While floating in the warm water at Luquillo Beach reflecting on my morning trek through the Puerto Rican rainforest, the hot sun above me with the white sand on the shore, I started to realize how remarkable this vacation was becoming. As it was mid-January, I couldn't help but wonder how my friends and family were getting along in the snow and frost back home in New York City. My boyfriend and I understood how fortunate we were, and an appreciation for the moment of bliss came upon us. The next day, standing at the highest point of Fort San Cristobal, now a museum, casting my eyes over the entire northern half of the island, watching the water break against the shore 50 feet below and having over my right shoulder the entire city of old San Juan to gaze over, made me realize the real beauty of this country. I was at that moment so contented I hadn't given into another monotonous Caribbean vacation of sitting on the beach all day with only the options of doing various water sports. Puerto Rico is the best of both worlds, especially being from New York City; we New Yorkers need a little culture with our paradise.
Located in the Caribbean, not only is it just a short plane ride away, 2 ½ hours, from the northeast, but it's also a completely different cultural environment with so many new and interesting sights/food/people to titillate your senses.
The most popular destination in Puerto Rico is Old San Juan. Most famously known for its year round festivities and, more importantly, its rum, you can take a 20-minute ferry ride to the Bacardi Distillery across San Juan Bay (free samples after a free tour and cheaply priced bottled Bacardi Rum).
The sights and sounds of Puerto Rico will always be in my mind until I return again: the dual sights of city and tropical paradise and the sound of the distinct call of the native coqui frog.
Where to Stay
I used Expedia.com to find my hotel, Embassy Suites Hotel & Casino, but you can stay at the various amazing yet affordable hotels in the area. Most people like to stay at a hotel along the main strip in San Juan, Ashford Ave., but the hotels outside of this area further east, are much cheaper. Puerto de Tierra, Condado, Miramar, Santurce, Ocean Park or Isla Verde are all towns to seek out along the northern coast within San Juan. And, keep in mind, you can always walk over to the grand hotels from your own, such as the El San Juan Hotel & Casino, The Inter-Continental Hotel & Casino or the Ritz-Carlton San Juan Spa & Casino for massive gaming and innumerable restaurants.
Some inexpensive and moderately priced hotels include Hampton Inn or Howard Johnson Hotel located in Isla Verde, San Juan; Best Western Hotel Pierre or the Comfort Inn located Condado, San Juan; Numero 1 Guesthouse or Oceana Beach Inn located in Ocean Park, San Juan
Food
There are three ways to go when it comes to dining in Puerto Rico: the hotel restaurants, the recognizable chains or the authentic local cuisine. I think it's good to delve a little into all three for money saving. When visiting Old San Juan, some great authentic Puerto Rican cuisine can be found at Casa Borinquen, El Buen Samaritano and La Bombonera. And there is no shame in taking advantage of the free food and drinks at the hotel casinos.
Nightlife
Did I mention casinos? Well, besides a night of gambling, you can go to a number of clubs, such as Brava, or bars, such as Palm Court, both located in El San Juan hotel in Isla Verde, San Juan.
Sights
You may not want to stay out too late, though; there are a number of great things to do during any given day in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's national rainforest, El Yunque, is a 45-minute drive away. This lush rainforest, that is one of the best preserved in the U.S. National Forest Service System, is a great way indulge in the tropical aspects of the island, with various tropical plants and birds not found anywhere else in the world.
The best way to see the rainforest is on a guided tour. The tour guides are knowledgeable (actually receiving Puerto Rican rainforest certificates) and friendly, in my personal experience. Simply book through your hotel, as many hotels work directly with the tour guides. The cost for a guided tour, which includes transportation, can range, but I went for $75 for each person, which is well worth the money. (Taking a cab or rent-a-car from San Jaun to the rainforest is that price alone). Also, ask how many people the guide is taking on the day you want to go. You don't want to pay $75 to be struggling to hear your guide over a large party of people.
The Radio Telescope, Observatorio de Arecibo, is the biggest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world (featured in the movie Contact with Jodie Foster). It is used for government and private research projects, such as SETI, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
On the same day, you can also visit the nearby Rio Camuy Caves, which contains the third-largest underground river in the world. You take a tour of the site including a 45-minute walk through the inside of the cave system.
Both are located about an hour and a half west of San Juan.
Old San Juan:
1) Fort Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, and Fort San Cristobal, built in 1634, are now museums and are "must sees" (and literally "can't misses" because of their sheer size) in Old San Juan. Several battles have taken place here, both repeatedly attacked by the English and the Dutch, and San Cristobal fired some of the first shots from its cannons for the Spanish-American War.
2) The city walls are also a huge spectacle to see, built in 1630 and surrounding all of San Juan (again, literally can't miss it); they were built to protect against European invaders and Caribbean pirates.
3) La Casita, a visitor information center, can give you all the info on the many other museums and historical sights. It's located on Pier 1 in the heart of Old San Juan. Also go for the FREE mini-bottle rum samples for tourists (even get a mixed drink made for you free at their mini bar).
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