THE CARIBBEAN — Destinations-Alle Abroad

PUERTO RICO EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS AND I DIDN’T SPEND NEARLY ENOUGH TIME HERE

I’ll be honest…Puerto Rico has never been high on my must-visit list. I honestly kind of wrote it off as a place that “I’d get to eventually” but wouldn’t go out of my way to make a point of going. (I know, I know…I sound so ignorant but I’m just being honest because I think it helps prove my point).

This island BLEW ME AWAY in every sense but mostly because it has SO much to offer its visitors.

Puerto Rico is overflowing with nature, culture, delicious food & plenty of places to sip Pina Coladas poolside (did you know the drink was invented in PR?!).

On my recent trip, I was visiting with a fellow travel advisor mainly to check out two resorts for clients, but also to escape the bitter winter cold back home in Chicago. We mainly hung out at the resorts so that we could fully report back to our respective agencies but I gotta say…we left feeling like we HAD TO come back and explore more.

EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PUERTO RICO

QUICK FACTS

Puerto Rico is a US territory, which means visiting the island is extremely easy for Americans
You’ll find this Caribbean island east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico is an archipelago and three of its islands: Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques are inhabited and a handful of others are not.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT PUERTO RICO

Shoulder Season: September to mid-December and mid-April - May
Hurricane season: lasts from June through November
Peak Season: December to May (expect prices to be a bit higher)

WHAT IS PUERTO RICO KNOWN FOR?

Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful beaches - there are approx. 270 miles of beaches on PR
NATURE - from the coast to the mountains, Puerto Rico is known for having a diverse and unique landscape and this variety is what makes it a destination that can cater to any type of traveler. There are mangrove islands, rain forests, coral reefs, salt flats, bays, and caves - plus the island has 36 nature reserves.
Puerto Rico is home to 3 Bioluminescent Bays. There are only five of these rare ecosystems in the world, and the Island just happens to be home to three of them! Essentially these bays light up in this magical blue color thanks to microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates that glow when the water is agitated. Going on a night kayak tour to experience this is a MUST
RUM - Puerto Rico is responsible for over 70% of the rum sold in the US

HOW TO GET TO PUERTO RICO

Flying is the best way to get to Puerto Rico - flight times to Puerto Rico are relatively short from much of the continental US (especially if you’re flying from the Mid-West, South or East Coast). My flight from Chicago was direct and took about 4.5 hours
The largest and most accessible airport is the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, aka the San Juan Airport (SJU).
According to the Discover Puerto Rico website - “Puerto Rico has 80 daily nonstop flights to major cities throughout the United States”
PS - U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to travel to PR

COVID INFORMATION

At the time of my publishing this guide, the rules have changed since I’ve visited the island. Before you had to show a negative COVID test no matter your vaccine status. But as of February 2nd, vaccinated travelers are no longer required to present a negative test.

Unvaccinated travelers entering on domestic flights are still required to show negative test results from the last two days or take one within 48 hours of arrival and must quarantine while awaiting results. Once they have a negative test, they can stop quarantining immediately.

What it’s like on the island:

Masks are required indoors & you'll see many people wearing them outdoors as well
You'll be asked to show your vax card or a negative test at bars & restaurants
It looks like a number of restrictions have been rolled back as of 2/2 like no selling alcohol between 12 a.m. - 5 a.m.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE LATEST COVID TRAVEL GUIDELINES

If you have Qs call this # 939-592-5115 - I called a few times to ask about specific types of tests they accepted & other details I wanted to confirm online & they were beyond helpful.

WHERE TO STAY IN PUERTO RICO

ST. REGIS BAHIA BEACH RESORT

I don’t think I can overstate how stunning this luxury resort is. St. Regis is one of three luxury resorts on the island and would be the place to stay if you are looking for total and complete relaxation.

This tropical resort is situated on 483 acres right between the El Yunque National Forest (the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system) and Espíritu Santo River State Preserve.⁠

The jungle vibes are REAL here - you'll see everything from iguanas, lizards, birds, and even the resort’s two cats (Maura and Laura)⁠. And for all my bird lovers out there, Bahía Beach is the first and only resort in the Caribbean to be awarded the Gold Signature Sanctuary certification by Audubon International. ⁠

We stayed in the resort’s 1 bedroom luxury suite & it was HUGE. The main feature that had my jaw on the floor was the apartment-sized shower...⁠Click here for a little room tour.

Other important things to know about the hotel:

The resort’s spa is heavenly (we were greeted post-massage with a glass of champagne)
Its fine-dining restaurant is called Paros and features Mediterranean fare - order the lobster rice but be warned it’s MASSIVE (also love that it’s named after my favorite Greek island)
Looking for a bit of adventure? - the resort has sooo many activities from paddle boarding, kayaking and even tours of the rainforest and Bioluminescent Bay.
Every night at 6 pm the resort takes part in a St. Regis champagne saber ceremony which dates back to the battles of Napoleon Bonaparte, who famously opened champagne with his saber in both victory and defeat.

EL SAN JUAN HOTEL

If you’re looking to be closer to all the action you have to check out the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. This historic hotel is known for its epic weekend pool parties, plethora of bars/restaurants and the most dramatic hotel lobby on the island. There’s this massive glistening chandelier in the center of the lobby (the third largest of its kind in the world) that immediately catches your attention when you walk in.

