Rum & Rainforests
Puerto Rico is truly a little slice of paradise. It was the perfect destination for a short winter getaway, to rejuvenate and explore the many things this island has to offer. I was only there for a few days and I definitely want to go back for longer! This tropical oasis offers everything from delicious Caribbean food to historical architecture and stunning beaches.
You may have heard of Puerto Rico because of its rum industry; the Bacardi rum distillery here is the largest in the world, and not only can you take a tour of it, but you can even opt to take a mixology class!
The piña colada originated here, although two places claim they were the original home of the famous tropical drink: Barrachina and the hotel Caribe Hilton. Barrachina is a cute little place in Old San Juan but almost always crowded, so hit this spot off peak if you don’t feel like waiting for a table or a seat at the bar. Regardless of where you try one, make sure to sip on a piña colada while you’re here (the mojitos here are fantastic as well), especially if you’re laying on the beach!
Puerto Rico has lots of beaches to check out, making it the perfect place to relax and do nothing. If I had more time, I would’ve wanted to check out a surfer town on the western side of the island called Rincon - you can catch great sunsets there. There are plenty of beaches on the San Juan side, though. Condado is where a lot of the hotels area but often windy depending on the day. Ocean Park, the beach over, is also a great spot. Luquillo Beach is another beach frequented by both locals and tourists and is also about an hour ride from San Juan.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous and want to check out the only tropical rainforest in the US, hit up El Yunque National Forest. The drive up the mountain roads lined with tropical plants and flowers was beautiful. Some favorite local spots in the rainforest are little rivers with rope swings you can jump into! Cool things I learned here were that skinny bamboo is local while the thicker bamboo comes from India, and there are soft rocks that are made of clay that people used to use as paint.
Calle de Fortaleza, Plaza de Armas
Check out Castillo San Felipe del Morro and the cemetery (it’s free to walk around the grounds and only a few dollars to actually enter the fort), then walk along the water and see the squatter houses of La Perla, a historic shanty town along the history city wall with houses that have been passed down for generations. Fun fact: La Perla was featured in the music video for Despacito!
Another area of Puerto Rico most tourists skip out on in Loiza, a town with Afro-Carribean roots and great food that is popular with the locals. My mom and I took a half day tour around San Juan where we learned a lot about the island’s history and roots, like the fact that interestingly enough, the rum industry is actually second to the manufacturing industry. In Loiza, we also got to check out a cave where the first settlers of the island used to live 5-6000 thousand years ago. We then popped by La Frutera Flores, a true mom ‘n pop local hole in the wall — it gets busy around 1 pm when all the local workers come flocking in for lunch! Try their combination smoothies and yummy yummy empanada. My mom and I also had dinner one time at Waikiki Restaurant & Bar in Condado. Waikiki has an ocean view out back, making it the perfect spot to watch sunset with dinner or enjoy breakfast with the waves.
Walking around San Juan, you can see the Walk of Fame in El Condado where famous people important to Puerto Rico have stars, the capital building where people will dance outside all day for protests, statues of American presidents who have visited the country.
La Frutera Flores
Other cool things to do in Puerto Rico that I’ll have to go back for are kayaking one of the biolumniscent bays, frolicking around the sunflower field Finca De Girasoles, exploring the pink salt flats (salinas) and the stunning natural bridge of Puente De Piedra in Cabo Rojo, hiking to Cascada Las Delicias (a waterfall in the town of Ciales), checking out the Tanama River and a coffee farm in Utuado, taking a day trip to Culebra or Aguadilla island. There are so many things that make this country perfect for a road trip!
Whether you’re looking for relaxation or adventure, Puerto Rico has it! Let me know in the comments if you have or want to! Would love to hear some of your favorite spots and things to do there.