Our Most Popular Articles

These 10 articles have been our top "most read articles" over the past week.

There are three bioluminescent bays (bio-bays) in Puerto Rico. One in the SouthWest – "La Parguera", one on Vieques – "Mosquito Bay", and the one in Fajardo – "La Laguna Grande". Out of all three, Mosquito Bay is the brightest, and La Parguera is the least bright. La Laguna Grande [...]

Fly from tree to tree on a zip line with La Marquesa Canopy Tours, only 30 minutes from San Juan.

On 26 February 2010, the Puerto Rico Department of Health declared that we have a dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico. If you have plans to travel to Puerto Rico in the next couple weeks or months you might be concerned. But, before you get all freaked out and start canceling your trip, do a little research, understand the facts, and make an informed decision.

Gozalandia or Las Cataratas Waterfall in San Sebastian is sometimes called the secret waterfall even though it is actually on a couple of the official PR tourism maps. I guess it is not that secret after all! Actually finding the waterfall is an adventure in itself. With the help of some people on the TripAdvisor.com Puerto Rico forum who provided the initial directions, we set off to find this secret treasure!

We took a trip to Bacardi Rum Factory to see the tour. I admit, the free drinks were also a draw for me! I have been on other sugar cane and rum tours on other islands and always enjoyed them. This was different, more of a tour about Bacardi that takes place at [...]

In the past, if you wanted to go ziplining here in Puerto Rico you had to go to the Río Abajo Forest, Toro Negro Forest or La Marquesa Forest. In March 2009, Yunke Zipline Adventure opened for business in the foothills of El Yunque National Forest close to many areas that are on most visitors’ must do list.

Whether you have just a couple of hours or a couple of days, there are plenty of things to keep you busy and entertained in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. From the rain forest to beaches to biobays, we’ve put together a list of activities sorted by the amount of time you need to do each.

East Island Excursions offers trips from Fajardo to Vieques so you can experience the bioluminescence in Mosquito Bay.

(updated Sep 1, 2010) Due the damages to the ferry pier in Culebra caused by Hurricane EARL, current travel to between Culebra/Fajardo by ferry is restricted to residents of Culebra only.
An economical way to get to the out-islands of Culebra and Vieques is by using the passenger ferry (La Lancha). These ferries, operated by [...]

To get around the metro area, your best bet is to take a taxi. You can hail a taxi in the street, or you can call one to come pick you up. Taxis are generally available at the airport, hotels, and major tourist attractions.
For trips anywhere in San Juan, except to/from the SJU International Airport [...]

Of Interest to Cruise Ship Visitors

You'll be in port in San Juan for just one day. Maybe you're getting in early. Maybe you're getting in late. Here are some things that you can do when you only have a limited amount of time in port.

The Cadencia Andaluza: Espectáculo de Flamenco Puertorriqueño show at the Tablao de Paulette is a traditional Flamenco music and dance show with a Puerto Rican flair. It’s an enjoyable way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday night and to experience a slice of real Puerto Rican life.

We get asked time and time again about things to do in Old San Juan in the evening. And you know what? There are actually lots of things to choose from! In addition to the usual ideas of walking tours or having a drink, we complied a list of live music and dance shows that you can enjoy around town.

Old San Juan is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean and Puerto Rico is the Rum Capital of the World. Legends of Puerto Rico has combined these 2 into a Rum Tasting & Dinner Tour that makes a really fun, and delicious, night out!

You can capture some of the history of Old San Juan, while moving about town like in the old days, while taking a horse and carriage tour through the Old City. The horse and carriage rides start near the Casita area, on the Bay of San Juan, just west of the cruise ship [...]

Finding a restroom while visiting a strange city can be difficult. We’ve scouted out some of the public (and not so public) places you can find a restroom during your time in Old San Juan. This is one list that you’ll want to keep with you!

Tropical Trail Rides ATV Tours at Hacienda Campo Rico is located just a few minutes from San Juan, and yet it feels like a world away. Hacienda Campo Rico is a 2,200 acre "ranch" so the ATVs have loads of trails. They go through fields and forests, up and down hills and through mud puddles. And then you get to explore a cave filled with bats and more. It was a ton of fun!

SoFo is the Old San Juan Culinary Festival semi-annual food festival. It’s typically held in the early summer & again in the fall, and it is all about enjoying food & having fun. In the evening, the Old City closes a number of streets to traffic. Then the restaurants start setting up serving tables and bars, tables and chairs, and stages are set up for the bands. This summer, the festival is being held from July 8 through July 11, 2010.

Take a snorkel/kayak trip with Kayaking Puerto Rico and learn all about the different ecosystems in the northeast corner of Puerto Rico, both above and below the water. They offer trips for all levels of experience, from beginner to experienced kayakers and snorkelers. I think it’s a great way to spend a half-day getting close to nature on your vacation.

A baseball game in Puerto Rico is an economical and fun evening. Every winter, baseball heats up on the island. Not only do we have local players on the teams, but some of the US league players come down to keep in shape and play in their off-season. So, if you are having baseball withdrawal, you can catch a game while you’re here — it can be a lot of fun.

Imagine all sorts of fun, outdoor activities like swimming pools, a paint ball field, skate ramps for skateboard and in-line skates, an “inflatables” park, a rope obstacle course, go carts, pony rides, mountain bike trails and food. Now put them all together in one spot and what do you get? Moisty Skate & Family Park in Cagus, that’s what.

Enjoy a free Flamenco dance show while eating dinner at Barrachina Restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights in Old San Juan.

For a quick and tasty stop, we always go to Casa Don Q in Old San Juan. Don Q brand is the rum preferred by Puerto Ricans – they give samples, so if you want, you can stop in and taste for yourself, and see why!
Casa Don Q is a small “museum” that has [...]

Balneario El Escambron is a little beach, just outside of Old San Juan, that is part of the Blue Flag beach program. It is located in Puerta de Tierra section of town, next to the old Normandie Hotel.
Escambron is described by many as a nice family-friendly beach. It has a small crescent of [...]

There are three bioluminescent bays (bio-bays) in Puerto Rico. One in the SouthWest – "La Parguera", one on Vieques – "Mosquito Bay", and the one in Fajardo – "La Laguna Grande". Out of all three, Mosquito Bay is the brightest, and La Parguera is the least bright. La Laguna Grande [...]

Old San Juan is a 400 year old city, that has come into the modern age with original great old buildings that blend well with the modern conveniences. You can see art all over as you walk around outside in Old San Juan. There are sculptures galore, in all sizes and styles, depicting all sorts of people and things. So explore the old city and see what wonderful art you can find!

Puerto Rico is blessed with a natural phenomenon that is found in only a few other places on earth — it has 3 year-round bioluminescent bays. I am so excited to say that Bio Island offers an eco-friendly way to visit Laguna Grande without having to kayak or walk. They have an electric motor boat tour that is both safe for the environment and fun.

The typical visitor to Old San Juan visits the major "touristy" historical sites in the old city, including the forts (El Morro and San Cristobal), La Princesa, La Forteleza, and the Cathedral, to name a few. In fact, our 3-part walking tour will guide you past all of these places.
But there are a number of [...]

If you’re looking for an exciting way to see Old San Juan, you can get a tour of the 400-year old city from a different angle — on a Jet Ski. Aquatica offers a Jet Ski Pirate Tour that is wet and wild, and combines some history and a lot of fun. We did this a few weeks ago and it was a blast!

