Travel Guide
River Fun at La Represa and Salto la Cabra in San Germán
San Germán is a lovely town. There are lots of historic buildings, beautiful mountains and great waterfalls along the Río Cain. We have already checked out some waterfalls upriver, so this time we visited the lower falls, called Salto la Cabra, and La Represa. These spots have relatively easy access, and we had the place to ourselves. Totally worth the trip!
Visit a Pine Forest in Jayuya
High up in the mountains of Jayuya a pine forest grows. Pine trees are not that usual in Puerto Rico, and for that reason this small bosque los pinos is an interesting place. It is a "quick visit", and it offers some great photo ops that you won't get elsewhere on the island.
Jayuya Charcos: La Peseta, El Pescao and El Marin
Jayuya is a beautiful town, located in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico. Getting there requires driving on some of the curviest roads on the island (pot holes too)! But there is so much to do there, it is a worthwhile endeavor. While in the town, we had a few minutes to check out some pretty waterfalls and pools in the Caricaboa River (though some people say it is in Río Veguita). Someone made a nice path down to the river, where you will find a set of beautiful Charcas: La Peseta, El Pescao and El Marin. So pretty - they are definitely worth a visit.
Step Back in Time at Hacienda Los Maldonado
Hacienda Los Maldonado is a family run "museum", offering a glimpse into the earlier times of Puerto Rico. The Maldonado family has set up various buildings, featuring the jíbaro (country people), the indigenous culture, and the Spanish and African history of Puerto Rico. It is a world (and about 80 years) away from the hustle and bustle of modern times.
Don Q Rum Tour in Ponce
If you enjoy rum like we do, you should know that Puerto Rico is full of rum distilleries and rum tours. One of the newer rum tours available provides the opportunity to explore the oldest Puerto Rican rum, Don Q! Find out why rums produced by Don Q are the best selling rums in Puerto Rico. While the tour is not of the actual distillery, they have created an interesting tour, which takes you from the beginning of the Serrallés story to the newest Don Q rum offerings. And it is a mixology tour, so you get to make (and drink) a few delicious drinks.
Tunnel of Rincon - A Drainage Culvert that Makes Nice Pix!
Back when sugar production was a thriving industry in Puerto Rico, there was a railroad system that circled most of the island. Though the railroad is gone, there are some reminders of that by-gone era. In the Rincon area, there are a number of "tunnels" whose purpose was to divert rainwater away from the railroad tracks so that the tracks didn't wash out. Today, those "tunnels" serve a different purpose - Instagram-ready photo spots!
Taste Locally Made Artisan Rums at Destilería Coquí
Destilería Coquí is the largest artisanal rum distillery in Puerto Rico, and yet not a ton of people know about their products, or even their name! But that will change as they grow and expand their business and product line. Luckily for us, they offer a tour of their facility, with samples of their products, so we can get to know them. Here, they explain about this family-owned company, how they handcraft their rum, and how they use locally-sourced products in the process. Agrotourism! Not only was the tour interesting and delicious, we had a load of laughs with the guide.
Discover the Salto Quebrada Grande in Mayagüez
I was headed out west in Puerto Rico for a few days, so I did some research to find my favorite things … waterfalls. I have been told by many Mayagüez locals that there aren't any waterfalls there, but I had found a couple videos from years ago that showed one in the Caño Majagual stream, so I was on a quest! With a little effort, I found not one but two waterfalls, and the whole place was really nice and lush! I am very surprised more people don't know about it! So I will share what I found.
Love Chocolate? Have Some Hands-on Delicious Fun
Montadero Chocolate in Caguas offers a delicious, fun, and informative chocolate class, during which you make your own chocolate bars! They are a family-run "Bean to Bar" chocolate company, which means that they do all the elaboration of the dry cacao beans to make their products. They are artisanal chocolatiers, producing handmade chocolate that emphasizes quality over quantity. Better yet, they use only 100% Puerto Rico cacao beans, from some award-winning cacao farms here on the island, thereby supporting the island's agrotourism industry.
Finca Vista Bella - More Than a Vineyard!
Finca Vista Bella, located high up in the mountains of Utuado, is a family-run farm where the owners had a dream to start a vineyard … so they did! Though the climate in Puerto Rico is not ideal for growing grapes, they can be grown with enough planning and determination. You can visit the farm for a tour, wine tasting, or a delicious meal. The owners treat you like family - "sit and have a glass of wine". A visit to the farm is a very enjoyable afternoon.
