly issues spray if you bring your own. This is a protected area, and some of the chemicals in traditional problems spray are extremely harmful to this rare ecosystem, specially DEET.
In one case y'all've geared upwards, an enchanted evening is upon yous as you embark on a bioluminescent bay kayaking bout.
Puerto Rico is 1 of very few places in the world where you can feel the magic of bioluminescence — other places include New Zealand, United mexican states, and Vietnam!
There are 3 bio bays in PR. You can discover them in Vieques, La Parguera, and at Laguna Grande in Fajardo; the latter of which is the most famous and where we'll be tonight!
Y'all will paddle through mangroves into the bay for 2 hours. Yous will see the bioluminescence calorie-free upwardly the shapes of the fish, and possibly sharks, swimming beneath y'all. The water sparkles as you splash your paddle. It is otherworldly and awe-inspiring, an experience you will never forget.
Book your kayaking bout online here!
Make sure you go a lot of rest for day 5. You will have to have an early forenoon the following twenty-four hour period in order to make your catamaran ride, which meets at 8:15 AM.
Mean solar day 5: Set sail in Fajardo
Grab a quick breakfast at a panaderia.
Puerto Rican bakeries or panaderias are flourishing on the island! This would be a great way to beginning an early day. One of the all-time spots in Fajardo is Panaderia Monte Brisas.
Similar nigh Puerto Rican bakeries, you tin get sandwiches hither, likewise. In that location is something for all tastes, savory or sweet. All orders are to-go, then catch your sandwiches or pastries and brand your manner south to Puerto del Rey Marina.
Have a gorgeous catamaran ride or go scuba diving.
As you accept seen on your journeying so far, Fajardo is an ocean-centered town. It brings opportunities for water sports of all kinds, plus beach lounging and seaside dining. It is not surprising that a catamaran ride is 1 of the most popular activities to do in Fajardo!
Your final day in Fajardo will be every bit dreamy as information technology gets. Head to Puerto del Rey Marina to hop on a catamaran bout!
Y'all will sail for 45 minutes to a deserted island called Icacos. You will have a couple of hours to explore the beach and swim before dejeuner is served. Enjoy sandwiches, fresh juices, rum dial, and more than!
You will and then cruise the Caribbean Sea a piffling more than to anchor over the reef. This is a bully time to utilize the slide that is aboard the catamaran!
Swim, snorkel, or chill out before your leisurely sail back to the marina. You lot should arrive dorsum by 3:xxx PM.
Book your catamaran ride in Fajardo here!
After your 24-hour interval of fun in the dominicus, you may desire to head dorsum to your hotel to take a rest and freshen up. A seafood dinner will follow.
If you're PADI certified, you may prefer to get diving here! You can book a ii-tank reef drive parting Fajardo — note the early on kickoff time!
Volume your two-tank dive here!
Dine on fresh seafood.
Caput to the coastline for succulent, Puerto Rican-style seafood! Pescaderia Don Candi will prove you how the Puerto Ricans do seafood. In curt? They do information technology well!
You should club the fried blood-red snapper. You lot volition be presented with a whole fish, fins and all. The fins are crunchy and yummy so don't go out them out! They will come with a PR staple, fried plantain, otherwise known as tostones.
They also serve oysters and succulent coconut shrimp dumplings. Don't forget your rum cocktail or some other PR staple, Medalla beer.
Every bit a side note… you may observe on your travels that there are many folks selling rotisserie craven and pinchos on the side of the route. Pinchos are essentially BBQ meat on a stick. They are cheap, succulent, and a great snack. Both pinchos and rotisserie barbeques are oftentimes wonderfully flavorful and make a great choice if you're trying to save a flake of money!
Perhaps when you consummate your dinner, you will desire to check out the Greatcoat San Juan Lighthouse of Fajardo for golden hour. Since we are on the east side of the island, watching the sunset over the ocean is non possible; even so, the hues of this extraordinary time of day will still impress and delight you lot!
Head to Reserva Natural Cabezas de San Juan. This nature park will exist a great place to walk effectually while you breathe in the salt air and connect with some history.
The lighthouse was commencement lit in 1882 and had a large influence in the Spanish-American War. It now sits on a nature reserve that includes Laguna Grande, the bio bay you explored last nighttime! Plus you can explore mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, and lagoons. There is no improve style to end the day.
Twenty-four hours half-dozen: Hop the ferry to Vieques
Before you caput to Vieques for the night, take the morning time to pack upwards, get breakfast, and necktie up any loose ends on your "to-see" list in Fajardo. Then head to Ceiba to grab the ferry to Vieques.
The ferry has specific hours, but it is non ever on time. Check the timetables and program accordingly. Keep your timeline fluid. Vieques in general will forcefulness y'all to tedious down and go with the flow!
Cars are immune on the ferry, but please do not attempt to accept your rental to Vieques. The vessel is conveying supplies and vehicles for residents of Vieques. If anybody were to bring vehicles to the isle, it would make information technology very hard for the residents to become about their business organization.
Please note: it may be very difficult to get on the ferry to Vieques during holidays and weekends due to crowds. It is easier going back, so flight in and out may be your all-time bet.