History: The hotel was opened in 1958, and eventually became the hub for entertainment on the island, with a nightclub that brought in legends like Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli.

Room Categories:

Rooms in the Grand Tower have ocean, pool or city views
Villas (where we stayed), are located in different buildings around a pool, and have an outdoor space, large bathrooms, and complimentary breakfast.

Other important things to know about the hotel:

There are five restaurants: the Poolside Caña which serves local dishes was my favorite
In addition to the Chandelier Bar (make sure to have a drink here), the hotel has a rum bar, a wine bar, a cabaret bar, and a café specializing in local coffee
There are also three poolside and beachside bars, including one that's swim-up
If being closer to Old San Juan and just a short drive from the airport is important to you, this hotel will be PERFECT. But do be aware there are not really many walkable attractions from the hotel - a drive to Old San Juan will be about 25 min depending on traffic

WHAT TO DO IN PUERTO RICO

RENT A CAR - We rented a car for our stay and I’m BEYOND glad that we did. If you have any intention of moving around on the island to experience all the different areas and take in the main sights you will 100% need some wheels. It just makes things easier and it could get really expensive if you’re constantly paying for taxis or shuttles.

PRO TIP - I would however suggest taking a taxi into Old San Juan. The streets are narrow, traffic is HEAVY (especially on the weekend) and from the looks of what we saw walking around, parking can be annoying. So depending on where you’re coming from, if you can, snag a taxi or an Uber.

WALK AROUND OLD SAN JUAN - Give yourself at least half (if not a full day) to walk around colorful Old San Juan. There are about 400 Spanish-style colored buildings packed into only seven square blocks. Walking through the streets you’ll come across bars, restaurants, coffee shops, cute boutiques, and historic sites.

Fun fact: its considered a sign of wealth to paint your house another color aside from white

Make sure you visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro - aka El Morro. It was built in the 1500s as a military structure, and it’s now been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PS on your way towards the fort, you’ll most surely come across a park with tons of cats lounging and playing in the trees - for me this might have been the highlight of the OSJ visit haha.

From there get lost in the colorful streets - my favorite stretch of houses was at the intersection of Calle de San Sebastian and Calle De San Justo.

Once you’re done checking out the colorful homes, head west on Calle De San Sebastian and you’ll stumble upon La Factoria (where parts of the Despacito music video were filmed). Stay for one of their delicious cocktails and make sure to check out Collective Request - one of the cutest boutiques we shopped at.

GET A MASSAGE AT ST. REGIS - This is a treat yourself moment and 100% worth it

I’ll be honest, this trip was a bit more about relaxing at our resorts than exploring so I’m a bit sparse on recommendations than I’d like to in my normal destination guides, but I plan to return and once I do I’ll update with even more suggestions!

SOME THINGS I WISH WE DID BUT DIDN’T HAVE TIME

Hike El Yunque Rainforest
- Try Local Fare at the Luquillo Kiosks (once you leave El Yunque Rainforest)
Spend a day or two on Vieques Island where there’s a black sand beach & wild horses
Take a Bioluminescent Bay Kayaking Tour
- Mosquito Bay on Vieques is the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records
Bacardi Factory Tour

SHOP MY PUERTO RICO LOOKS

MANY OF MY OUTFITS ARE RENTED FROM RENT THE RUNWAY. USE CODE RTRALLEP FOR 40% OFF TWO MONTHS OF THEIR 8 OR 16 ITEM PLANS.

WHERE TO EAT IN PUERTO RICO

Jose Enrique - HANDS DOWN THE BEST MEAL OF THE ENTIRE TRIP. Make a reservation well in advance but it will be worth any extra effort it takes on your part to ensure you eat here on your trip to Puerto Rico (can you tell how passionate I feel about this restaurant hahaha). This restaurant is a shrine to elevated Puerto Rican home cooking, and even if you closed your eyes on blindly ordered from the menu, I guarantee you’ll have a DELICIOUS meal.

Spiga - a beloved Old San Juan gem that bakes its own sourdough loaves daily for sandwiches and toast, as well as other tasty baked treats.

Cafe Regina - super cute coffee shop (two locations on the island)

Santaella - The vibes are earthy, sexy, and chic, without having to try too hard.

Tia - the PERFECT brunch spot

WHERE TO DRINK IN PUERTO RICO

La Factoria - hands down one of the most widely known and well-respected spots to get cocktails on the island. The bar is full of secret passages that lead to six different bars within the bar (if that makes sense lol), each one is curated with a different ambiance and drink menu. They’ve also been named on The World's 50 Best Bars list 5 years in a row.

Jungle Bird - This tropical bar in the Santurce neighborhood styles its tiki influence after the native Taíno people, also a great place to go for dinner - Chef Paxx Caraballo Moll took over the kitchen after Hurricane Maria

When I left Puerto Rico I felt like I barely had time to even attempt to scratch the surface of exploring this versatile island. I will without a doubt be back to check off the rest of the items on my must-see list. But I hope this guide gives you a jumping-off point on what to see and do when you visit Puerto Rico.

If you have any questions on Puerto Rico please feel free to shoot me a DM on IG!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM PUERTO RICO ADVENTURE AND WANT A PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL ADVISOR TO HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS - CLICK HERE TO REACH OUT TO WORK WITH MINE & LINDA’S AGENCY SCORBY TRAVEL & CRUISE.

If you want to learn more about what it’s like to work with a travel advisor check out this post.