Unleash Your Inner Artist at San Juan Paint & Sip
Are you in the mood to let your inner artist free? There is a fun place now in the heart of Old San Juan to relax and enjoy a fun and artistic experience — San Juan Paint & Sip. This is a 2-hour painting "class", that requires no prior painting experience. They provide everything you need in order to be the artist you always knew you were. And the drinks loosen up your paintbrush and get your creative juices flowing! It is a fun couple hours where you bond with your fellow "artists".
Things To Do On a Rainy Day
Rainy days on vacation can be a bummer. Puerto Rico is usually blessed with pretty great weather all year, so most activities are open air, which makes it not so easy to find indoor things to do. But don’t fret, all is not lost. Here are a few activities that you can do to make you forget the rain/bad weather.
Do a Little Rock Scramble in Quebradillas to Get Some Great Photos!
There is one beach in Quebradillas that will give you two pretty "mini-adventures" in one spot. La Ventana de Quebradillas (The Window) and la Piedra con Escalera (the Rock with a Ladder) are both located on the same beach. They offer great views and photo-ops, but do require a little effort, so these are not for everyone. But if you like a little rock scrambling, this mini-adventure is right for you!
Enjoy Views of San Cristobal Canyon via the Vereda Suñé
If you like to walk and enjoy nature, a walk at one of the trails of the Reserva Natural del Cañón San Cristóbal might be just for you. Para La Naturaleza has opened some of its protected nature areas for public use. One of the trails in Barranquitas, the Vereda Suñé, is a nice short walk to a scenic view point (mirador) overlooking a distant waterfall and the San Cristobal Canyon.
Zip Above the Water on an E-Foil - The Newest Watersport Craze!
They say E-Foil is the newest watersport craze, and as soon as I saw this thing, I knew I had to try it! I would describe an E-Foil as an electric-powered, flying boogieboard/surfboard. I took a 1-hour Lift E-Foil Discovery Lesson with SeaKindly Foil School in Old San Juan. In this class they teach you the basics, like board safety, how to get up on the board, and a little about speed control. You need an advanced class to actually get to "flying" over the water on the E-Foil, but just standing on the board and zipping around was pretty fun! There is also an PR Surf Adventures E-Foil company out in Aguadilla, if you are out that way.
Water Sports, North, Old San Juan, West, Adventure, Cruise Ship
Take the Kids to Enjoy “El Dorado” Agropark
If you are in Dorado and looking for somewhere for the kids to burn off some energy, head over to El Dorado Agropark, aka Gran Parque Agroturístico Ecologico Recreativo. This large park has a load of green areas, and some playgrounds for the kids to enjoy.
Take a Short Walk to a Historic Train Tunnel
Túnel de Guajataca in Isabela is a very well know tourist destination. It was part of the old train system that carried people, sugar cane, and the mail, and ran around a good part of the island. However, there is another, lesser known train tunnel called Túnel Negr (or Túnel Obscura or the Dark Tunnel) that you can visit which is very close by in Quebradillas.
Fly Above the Beach on a Paramotor Tandem Flight
If you are looking for an fun flying experience, you should look into paramotoring. Since flying an paramotor involves a lot of training, you can go tandem with an experienced instructor/pilot and just enjoy the flying without any work! We had seen videos and photos of the experience, and we knew wanted to try it!
Discoveries In Cayey's Town Plaza
Cayey is a pretty town in the east central area of Puerto Rico. The town was officially founded in 1773, though people lived there long before that. Back in the day, the town plazas across the island were the main place for people to meet, shop, worship, do business - basically the center of activity. As in most towns, Cayey's main church is located on the plaza, where you will see the beautiful Spanish Colonial style Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. The original plaza was built between 1850 and 1853.
Experience a Black Sand Beach in Maunabo
Black Sand beaches are so exotic to discover, and Puerto Rico is blessed with a number of them. One of the easiest to get to is Playa Los Bohios, located in Maunabo. Called Playa Negra or Playa Arena Negra in Spanish, these black sand beaches are rare and so worth a trip to experience them. Maunabo is on the south east coast of Puerto Rico, about 60-90 minutes from the San Juan area.
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