El Morro Fort, or officially Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, stands guard at the entrance to San Juan harbor as a reminder of a by-gone era when invading countries would attempt sea attacks to take this prized city and harbor. No trip to Old San Juan is complete without a visit to this UN World Heritage Site.

The Le-Lo-Lai Festival is a wonderful cultural program of traditional music and dance, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
The Festival consists of 3 different performances, showcasing different dances and music of the island and its heritage. These shows are free of cost and are amazingly high quality. They are offered [...]

There is something about Old San Juan at night that is really magical. It may be the way the lights cast shadows on the old buildings that make them come to life. It may be knowing that the buildings and cobblestone streets have seen hundreds of years of history. Getting a glimpse of [...]

We attended another performance of the Le Lo Lai Festival and were delighted to find that they update the show from time to time. The latest installment contains Salsa, Bomba and some "country" music & dances that make for an enjoyable hour of free entertainment.

Fly from tree to tree on a zip line with La Marquesa Canopy Tours, only 30 minutes from San Juan.

There are plenty of things to do with kids in Old San Juan. Whether you explore an ancient fort, fly a kite, feed 100s of pigeons, taste some local ice cream, or just enjoy one of the many family-friendly activities on the weekend, you’ll be sure to keep busy.

Ask anyone about what they consider a “Must See” while visiting Puerto Rico and they will most likely say Old San Juan. That is because this old historic city offers so much. There is literally something for everyone: beautiful views (great for photographers), architecture, restaurants, art, museums, shopping, history, sculptures, people-watching, music, dance, [...]

Enjoy a 1 or 2 hour horseback riding tour in the foothills of El Yunque at Hacienda Carabali in Luquillo. They have over 70 horses ready to take you through the trails that criss-cross their 600-acre property. These tours are good for beginners and less experienced riders.

Like most people, we enjoy a bit of adventure when we travel. We heard about a new activity operator near San Juan, Green Zebra Adventures, that offers something that sounded like a cross between an ATV and go-kart activity. It looked interesting, but how different was it than your typical ATV tour? We decided to give it a try to find out.

If you’re looking for some casino action, Puerto Rico has something for you from Slots, to Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Texas Hold’em and Baccarat. Casinos are located in most of the resorts and large hotels all around the island.

Get some exercise on vacation and take a tour of the San Juan area at the same time. Rent The Bicycle, in Old San Juan, offers bike rentals and guided bike tours in the Old San Juan, Condado and Piñones areas. They offer options that are great for cruise ship visitors, tourists and locals alike.

Whether you have just a couple of hours or a couple of days, there are plenty of things to keep you busy and entertained in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. From the rain forest to beaches to biobays, we’ve put together a list of activities sorted by the amount of time you need to do each.

If you’re embarking on your cruise from San Juan, then you’ll be able to purchase duty free liquor and cigarettes at the pier before you board the ship. We were in Old San Juan the other day and came upon a copy of ad for the duty free store at the cruise pier, which we’ve scanned so that you have some idea of what’s available and how much it will cost.

Salsa is practically the national dance of Puerto Rico. You can brush up on your moves, or learn your first basic steps, with some Salsa dancing lessons during your vacation. We’ve been going for the past couple of weeks. It’s fun!

Anyone who visits Puerto Rico can’t help but notice that we have a stray dog problem. These strays, which are usually mixed breed dogs, are locally called satos. There are a number of wonderful, non-profit organizations on the island that help these animals by finding homes for them in the States. They need your help, too. Read this to find out how you can help.

To get around the metro area, your best bet is to take a taxi. You can hail a taxi in the street, or you can call one to come pick you up. Taxis are generally available at the airport, hotels, and major tourist attractions.
For trips anywhere in San Juan, except to/from the SJU International Airport [...]

Traveling with kids changes everything. You need to find a place where there are things that everyone in the family can enjoy. Luckily, you are planning to visit Puerto Rico where there are many activities for every member of your family. We’ve put together this list with families and convenience in mind. All of these activities are within about a 1-hour drive of the San Juan area.

To really see Puerto Rico, you need to get out and explore. Whether you are in port for the day with a cruise ship or you’ve flown in for a couple weeks, renting a car is a great way to get around. There are loads of agencies that have all types of cars and vans, so even with a large family, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs.

Save a Gato is a volunteer organization that manages the care and feeding of the colonial cats of Old San Juan. Through an agreement with the National Park Service, Save a Gato provides food, water and medical assistance for these cats. They do what they can, as a completely volunteer organization, run on donations. But every trap-neuter-release costs money. Find out how you can help.

This is the first of many articles on the Rain Forest.
El Yunque Rain Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the US National Parks system. Ample rainfall (over 200 inches a year in some areas) creates a jungle-like setting – with lush foliage, waterfalls and rivers. Hike along the trails that cover [...]

The Flavors of San Juan Food & Culture Tour is a guided walking tour in Old San Juan. Throughout this tour, you’ll get to sample food & drinks at different restaurants, learn about the history & culture of Puerto Rico, see some of the sites in the city, and learn about some of the local arts & crafts. We thought it was an interesting & enjoyable couple of hours.

Segway Tours of Puerto Rico offers 45-minute and 2-hour tours of Old San Juan. Riding a Segway is fun, easy and a unique way to see the city and forts.

Must See Things for First Time Visitors

This is your first visit to Puerto Rico? There are tons of things to do here, and depending on your interests you won't be bored. Here are the top must see attractions for first-time visitors to Puerto Rico.

There are plenty of things to do with kids in Old San Juan. Whether you explore an ancient fort, fly a kite, feed 100s of pigeons, taste some local ice cream, or just enjoy one of the many family-friendly activities on the weekend, you’ll be sure to keep busy.

A day sail aboard the Erin Go Bragh III offers an intimate option for accessing excellent snorkeling spots near the islets of Icacos, Lobos, Palominos, and Palominitos, located off the coast of Fajardo. Longer overnight trips are available to the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

As compared to most other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is a big island and most of the "must see" attractions are not concentrated in one particular area. Understanding the "lay of the land" can be a daunting task for the first-time visitor.
To provide some perspective on where things are on the island, we’ve put together [...]

East Island Excursions offers trips from Fajardo to Vieques so you can experience the bioluminescence in Mosquito Bay.

The Luquillo kiosks (or kioskos) are a much loved part of Puerto Rico. This long row of humble (think almost ramshackle) buildings are right on Route 3 along the beach in Luquillo. But don’t let their appearance discourage you — stop in and you will be in for an experience that is uniquely Puerto Rican.

Ask anyone about what they consider a “Must See” while visiting Puerto Rico and they will most likely say Old San Juan. That is because this old historic city offers so much. There is literally something for everyone: beautiful views (great for photographers), architecture, restaurants, art, museums, shopping, history, sculptures, people-watching, music, dance, [...]

Whether you have just a couple of hours or a couple of days, there are plenty of things to keep you busy and entertained in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. From the rain forest to beaches to biobays, we’ve put together a list of activities sorted by the amount of time you need to do each.

It’s been almost 5 years since the last time we went out on a snorkel catamaran trip. We recently had the opportunity to spend the day on the Fun Cat that sails out of Fajardo to the reefs near the island of Icacos.

This is the first of many articles on the Rain Forest.
El Yunque Rain Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the US National Parks system. Ample rainfall (over 200 inches a year in some areas) creates a jungle-like setting – with lush foliage, waterfalls and rivers. Hike along the trails that cover [...]

To really see Puerto Rico, you need to get out and explore. Whether you are in port for the day with a cruise ship or you’ve flown in for a couple weeks, renting a car is a great way to get around. There are loads of agencies that have all types of cars and vans, so even with a large family, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs.

