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There seems to be so many other " sides" to PR other than San Jaun.
I wanted to book air BNB in san juan but also wanted a base to explore the west and the south of the island .. any suggestions for towns where I can book air bnb for a day or 2 ??
Also ... Any towns in the island that you would miss ???
Book a condo in Old San Juan for say two nights but also get out of the town and visit this great island. Depends on what interest you, the following are some of the locations you might interest you:
A day trip from SJ is a visit to Cayey, one hour south, and enjoy the Lechoneras or roasted pork restaurants. The most famous of which is Los Pinos which was made popular by shows like those from Antony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern.
El Yunque National Park (a must IMHO). You can get an Airbnb/VRBO rental in nearby Luquillo, if not outright near the park entrance.
Rincon, on the west coast of PR is famous for its winter surfing. it is a nice little beachy town with a good ex-pat population during the winter. On your way there you can visit the caves of Camuy and the nearby observatory. After Rincon, you can visit nearby San German's centuries old Porta Coeli Church, and then drive down to Cabo Rojo.
Ponce, about 2 hours south of SJ on a mainly highway ride. Has the Caribbean's biggest art museum. The Mansion Serralles is worth going as well. A good accommodation might be hard to come by in Ponce though. If might be able to incorporate Ponce into your plans as part of Rincon-Cabo Rojo itinerary.
Culebra or Vieques (also known as the Spanish Virgin islands). Takes a bit of efforts to get there but worth it to spend 2 or 3 days relaxing on various island's beaches. There is a one hour ferry that departs from Fajardo.
Lastly, if you do decide to stay close to San Juan, in addition to OSJ, you can also spend a few days in Condado. Much more modern and has a bit of a South Beach feel (albeit less hectic) to it.
To do all these self-tours outside of town, you obvious would need a rental car and a bit of planning.
I second the Ponce suggestion, but just for a day. The drive from San Juan is really nice, through rolling mountains (hills?). The center of Ponce is small but nice to walk around for 30 or 40 minutes. Some nice architecture. The best part is La Guancha, which is a cool boardwalk area.
As for San Juan, a couple days/nights in Old San Juan. Party at La Factoria. Condado is pretty boring IMO. Spend a day at the beach if you're into that, but otherwise, I'd pass. Check out the Santurce neighborhood, both day and night.
I have family in Ponce and a second home in Rincon..The Art Museum in Ponce is really cool as is La guancha as someone already mentioned..
I favor the West Coast but heading down to Luquillo on the old roads from SJ is fun.
someone mentioned the ride to Ponce from SJ..you feel like you are on top of the world with clouds actually below you..
look for the Monumento del Jibaro statue high in the hills, around Cayey.. a tribute to the hard working farmers of Agrarian PR.
I have traveled extensively over the years.. Europe Asia Hawaii, Guam, The Phillipines etc.
I made my first trip to PR in 1997 and have returned every year at least once a year..
You will be hard pressed to find a more lovely Island with such friendly and unpretentious people anywhere in this world.
Hope you have a great time.
Just a little clarification from the great suggestion to visit the lechonerrias (Piglet's roasted over wood fires on giant rotisseries). The bulk of the best classic establishments aren't really in Cayey but in a little country mountain town nearby called Guavate. if you set your GPS on Guavate you can't miss the main "pig restaurant row".
Just a little clarification from the great suggestion to visit the lechonerrias (Piglet's roasted over wood fires on giant rotisseries). The bulk of the best classic establishments aren't really in Cayey but in a little country mountain town nearby called Guavate. if you set your GPS on Guavate you can't miss the main "pig restaurant row".
tis true...parking is pretty crazy mountainside..but well worth the trip.
route 10 from arecibo to ponce is a drive that you will remember.
not sure if you can still visit the Arecibo Observatory. Near it are the Cuevas de Camuy. worth a visit. get there early.
Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park is that area. i dont think i have ever been. but if its anything like the Tibes one, you will see ceremonial ball parks, zemis and other neat stuff.
san german has a super old church where Maria from Sesame Street got married. big bird was in attendance.
El Cañon San Cristobal - you wont have time to visit. is a secret.
joyuda - boqueron: sea food restaurant row and 'el poblado' beach town party place on the weekends. eat oysters and drink beer in cabo rojo. walk on the short boardwalk thru the mangroves in boqueron. go see El Faro and the Salinas that gave the place its name (old salt pans with red water due to some mircoorganism).
mayaguez has a zoo if you have kids
steps beach in rincon, decent snorkeling in the morning before the tide. good for lil kids due to protected tidal pools.
aguadilla has a parque acuatico, again for the kids.
anasco, is a quiet town with a plaza and not much else. tres hermanos beach is nice if it hasnt rained recently.
suggestion - find out if there is any fiestas patronales going on anywhere on the island and go check it out
My Place is Rincon is not far from Steps playa..
Beautiful sunsets there, especially in March.
yeah or at a roadside stand in a curve by a mango tree buying a pincho and a medalla after a rain storm when the asphalt is still steaming and the air smells like garden hose
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