We recently spent a wonderful week on the island of Puerto Rico and I wanted to put together a small travel guide full of our experiences and recommendations. This was my 1st time visiting Puerto Rico and we stayed in San Juan. The island currently has no COVID travel restrictions, does not require a passport to get to and most of the locals speak a mix of Spanish and English which makes this a great travel destination in my opinion.
Transportation:
We flew direct from Orlando to Puerto Rico on Jet Blue and only had a slight delay with our departure flight. Otherwise, we were very satisfied with the experience, given all the horror stories currently circulating about travel. We used The Parking Spot to park our car long term at the airport. This saved us money and they provide a free shuttle to and from the airport. In Puerto Rico we used Uber multiple times every day and had an overall great experience with that as well. We never waited long for a driver and opted for the luxury ride when possible to ensure comfortable travel. Be warned though – they are CRAZY drivers on the island! haha
Where we stayed:
We stayed at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan and were very satisfied with our stay. The property and room were both clean, comfortable and felt very safe. The property has several restaurants, multiple pools, two hot tubs, a swim up bar, beach access with chairs and towels, and hammocks and lounge chairs. There is live music in the lobby bar a few nights a week, a gym overlooking the beach, tennis courts and a spa. They also offered free morning yoga while we were there which I participated in and it was the perfect way to start the day. The Caribe Hilton is also where the Pina Colada was invented and you can’t leave the island without have one or two or three…!
Where we ate:
Sazon Cocina Criolla – Located in Distrito T-Mobile which is a super fun hot spot in San Juan with vibrant music, a movie theater, stage for performances and multiple restaurants and bars.
El Patio del Nispero – Situated in the open air courtyard of the well known Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan. This was a perfect stop for a lite and refreshing lunch and the hotel is beautiful to explore.
Senor Paleta – The most delicious gourmet pop shop in Old San Juan.
La Carreta – Fabulous for breakfast/brunch in Old San Juan.
Serafina – We ventured to this spot for pasta on a date night. It is a part of the La Concha Resort & Hotel.
Chandelier Bar – Stunning spot to grab a drink & dessert at the bar inside of the Fairmont El San Juan. You can then venture into the casino if you’re feeling lucky or catch a show at the old time cabaret.
Lots 23 – This is a fun food truck park that offers a wide variety of food from local fare to cheese burgers and fries.
Things to do:
Explore Old San Juan: We opted for a walking tour which took us to Castillo San Cristobal and through the streets of the old city. It was a great way to learn about the history of the island and get a feel for the way the locals live. We opted to stay in the city after the tour to explore more on our own. Make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes and maybe a map to keep on track!
El Yunque Rainforest: We took a guided tour of San Juan’s most sacred rainforest that included transportation and a short hike to a river for swimming. It was a good way to see a small amount of El Yunque but we were slightly disappointed we did not get to do more while there. We have been told there are amazing tours of the rainforest on four wheelers and we would look into that if we were to go back!
Ron de Barrilito – There are several rum distilleries on the island including the famous Casa Bacardi. If you plan to visit Casa Bacardi order tickets in advance as they sell out quickly. We opted for a tour and tasting at Ron de Barrilito which happens to be Puerto Rico’s oldest rum distillery and is less crowded so we were able to have a one on one private tour.
Salsa Dancing: We took a salsa dancing class one night and it was such a blast! There was live band and our instructor kept things simple for all levels of dancers. I would highly recommend adding this to your list.
Shopping: We went to two different malls within Puerto Rico; Plaza Las Americas and The Mall of San Juan. I loved both of them and found lots of good things. Plaza Las Americas has two of my favorite stores, Mango and Zara and is one of the largest malls I have EVER been in!
Relax at the beach: Caribe Hilton and many of the resorts on the island are located on the beach which is beautiful and a fun way to relax. Old San Juan is located on the Atlantic side of the island but there are day trips to the Caribbean if that is something you are up for. The island is only about 35 miles wide which makes this a very easy option.
This trip was one for the books and I am still dreaming of sipping Pina Coladas pool side in paradise. Let me know if you have any questions or are looking for specific recommendations that I may have missed!