Until recently, the only way to access any of the bioluminescent lagoons in Puerto Rico was either in a kayak or aboard a boat. But now there is another alternative! The Fideicomiso de Conservación de Puerto Rico now offers night-time walking tours of Las Cabezas Nature Reserve and Laguna Grande.

Save a Gato is a volunteer organization that manages the care and feeding of the colonial cats of Old San Juan. Through an agreement with the National Park Service, Save a Gato provides food, water and medical assistance for these cats. They do what they can, as a completely volunteer organization, run on donations. But every trap-neuter-release costs money. Find out how you can help.

When looking for day trips to do, I sometimes forget to look at places close to home. Luquillo is a great little town in the north east part of Puerto Rico. It is home to diverse natural beauty — both miles of beautiful beaches and acres of rain forest. It has a rich and interesting history and a decently active, modern social life. Most people assume they have "done" Luquillo if they make it to the food kiosks and Luquillo Beach, but there is a lot more for people to do and enjoy. So take some time and come explore Luquillo!

Puerto Rico is blessed with a natural phenomenon that is found in only a few other places on earth — it has 3 year-round bioluminescent bays. I am so excited to say that Bio Island offers an eco-friendly way to visit Laguna Grande without having to kayak or walk. They have an electric motor boat tour that is both safe for the environment and fun.

Once you decide to venture away from the San Juan metropolitan area, your best bet (and the cheapest way to get around) is to rent a car. You may have heard horror stories about Puerto Rican drivers, but, in reality, it is not that bad! Here are some tips to make your experience driving in Puerto Rico as painless as possible.

With names like Domes, Steps, Spanish Wall, Pools and Indicators, Rincon boasts miles of beaches. Some of the beaches are suitable for swimming. Others have world-class surfing conditions. And most are perfect for watching the sunset. So, grab a map or a GPS unit and start looking for your perfect beach.

Traveling with kids changes everything. You need to find a place where there are things that everyone in the family can enjoy. Luckily, you are planning to visit Puerto Rico where there are many activities for every member of your family. We’ve put together this list with families and convenience in mind. All of these activities are within about a 1-hour drive of the San Juan area.

There are three bioluminescent bays (bio-bays) in Puerto Rico. One in the SouthWest – "La Parguera", one on Vieques – "Mosquito Bay", and the one in Fajardo – "La Laguna Grande". Out of all three, Mosquito Bay is the brightest, and La Parguera is the least bright. La Laguna Grande [...]

There are a number of snorkel boat tours that leave out of Fajardo and visit reefs and the out-islands. The boats are all very similar, follow a similar schedule, serve a similar lunch and beverages, go to the same snorkel spots, and are the same price – give or take a few [...]

Anyone who visits Puerto Rico can’t help but notice that we have a stray dog problem. These strays, which are usually mixed breed dogs, are locally called satos. There are a number of wonderful, non-profit organizations on the island that help these animals by finding homes for them in the States. They need your help, too. Read this to find out how you can help.

I go to this beach quite often (being it is the closest swimming beach to my house). It is one of my favorites too, just due to the scenery – it is a cresent of fine sand, with lots of mature palm trees for shade. And behind that, you have the [...]

Being an island, Puerto Rico has more than 300 miles of beaches, including the out-islands and cays. That’s one beach to explore and enjoy for each day of the year. There is a perfect beach for everyone – it all depends your idea of the perfect beach. Luckily, almost all the beaches in Puerto Rico are open to the general public.

Fort San Cristobal is often considered the other fort in Old San Juan. For reasons that I can’t fathom, people flock to El Morro and rarely visit Fort San Cristobal. But they don’t know what they’re missing – it is a definitely worth a visit!

So you decided to spend some time exploring Old San Juan? You will not be disappointed! The old city is a small area, only 7 square blocks. But there is so much to do and see in that small area that you can spend days there and never see everything. Or if you [...]

The Flavors of San Juan Food & Culture Tour is a guided walking tour in Old San Juan. Throughout this tour, you’ll get to sample food & drinks at different restaurants, learn about the history & culture of Puerto Rico, see some of the sites in the city, and learn about some of the local arts & crafts. We thought it was an interesting & enjoyable couple of hours.

OK, with all this day-tripping around, you will eventually get hungry! And in your travels you’ll see countless people cooking fried food or frituras by the side of the road, at the beaches, and in little kioskos or kiosks. The food certainly smells good. But it looks a little funny. It’s all fried. And [...]

El Morro Fort, or officially Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, stands guard at the entrance to San Juan harbor as a reminder of a by-gone era when invading countries would attempt sea attacks to take this prized city and harbor. No trip to Old San Juan is complete without a visit to this UN World Heritage Site.

Some of Our Favorite Off the Beaten Path Attractions

You've been to Puerto Rico before. You've been to the forts and the rain forest. What else is there for you to do? Lots! Here are some of our favorite things to do that are off the beaten path.

Rocaliza’s Half-Day El Salto Adventure in the Carite rain forest crams a whole-day of hiking, waterfall climbing and ziplining into a half-day excursion. It’s perfect for cruise ship visitors or other people who don’t want to spend a full day on an adventure excursion.

Located across from El Morro on the western side of the San Juan Bay, El Cañuelo fort was built in the late 1500s to help protect the entrance of the bay. Today, this fort is part of the San Juan National Historic Site that you visit on Cabras Island.

For an unobstructed view of north and east coasts, hike El Toro Trail to the highest point in El Yunque National Forest. We thought it was an enjoyable day of hiking, though it can be muddy and strenuous at times.

Have you ever wanted to learn to surf but never had the chance? People staying in the north-east part of the island can easily get a private surfing lesson without having to travel very far. Bob Roberts, a NSSIA-certified surfing instructor, offers lessons right in the Luquillo area. He can have you catching a wave long before your vacation is over.

Here is another fun adventure made possible by the rivers that flow down from El Yunque. The Río Fajardo in Ceiba offers two types of fun — mild or rugged. For the mild type of nature lovers, there is Charco Frio, which is a series of pools in the river that you can enjoy cooling off in on a hot day. The rugged part is Las Tinajas, which, after a hike in, has a rope swing, a little rock water slide, pretty waterfalls, river views and some nice pools to enjoy.

Pinones mangrove forest (Bosque de Pinones) offers a unique experience for tourists and locals alike. We find that almost no matter what we like doing, we can find it and spend an enjoyable day or evening in this area.
Even though this area is located just east of the airport and Isla Verde, [...]

If you want to be part of a local experience, get up early on a Friday and head to the San Sebastian Market. I guess I would call it a large flea market or farmers market, since it had a little bit of everything. The market is located on the Centro Agropecuario grounds. It has slots for over 340 tables inside the grounds and, of course, there are other people selling things outside in the parking lot.

You will see many neat things in Puerto Rico, but wild animals are not usually one of them – except if you visit Monkey Island. Monkey Island is a small island off of the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, that is home to about 1200 free-roaming Rhesus monkeys. The island is not open to tourists, but you can get an up close view of the monkeys from the water.

Being a rain forest, there are plenty of rivers that come down from El Yunque. Over many years, the rushing waters have made some of these river rocks into natural playgrounds, complete with pools and water slides. There is a place in Luquillo called Las Paylas (or Las Pailas) were the rocks in this river are real smooth and make for some really fun slides.

