Puerto Rico with a blend of Spanish and African cultures has a very different feel from the mainland US just a short plane ride away!

• Old San Juan: Explore the historic cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, vibrant shops, restaurants and art galleries. Significant are the historical forts of El Morro and San Cristobal. Both played significant roles in the defense of San Juan during various conflicts, including attacks by the English and the Dutch. Located to the east of Old San Juan, San Cristóbal is a massive fortress with a complex system of tunnels, ramps, defensive structures and bastions. It offers panoramic views of the city and coastline. Morro, on the northwestern tip of Old San Juan, overlooks the entrance to San Juan Bay. It has dungeons, barracks, a lighthouse, and other defensive structures. Other than walking, you may be able to find free golf carts to get around.
• Paseo de la Princesa is a picturesque promenade along the city walls of Old San Juan and is a must-walk place!
• La Fortaleza: La Fortaleza is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Afro-Caribbean coastal neighborhood of Piñones is close to San Juan (nearby town is Loíza) where you can find authentic street food. For vegetarians, it is most often fritters made from plantain and perhaps some grilled vegetables. You can also buy cold coconut water to drink straight out of the coconut.
• Condado and Isla Verde Beaches: Popular beaches in the San Juan area for relaxation, water sports, and a vibrant beachfront atmosphere with plenty of restaurants and nightlife.
• La Placita de Santurce is a vibrant and lively marketplace located in the Santurce district of San Juan. It’s a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, offering a mix of traditional markets, restaurants, bars, and live music. Here are some highlights and things you can do at La Placita de Santurce:
  • Fresh Produce Market: During the day, La Placita is a bustling marketplace where you can find fresh produce, seafood, and local products. It’s a great place to experience the local culture and get a taste of Puerto Rican ingredients.
  • Restaurants and Cafés: La Placita is surrounded by numerous restaurants and cafés offering a variety of Puerto Rican and international cuisines. It’s a fantastic spot to try local dishes and enjoy a meal in a lively atmosphere.
  • Nightlife: In the evening, La Placita transforms into a nightlife hotspot. Many of the bars and restaurants turn into vibrant venues with music, dancing, and a lively atmosphere. It’s a popular spot for locals to unwind and socialize.
  • Live Music: You can often find live music performances, especially during the evenings. Different venues may feature various genres, from traditional Latin music to contemporary beats.
  • Plaza del Mercado: The heart of La Placita is the Plaza del Mercado, an open square surrounded by colorful buildings. It’s a central gathering place and a hub of activity.
  • Art Galleries: Explore nearby art galleries and cultural spaces showcasing the work of local artists. Santurce is known for its vibrant arts scene, and you might find interesting exhibitions and installations.
  • Street Art: The streets surrounding La Placita are adorned with vibrant street art, murals, and colorful graffiti. Take a stroll to appreciate the urban art scene in the area.
  • Cultural Events: La Placita hosts various cultural events, festivals, and community activities throughout the year. Check the local calendar for any special events happening during your visit. Santurce Es Ley is an annual art festival that takes place in Santurce. It celebrates street art and culture, featuring local and international artists.
  • Local Shops: Explore the small shops and boutiques in the area, offering unique and handmade products. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs and support local businesses.
• The old and well-preserved architecture and fascinating institutional history has earned the Condado hotel much praise, including a listing in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
• More about Santruce: A hip area home to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art, in a neoclassical building with a sculpture garden, and the Contemporary Art Museum. Colorful murals cover buildings around Calle Cerra.

• El Yunque National Forest: An hour’s drive from San Juan, and the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, El Yunque offers lush greenery, waterfalls, hiking trails, ziplining and unique flora and fauna.
• Vieques Island: Another beautiful island off the coast of Puerto Rico with a pristine white sand beach, clear water, and few people. Popular island for snorkeling. While it is not very easy to get to, it is worth the effort if you are spending a few days in Puerto Rico. Quickest way is to take a short flight from San Juan. Alternatively, its 2.5 hours to the Ceiba ferry terminal and then get on a ferry that will take you to Vieques in 30 minutes. One could rent a car to the ferry terminal or take a cab (which would be expensive) or go through a tour operator in San Juan who conducts day trips to Viques attractions (a hectic day to be sure). Make sure to visit the bioluminiscent bay – details in the next section on Adventure Activities.
• Culebra island: Off the coast of Puerto Rico with a beautiful white sand beach, clear water, and a relaxed atmosphere. Flamenco Beach on Culebra is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is good for snorkeling too. Again, a bit of an effort to get to but worth it if you are spending a few days in Puerto Rico.

