Though we have been here numerous times, I don’t think we will ever get tired of going to this amazing island for the years to come. In my opinion, this is one of THE places to go for delicious food, thirst-quenching flavorful mojitos, lovely, amicable people, hidden tropical gems all around the island, and last but not least, a great night of dancing.
What To Expect
• Language: Spanish / English
• Currency: US Dollar
• Plugs: No need to bring a converter. Puerto Rico operates on a 120V supply voltage, which is within the 110-240V range that the dual voltage appliance operates on.
• Passport/Visas: No passport is needed for Americans, please check all other countries
• Best time to visit: The best time to visit is right after the busy winter, from mid-April until June. Summer is rainy, with August being the month with the most rainfall.
In This Article
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WHERE TO STAY
Whenever we frequent, we tend to stay either in hotels or AirBnB’s in the neighborhoods of Condado, Carolina or right at the start of Viejo San Juan in Caribe Hilton (highly recommend). Since we tend to rent a car everytime we go, we rather steer away from the busy, crowded streets of Viejo San Juan where parking and traffic can be really difficult. One of the things we look for is if the hotel has parking on premises or if our AirBnB provides a parking space, and so far we have always gotten lucky thankfully.
SIGHTSEE
A very special landmark of Puerto Rico is Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro for short. It sits at the very top of Old San Juan and once there you are able to witness unbelievable views. Entrance is $10/ person and the hours are usually from 9:00am – 5:00pm. The walk to the castle itself is a bit lengthy but worth the scenic views.
WHERE TO EAT
Brunch
To start your day well-fed make sure you stop by Pinky’s and pick up a delicious breakfast to-go, do call ahead of times as the lines are long, but so worth it. On the other hand if you want to bask in the sun while eating tasty brunch head over to Numero Uno Beach House.
Lunch / Dinner
There are several amazing restaurants around the area but below are my two absolute favorite.
Raices Restaurant
If you are craving classic Island dishes, with a side of spectacular service that’s walking distance within Old San Juan, then look no further. Each time we come, we have such an amazing time. Be sure to get there early because usually tables are fully booked. I suggest calling ahead of time.
La Casita Blanca
I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. For starters it feels like you’re walking right into your grandma’s living room as soon as you step in. The food tastes as fresh and as local as it gets. They have something for everyone here, I have tried almost everything on the menu and not once have I been disappointed. Note: There is usually a long line so make sure to plan ahead.
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Day 2: Luquillo & Seven Seas Beach
LUQUILLO
Just a 30 min car ride from San Juan and right across the road from el Yunque, you will find the wonderful Luquillo Beach along with the amazing Luquillo Kiosks. A quick warning, during peak season and weekends, the small parking lot can get filled quickly. Be sure to arrive early to secure your parking space and start your day off with some Frituras.
Once you get pasts the kiosks where you can find almost anything and everything, you will find Luquillo Beach.
Here, you can find activities such as jet-skiing or fly-boarding. I was hesitant to try the jet-skiing, but Brian insisted we go on it and I had such a good time I don’t regret it all. Also note, if you are not able to book these activities or they are oversold, head over to 7 seas beach. Here, you can jet-ski, kayak, fly-board and they even rent go-pros as well!
Before you leave Luquillo, you need to step foot inside Terrunos. I have tried almost everything from here and it has not disappointed yet. My go to’s are Piononos (sweet plantain and ground beef based dish) for appetizers and their seafood mofongo in white sauce.
Also, I’m always looking to taste mojitos anywhere and everywhere in Puerto Rico, if this also fancies you, I highly recommend Mojito Lab, it’s worth the stop.
SEVEN SEAS BEACH
For some more fun in the sun, head over to Fajardo, Seven Seas Beach (appx 15 min ride from Luquillo). Catch some rays, or continue with your adventurous water sports, and don’t forget to grab another snack on the way. Here you’re able to do some more kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkel and they even rent out go-pros!!