The typical visitor to Old San Juan visits the major "touristy" historical sites in the old city, including the forts (El Morro and San Cristobal), La Princesa, La Forteleza, and the Cathedral, to name a few. In fact, our 3-part walking tour will guide you past all of these places.
But there are a number of [...]

If you are in the Luquillo area and enjoy seeing unusual artwork, a quick stop at Saint Joseph’s Church in Luquillo is worth a visit. Its old and lovely facade holds a rare treasure inside — some of the most beautiful wood carvings. While wood carvings are not unusual for a Catholic church, these ones are — they combine Catholic religious presentations, with nature and symbols from other cultures and religions. This is one of those rare and pleasant finds!

Whether you have just a couple of hours or a couple of days, there are plenty of things to keep you busy and entertained in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. From the rain forest to beaches to biobays, we’ve put together a list of activities sorted by the amount of time you need to do each.

For reasons that I can’t figure out, of the trails right along Road 191 in El Yunque National Forest, La Coca Trail is seemingly unknown. It is as if someone found out how beautiful it is and decided to keep it a secret! We invested some time and effort in hiking this trail, and were handsomely rewarded with rivers, waterfalls and swimming pools galore!

El Yunque National Forest has a lot more to explore besides the forest along Road 191. If you have a little extra time and want to get a little more rain forest immersion, you can take a short drive up Road 186, above the El Verde area in Rio Grande, and find a hidden waterfall just steps from the road.

Gozalandia or Las Cataratas Waterfall in San Sebastian is sometimes called the secret waterfall even though it is actually on a couple of the official PR tourism maps. I guess it is not that secret after all! Actually finding the waterfall is an adventure in itself. With the help of some people on the TripAdvisor.com Puerto Rico forum who provided the initial directions, we set off to find this secret treasure!

Biking on the boardwalk in Piñones is a favorite activity of locals and tourists alike. It’s just minutes from Isla Verde, and it has bike paths go along the beach and through the mangrove forest, where the views are fantastic.

Casa Pueblo is a community-based organization focused on, among other things, the protection and management of natural resources. On a visit to their headquarters in Adjuntas, you’ll learn about their on-going eco-friendly endeavors and educational programs, and you’ll have the chance to buy some local artisan goods in their gift shop.

A day sail aboard the Erin Go Bragh III offers an intimate option for accessing excellent snorkeling spots near the islets of Icacos, Lobos, Palominos, and Palominitos, located off the coast of Fajardo. Longer overnight trips are available to the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

The El Yunque National Forest covers 28000 acres, and much of it is protected as wilderness areas. Ray and I are always looking for new trails to hike and, of course, elusive waterfalls. We recently went to the south side of the rain forest in search of Los Prieto Falls. We found a great hike and beautiful set of waterfalls, too!

In the past, if you wanted to go ziplining here in Puerto Rico you had to go to the Río Abajo Forest, Toro Negro Forest or La Marquesa Forest. In March 2009, Yunke Zipline Adventure opened for business in the foothills of El Yunque National Forest close to many areas that are on most visitors’ must do list.

When looking for day trips to do, I sometimes forget to look at places close to home. Luquillo is a great little town in the north east part of Puerto Rico. It is home to diverse natural beauty — both miles of beautiful beaches and acres of rain forest. It has a rich and interesting history and a decently active, modern social life. Most people assume they have "done" Luquillo if they make it to the food kiosks and Luquillo Beach, but there is a lot more for people to do and enjoy. So take some time and come explore Luquillo!

As compared to most other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is a big island and most of the "must see" attractions are not concentrated in one particular area. Understanding the "lay of the land" can be a daunting task for the first-time visitor.
To provide some perspective on where things are on the island, we’ve put together [...]

What do you get when you cross scavenger hunts with GPS technology? The "sport" called Geocaching. You can grab your GPS unit and try to find one of the 350 treasures hidden around Puerto Rico. You may be pleasantly surprised by what else you discover about the island during your hunt.

Puerto Rico is an island with many different faces. It is both urban and country, modern and historical, laid-back and hurried, built-up and natural. If you visit Arecibo and La Cueva del Indio (Cave of the Indian), you will see it all – modern, country, nature and history – all in one day. [...]

What could be more refreshing than taking a swim in a crystal clear river on a hot day? If you are in El Yunque and want to do some swimming, you may want to try Angelito Trail. The trail leads to Las Damas pool in the Mameyes River.

The Conservation Trust of PR owns this nature reserve in Fajardo, at the north eastern-most tip of the island. Encompassing hundreds of acres, the Conservation Trust offers tours to explain the different eco-systems that are in the reserve.
On our most recent visit (we have taken the tour a number of times with [...]

Have you ever wanted to soar above the mountains and trees under your own power like a bird? You can do just that during your vacation in Puerto Rico on a Tandem Discovery Flight with Team Spirit Hang Gliding. It’s really cool!

Every year, the town of Aibonito hosts the largest plant show & sale on the island. It features flower & plant displays, a large section for plant sales, live local music shows, and food kiosks. My favorite part is the rows and rows of booths selling all kinds of plants — orchids, fruit trees, vegetable plants, heliconias, gingers, hibiscus … just to name a few. I look forward to this event all year and it is now that time of year again!

For 3 short days in October 1950, Puerto Rico was declared an independent nation called La Republica de Puerto Rico by Blanca Canales and a band of Independentistas. Today, the Canales Museum houses a collection of memorabilia that provides a glimpse of the revolution of that time.

The Central American and Caribbean Games have been held every 4 years since 1926. This year, the 21st Central American and Caribbean games will be held in Puerto Rico, officially in the town of Mayaguez. Opening ceremonies are July 17 and closing ceremonies are August 1, 2010. Athletes representing 31 countries from around the Caribbean and Central American region will be participating. Many events have free admission.

For all you lighthouse folks, photographers, or people who want to explore some off-the-beaten-path places — I thought the old lighthouse ruins in Aguadilla (or, as they are referred to here, Las Ruinas) were pretty cool. There is not much left of this lighthouse (only parts of 2 walls, really), but it provided a setting for some beautiful photos.

Do you want to get away from the concrete jungle of San Juan or Old San Juan for a while without traveling too far? Or have a nice place to bike, run or walk that is away from traffic? Then the Parque Lineal Martí Coll or Paseo Lineal (Martí Coll Linear Park, in English) might be just what you need. This "park" is actually an elevated, 8-foot wide concrete walkway that runs along the bank of the Maria Pena canal. It is 1.2 miles long, and a nice place to exercise or just enjoy the day.

El Ultimo Brinco in Rincon is a 30-foot waterfall with a small, natural swimming pool at it’s base. The only problem is there is no easy way to get to the pool – you either have to jump or climb down the rock wall. In the afternoon, there are lots of local teens playing in the falls – they showed us the best way to get to the bottom.

Puerto Rico has a long history of Indian cultures that lived here many hundreds to thousands of years ago. The most recent Indian culture, the Tainos, left many petroglyphs on rocks near rivers or in caves. The town of Jayuya has a nice example of a piedra escrita that contains many different Taino drawings.

Are you looking for a little good luck, or perhaps you just want to experience a local tradition? La Noche de San Juan, or Saint John’s Night, is celebrated annually on the night of June 23. To take part in this tradition, all you need to do is get yourself to a beach, be prepared to stay up late and get wet. Are you ready to get lucky?

Añasco, a town just south-east of Rincon, is along the west coast of Puerto Rico and has beaches and forests to explore. We didn’t have a lots of time to spend in this area, but we did visit two points of interest. Unfortunately, I was left saddened by the state of disrepair of the places we visited.

