The Travel Listicle

Tag: Puerto Rico

  • Puerto Rico Beaches

    Puerto Rico Beaches

    My Travel Listicle Recommendations

    Puerto Rico is unique because in the same day you can go to beaches on the Atlantic Ocean (northeast coast) and the Caribbean Sea (southwest coast). The Atlantic is generally a bit cooler, and the Caribbean Sea is warm like bath water. Guests at the El Conquistador hotel can access the beach on Palomino Island, where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet.

    Atlantic Ocean Beaches

    • Flamenco Beach – located on the island of Culebra. Flamenco is regarded as one of the top 5 most beautiful beaches in the world, with miles of white sand and water as still as ice. It’s a beautiful spot.
    • Condado Beach – great due to its proximity to San Juan. Plenty of food and restaurants line the beach, making it a good option if you’re trying to stay in the metro area. The rip current can be strong here, so beware.

    Caribbean Sea Beaches

    • Playa Sucia – aka “Dirty Beach,” but don’t let the name fool you. Set behind preserved salt flats and wetlands, Playa Sucia is a beautiful oasis protected by a cove. There is a small hill you can climb to an old lighthouse, but beware: the road leading to this hidden beach is seriously bumpy and a little smelly thanks to the salt flats.
    • Jobos – a surfer’s paradise in Isabela. This beach in Isabela is a great beach for surfing, snorkeling, and swimming. The water is warm, crystal clear, and shallow. There are awesome restaurants right on the beach, as well as a great surfing school for people who want to learn. If you plan to swim or surf, check out the rip current signs at the entrance for safety.
      • If you follow the path by the Acai Shop, it will take you to a great picture spot where you can admire the power of the ocean, called el Pozo de Jacinto!
    • Domes Beach – another great surfing spot in Rincón, where many international surfing competitions take place.

    Before you head to the beach, check my Puerto Rico Travel Tips for rip current and sun safety advice, or keep the adventure going with my Puerto Rico Adventures guide.

  • Puerto Rico Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know

    Puerto Rico Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know

    My Travel Listicle Recommendations

    How to Get Around

    • Uber works, but only in the metropolitan area, like San Juan, Condado, and Isla Verde.
    • Parking in Viejo San Juan is difficult, so Uber, taxi, or a hotel shuttle is best.
    • If you aren’t a confident driver, stick to the highways and main roads. The roads towards the interior of the island can be very dangerous for people not accustomed to tiny roads at high elevations.

    Enjoying the Beaches

    • The Caribbean heat is intense, and to avoid turning into a lobster, I suggest going to the beach early in the morning (7–10 a.m.) or late in the afternoon, from around 3 p.m. until sunset. It will still be hot, but the UV won’t be as strong.
    • The beaches in Puerto Rico are beautiful but dangerous. BEWARE of dangerous riptides and white-capped water (like the one in the image gallery). If the locals aren’t jumping in, you probably shouldn’t either.
    • Please respect the power of the ocean and subscribe to Swim Safe Puerto Rico for the latest on the strength of the rip currents and their advisories for swimming.
    • Recommendations for swimming year-round are:
      • Playa Escambrón in San Juan
      • Luquillo Beach
      • Piñones Beach
    • For a full list of my favorite beaches, see my Puerto Rico Beaches guide.

    Other Tips

    • Don’t let mosquitos ruin your trip. Make sure to pack bug spray for any adventures!
    • FUN TIP: The little frog pictured in the gallery below is called a Coquí, Puerto Rico’s national animal. These tree frogs are unique to Puerto Rico and earn their name from the noise they make. They can mainly be heard at night, very loudly, like crickets. They are very hard to spot, but if you do, it’s good luck!
    Puerto Rico beach travel photo
    Common coquí tree frog Puerto Rico's national animal
  • Puerto Rico Adventures

    Puerto Rico Adventures

    My Travel Listicle Recommendations

    • El Yunque – a rainforest with great hiking, waterfalls, ATV riding, and horseback riding.
    • Toro Verde – an adventure park with the largest zip line in the Caribbean, featured on Jimmy Fallon. A reservation needs to be made in advance. A smaller zip line can be found at Distrito T-Mobile in San Juan.
    • Sea Ventures – a Fajardo-based scuba diving company that will take you on a PADI-certified Discovery Scuba boat charter to Culebra, Vieques, and other beautiful beaches; this counts towards a full certification.
    • Laguna Grande – a bioluminescent bay located in Fajardo (a 50-minute drive from San Juan). There are only 5 bioluminescent bays in the world, and Puerto Rico has 3 of them! There are plenty of nighttime kayaking and boating tours.

