Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Five Days
Exploring the Mountains
Head south from
San Juan
to
Bosque Estatal de Carite
on Hwy 184 for a morning of
beautiful hiking and swimming in icy pools (in nonholiday periods Carite is almost empty).
On your way, grab lunch from one of the
lechoneras
along the highway near
Guavate
.
Head to
Aibonito
next and try to see both coasts of the island from the Mirador La Piedra
Degetau.
The next day wind your way west along the island's windiest roads toward the
Reserva
Forestal Toro Negro
where you can rouse a park ranger (if you're lucky) and set off on a
couple of short hikes, or try your hand at mounting the highest peak in Puerto Rico.
Follow Rte 144 to the mountain town of
Jayuya
, where you can visit the surreal Museo
del Cemí and stock up on coffee at the Hacienda San Pedro. Sleep in
Adjuntas
and - if
your nerves can handle more blind corners - head north to
Lares
for the island's best ice
cream. The final stop on this surreal roller-coaster ride is the
Observatorio de Arecibo
,
before heading down the mountain back to the capital.
Seven Days
Puerto Rico's North Coast
SanJuan
makes a great hub for the first few days of exploring. Old San Juan, the beaches
on Isla Verde and the SoFo dining district are vibrant introductions to Puerto Rican culture
and history. A great day trip heading east will take in a wild diversity of island ecology
at
Las Cabezas de San Juan Reserva Natural 'El Faro'
and allows time to pick up a
vejigante
from
Loíza Aldea
. On the third day, head west after breakfast, taking the vine-
covered byways along the shore to
Playa Mar Chiquita
and lunch with the locals at a
beachside kiosk. Spend the next day underground - either on your own in the rugged caves
of
Bosque Estatal de Guajataca
or as part of a tour of the
Cavernas del Río Camuy
.
Choose your adventure for your final few days: either the moody breaks of Puerto Rico's
other
surfing capital,
Aguadilla
, or the chirping coquí frogs and misty mountain fog of a
lodge in karst country. Hustle back to San Juan and spend the last night downing mojitos
until you get the courage to hit the dancefloor to a soundtrack of live salsa.