Waterfalls are facinating — they are beautiful, powerful and natural. With the Cordillera Central that runs through the middle of the Puerto Rico, we get a lot of rain that falls on those peaks, resulting in a number of waterfalls across the island. Many of them require hiking in forests and wading rivers to get to see them. But Dona Juana Waterfall is right along the road. Can it get any easier?

Currently, the main entrance to this reserve is closed due to construction/refurbishment. However, the reserve is still open and you can get in easily and legally through the beach entrance. We expect the nature reserve main entrance and renovation to be completed in in the few months. Kayaks are still available for [...]

The Guánica State Forest & Bioshpere Reserve is a dry forest that receives only 30" of rain annually. It covers almost 1000 acres and is home to many endangered plants and wildlife. There are a number of hiking trails throughout the forest, and it is a bird-watcher’s paradise.

Once you decide to venture away from the San Juan metropolitan area, your best bet (and the cheapest way to get around) is to rent a car. You may have heard horror stories about Puerto Rican drivers, but, in reality, it is not that bad! Here are some tips to make your experience driving in Puerto Rico as painless as possible.

Some of Our Favorite Things to do With Kids

You have the little ones in tow and can't figure out what to do that might be interesting to both you and them? Here are some things to do that will be fun for everyone in the family.

Puerto Rico has many great "selling points" to attractive visitors to our shores — beaches, forests, adventure, history, food, music and friendly locals. Being an inexpensive vacation destination is not one of the island’s strong points. However, don’t be discouraged. With some careful planning, you can have a fun-filled vacation and still remain within your budget.

Get some exercise on vacation and take a tour of the San Juan area at the same time. Rent The Bicycle, in Old San Juan, offers bike rentals and guided bike tours in the Old San Juan, Condado and Piñones areas. They offer options that are great for cruise ship visitors, tourists and locals alike.

Ask anyone about what they consider a “Must See” while visiting Puerto Rico and they will most likely say Old San Juan. That is because this old historic city offers so much. There is literally something for everyone: beautiful views (great for photographers), architecture, restaurants, art, museums, shopping, history, sculptures, people-watching, music, dance, [...]

Imagine all sorts of fun, outdoor activities like swimming pools, a paint ball field, skate ramps for skateboard and in-line skates, an “inflatables” park, a rope obstacle course, go carts, pony rides, mountain bike trails and food. Now put them all together in one spot and what do you get? Moisty Skate & Family Park in Cagus, that’s what.

Take a refreshing dip in clear rain forest water. Swim under a waterfall. It sounds like a dream. But it is actually a very popular and fun thing to do during a trip to El Yunque National Forest. The waterfall is called La Mina Falls, and it can be accessed by either [...]

If you are driving along the Ruta Panorámica in the Maricao area, and you may want to check out some amazing 360° views, make a stop at La Torre de Piedra (the stone tower). Though the tower itself isn’t that tall, it sits on top of a mountain — so the views are great.

Fort San Cristobal is often considered the other fort in Old San Juan. For reasons that I can’t fathom, people flock to El Morro and rarely visit Fort San Cristobal. But they don’t know what they’re missing – it is a definitely worth a visit!

Fly from tree to tree on a zip line with La Marquesa Canopy Tours, only 30 minutes from San Juan.

Balneario El Escambron is a little beach, just outside of Old San Juan, that is part of the Blue Flag beach program. It is located in Puerta de Tierra section of town, next to the old Normandie Hotel.
Escambron is described by many as a nice family-friendly beach. It has a small crescent of [...]

Do you want to get away from the concrete jungle of San Juan or Old San Juan for a while without traveling too far? Or have a nice place to bike, run or walk that is away from traffic? Then the Parque Lineal Martí Coll or Paseo Lineal (Martí Coll Linear Park, in English) might be just what you need. This "park" is actually an elevated, 8-foot wide concrete walkway that runs along the bank of the Maria Pena canal. It is 1.2 miles long, and a nice place to exercise or just enjoy the day.

El Portal Rain Forest Center is the main visitor center in El Yunque National Forest. It features an elevated walkway through the tree tops, educational displays, a short interpretive walking trail, a deli/restaurant and a small gift shop. Though completely optional, the Forest Center is an informative stop for first-time visitors to El Yunque.

Are you looking for a little quiet culture in the heart of San Juan? Maybe something to do on a rainy or super hot day? The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico are just a few blocks apart, and they are full of interesting objects of art.

Like most people, we enjoy a bit of adventure when we travel. We heard about a new activity operator near San Juan, Green Zebra Adventures, that offers something that sounded like a cross between an ATV and go-kart activity. It looked interesting, but how different was it than your typical ATV tour? We decided to give it a try to find out.

When looking for day trips to do, I sometimes forget to look at places close to home. Luquillo is a great little town in the north east part of Puerto Rico. It is home to diverse natural beauty — both miles of beautiful beaches and acres of rain forest. It has a rich and interesting history and a decently active, modern social life. Most people assume they have "done" Luquillo if they make it to the food kiosks and Luquillo Beach, but there is a lot more for people to do and enjoy. So take some time and come explore Luquillo!

For the horse lovers in our audience, have we got a show for you. The Puerto Rican Equestrian Art School (Escuela Puertorriqueña del Arte Ecuestre) puts on a beautiful Paso Fino horse show on the first Friday of every month.

Guaynabo City has created a beautiful forest reserve of approximately 600 acres for the enjoyment of future Puerto Ricans and visitors to the island, called La Marquesa Forest Park (or Parque Forestal La Marquesa in Spanish). Take a couple hours to enjoy the natural beauty of this forest.

Once you decide to venture away from the San Juan metropolitan area, your best bet (and the cheapest way to get around) is to rent a car. You may have heard horror stories about Puerto Rican drivers, but, in reality, it is not that bad! Here are some tips to make your experience driving in Puerto Rico as painless as possible.

El Vigia Cross (La Cruceta del Vigi­a ) is a 100-foot tall cross-shaped observation tower, located on top of Vigia Hill in Ponce. It is directly behind the Serralles Castle museum.
The Cross is a 10-story vertical tower that has a glass elevator. It takes you up to the [...]

The typical visitor to Old San Juan visits the major "touristy" historical sites in the old city, including the forts (El Morro and San Cristobal), La Princesa, La Forteleza, and the Cathedral, to name a few. In fact, our 3-part walking tour will guide you past all of these places.
But there are a number of [...]

The Guajataca Forest in Isabela is in the karst region of Puerto Rico and the landscape and plant life is totally different than what we are used to seeing in the north-east of the island. I thought the best part about this forest is exploring Cueva del Viento (Cave of the Wind).

Pinones mangrove forest (Bosque de Pinones) offers a unique experience for tourists and locals alike. We find that almost no matter what we like doing, we can find it and spend an enjoyable day or evening in this area.
Even though this area is located just east of the airport and Isla Verde, [...]

The Cabo Rojo area, in the south-west part of Puerto Rico, offers many opportunities for nature and beach-lovers. Combate Beach and Balneario Boquerón are two of the beaches in the area that provide the backdrop for a great day at the beach.

Have you ever wanted to soar above the mountains and trees under your own power like a bird? You can do just that during your vacation in Puerto Rico on a Tandem Discovery Flight with Team Spirit Hang Gliding. It’s really cool!

A French coffee hacienda in Puerto Rico – what a surprise! The Old Labadie House (aka the Palacete los Moreau) is located in the town of Moca, in the north-west part of Puerto Rico. This lovely, old house has been turned into a museum, and they offer great, informative tours about the house and the people who lived there. What a wonderful piece of Puerto Rican history and a local treasure. I really thought it was worth a visit.