If you lot fly, head to the Ceiba airdrome and hop on a flying with Vieques Airlink or Air Flamenco. The round trip flying should cost less than $100. I consider these both sightseeing and transportation considering the views as so beautiful! So if the budget allows, flying is a great choice.
Once y'all arrive on Vieques, be prepared to hire a Jeep, motorcycle, or a golf cart to get effectually. There are also taxi services. Make all of these arrangements ahead of time, as yous may not get a taxi or vehicle if you go far without a reservation.
UTV Rental offers golf carts for rent which tin exist a fun way to explore, or Vieques Car Rental offers Jeeps and SUVs too as golf carts.
1 bully way to get acquainted with Vieques is to take a drive around the island! If y'all rent that Jeep, you are in great shape, as you can drive on clay roads through the jungle that wind into sea views. If you are not renting a vehicle, renting bikes is another great option.
The island is mostly reserve land that you accept the privilege to explore. They have quite a few roads running through the reserve, and there are hikes to jump on along the mode. Exist careful if driving equally there are wild horses in many parts of the island!
Head towards Sun Bay.
Take your vehicle down towards Esperanza to check out the beach at Sun Bay. You lot may see wild horses hither!
As a side note… the proximity of Playa Sun Bay to the bioluminescent bay makes this a absurd beach to peep at dark. You may run into the dinoflagellates (the creatures that glow) in the surf or on the beach. Can you say sparkle beach, anyone?!
Walk westward down the beach at Sun Bay towards Esperanza to relish painkillers and a meal at Lazy Jack's Eating house and Hostel. Painkillers are a yummy cream of coconut and rum cocktail topped with fresh nutmeg.
Enjoy the lively temper of this Vieques favorite. Information technology is also a nifty identify to stay for the night!
Twenty-four hours 7: Explore Vieques some more than and head back to San Juan
The island has two main areas where there are hotels and restaurants: down s at Esperanza or north at Isabel Segunda, near the ferry terminal.
Up north, the all-time breakfast identify is Rising Roost – delicioso! Cafe Del Mar down southward is cracking, besides. Enjoy a great breakfast with their firm-made staff of life.
Explore the black sand beach.
After you hit a breakfast spot of your choice, yous should head over to Black Sands Beach (Playa Negra). Y'all can walk on the beach from Esperanza if y'all like. Walk w to reach Playa Negra.
Information technology is inspiring to see the volcanic black sand for yourself! Amp up the magic of your experience and opt for a horseback riding tour on the black sand – contact Esperanza Riding Company for details.
Have a last meal in Vieques.
For a final eating place recommendation, we accept the all-time for last!
Head to Finca Conciencia for a healthy, upstanding, locally sourced meal. Their grouper stuffed with lobster and grilled over mesquite in banana leaves will change your life!
The menu is subject area to alter just that is the beauty of eating locally. In that location is multifariousness and change merely as the seasons alter. When you visit, you will see their sustainable farming practices in activity.
Information technology is a sweet identify that honors the sacredness of Female parent Earth. They are true stewards of the land hither. Plus, you may get to sample local honey from their apiaries. Telephone call or email to reserve a spot. See their website for precise directions to their land, as it will not come upward on Google.
Take a hike.
Up north, Playa Grande Saccharide Manufacturing plant Ruins is another great spot for a hike.
Hike amidst the ruins and along the coastline. Cease with a fabulous view of Punta Mulas Lighthouse. This is also a lovely spot for sunset if you stop up with time before heading back to San Juan.
Enjoy your final moments in Vieques.
Spend the afternoon relaxing or preparing to head dorsum to San Juan. Your timeline volition depend on if you choose to take the ferry dorsum or wing.
If yous have time, cheque out some more beaches, restaurants, or shops. This is a small isle with a population of about 10,000. Jobs are limited, so your shopping in Vieques will significantly impact the people that live at that place in a positive manner, specially if you purchase mitt-crafted products from local artisans. Either way, relish the residual of the day your fashion. It is your last day in Puerto Rico, after all!
You will finish your journey dorsum in San Juan. If you collection a rental car to Fajardo, you lot'll want to render to Fajardo by bus or by plane and so drive back to San Juan Airport. If you took a taxi to Fajardo, you lot tin save time by flight from Vieques to San Juan.
So ends your week in Puerto Rico. Perhaps you volition be going home, peradventure it is on to another adventure!
Hopefully, you experience revitalized from your time on this magnificent isle. You will certainly have eaten extremely well if y'all followed our tips!
From natural waterslides and sailing on the Caribbean sea to kayaking amongst bioluminescence, the adventures you will experience on this Puerto Rico itinerary volition surely alive in your memory forever.
Puerto Rico is a identify that deserves a lot of love, and the people will welcome you then well, you may never desire to leave!
It is as well a place that has seen a lot of hardships, especially since Hurricane Maria and the subsequent federal failure to address the damages the hurricane caused. As a result, infrastructure is defective in many parts of Puerto Rico.
The poverty and inequality that pre-dated Hurricane Maria was exacerbated by the impacts of the storm, as well as tourism dollars shrinking during the Covid-nineteen pandemic. Once the pandemic is over, your visit hither will impact the economic system of Puerto Rico positively (as if yous needed more than reasons to come to this awesome place!).
Come to Puerto Rico. Show them some honey, and meet why they say Puerto Rico se levanta. Puerto Rico will rising again.
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