The amazing and underrated island of Puerto Rico! It’s a US territory and it’s not far from home making it a perfect island getaway. Puerto Rico doesn’t have the traditional all-inclusive resorts like elsewhere in the Caribbean, but it still has the same amazing beaches, palm trees, and island vibe.
How we got there.
Puerto Rico was the first trip we took with miles. We opened up the Capital One Venture card, received the bonus, and took ourselves to paradise! The tickets we found were $200 round trip out of Las Vegas. We spent 4 days over a weekend and it certainly wasn’t enough. At the time we thought it was a pretty crazy deal, but have since seen the same deal or even better ones out of Salt Lake, so keep your eyes open.
What we did.
Well, the first thing we did when we got there was go to the beach. Where we fell fast asleep… Right on the beach, in the sun, and without sunscreen. It was a great start to our vacation. Maybe… Throughout the trip, we spent a lot of time walking the beaches and streets, but after day one we made sure to wear sunscreen.
We stayed pretty close to the city so we made our way to the Castillo San Cristóbal. It’s a popular tourist attraction, but for good reason. It’s an old Spanish fort built in the 1700s to protect the city from attacks. It has beautiful grass fields and old historic structures that provide great overlooking views of the ocean and surrounding areas. Getting into the actual fort costs $10 a person. We’re typically hit or miss if we do these types of activities, but it was worth the $20 to be able to wander throughout and imagine what the soldiers had to endure in the 1700s.
While wandering through old town’s beautiful streets, we can across Parque Las Palomas. It’s a fun park to visit and has great water views. If you buy some bird food from the locals, you can feed the pigeons and watch them go crazy.
Later in our trip, we ventured east of San Juan and were able to get out in the open and away from the tourists. One of our first stops was El Yunque. It’s the only Tropical Rainforest in the US Forest Service and it’s incredible! There are no large animals on the island so it’s you, the trees, and the waterfalls! Like everything else, it’s unique and stunning. There are lots of hikes and trails and great views of the island.
Not far from there, we enjoyed some beach time and actually found a great hidden spot called Playa Colora. You can find it on google maps. You have to take a 15-minute walk through the trees, but it opens up to a beautiful secluded beach. There’s not a lot to pull you to this corner of the island, but if you’re able to go, you definitely should. It’s not a swimming beach because the waves are too powerful, but it’s a great place to go to get away and see the views.
Nearby is also Playa Escondida beach which is typically pretty quiet as well.
Further east is probably one of the most amazing things in Puerto Rico. The Bioluminescent Bay. There are only five bays in the world and Puerto Rico has three of them. One of which is the brightest in the world! The bay we visited, Laguna Grande, is an absolute must!
As you kayak through the waters the disturbance of the paddle makes the water glow and it’s beautiful. If you can get to that side of the island you really have to go. Words really don’t do justice so look it up and schedule it!
Where we stayed.
Without tons of planning, we stayed in a small Airbnb about 20 minutes between the airport and San Juan. Puerto Rico overall isn’t a booming island of wealth so we were in a little more run-down area. It ended up being perfect. We were close to the beach and food, and far enough from the tourist spots to be left alone.
Our Airbnb. Nothing fancy and a little on the cheaper end, but if you’re up for it, it’s a great spot. There’s even a delicious cafe underneath.
Transportation
With the airport, Downtown, and our Airbnb all being fairly close, we used Uber for the first few days. We did a lot of walking and it was cheaper than renting a car.
For the last 24 hours, we rented a car. This allowed us to go east and see more of the island.
If you’re looking to save a few dollars, renting for the last 24 hours is the way to do it. 24 hours is the cheapest time slot for rentals and we were able to just take it right back to the airport when our vacation was done.
Driving in Puerto Rico is a little bit of an adventure but it’s pretty much required if you want to go see more of the island. We were glad we did it.
Where we ate.
The island of Puerto Rico is Spanish-speaking, so naturally, that’s the type of food available. It’s not full Spanish cuisine, but it’s heavily influenced.
One of their main and most popular dishes is Mofongo. This dish is made of plantains that are mashed up with spices and then covered with different toppings. The most common being pork and other meats. It was different but really good! The specific picture was from Bebo Cafe. It was just around the corner from where we stayed.
On the northeastern corner of the island, there is a hidden gem that turned out to be the best small restaurant on the island! El Kapi Sandwich is a perfect place for a quick stop and a life-changing experience. It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, but if you can make it, it’s the best sandwich or wrap you’ll ever have! We would fly back just for this restaurant.
If one day you find yourself at this place, make sure to get the Tripleta with their Puerto Rican sauces!
I briefly mentioned it, but there’s a cafe beneath the airbnb. We stopped in for breakfast and it was really good! If you’re nearby or even staying in this Airbnb, it’s worth a stop.
As we always do, we swung by the grocery stores for some other meals to save some money. Plus it’s always a great way to eat and experience food like the locals.
Gluten-Free in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a gluten-free paradise. There are restaurants all throughout San Juan that have gluten-free options. The island itself is Spanish in culture so that gives it a big one up on the gluten-free scale. There are plenty of options at grocery stores and restaurants and there should be no hesitation if traveling to Puerto Rico with Celiac.
What we learned.
There are so many beautiful beaches. So many in fact, that there are 270 miles worth of sandy shores! You really can’t pick a bad one. As you get out of the touristy areas though, the beaches open up and you really get the place to yourself, or with only a few locals.
Because Puerto Rico is a U.S territory, you don’t need a passport. All you need is a license and you’re free to experience this Spanish island.
To this day Puerto Rico is the world’s oldest colony. It has some of the oldest churches in America. Dating back into the early 1500s.
You wouldn’t believe it, but ice cream is still delicious in Puerto Rico. We may have made a stop or two for some ice cream.
Interested in getting to Puerto Rico for free? As always, check out how!