There are three bioluminescent bays (bio-bays) in Puerto Rico. One in the SouthWest – "La Parguera", one on Vieques – "Mosquito Bay", and the one in Fajardo – "La Laguna Grande". Out of all three, Mosquito Bay is the brightest, and La Parguera is the least bright. La Laguna Grande [...]

If you like a little excitement while on your vacation, you can take a trip to Hacienda Carabali. This 600 acre facility, located in the foothills of the El Yunque National Forest, offers a wide range of activities. They have horseback riding, ATV, mountain bikes and go carts to get your [...]

The Cemi Museum (Museo El Cemi, in Spanish) in Jayuya is a visitor center for the area and a showcase of Taino artifacts. The leaders of Jayuya wanted to preserve and educate about the Taino culture, so they opened this odd-shaped museum in 1989.

Are you looking for a little good luck, or perhaps you just want to experience a local tradition? La Noche de San Juan, or Saint John’s Night, is celebrated annually on the night of June 23. To take part in this tradition, all you need to do is get yourself to a beach, be prepared to stay up late and get wet. Are you ready to get lucky?

Traveling with kids changes everything. You need to find a place where there are things that everyone in the family can enjoy. Luckily, you are planning to visit Puerto Rico where there are many activities for every member of your family. We’ve put together this list with families and convenience in mind. All of these activities are within about a 1-hour drive of the San Juan area.

A baseball game in Puerto Rico is an economical and fun evening. Every winter, baseball heats up on the island. Not only do we have local players on the teams, but some of the US league players come down to keep in shape and play in their off-season. So, if you are having baseball withdrawal, you can catch a game while you’re here — it can be a lot of fun.

The Luis A. Ferré Science Park in Bayamón houses an eclectic collection of attractions — a Planetarium, a Zoo, an Observation Tower and museums ranging from Natural History, to Transportation, to Telecommunication, to Archeology, among others. It’s an enjoyable way to spend a few hours of vacation.

There are a number of beaches in the Luquillo that will suit most people — a protected cove, some snorkeling, boogie boarding and surfing beaches. Take your beach blanket, beach chairs and cooler, and have a great day in the sun.

Playita del Condado is a small, public beach located on Ashford Avenue next to the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Condado Lagoon, it has shallow, calm water, a golden sand beach, rinse showers, and beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent.

Caguas is a wonderful small city, just 20 minutes south of San Juan, that offers many things to do for visitors. One of those things is La Ruta del Corazón Criollo (the Route to the Heart of Creole). It is a self-guided walking tour to 12 museums and places of interest, all within a few blocks around the town square. These museums provide visitors some insight into the history of Caguas and Creole.

I enjoy visiting Ponce because it is an old city that has a lot to offer. But the city of Ponce is spread out over a large area, so walking around the city to see everything can be overwhelming for a first-time visitor. Luckily, Ponce offers a trolley tour that takes you around the city [...]

Some really nice SCUBA diving and snorkeling in Puerto Rico is in the Luis Pena Reserve on Culebra. We recently went diving with Taz from Aquatic Adventures and had some great dives. An added bonus is that he is able to work around the Fajardo ferry schedule, making this an easy day-trip to do for people staying on the "big island".

Take a snorkel/kayak trip with Kayaking Puerto Rico and learn all about the different ecosystems in the northeast corner of Puerto Rico, both above and below the water. They offer trips for all levels of experience, from beginner to experienced kayakers and snorkelers. I think it’s a great way to spend a half-day getting close to nature on your vacation.

Puerto Rico has a long history of Indian cultures that lived here many hundreds to thousands of years ago. The most recent Indian culture, the Tainos, left many petroglyphs on rocks near rivers or in caves. The town of Jayuya has a nice example of a piedra escrita that contains many different Taino drawings.

If you can tear yourself away from the beautiful beaches on Vieques, and want to explore, you can make a quick stop at the wonderfully restored Count Mirasol Fort (or Fortin Conde de Mirasol in Spanish) high above the town of Isabel II. In addition to the view, it offers art exhibits and a nice museum of Vieques artifacts. The view alone is well worth the admission price!

Waterfalls are facinating — they are beautiful, powerful and natural. With the Cordillera Central that runs through the middle of the Puerto Rico, we get a lot of rain that falls on those peaks, resulting in a number of waterfalls across the island. Many of them require hiking in forests and wading rivers to get to see them. But Dona Juana Waterfall is right along the road. Can it get any easier?

Some Ideas for Visitors on a Budget

The current economic situation is on everyone's mind these days. But the economy is no reason to think that you have to cancel your plans to travel. There are many things that you can do in Puerto Rico for free, or almost for free. Here's a list of some of our favorites.

Do you want to get away from the concrete jungle of San Juan or Old San Juan for a while without traveling too far? Or have a nice place to bike, run or walk that is away from traffic? Then the Parque Lineal Martí Coll or Paseo Lineal (Martí Coll Linear Park, in English) might be just what you need. This "park" is actually an elevated, 8-foot wide concrete walkway that runs along the bank of the Maria Pena canal. It is 1.2 miles long, and a nice place to exercise or just enjoy the day.

So you decided to spend some time exploring Old San Juan? You will not be disappointed! The old city is a small area, only 7 square blocks. But there is so much to do and see in that small area that you can spend days there and never see everything. Or if you [...]

Until recently, the only way to access any of the bioluminescent lagoons in Puerto Rico was either in a kayak or aboard a boat. But now there is another alternative! The Fideicomiso de Conservación de Puerto Rico now offers night-time walking tours of Las Cabezas Nature Reserve and Laguna Grande.

For the real Puerto Rican local market experience, head to Rio Piedras. There, you will find a large indoor Mercado de Rio Piedras (Rio Piedras Market) and blocks of outdoor sidewalk shopping where the locals go to shop!

The Salinas de Cabo Rojo, or salt flats, is an active salt-mining operation in Cabo Rojo. This operation is part of the 1800-acre National Wildlife Refuge, which is a mecca for bird-watching along the many walking and biking trails. And it’s right down the road from the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse.

Carnival — the word itself conjures up images of festivals and fun from around the world! And Puerto Rico is no exception. Almost every town holds a carnival — some big, some small. No matter what the size, you can always count on finding music, dancing and food. Carnival will be held in Rio Grande from June 30 – July 4. Stop by and take part in the fun!

Pinones mangrove forest (Bosque de Pinones) offers a unique experience for tourists and locals alike. We find that almost no matter what we like doing, we can find it and spend an enjoyable day or evening in this area.
Even though this area is located just east of the airport and Isla Verde, [...]

If you are in the Luquillo area and enjoy seeing unusual artwork, a quick stop at Saint Joseph’s Church in Luquillo is worth a visit. Its old and lovely facade holds a rare treasure inside — some of the most beautiful wood carvings. While wood carvings are not unusual for a Catholic church, these ones are — they combine Catholic religious presentations, with nature and symbols from other cultures and religions. This is one of those rare and pleasant finds!

For reasons that I can’t figure out, of the trails right along Road 191 in El Yunque National Forest, La Coca Trail is seemingly unknown. It is as if someone found out how beautiful it is and decided to keep it a secret! We invested some time and effort in hiking this trail, and were handsomely rewarded with rivers, waterfalls and swimming pools galore!

