If you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico please make sure you know and comply with the entrance requirements regarding COVID-19. Consult with the official travel guidelines which you can find on the Discover Puerto Rico website. Do not travel to Puerto Rico without knowing these requirements!
Puerto Rico – Part of the Caribbean and part of the United States
If you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico you will be delighted to learn that there’s something to please everyone. Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea, and is an archipelago consisting of one main island, 4 outlying smaller islands, and many little cays. The entire territory is about 100 miles long. In this small space you can visit beaches, mountains, rain forests, world-class restaurants, and local festivals. If you live close to the eastern side of the continental United States Puerto Rico isn’t that long of a trip for you.
I’ve traveled to Puerto Rico several times and I can tell you it’s both beautiful and fun to visit. You can easily do any of these things.
- Chill on the beach
- Dance all night
- Hike in the mountains
- Bird watch
- Do almost any water sport you can think of
- Play golf
- Eat great meals from street food to fine cuisine
- Hire a boat to cruise the local waters
- Fish
- Photograph plants, animals, flowers, and birds
We can plan your leisure travel to Puerto Rico to include any of those activities, or we can plan a cruise that stops in Puerto Rico if you want a quick look. You can reach out to book a consultation about planning a trip to Puerto Rico by texting me at 941-720-1842.
TIP: Because Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, US citizens can travel there without showing a passport. You do have to show your enhanced driver’s license. Please make sure that you visit the Puerto Rico visitor’s website and can meet all current entrance requirements.
Puerto Rico is divided into 6 different regions and has more than 78 towns and cities. Read about the capital, San Juan, below.
"Nothing is better for your soul than to visit Puerto Rico." (Lin-Manuel Miranda) Share on X7 Things To See and Do In Puerto Rico
Castillo San Cristobal is a 500-year-old Spanish fort that is the focal point of the old part of San Juan. The Spaniards build it to protect their interests in what was then their colony in the New World. Castillo San Cristobal’s claim to fame is that it is the largest fort ever built in the New World, towering six stories tall. The fort complex covers almost 27 acres of prime real estate at the very tip of the island, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It’s an Instagram moment you don’t want to miss.
Old San Juan is the colonial remnants of San Juan’s days as a Spanish colonial city. It is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere and now serves as the capital of Puerto Rico. It’s filled with brightly colored buildings, is hilly, and you’ll be walking on cobblestone streets to explore its many shops and restaurants. Old San Juan really feels old-world. I recommend this 3 hour guided tour to see Old San Juan. It includes sightseeing and tastes of local dishes and drinks along the way.
The Bacardi Rum Factory in Puerto Rico is the largest in the world. If you are a rum drinker you’ll be amazed to see that this factory can bottle up to 100,000 bottles a day. Their tour allows you to learn all about the rum, the bottling process, and the different flavors and tastes that Bacardi manufactures.
Laguna Grande Mangrove Forest Reserve is one of the most visited natural wonders in Puerto Rico. Book a night time kayaking tour to see the famous bioluminescent bay. It’s something you will never forget! You will kayak through a mangrove forest as the sunset fades away. I recommend this tour which includes round trip transportation and can adapt to visitors with special needs.
Beaches and Water Activities. Besides spending chill time at any one of Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches there are many other water activities. The main island has good beaches, and the smaller islands of Culebra and Vieques do, too. If you are planning to snorkel or scuba try Culebra, maybe at Flamingo Beach. You can also book a sunset cruise, charter a boat to explore little inlets and uninhabited cays, or go deep sea fishing. We can help you book these special days for you.
El Yunque is the only subtropical rainforest in the United States that is a National Forest, and is a perfect place for a walk or a hike. You can also do ziplining in El Yunque. It is the most studied forest in the United States National Forest System. It is also the most biologically diverse, hosting hundreds of plants and animals, some only found in Puerto Rico. You can book a half-day walking tour that includes a swim in the clear river water.
Try Puerto Rican food. These islands are called the “Dining Capital of the Caribbean” by Puerto Ricans. The cuisine is a harmonious blend of Taino (the native people of Puerto Rico), American, and Spanish cuisines. Make sure to try local dishes like mofongo (mashed plantains) and arroz con gandules y Lechon (rice with pigeon peas and pork). For the best food tour in San Juan you’ll want to book this private Puerto Rican food tour.
Things to Try While You’re In Puerto Rico
- Bomba – Puerto Rican music and dance
- Puerto Rican coffee
- Puerto Rican rum
- Pork dishes
Hurricane Maria and Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria (2017) destroyed much of Puerto Rico. Parts of the island are still being rebuilt and it has taken far longer to overcome than was necessary. The resilience of the people of Puerto Rico is evident when you see how hard they have worked to put their homes, infrastructure, and economy back in place. Tourism is an integral part of Puerto Rico’s economy. Now that Puerto Rico is overcoming Maria and pandemic, your trip to explore Puerto Rico also helps the island itself.
Let’s Plan Your Trip to Puerto Rico
Planning a trip to Puerto Rico shouldn’t be complicated. We know the answers to which hotel is best for you, which tours are trustworthy, and the best ways to get around Puerto Rico. We plan personalized leisure travel from start to finish.
Here’s what to do next.
- Tell me where you want to go.
- Based on our consultation I’ll create a detailed itinerary specifically for you.
- Get ready to have a trip that gives you a lifetime of memories.
Contact us by texting us at 941-720-1842 or emailing me directly at Sue@TravelChangesLife.com.
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