The last phone conversation I had with my father was over planning a trip to Puerto Rico. We were both eager to travel to the beautiful island and when I finally got the chance in June, it did not disappoint.

One thing I can still taste is the food. The seafood in Puerto Rico was ridiculous. I felt like I could taste the ocean and I loved it.

I stayed in a good location near Ashford Ave in San Juan and there were too many restaurants for my liking.

Cayo Blanco: I went here after a restaurant promoter on the street talked me into it. The food was unreal. I had their Paella and tried their red snapper. Everything from the presentation to the taste was mouth-watering.

My trip was booked fast and last minute. The Best Western Condado offered the most affordable rate, it was right on the beach (less than a 2 minute walk) and was close to town and Old San Juan. The hotel had great service, an outdoor pool, gym, and the partial sea-view room I got was huge and it was only for $175/night. I think I got lucky, compared to the other rates I’d been seeing.

Next Time:

I’m dreaming of staying at La Concha, Sheridan, Wyndam, and  El Conquistador, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. The other tourists I spoke to were staying at these hotels and raving about them.

Culture:

Old San Juan offers the Puerto Rican culture you can’t leave without seeing. The old historic streets were breathtaking in their own way. I’d hear music or performers on every other corner. From all the shops, to even more restaurants, and the colorful buildings, it made be forget about my  worries and feel like I took a step back in time.

Surrounding the National Historic Site,  I saw El Morro, The Old Fort, located in Old San Juan. It’s a seaside  16th century army post. The Castillo San Felipe was stunning and the Paseo de la Princesa is something to cross of your bucket-list. Opposite El Morro is the San Juan Cemetery, and although sad, the architecture and sea-side view is one-of-a-kind.

For $40.00 I suggest you buy the Old San Juan Walking Tour to cover everything in a short amount of time.

At Night:

There’s an abundance of bars and latin clubs, but La Plascita offers the vibrant food, music, and culture, you hear Puerto Ricans rave about.

For Fun:

El Yunque Rain Forest: Here you can go hiking, camping, bird watching, and then cool down in their beautiful water fall.

If you’re a thrill seeker, you go also go zip-lining in Mucaro and in El Yunque.

In La Parguera, you should go kayaking in the mangroves to get up close with rare birds, dolphins, crabs, lizards, and take a look at fish in the clear blue water.

Go on a charter, especially in Fajardo, to join in on fun water activities with others.

Beaches:

Condado beach has pretty sand and great views. The water isn’t the florescent blue I hope to see in the Carribean but it was still pretty. You can even rent a jet ski along the beach to ride around the island.

Culebra, although far from where I stayed, had the prettiest Flamenco beach, with crystal clear water.

The trip was relaxing. You know when sometimes you feel overwhelmed traveling because you have the need to see every historical sight? For some reason, there’s plenty to see in Puerto Rico, but I was relaxed and it seemed like everyone else around me was too. We just went with the flow and wanted to have fun.