• Bioluminescent Bay: Head 2.5 hours south to La Perguera. You can swim in this bioluminescent bay. While it rates a little lower on the brightness scale, compared to Mosquito bay in Vieques, it is accessible from the main island without needing to drive east, do the ferry ride etc, especially if you are short on time.
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  Located on the island of Vieques, Mosquito Bay is known for its bioluminescent waters. Take a night kayak tour to witness the magical glow created by microscopic organisms in the water. Don’t worry, it is not about there being mosquitoes. The bay is named after Puerto Rican pirate’s ship, El Mosquito.
• Rio Camuy Cave Park: Two hours west from San Juan. One of the largest cave systems, featuring limestone formations, sinkholes, and an underground river. Guided tours take you through the network of caverns.
• Toro Verde Adventure Park is located in the town of Orocovis, less than 2 hrs southwest from San Juan. Beautiful landscape with mountains and dense forest. It is a very popular spot for ziplining and has several suspension bridges. The two big ziplines are The Beast, about 1.5 kilometers long and The Monster, at 2.5 kilometers.
• Icacos Island, located off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, is known for its pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling options.
• In the northern town of Arecibo, Cueva del Indio is an impressive cave that’s surrounded by dramatic cliffs that face the Atlantic Ocean. The cave gets its name from the various pre-Columbian indigenous petroglyphs that are found in the walls of the cave.
• As you drive further west from La Cara Del Indio, there is a roadside sculpture that welcomes visitors to the city of Isabela and the Portal del Sol in the west region. It is at the intersection of Rt 2 with 113. Known as the “Indian’s face” in Spanish, the sculpture is a monument dedicated to Cacique Mabodamaca, a Taíno chief that fought against the Spaniards in 1511 and died during the battle.
• Close to this rock sculpture is a tunnel through which you will reach the cliff beaches.

Rum

• Casa Bacardi: Situated in Cataño, it is a short ferry or bus ride from Old San Juan. Offers guided tours of the Bacardí rum distillery. Visitors can learn about the rum-making process, and enjoy tastings of different Bacardí products. Some tours include a mixology class where visitors can learn how to make classic Bacardí cocktails. The visitor center gives a panoramic view of the bay.
• The Ron del Barrilito distillery is located in Bayamón, about 45 mts from San Juan. The tour takes you through the historic distillery where Barrilito, a Puerto Rican premium rum, has been produced for over a century. Visitors can participate in a tasting experience to savor the distinct flavors of Ron del Barrilito and learn about the history and craftsmanship behind Ron del Barrilito, which is known for its unique aging process and rich flavor.
• Hacienda Buena Vista: A restored 19th-century coffee plantation, it has guided tours to showcase the coffee-making process and the estate’s historical significance.

Coffee

• Do Puerto Ricans put cheese in coffee? The answer is Yes, it is not an everyday thing to put cheese on coffee but because they like to put cheese in hot chocolate, sometimes they just put the cheese in the hot coffee instead of the chocolate! Found this practice in Ecuador too.

Street Art: AS mentioned earlier, the streets surrounding La Placita are adorned with vibrant street art, murals, and colorful graffiti. Take a stroll to appreciate the urban art scene in the area.

Also, appreciate street art Santurce area.

Our visit to Puerto Rico was in 1993 was one of the very first we took outside mainland US, a really long time ago (soon after we had finished grad school) and I am surprised at how much we did and how much of what I have written is because my husband has this wonderful recollection of the trip!

We flew into San Juan from Dallas on a 757 (something that registered with me). We had our hotel booking in Vieques and had theoretically figured how to get there little knowing it would be quite the effort! 😊 At San Juan, we got to a bus station which would take us to the Fajardo ferry point from where we were going to head to Vieques. However, the bus frequencies were so low and there weren’t any more for the day. At that time I had just take a semester of Spanish at university and was eager to try it out. I didn’t get too far at all when I tried to converse in Puerto Rico in order to ask for other options. Anyway, we got to know an older couple from New York who were also headed to the ferry terminal (a 2.5 hour drive) and together, we decided to share a cab and spilt the fare. It cost us only $20 per couple and now, upon googling, the cab fare seems to be$125. All through the drive, the gentleman from NY read a book while his wife chatted us up. The memory of the ferry ride I have is of me smoking half a ciggy.

We spent 4 days just being in Vieques and enjoying the solitude and the beaches. Media Luna (Half moon) beach was one of our favorites and it is close to the Sun Bay beach. If you want more life, shops and action, head to La Esperanze beach. Other than these there is the red beach (white sand really), black beach, Caracas and La Chiva beaches, to name a few.

While at Vieques we took a trip to a bioluminescent bay (it is called Mosquito Bay). I remember getting into a small rickety (looking) boat with 5 to 6 other people. The night was dark with rain clouds and I was pretty terrified of the choppy waters which swayed the boat left and right a heck of a lot. This ride lasted a good 45 minutes before we reached what seemed to be the still part of the ocean! A big relief for me. We were asked to don life jackets (we weren’t asked to wear them on the boat ride) and get into the water. I was once again pretty nervous as I don’t swim. But I absolutely wanted to go into the water rather than just watch someone else illuminate! It was amazing as I moved my hands and legs in the ocean on a dark night and watched myself glow!! This glow is caused due to the presence of dinoflagelate planktons. I came back into the boat completely mesmerized by this new experience. As I researched bio-luminescent bays, I see that swimming is no longer allowed in Mosquito bay (they stopped it some years ago). One can touch. If you want to swim, you will need to pick another bay to visit from the mainland. That one is called La Parguera. Mosquito by is however has the brightest glow factor.

After getting back to San Juan, we rented a car and spent two days in the old part of town walking streets, visiting a beach, eating food with plantain dishes and watching some energetic drums being played and also salsa dancing. We tool one day to visit El Yunque where we walked trails and so beautiful waterfalls. The walk along the promenade is simply a must.