Coast and Cove in Puerto Rico
A Weekend in Puerto Rico with Jen, head of marketing
Last month, I celebrated my 30th birthday the best way I could have imagined- A weekend trip to Puerto Rico with my boyfriend… and my mom and sister. I opened up our romantic getaway to my other two favorite people and I was grateful I did. The four of us had an incredible time.
Prior to arriving, I fervently researched all possible accommodations. Typically, I’m a resort girl, but after seeing the prices of the properties that caught my eye, I began to explore Airbnbs on the island. After much thought on what I wanted out of our stay, we booked a two bedroom condo in San Juan. Link to AIRBNB
It ended up being perfect, and as an Airbnb first-timer, it may very well have converted me. It was clean, spacious, centrally located, and had a private parking spot for our rental car. Most importantly- There was a great little restaurant right behind the building that we may not have found, otherwise. El Charro ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-charro-san-juan) was low-key, mostly outdoors, and full of locals- pretty much the ideal situation. We headed there shortly after arriving in San Juan and after a delicious meal, we visited a casino to play some roulette. Listen, this was a trip full of firsts. First time in an Airbnb, first time gambling. You only turn 30 in paradise once.
The next day we took off to explore Old San Juan. Here was our biggest mistake of the trip: We drove our rental car instead of taking a 10 minute Uber. This resulted in my boyfriend zig-zagging through the narrow streets of OSJ in search of a parking spot while the rest of us bounced from breakfast spot to breakfast spot, practically begging for a reservation. Ultimately, he found a spot after 30 minutes of circling the town, and in the end, we sought refuge in a little spot selling poke bowls; First making a pit stop at their next door neighbor for some coffee. Word to the wise, save yourself some time and stress and Uber to Old San Juan, make a reservation at the cool breakfast spot, and wear sneakers. Yeah, wear sneakers. I was in sandals and regretted that decision about 10 minutes in. All that to say, Old San Juan was beautiful. We actually returned a second time, in the evening on our last night, and I preferred that much more. The cruise crowds had returned to their ships, the sun had set, and it was much more relaxing. And- we took an uber! Problem solved.
On Sunday, our second full day, we took the ferry to Culebra Island, followed by a taxi to Flamenco Beach. If I could do this all over again, I would have instead booked a group catamaran. So… book the catamaran! But if you are feeling up for an adventure, the ferry —> taxi —> Flamenco Beach is a big one. Just make sure you pack some Dramamine in your bag. Flamenco Beach is beautiful, the water is crystal clear. You’re able to rent umbrellas, snorkels, and the works upon arriving. They even have food stalls which make for a convenient lunch. We spent our whole day here before returning back to the mainland on the evening ferry. Before I forget- make sure you purchase your ferry tickets well in advance, online here (https://www.puertoricoferry.com/en/). They sell limited quantities online and if you miss the window, you may have to find a random person on the internet to buy yours in-person, prior to your arrival, like we did. Clearly, we have a lot of trust in the universe and those inhabiting it. Following a quick hour and a half ferry ride back, we had returned to the port in Fajardo, and we were hungry. It was well past dinner time by the time we made it to our car and we had a 40 minute drive ahead of us. After frantically Googling restaurants in the area we landed on Restaurante Don Esteban ( https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g612474-d14157804-Reviews-Restaurante_Don_Esteban-Fajardo_Puerto_Rico.html) and we loved it! Situated near the base of El Yunque Rain Forest, dining on their large patio feels like you are dining in the rain forest itself. It was beautiful, the staff was beyond friendly, and the classic Puerto Rican cuisine was the best we had on our trip. Highly recommend. After our long day, we were exhausted, and we headed back to our temporary home.
Monday was our last day for excursions and we packed a lot in. First, we drove out to Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park https://carabalirainforestpark.com/) for a two-hour ATV ride through their mountainous property at the base of the rain forest. Pack sunscreen and wear your water shoes because this tour is action-packed and stops at not one, but two natural swimming pools. Afterward, we drove to nearby Luquillo Beach. While the water at Luquillo may not be as clear as Flamenco’s; I think we may have enjoyed Luquillo more. It was low-effort and made up for it’s lack of beauty in it’s relaxing vibe. And let’s get one thing straight- this is Puerto Rico we’re talking about, everywhere is stunning in it’s own way. Luquillo Beach is vibrant, and with it’s countless food stalls and gift shops, there’s no shortage of entertainment. Make sure you enjoy a helado or two!
Before returning to San Juan, we made one final venture into the mountains to visit El Yunque’s Angelito Trailhead ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/elyunque/recarea/?recid=82974). All things considered, it was a relatively short hike to a beautiful natural pool. Once again- be sure to bring your water shoes. Your feet will thank you.
Our last day consisted of an early wakeup call and a 15 minute ride to the airport. We spent our flight home looking at pictures, already itching to go back. Puerto Rico was beyond what we expected; Everyone was welcoming, there was no shortage of beauty, and the weather was perfect. And of course,
We wore our C+C all weekend long!
