Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas
Anyone been to Puerto Rico? I'm going in november for an undetermined number of days, but can stay as long as It takes within reason of course.
Strap-in... this is a long reply (my apologies in-advance)!!
I have logged
many trips to Puerto Rico from 1990-2005 for both business and pleasure, but have not been there since 2005, so this info may be a bit ‘dated’. Plenty of hotels in San Juan, many with beach-front, and as a result most visitors to the island do not venture too far from the city. The typical “touristy stuff” to do is hitting the beaches, and walking/shopping around the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan & the El Morro fortress. At the risk of having Gurtholfin kick me in the head for even suggesting it, you could also tour the Bacardi plant across the bay from Old San Juan, with a tasting afterwards (this is where I got hooked on Bacardi Limon and tonic... the only Bacardi product I will consume by-choice).
A must-do on your list is a visit to El Yunque, which is a tropical rain forest between San Juan and the beaches of Luquillo and Fajardo. I highly recommend hiking some trails there... some will lead to awesome waterfalls with shallow natural swimming pools to enjoy. It’s a rain forest, so you’re likely to get wet during your excursion, especially if you go during the “rainy season” (aka – “Hurricane season”, June through November).
My travels took me to the central mountain region, with a LOT of time spent in Caguas and Cayey. Not much to do there unless you know some locals that could take you to some fantastic places to eat and/or drink, but an absolutely beautiful drive through the Cayey mountains en-route to Ponce on the southern coast, should you choose to go there. I’ve only spent an afternoon in Ponce, so I cannot offer much on this city other than I understand that there is a high density of museums and art there.
If you like to surf, the beaches on the northwest coast are for you. Also in that general area of the island is Arecibo, home of the large radio observatory constructed within the mountains (a science nerd like me would really enjoy that, and I did!). A really cool experience.
There is a lot to see and do there, so I suppose it just comes-down to what you want to do. There is culture, art, outdoor adventure, coastal relaxation, nightlife (with some
great Latin entertainment), unique foods, and no passport required for US citizens. By the way, the locals are
extremely passionate about elections, so if you are going in late October/early-November, it can be a bit crazy. Christmas in Puerto Rico is absolutely fantastic, and of course much different than my northern “roots” and traditions (I especially enjoyed the holiday consumption of Pitoro!).
Speaking of foods, some hints – Rice and Beans is the Puerto Rican equivalent of French Fries in the states, it comes with almost everything. Fried Plantains (Tostones) are also popular, and some local dishes include Mofungo and Lechon, both are excellent when prepared well, but like anything can be hit-or-miss depending on the restaurant. One beverage I really miss is Acerola juice. The Acerola (also known as the Caribbean Cherry) is the size of a crab apple, and one of them has like 400% your vitamin C requirements. Mix it with Rum, and you have a truly magical elixir!
Getting-around. Ah yes, here’s the catch. Prior to my first trip to the island in 1990, my Boss at the time gave me some words of wisdom. He said: “There are 3-million people on that island. 1-million live in San Juan, and the rest are in cars”. The numbers have certainly changed since then, but the concept still applies. Driving there requires a level of aggressiveness that is an acquired skill. Having driven in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and LA (among others), and I would put San Juan as the worst experience of ‘em all. Red lights are mere suggestions, and I’ve been nearly T-boned on more than one occasion. Not saying it’s impossible to manage, but as long as you are alert and ready for anything, anytime, you’ll be fine driving in-and-around San Juan.
In summary... my family and I
really want to go back to Puerto Rico, but we just cannot seem to find the opportunity. However, the desire to return is very strong. I do not believe you will be disappointed should you choose to go.
Cheers!!!
~TTF