We encountered “The House of Pastelillos” and I’m so grateful we did because it will become a new staple for me when we’re around the area. Freshly squeeze lemonade, fresh passion fruit lemonade and aside of pastelillos with fish tacos. (chef’s kiss)
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Day 3: Culebra & Snorkel
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM
You are in Puerto Rico, even if you’re not a morning person, take advantage of this opportunity and take the morning ferry to spend a wonderful day at one of the world’s top beaches – Flamenco beach in Culebra island. Make sure to book your tickets in advance and get there with plenty of time to find parking and go onboard. See ticket information here. We caught the 6 am ferry and it gave us plenty of time to snorkel, have lunch, get some drinks, and come back just in time to do the bio-bay tour which I’ll talk about later.
CULEBRA ISLAND
I’ll start by saying, make sure to bring snacks, water and maybe some dramamine wouldn’t hurt if you tend to get seasick. Now that that’s covered, get ready to start your exciting day!
For snorkeling, and just about any other activity you want to participate in, make sure to book in advance! I cannot emphasize this enough. This is the company we used to go snorkeling in Culebra and they’re professionalism is impeccable, I recommend it to everyone that visits.
I was a bit nervous since it was mine and my moms first time on a kayak and snorkeling but they made our experience so seamless and fun, she ended up wanting to stay longer in the water than we expected.
FLAMENCO BEACH
After an incredible morning spent with sea turtles, and beautiful coral reefs at Tamarindo Beach, the touring company’s last stop is Flamenco Beach. Here, you will find serenity, tranquility and all things magic at once. Pictures and words don’t do justice but at least you get to see a sneak peak of what to expect!
Right before you entere the beach you can also find kiosks, and bathroom stalls. And remember, please always pick up after yourself, no matter where you go.
BIOBAY TOUR (FAJARDO)
The Bioluminescent Bay is an extraordinary sight to see. You can book your tickets with the same company previously used for the snorkeling or find another vendor and remember to always book ahead!
Following the ferry ride back to mainland, give yourself plenty of time to eat something, rest a bit and head off to the night time tour!
I must admit, I was scared, really scared. We had to kayak through some waves into the lagoon in the dark. And my mom was my kayak buddy once again, so that’s two of us freaking out. Luckily if you’re not very comfortable rowing or if they see you are struggling, the guides will hook their kayaks to yours and guide you into the right direction which gives people like me a huge sense of relief.
Once we entered the mangroves I started to see the beauty and magic happening beneath us as the water splashed. Right in the middle of the darkness, you can see the “sparkles” and mixes of blue and green in the water with every splash. I almost felt like the little mermaid in the scene where she’s on a canoe singing with Sebastian.
This is one of the activities I highly recommend as it only takes place in a handful of places around the world and you happen to be in one of them! So please do yourself and your family a favor and give them this precious memory.
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Day 4: Cayo Icacos & catamaran
CAYO ICACOS DAY TRIP
A true beauty and hidden gem in Puerto Rico, the uninhabited island of Icacos. It is literally a deserted island with nothing but sand and clear blue water. Keeping this in mind, please be sure to bring plenty of water for hydration and food as there is nothing there for purchase.
GETTING THERE
The only way to get to Icacos is to take a water taxi or book a private Catamaran. We have done both. The first time we went we got on a small boat (water-taxi) and it took roughly 20-30 min to get across. This is a much cheaper option than renting a catamaran and I believe it’s also the most thrilling. The second time we went, it was a small group of friends and decided to book a private catamaran. We didn’t have to bring much as they provided water, snacks, and most importantly ,shade! Also, something to keep in mind, if you opt for the water-taxi option, please bring an umbrella as this place has no palm trees or shade whatsoever. We weren’t aware and ended up hiding under our towels until they came to pick us up.
BE EARTH FRIENDLY
As with anywhere you go, please make sure to leave the environment the same or better than you found it. These are pristine beaches and we are counting on each other to keep them as clean as possible for ourselves but most importantly their eco-system.