    Other Islands Part of Puerto Rico

    • Culebra – a small island off the east coast with one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the world, Flamenco Beach! Accessible by plane or ferry from Ceiba (about 45 minutes from San Juan).
    • Vieques – the larger island off the east coast, accessible by plane or the ferry from Ceiba. Vieques is best known for Playa Negra, a beautiful black-sand beach, and Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world.
      • Important: Give yourself enough time to get to and on the ferry. You CAN get stuck on the island overnight. Additionally, the ferry ride can be rocky, so if you get motion sickness, plan accordingly.

    Check my Best Beaches listicle for more adventures, or head into Old San Juan to explore the island’s history once you’re back on land.

    Puerto Rico adventure travel photo
    Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico adventure photo
    Vieques Puerto Rico adventure photo
    Culebra Puerto Rico adventure photo
    Culebra Puerto Rico island photo
  • Puerto Rico Sightseeing

    Puerto Rico Sightseeing

    My Travel Listicle Recommendations

    Viejo San Juan (VSJ)

    The oldest city in the U.S., dating back to 1521.

    • El Morro National Monument – a national park, museum, and fortress. Also a great place to fly a kite!
    • Castillo San Cristóbal – a smaller fortress and national park
    • La Fortaleza – the Governor’s Mansion; guided tours are available.
    • Paseo de la Princesa – a tree-lined promenade along the ocean, built in 1853. Great place to go for a run.
    • Old San Juan Trolley – a free trolley that runs every day and makes 12 stops in different historical areas of VSJ. The schedule and stops can change, so check out the trolley schedule and map in the link above.

    Greater San Juan

    If You Rent a Car

    • La Ruta Taína – a driving route that leads to various Taíno historical sites across the island. The Taínos are the indigenous people who occupied Puerto Rico before Columbus. Today, a lot of Puerto Rican culture, including the term “Boricua,” stems from this ancestry.
      • Read more about the Taíno here.

    Worked up an appetite touring the forts? See my Puerto Rico Restaurants & Bars guide for where to eat next, or check my Puerto Rico Travel Tips for getting around the island.

  • Puerto Rico Cuisine

    Puerto Rico Cuisine

    My Travel Listicle Recommendations

    Food to Try

    • Mofongo – mashed green banana stuffed with a protein
    • Pernil – roasted pork
    • Empanadillas – meat turnover
    • Tostones – fried and smashed unripe plantains, often served with mayo-ketchup for dipping
    • Alcapurias – green banana fritter stuffed with meat

    Drinks to Try

    • Medalla, La India and Magna – beer made in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
    • Don Q – rum made in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Coco flavor is a must-try.
    • Gasolina – like an alcoholic Capri Sun. Parcha (passion fruit) is the best flavor! It can be purchased at any corner store or grocery store to bring to the beach.
    • Piña colada – the national drink. It can be found at any restaurant.
      • Fun Fact: The Piña Colada was invented in San Juan in 1954!

    Food Tips

    • Stop at any panadería for a sandwich on freshly baked traditional bread called pan sobao, or delicious pastries like pastelillos de guayaba (flaky guava pastries covered in powdered sugar)!
    • On a hot day, try piragua, a Puerto Rican snow cone usually sold in little carts on the street or at the beach.

    Ready to eat? My Puerto Rico Restaurants & Bars guide has my top picks by neighborhood, and my Puerto Rico Travel Tips cover everything else you need to know before you go.

    Puerto Rican cuisine plate photo
    Traditional Puerto Rican food and drink spread
    Rincón Puerto Rican food photo
    Condado San Juan Puerto Rico beach photo
    Southern Puerto Rico coastal photo