Travel Guide
River Fun in El Yunque at Charco La Barrigona
This lovely swimming hole is easy to get to and not too crowded. Right near El Yunque, it is refreshing fun!
Chocolate Love at Finca de Cacao La PruVite
Cacao is one of the newest agricultural crops here in Puerto Rico, and we enjoy going on cacao farm tours and learning about the origins of chocolate. Finca de Cacao La PruVite, located in Luquillo, offers a tasty, educational tour of a small, family-run, organic cacao farm. The owner, Virgen Torres, grows her cacao trees from seeds, nurtures them to fruiting size, and then uses every part of the harvested fruit. She personally gave us a tour of the family farm, and an explanation of the whole process she uses to turn the cacao beans into chocolate. Unsurprisingly, we fell in love with all her home-made artisanal chocolate products.
Foodie, Nature, Tour, East, Budget, Off Beaten Path, With Kids
Mar Sin Barreras - Accommodating Special Needs in Luquillo
Just because Puerto Rico is surrounded by water doesn't mean everyone can enjoy the beach. Oftentimes, people with mobility issues or other special needs are excluded from enjoying the simple things that most of us take for granted. That changes now! Mar Sin Barreras (or Sea Without Barriers) recently reopened in Luquillo to provide increased beach and ocean accessibility to residents and tourists with disabilities.
El Portal de El Yunque Visitor Center & Walking Trails
El Portal de El Yunque is the main visitor and information center in El Yunque National Forest. It features an elevated walkway through the tree tops, educational displays, a short wheelchair-friendly interpretive trail, a short interpretive walking trail through the lower forest, a counter-service restaurant, and a small gift shop. Though completely optional, the visitor center is an informative stop for first-time visitors to El Yunque National Forest.
Hiking, Museum, Nature, Rain Forest, East, North, Budget, With Kids
Check Out this Odd Pyramid in Aguada
The Pyramid of Aguada (or Piramide de Aguada, in Spanish) is one of those things that are not a must-see, but it keep popping up on social media sites. It fun to check out if you are in the area. The owner of this property (Nelson Ruiz) was so inspired by the Mayan pyramids, that he decided to create a small replica on his property. The property is just off the main road in Aguada, so it is easy to get to. It is a very easy, quick stop to enjoy on your way to other sites in the area
Enjoy Nature Free to Grow at the Ceiba de la Libertad
This Ceiba tree was planted on 18 February 1898 as part of a large celebration to commemorate the 1897 Autonomous Charter granted by the Spanish government to Puerto Rico, which gave Puerto Rico the right to self govern their local affairs. The tree was planted high above the town, on Cerro De La Libertad (Freedom Hill). It makes a nice stop if you are in San Germán doing something else.
Check Out Tiny Peña Blanca Beach
Aguadilla, on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico, has a number of great beaches — some big, and some small. Peña Blanca Beach (Playa Peña Blanca) is one of the very small ones. This tiny beach is located at the end of a small road, in a community. It is a beautiful spot, but it is no longer a secret. To me, it is WAY more popular than the beach can accommodate. Don’t get me wrong, I really like this beach, but you need to know what to expect!
Sample Locally -Brewed Beer at Brew!!! Taller Experimental
Small breweries producing craft beers is the rage everywhere, and Puerto Rico is no exception. We have our own growing, locally-crafted beer scene. There are a few larger craft breweries on the island, but there are also a number of micro-breweries really making some good beer. Dragon Stone Abbey Brewery is making its mark in Belgian-inspired ales. Their micro-brewery and taproom (called Brew!!! Taller Experimental) is located right in my home town of Río Grande! It is a great place to grab a great beer after the beach or hike in the rainforest!
Learn About Rum Making at Scryer Rum in Old San Juan
I love Old San Juan for so many reasons, and now we have found another reason – the Scryer Rum Bar & Barrelhouse! This cute little bar is more than that, it is actually part of the aging facility for Scryer Rum. They offer a quick, educational tour with tastings, they make some great drinks, and they also have a fun roof-top dining experience. Check it out!
Venture Out to Santa Clara Waterfall
If you are looking for a waterfall that is off the beaten path, a little difficult to get to, but so worth the effort, then Salto Santa Clara might be for you. Everything about this place impressed me – the trail was well-maintained, the surrounding area was clean, and the waterfall was large! All in all, not easy but this this is an excellent adventure!
