Long weekend in Puerto Rico!
Best time to travel:
Puerto Rico is warm all year round. However, there is a hurricane season to consider. The best time to travel is between November - May. My personal favorite months of the year are March and April. That said, you can travel during low season if you are looking for prices to drop on flights and hotels (particularly September-October). However, keep an open mind that it is a tropical island located in an area of the Caribbean that is very propense to tropical storms and hurricanes between June-October. If there is not an announced storm during your stay those months, passing rain is not uncommon. During this, or any part of the year, it is best not to rely solely on the general weather pronostics to go on with your plans. There are many different parts of the island and while it may be raining in San Juan, Rio Grande might not be raining. Go with the flow!
Getting Around:
Puerto Rico doesn't have a good bus system, nor a metro or train. You can get around in the metropolitan area via Uber or taxis. To get to tourist sites outside the Metro area, you can purchase tours that include transportation from your hotel or one close to your airbnb. Personally, renting a car is the way to go! TIP: Be mindful on which company to choose, would recommend Target car rental, Enterprise, Charlie, Budget or any popular brand name rentals. Please, AVOID Payless or Usave at all costs!!
Choosing where to stay:
Old San Juan: The capital city is a beautiful 5-century arquitecture town. It's buildings are colorful and the structure is small and easy enough to walk through. Staying here could work for a night or two. There is no beach as the town is surrounded by a fortress and a bay.
Notable hotels to stay in Old San Juan:
Condado: Close to Old San Juan, this area has great resorts and airbnb's. Great for biking, kayaking and paddle boarding in the lagoon. The beach of Condado is not particulary a favorite amongst locals since it can be a dangerous one with strong rip currents. Best to only lounge under the sun and walk on the beach, but swim in your hotel pool.
Notable hotels in Condado:
Isla verde: Best area if you want to be by the beach. Conveniently located near the airport and reasonable rides into Old San Juan or to the east coast.
Notable hotels:
Day 1: Old San Juan & Santurce
Old San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, enriched with over 500 years of history. The city is best done on foot, since the streets are very narrow and made of cobblestones. Old Town can be done in 3-4 hours respectively. Be very mindful of the uphill/downhill streets, it is best to start in the north of the city and make your way down. When visiting Museums or National Park Landmarks such as Castillo San Felipe del Morro or San Cristobal, check the opening hours beforehand. You can explore doing a walking tour or self-guided tour using the recommendations below. Note that, walking tour guides don't go inside the forts with you, but you can explore them before or after, purchasing the ticket at the entrance.
Extras:
Restaurants / Bars:
Santurce offers a window into a colorful, free-spirited neighborhood that invites you to immerse yourself in the artistic heartbeat of the island. Located south of Condado, Santurce is enjoying a “renaissance”, including an influx of new restaurants, shops, galleries, museums, and more. Make sure to pause and admire the abundance of bright murals and street art as you stroll through this barrio. I would recommend getting into this late afternoon to nighttime to appreciate the murals, or depending on your schedule and interests you may just want to dine and take advantage of the vibrant nightlife. You don't need a tour for Santurce, but if you are an art enthusiast you and have extra time, you can consider one!
Day 2: Piñones & Loiza
Piñones is a picturesque ocean drive from Carolina to Loíza where you can enjoy local dining experiences and practice what Puerto Ricans call chinchorreo. Sample delicious specialties while you hop from food stand to food stand and go back and forth to the beach. What makes Loíza distinct from any other part of Puerto Rico is the rich African heritage that permeates its identity. A fun way to explore these areas is doing a Can-Am tour, suggestion below, or self guided. Don't miss out on taking a Bomba class!
Extra stop on the way back to San Juan:
Day 3: El Yunque National Rainforest & Luquillo
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System but it is also a sacred place in Puerto Rican culture. Today, this national treasure is an excellent destination if you want to immerse yourself in nature. From bathing in natural pools beneath waterfalls to taking in the gorgeous scenery from its many hiking trails, you can take a tour of the Rainforest with transport or check it out self-guided with your rented vehicle. Which places you visit will be reliant on the park's status and your own personal stamina. Make sure to check the El Yunque U.S. Forest website for the latest info about weather, park closures, and safety protocols. Allow 3-4 hours to explore the basics, or up to 6 hours if you plan on doing stronger trails. No reservations are required, however, there will be a limit of 200 cars at a time so if it's busy you may need to wait. Would recommend arriving early morning.
After the Rainforest, a stop at the Luquillo Beach & Kiosks is a must! Specially of you are looking to have a good meal.
Extras: You can consider doing a ATV, Horseback ride or Zipline at one of the below locations. Remember to book in advance!
Day 4: Island hop & Biobay
Some of the most beautiful beaches you will find in Puerto Rico are on the eastern islands. These are Culebra, Vieques or Icacos. To Culebra or Vieques you can take the public ferry or take an all-included snorkeling trip. If taking the public ferry, it is not only the cheapest option but can be the most difficult, check the ferry tickets online in advance and make sure to make your purchase ahead of time. If you weren't able to secure tickets, a tour will be your best choice. Most popular island for a day trip is Culebra, with world-famous Flamenco Beach. Unlike Culebra or Vieques, icacos island is unhabited. You can visit Icacos on a similar snorkeling trip or a water taxi, keep in mind there is no food on the island to buy, if you take the water taxi bring your own food. This is a nature reserve, remember to take back your trash! Some recommendations below.
After your caribbean island trip, depending on your drive or stamina to experience another unique adventure, you can head to a tour of the Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay in the same town of Fajardo. This is one of three in Puerto Rico, and one of five of its kind in the world. In order to experience it, there's a few factors to consider: previous kayaking experience & moon phase. The bay's luminiscence is not guaranteed, being that it is a natural phenomenon. The chances to see it's glow are higher on a new moon, and lowest on a full moon. The bay is protected, therefore a guided tour is required. There are many kayaking companies that offer it, and only one boat experience. Below are some recommendations. TIP: You can switch this day up with Day #2 or other, if it fits best in your schedule. Book tickets or tours in advance! There are many restaurants in Fajardo to grab a meal between activities.
Additional thoughts & Tips:
You can stay in one area of San Juan throughout the entire weekend. However, it is not uncommon to switch areas for half the trip in order to be closer to the east. If this is an option for you, below are some additional hotel recommendations out east.
Bag essentials: in a tropical island it is most convenient to carry sunscreen, bug spray, a rainjacket or umbrella. Don't forget to always have your water bottle handy and some cash - even though there will likely be card systems in most places, Puerto Rico suffers power outages every now and then.
Enjoy!
Feel free to mix up the date orders of your itinerary to how best suits you. Enjoy la "Isla del Encanto", go "Despacito", and have a good time!
~"Puerto Rico esta bien Cabrón!."
-Bad Bunny
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