Traveling to Puerto Rico

The Area

Old San Juan

We stayed at the Casablanca Hotel in Old San Juan. Old San Juan is sprinkled with colorful buildings, vibrant nightlife, and historical structures. 

Somehow we managed to drive through the brick-paved streets in a large Transit van, often narrowly escaping imminent car accidents (driving in PR is aggressive!). I would highly recommend renting a car for your stay. In Old San Juan you can walk to local restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. It is so lively and comes highly recommended. Our hotel had a balcony that provided stunning views of the area, including the fascinating Castillo San Felipe del Morro.

‍

A FEW PRECAUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL WHEN VISITING OLD SAN JUAN:

1. Be aware of road closures-apparently these happen regularly. While we were there a new governor was being inaugurated, which closed down the road to our hotel. We had to call a coworker who spoke Spanish to communicate with the police (many of the police officers did not speak English).
2. Drive aggressively. Many road crossings had no stop signs or stop lights when they should have. In PR, it seemed helpful to take a “go first and have caution later” approach.
3. Be prepared for traffic, particularly at night. We often found festival-like areas at night, making it hard to navigate or find parking. Most of the street parking was free in Old San Juan but, because of the different events happening, it was sometimes an effort to get around and find a spot.
4. We did not encounter any issues with safety on our trip. However, it has been noted to me that there can be gang-related safety concerns at night.

‍

Food in PR

PR-187 is a street in Puerto Rico that hosts miles of street food vendors. I think we would have missed the heart of the island if we did not sit in the long traffic to experience this. We were able to find parking in a lot off of the street, which I would highly recommend trying to find. This area was so busy and cars were pulling out in front of us unexpectedly as we drove 5mph. Once we located the recommended spot, we tasted delicious alcapurrias- a fritter stuffed with meat. We also learned PR has a “signature” sauce- MayoKetchup (literally what it sounds like and sold by the bottle full). We also tried mofongo- a fried plantain dish topped with meat or vegetables and sauce. The food in PR is generally not spicy unless you add hot sauce, and is full of flavor.

‍

Because we were often on the go, we relied on our native PR team members to guide us. They did not disappoint. Most restaurants were not flashy and had a very local flare to them. Here is a handful of tasty spots:

• PR is home of the Pina Colada, so we stopped by Barrachina Restaurant which is the historic spot where the drink was invented (top right photo).
• Cuatro Sombras was my go-to coffee spot. Their avocado toast was incredible.
• Veronica’s bakery had amazing chicken quesadillas.

‍

Things to Do in Puerto Rico

‍

ZIPLINE

We drove a winding journey to Toroverde to partake in our first activity on the island (about an hour from Old San Juan if you take the toll route). There are a variety of line options to choose from, with varying lengths and body positions. We chose The Monster and The Beast options, which meant we were laying down and facing the landscape as we traveled around 60MPH. The scenery was breathtaking, including a beautiful blue brook coursing a path through the mountains. The air was cool and it was like a dream. Though we went fast, we were secured to the line with a lot of stability, though there were dropping points. I highly recommend checking this out. 

TOROVERDE ZIPLINE TIPS

1. There was very little communication from the people that started and stopped us on the zip line. Once it is your turn, you put yourself in a pushup position and they grab your legs to secure you into the “burrito”-like a vest. They shake you a bit to make sure you are secure and then they send you on your way. There was no countdown or indication that they were going to send off.
2. Towards the end of the zip-line, you will see a small hut where you will stop (which also wasn’t made clear beforehand). For some people the stop is jolting, for others it is easy, and some stop short of the hut where the workers have to come and get them. For me, both stops were very jolting and my neck felt sore. It turns out you are supposed to put your arms out in order to slow yourself down. Make sure to ask about these processes before you leave the main building, it will be helpful to have expectations.

‍

Coffee Farm

We got the opportunity to build relationships and capture the stories of some of our partners in Puerto Rico, which led us to this immaculate coffee farm. We woke up at 3:30 am so that we could capture the early sunrise from this breathtaking view at the HACIENDA TRES ANGELES Cafe. The coffee farm had an impeccable view and it was cool to tour the land. The couple who runs the farm has an encouraging story alongside a great cup of joe.

‍

Catamaran

To top off our journey, we saved the best for last and toured Icacos Islands on a catamaran. This catamaran experience was stunning. It took about 30 minutes to reach the first island. The water was the bluest I have ever seen. There was a small area for snorkeling around a nearby pier. Due to COVID restrictions, we had to purchase equipment in order to snorkel (it was worth it). After lunch (included with drinks in the trip costs), we moved to a spot nearby where the coral reefs are preserved. There was plenty of colorful fish in close swimming distance. We sailed steadily upon our return, which was the perfect pace to take a nice nap in the sun. It made for a beautiful day and end to our trip.

‍

CATAMARAN TIPS

1. If you get seasick, be sure to bring necessary supplies. The water was pretty rough with large waves on our way to the island.
2. Snorkeling gear can be tricky to get used to. Our boat captain told me to make sure to scrub the inside of the glass goggles with soap to remove the layer of oil that often causes the goggles to fog up easily. Also if you do not put the snorkel mouthpiece all the way in properly, it can be easy for it to fill up with water.
3. Wear sunscreen. Seriously. And make sure to reapply once you are completely dried-off returning from the ocean. Our journey back from the island was much longer than anticipated because we were sailing. This left plenty of time for the afternoon sun to bake the skin.

‍

Puerto Rico was affordable, beautiful, and definitely worth visiting!

‍