The El Yunque National Forest is a large, lush and interesting place to visit. It easy to see the beauty, but to really know about the rain forest, an educational guided tour is great. The Federal Forest Rangers offer “Rent-a-Ranger” or “Forest Adventure Tours”, that are hour-long educational walks designed to teach [...]

If you love ice cream and exotic flavors, you need to visit Heladeria Lares, located on the town square in Lares. They have home-made ice cream in flavors like rice & beans, garlic, corn, pumpkin and cod fish (to name a few). Most are tasty. Some are just bizarre. For the faint of heart, they also have "safe" flavors like vanilla and chocolate.

The Guánica State Forest & Bioshpere Reserve is a dry forest that receives only 30" of rain annually. It covers almost 1000 acres and is home to many endangered plants and wildlife. There are a number of hiking trails throughout the forest, and it is a bird-watcher’s paradise.

El Portal Rain Forest Center is the main visitor center in El Yunque National Forest. It features an elevated walkway through the tree tops, educational displays, a short interpretive walking trail, a deli/restaurant and a small gift shop. Though completely optional, the Forest Center is an informative stop for first-time visitors to El Yunque.

If you are a sun worshiper, a beach lover or snorkel fanatic, I don’t think a trip to Puerto Rico would be complete without a trip to Culebra. It can be done as a day trip or stay for longer (there are a few hundred hotel rooms and vacation rentals available).
Culebra is an [...]

The Luquillo kiosks (or kioskos) are a much loved part of Puerto Rico. This long row of humble (think almost ramshackle) buildings are right on Route 3 along the beach in Luquillo. But don’t let their appearance discourage you — stop in and you will be in for an experience that is uniquely Puerto Rican.

The Cemi Museum (Museo El Cemi, in Spanish) in Jayuya is a visitor center for the area and a showcase of Taino artifacts. The leaders of Jayuya wanted to preserve and educate about the Taino culture, so they opened this odd-shaped museum in 1989.

Puerto Rico has a long history of Indian cultures that lived here many hundreds to thousands of years ago. The most recent Indian culture, the Tainos, left many petroglyphs on rocks near rivers or in caves. The town of Jayuya has a nice example of a piedra escrita that contains many different Taino drawings.

If you want to be part of a local experience, get up early on a Friday and head to the San Sebastian Market. I guess I would call it a large flea market or farmers market, since it had a little bit of everything. The market is located on the Centro Agropecuario grounds. It has slots for over 340 tables inside the grounds and, of course, there are other people selling things outside in the parking lot.

We were at the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse a couple weeks ago and the panoramic views were simply magnificent. I was surprised to see one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen in Puerto Rico. We asked the lighthouse ranger about the beach and, he said lovingly, “Oh – the jacuzzi? That is La Playuela”.

If you like natural swimming pools, Charco Azul (blue pond, in English) is one of Puerto Rico’s most famous ones. Located in the middle of the Carite Forest, about 10 minutes up the road from the lechnarias in the Guavate region of Cayey, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic and swimming.

Caguas is a wonderful small city, just 20 minutes south of San Juan, that offers many things to do for visitors. One of those things is La Ruta del Corazón Criollo (the Route to the Heart of Creole). It is a self-guided walking tour to 12 museums and places of interest, all within a few blocks around the town square. These museums provide visitors some insight into the history of Caguas and Creole.

I am always looking for ways to save some money, especially on vacation, and I thought that I would share this with our readers. The San Juan edition of the Entertainment Book is filled with 50% discount coupons for restaurants and activities across Puerto Rico.

Once you decide to venture away from the San Juan metropolitan area, your best bet (and the cheapest way to get around) is to rent a car. You may have heard horror stories about Puerto Rican drivers, but, in reality, it is not that bad! Here are some tips to make your experience driving in Puerto Rico as painless as possible.

Puerto Rico has many great "selling points" to attractive visitors to our shores — beaches, forests, adventure, history, food, music and friendly locals. Being an inexpensive vacation destination is not one of the island’s strong points. However, don’t be discouraged. With some careful planning, you can have a fun-filled vacation and still remain within your budget.

The Le-Lo-Lai Festival is a wonderful cultural program of traditional music and dance, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
The Festival consists of 3 different performances, showcasing different dances and music of the island and its heritage. These shows are free of cost and are amazingly high quality. They are offered [...]

One of nature’s gifts to us are waterfalls. Power and beauty at the same time. Here is another easy-to-find waterfall in the central/west region of Puerto Rico. Salto Collazo is located in San Sebastian, right along a bridge on the main road as you are going east out of town. It’s impossible to miss, and oh so pretty.

Biking on the boardwalk in Piñones is a favorite activity of locals and tourists alike. It’s just minutes from Isla Verde, and it has bike paths go along the beach and through the mangrove forest, where the views are fantastic.

Looking for a nice off the beaten path way to spend a weekend afternoon? You can hop in the car and head to Lago Dos Bocas toward the center of the island, where you can enjoy a free boat ride around the lake or, to make a longer day out of it, go to one of the lakeside restaurants and enjoy drinks or a meal while admiring the views.

We found a cute secluded beach, just a short 25-minute walk from Seven Seas Balneario in Fajardo, called Playa Colora.

A French coffee hacienda in Puerto Rico – what a surprise! The Old Labadie House (aka the Palacete los Moreau) is located in the town of Moca, in the north-west part of Puerto Rico. This lovely, old house has been turned into a museum, and they offer great, informative tours about the house and the people who lived there. What a wonderful piece of Puerto Rican history and a local treasure. I really thought it was worth a visit.

The Guajataca Forest, in the karst region of Puerto Rico, has 25 miles of trails within its boundaries. Most people will only use 2 of these trails: the Interpretive Trail and the trail to the Cueva del Viento. One can spend an hour or so exploring the Interpretive Trail and learn about what makes this part of the island unique.

Imagine all sorts of fun, outdoor activities like swimming pools, a paint ball field, skate ramps for skateboard and in-line skates, an “inflatables” park, a rope obstacle course, go carts, pony rides, mountain bike trails and food. Now put them all together in one spot and what do you get? Moisty Skate & Family Park in Cagus, that’s what.

If you take a trip to the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park, you can learn about the people who lived in Puerto Rico (or Boriken as they called it) prior to the arrival of the Spanish. In this a small area, archaeologists have uncovered many artifacts, petroglyphs and a number of stone-lined areas. Many years later, after further excavations, research and preservation, this area is said to be one of the most important Taino-culture archaeological sites in the Antilles today.

The Cabo Rojo area, in the south-west part of Puerto Rico, offers many opportunities for nature and beach-lovers. Combate Beach and Balneario Boquerón are two of the beaches in the area that provide the backdrop for a great day at the beach.

El Yunque National Forest has a lot more to explore besides the forest along Road 191. If you have a little extra time and want to get a little more rain forest immersion, you can take a short drive up Road 186, above the El Verde area in Rio Grande, and find a hidden waterfall just steps from the road.

To really see Puerto Rico, you need to get out and explore. Whether you are in port for the day with a cruise ship or you’ve flown in for a couple weeks, renting a car is a great way to get around. There are loads of agencies that have all types of cars and vans, so even with a large family, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs.

You might think that all beaches in Puerto Rico are the same. If you do, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Every beach has something different that makes it special, so you will want to visit a few different beaches during your time on the island. If you are looking for a nice light [...]

The Central American and Caribbean Games have been held every 4 years since 1926. This year, the 21st Central American and Caribbean games will be held in Puerto Rico, officially in the town of Mayaguez. Opening ceremonies are July 17 and closing ceremonies are August 1, 2010. Athletes representing 31 countries from around the Caribbean and Central American region will be participating. Many events have free admission.

