The past week has been phenominal. I'm thankful to be in Puerto Rico with family and friends, celebrating life. #WorkHard #PlayHard. The weather has been perfect and supplements every new experience. I love the island, and the historic authenticity of the cities. We've had the opportunity to go snorkeling with Paco in Nagüabo, sit under the waterfalls of El Yunque Rainforest and dining on "Mexican Puerto Rican" food at Lolitas restaurant in Luquillo (there's also a nice beach in Luquillo, and there are some local souvenirs for sale in the "kioscos" on the strip). Not to mention our stay on our own private beach, on a private island (pictured above)! We even got to visit the very island that birthed the first monkey into space! Some call it Isla de los Monos, or "Monkey Island." These monkeys have over 95% of the chemical makeup as humans, which is why they have become such high demand for various research studies.
There is so much to see, on and off land, that you will need at least a week. You can't visit here without renting a car. Traffic and poorly engineered/maintained roads leave some room for improvement, however it all adds to the experience. Try to rent from somewhere that has a location in the airport terminal like Avis or Budget, as some others are located off site and require you to take a shuttle (avoid "EZ" and "Allied" Car Rental like the plague!). Going off site to rent a vehicle can rob you of precious hours from your trip. Pay the extra $10 a day and fully enjoy your experience.
If you are not able to stay a week, then you may want to focus your time in the cities neighboring San Juan. You can snorkel and see Monkey Island in one trip (about 1 hour from San Juan, see Paco!) -
http://lapaseodora.yolasite.com/. You absolutely should visit the famous El Yunque Rainforest. Beyond that, just plan accordingly before taking your flight. I would also recommend checking out Mosquito Bay in Vieques to see the dreamlike bioluminescent water and magnificent landscape (get there by sunset. yes, bring the bug spray!) -
http://vieques.com/island-bioluminescent-bay/. If you want to actually get in the water, one of the best places to do that is at Flamenco Beach. You have to take a 90-minute ferry to get there, but is it worth it? Absolutely! Don't press yourself for time, though, there are plenty of fabulous beaches here if you want to go to one closer to the city. For more on Flamenco Beach, or other beaches in the area, USA Today put a decent list together a few weeks ago, so I won't recreate it -
Best Beaches of Puerto Rico.
If all else fails, and you are simply looking for a relaxing, simple vacation without the full Puerto Rico experience and commutes, or maybe you have visited before, you can stay at one of the beautiful resorts such as
Carabali Rainforest Park. They offer amenities on site such as go-kart racing, restaurant and bar, living quarters, horseback and ATV tours and more. I personally recommend the two tours.