Dare To Go To the Infinity Pool in Carite Forest
There are a few infinity pools in Puerto Rico. This particular one is in Patillas, in the Carite Forest. There are a couple different ways to get to this infinity pool, and neither are easy - so this adventure is not for everyone. But once you do get to the part of the rive where the pools are located, the view is spectacular!
Hiking, Nature, Central, East, Adventure, Budget, Off Beaten Path
Explore El Saltillo & Nearby Waterfalls
San Sebastian is famous for some of its waterfalls, like Gozalandia Falls and Salto Collazo. But there is another, lesser known, one called El Saltillo. This waterfall is a bit more of an adventure to find, but worth it! And, right along the trail, there is a side trip to other even lesser known falls. It is not an easy hike, nor a clean one, but we had a ball exploring the rivers there!
Monte Pirata Ecological Park - MTB & Hiking
I have found that mountain bike (MTB) trails lead to some amazing places. Monte Pirate is no exception! I first found out about this park after seeing a photo of the church. We went exploring and were amazed at what we found. It is a great place for photographers, biking, walking or just exploring.
Hiking, Maps, Nature, West, Adventure, Budget, Off Beaten Path, With Kids
Hiking & River Fun at Charco El Pilon in San Germán
If you love hiking and waterfalls, then this is for you! San Germán has a number of neat things to do/see, and this one is high on our list. There is a well-maintained trail to a waterfall that goes through some forest and the river. It is varied enough to be interesting, but not too difficult, so almost any able-bodied person can do it. And as an added feature, for those really daring/adventurous, climb up and over to get to Charco La Iglesia, a beautiful slot canyon.
Hiking, Nature, Water Sports, West, Adventure, Budget, Off Beaten Path, With Kids
Closed- Casa Doña Bisa - A Wonderful Surprise
After seeing a photo of the Casa Doña Bisa (or the San Sebastian Museum of History), I had to see it in person. I am so glad we did! It is one of the prettiest and well preserved houses I have seen in Puerto Rico. The fact that they offer a free, bilingual guided tour, with docents in period costumes was the topping on the cake. It is really worth the trip!
Art, History, Museum, Rainy Day, Tour, West, Budget, Off Beaten Path, With Kids
Learn Sustainability at Earthship PR
An Earthship is "a state-of-the-art self-sustainable off-grid building", constructed with natural and recycled materials. Following the hurricanes in 2017, Earthship Biotecture Planet Earth partnered with some local folks in Aguada to construct a sample Earthship to serve as a model and "learning center" for incorporating their building concepts. You can visit the Earthship to learn about the sustainable concepts they use in their construction. And it is pretty to look at!
Painted Houses of Aguadilla - Pintalto Strikes Again!
Aguadilla, a lovely coastal town on the north west coast of Puerto Rico, is decked out in a riot of color. The large macromural, called "Amanecer Borincano" (Boriquen Sunrise) in its totality, is located on the hill (Cerro Cabrera) above Rompeolas Beach. Completed in December 2018, the work is comprised of the hill of painted houses, which each look like colorful mosaics, plus a number of actual murals painted on various walls and buildings in the area.
Cool Off in Escaleras de Cuyón Waterfall
Sometime you just have to check out some of the places you see photos of on the internet. Escaleras de Cuyón (or Charco el Chalet) is a cute little waterfall that cascades down rocks that look like steps cut into the exposed rock. But it is all natural. As it turns out, getting to these falls is an adventure in itself! Such fun and a pretty little spot.
Chocolate Grows on Trees at Hacienda Chocolat Cacao Farm
Enjoy an informative tour at Hacienda Chocolat in Fajardo (on the eastern side of El Yunque), where you will learn all about chocolate production "from bush to bean". Hacienda Chocolat is a private farm that is focused on making Puerto Rico a leader in quality cocoa production. After your tour, you will enjoy fresh fruit (grown on the farm), and sample all things chocolate. What is not to like?
Discover Beautiful San José Church in Old San Juan
San José Church (Iglesia de San José), in Old San Juan, is the second oldest church in the Americas. This beautiful church, was constructed on land given to the Church by the Ponce De León family in 1532. It was one of the first "permanent" (stone) buildings built in Puerto Rico. This church lasted almost 500 years, through hurricanes, wars, and fires, but the ravages of time eventually took its toll on the structure. In 2000, the church was closed and restoration began. This restoration took almost 20 years to finish — the church reopened to the public in March 2021.
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