With all the talk of the economy and the recession, it’s always helpful to find a way to save some money on vacation. Order the 2010 Puerto Rico Entertainment Book and you’ll be able to find 50% off and 2-for-1 discounts at lots of restaurants, attractions and services across the island.

We recently had the opportunity to re-visit the biobay in La Parguera, after having visited it for the first time 18 years ago. The health of this biobay has declined immensely, to the point of the biobay glow being hardly noticeable. But they still take people out into the biobay nightly. If nothing else, it’s a cheap nighttime boat ride.

Some Ideas for More Adventurous Visitors

Are you daring? Do you like to live on the edge? Here are some activities that are sure to get your adreline pumping! We've personally done each of these. They're all exciting, safe and, most importantly, fun!

Imagine all sorts of fun, outdoor activities like swimming pools, a paint ball field, skate ramps for skateboard and in-line skates, an “inflatables” park, a rope obstacle course, go carts, pony rides, mountain bike trails and food. Now put them all together in one spot and what do you get? Moisty Skate & Family Park in Cagus, that’s what.

In the past, if you wanted to go ziplining here in Puerto Rico you had to go to the Río Abajo Forest, Toro Negro Forest or La Marquesa Forest. In March 2009, Yunke Zipline Adventure opened for business in the foothills of El Yunque National Forest close to many areas that are on most visitors’ must do list.

If you’re looking for an exciting way to see Old San Juan, you can get a tour of the 400-year old city from a different angle — on a Jet Ski. Aquatica offers a Jet Ski Pirate Tour that is wet and wild, and combines some history and a lot of fun. We did this a few weeks ago and it was a blast!

Have you ever wanted to learn to surf but never had the chance? People staying in the north-east part of the island can easily get a private surfing lesson without having to travel very far. Bob Roberts, a NSSIA-certified surfing instructor, offers lessons right in the Luquillo area. He can have you catching a wave long before your vacation is over.

Rocaliza’s Half-Day El Salto Adventure in the Carite rain forest crams a whole-day of hiking, waterfall climbing and ziplining into a half-day excursion. It’s perfect for cruise ship visitors or other people who don’t want to spend a full day on an adventure excursion.

A few years ago, Scuba Diving Magazine readers voted Puerto Rico as one of the Top 20 Overall Dive Destinations in the Caribbean. I have done a number of dives here over the past few years and I had yet to encounter a Top 20 -type dive. We were heading out west and I hoped to find one of those WOW dives at Desecheo Island. I was not disappointed.

What do you get when you cross scavenger hunts with GPS technology? The "sport" called Geocaching. You can grab your GPS unit and try to find one of the 350 treasures hidden around Puerto Rico. You may be pleasantly surprised by what else you discover about the island during your hunt.

Acampa offers a day-long adventure in the Toro Negro Rainforest that includes hiking, swimming, waterfall-climbing and zip lines. We recently took this trip and had a blast!

Being a rain forest, there are plenty of rivers that come down from El Yunque. Over many years, the rushing waters have made some of these river rocks into natural playgrounds, complete with pools and water slides. There is a place in Luquillo called Las Paylas (or Las Pailas) were the rocks in this river are real smooth and make for some really fun slides.

During a recent trip to the south-west part of the island, we found some diving that I would highly recommend. That region is home to "the Wall" and the diving was great! We went wall diving at La Parguera with West Divers, and I thought it was the best diving we have seen on PR.

Tropical Trail Rides ATV Tours at Hacienda Campo Rico is located just a few minutes from San Juan, and yet it feels like a world away. Hacienda Campo Rico is a 2,200 acre "ranch" so the ATVs have loads of trails. They go through fields and forests, up and down hills and through mud puddles. And then you get to explore a cave filled with bats and more. It was a ton of fun!

Tropical Trail Rides recently opened a new horseback riding excursion in Hacienda Campo Rico, just outside of San Juan. We recently had the opportunity to go on a horseback outing with them in their new location and we had a lot of fun.

If you like a little excitement while on your vacation, you can take a trip to Hacienda Carabali. This 600 acre facility, located in the foothills of the El Yunque National Forest, offers a wide range of activities. They have horseback riding, ATV, mountain bikes and go carts to get your [...]

The Carite Forest is located just up the road from the Guavate area in Cayey. The forest encompasses over 6000 acres and is maintained by the Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales as a recreation area. The forest has some nice picnic and camping areas, some great natural pools and waterfalls.

With names like Domes, Steps, Spanish Wall, Pools and Indicators, Rincon boasts miles of beaches. Some of the beaches are suitable for swimming. Others have world-class surfing conditions. And most are perfect for watching the sunset. So, grab a map or a GPS unit and start looking for your perfect beach.

Some really nice SCUBA diving and snorkeling in Puerto Rico is in the Luis Pena Reserve on Culebra. We recently went diving with Taz from Aquatic Adventures and had some great dives. An added bonus is that he is able to work around the Fajardo ferry schedule, making this an easy day-trip to do for people staying on the "big island".

When looking for day trips to do, I sometimes forget to look at places close to home. Luquillo is a great little town in the north east part of Puerto Rico. It is home to diverse natural beauty — both miles of beautiful beaches and acres of rain forest. It has a rich and interesting history and a decently active, modern social life. Most people assume they have "done" Luquillo if they make it to the food kiosks and Luquillo Beach, but there is a lot more for people to do and enjoy. So take some time and come explore Luquillo!

Fly from tree to tree on a zip line with La Marquesa Canopy Tours, only 30 minutes from San Juan.

Here is another fun adventure made possible by the rivers that flow down from El Yunque. The Río Fajardo in Ceiba offers two types of fun — mild or rugged. For the mild type of nature lovers, there is Charco Frio, which is a series of pools in the river that you can enjoy cooling off in on a hot day. The rugged part is Las Tinajas, which, after a hike in, has a rope swing, a little rock water slide, pretty waterfalls, river views and some nice pools to enjoy.

There are a number of small islands and cays off the coast of Fajardo with beautiful white-sand beaches, fringed by reefs with abundant marine life. Imagine spending a half-day piloting a mini-boat to these beaches and snorkeling in the open ocean. You can do just that on the new Island Hop & Snorkel Guided Mini Boat Tour offered by Kayaking Puerto Rico.

What is vacation for if not to try different things and experience something new? If you are the adventurous type, Rocaliza offers an excursion along El Salto river in the Carite rain forest that includes hiking, rappelling & ziplines.

We live on the north side of El Yunque National Forest, and I am pretty familiar with most of the trails and things to see in the rain forest in our area. But I have been on a quest to get to see the petroglyphs located in Rio Blanco on the south side of El Yunque for a long time. We were finally able to find them, along with swimming holes and a water fall.

Like most people, we enjoy a bit of adventure when we travel. We heard about a new activity operator near San Juan, Green Zebra Adventures, that offers something that sounded like a cross between an ATV and go-kart activity. It looked interesting, but how different was it than your typical ATV tour? We decided to give it a try to find out.

Whether you have just a couple of hours or a couple of days, there are plenty of things to keep you busy and entertained in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. From the rain forest to beaches to biobays, we’ve put together a list of activities sorted by the amount of time you need to do each.

Have you ever wanted to soar above the mountains and trees under your own power like a bird? You can do just that during your vacation in Puerto Rico on a Tandem Discovery Flight with Team Spirit Hang Gliding. It’s really cool!