Welcome foodies, beach bums, history buffs and adventure junkies. From big game fishing and surfing to golf and rainforest hikes Puerto Rico is an island ready for active travelers. And when it’s time for softer adventures, the focus shifts to Michelin-starred restaurants, rum tastings, classical music festivals, art galleries, museums and forts. Perhaps more than any other destination in the Caribbean, La Isla del Encanto—The Island of Enchantment has something for everyone.
1 Taste of the Tropics
Widely recognized as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is both a hotbed of global culinary trends and a showcase for homegrown comida criolla. The local cuisine takes its queues from Africa, Spain and the New World, with traditional dishes such as mofongo, fried sweet plantains, an array of root vegetables and roasted pork. In recent years, the island has embraced the Nuevo Latino movement that introduced the world to a new wave of tropical flavors, colors and spices. Today, the menu could include anything from Asian, Italian, and Turkish to Thai, Spanish and French recipes. Not to be missed are criollo dishes like chuletas can-can and arroz con gandules.
Mofongo is a Puerto Rican favorite. Made from seasoned green plantains, it is traditionally drizzled with a broth-based sauce and served with meat or seafood. Photo: iStock
2 Salsa Clubs
Old San Juan is just the first stop on the island’s salsa circuit. While there, head to Nuyorican Café for your first lesson and move on to Santurce for weekends and join the passionate local crowd. When you are ready to roam farther afield, there are many options, as resorts and clubs all across the island host weekly salsa nights.
3 The Spanish Virgin Islands
Sitting between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are a group of 20 small islands that have become a vacation playground for Puerto Ricans and travelers in the know. The two larger and most frequented isles of Culebra and Vieques are known for their beaches, laid back atmosphere and small town appeal. Nature lovers will enjoy turtle watching, snorkeling and hiking.
Culebra Island is known for its white sand beaches. Popular Flamenco Beach sits on the island’s northern shore within a protected bay. Photo: Christian Wheatley/iStock
4 Local Talent
Puerto Rico is a haven for the arts. In addition to an abundance of local talent, there is a steady influx of painters, sculptors and musicians from around the world who come to the island to find inspiration and participate in a vibrant art community that has spawned an equally lively and impressive gallery scene.
5 The Old City
Nowhere else in the Caribbean can you find an intact authentic historic region as the 16-block district of Old San Juan. Though designated as a World Heritage Site, this vibrant neighborhood is no museum piece. Visitors can stay up all night listening to jazz and salsa, dine on international cuisine and shop for exquisite jewelry, locally made masks and handcrafted furniture.
The Colonial-era buildings of Old San Juan are designated as a National Historic Landmark District, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo: iStock
6 Spanish Fortification
During the 400 years Puerto Rico spent under Spanish rule, the territory was under constant attack from the British, French and Dutch. This lead to the building of some of the most impressive fortifications in the Caribbean. The first was La Fortaleza, which was built between 1532 and 1540 to protect San Juan Harbor. Soon after its completion, the century-long task of building the massive El Morrow fortifications began. Today, this impressive network of walls, earthworks and fortified structures overlooks the entrance to the harbor, and the crashing surf of the Atlantic. From impressive to discreet, these and other Colonial-era fortifications on the island will fascinate any history buff.
7 Adventures Await
From coral reefs and surf zones to rainforests and mountain heights, Puerto Rico’s wild places are an ideal setting for a wide range of outdoor adventures. The highlands are criss-crossed by hiking trails, and riddled with caves and fast-flowing streams. Adventurers can fly through the lush jungle harnessed in on a zip line, rappel down a canyon wall or explore an underground river. Closer to the coast, outfitters offer everything from horseback tours and kayak trips to scuba diving and big game fishing.
Cueva Ventana, aka Window Cave, takes its name from the cavern’s entrance that frames dramatic views of the Arecibo river valley. Photo: iStock
8 Away From the Crowds
Once visitors move outside the urban hustle of San Juan and the surrounding metro area, they will discover another side of the island, where life moves slowly and in tune with Puerto Rican traditions. To discover this other side of the island, simply follow the Ruta Panoramic, a 165-mile stretch of scenic highway that follows the spine of the Central Cordillera, winding through high ridges and switchbacks leading to scenic viewpoints.
9 Surf Central
Puerto Rico came on the wave riding radar in 1968 when Rincón hosted an international surfing contest. In the years since, the island has become an essential stop for anyone heading to the Caribbean for a surfing safari. Winter months bring large swells to the north coast, attracting both locals and visiting riders to famous breaks such as Maria’s at Rincón and Shacks at Isabela.
Winter swells draw surfers to Puerto Rico’s western coast, where sites such as Rincón’s Domes Beach boast some of the best waves in the Caribbean. Photo: iStock
10 A Reason to Party
Puerto Rican love a good party and nowhere else in the Caribbean is there more celebrations, whether it’s a familiar gathering or an island-wide festival. The streets of Old San Juan are packed with revelers from around the island for the San Sebastian Street Festival in January and city-wide celebrations of Carnival take place in Ponce and Loiza.
