Hey everyone! So over spring break I went to Puerto Rico with my college on what we call an immersion project. These trips are not vacation but a type of learning trip. I have been on two different immersion projects with my school and I never want to travel any other way again. Its a great way to do it. When I went to PR, the technical focus of the trip was debt, economy, and statehood so we talked to different politicians and government employees about this issue. However, we also had a smaller focus on sustainable tourism. Because of this, we really tried to avoid the beach because PR has so much more to offer... and IT WAS SUPER EASY! PR is an amazing place to explore with so much to offer outside of the beach. Although I went with my school, our programs are mostly open to the public so... here are a few great ways to explore PR only spending 2 hours on the beach.
1. Walk around Old San Juan
Old San Juan has so much to offer. Pictured above you can see some of its amazing attributes! I loved walking around to see all of the colorful buildings and exploring the shops that are available. My friends and I spent about 3 hours doing just this one afternoon, but we could have easily spent an entire day. It is such a beautiful town and the buildings highlight this. Around every corner might be a fun umbrella street where you walk along umbrellas strung from rooftops or a fun little square to sit and enjoy a smoothie or look at your surroundings! Support the local shop owners and artists!
2. Enjoy the food!
Old San Juan has so many classics that you have to try while there. From healthy smoothies to paletas, there is always a fun surprise waiting. Senor Palteas is a fun little shop you can find all over San Juan. Look for their colorful truck to lead the way to this fun dessert. They are delicious and adorable.
3. Go to the forts of Old San Juan
The town has a very fascinating history if you take the time to read about it or listen to a local guide. The forts that sit on the coast are no exception. Once inside, you can experience the history of the town by reading plaques, listening to tour guides, or just walking around on your own. On top of that, I promise you will find many Instagram worthy picture spots! I know I did.
4. Leave San Juan
There is so much more to PR than San Juan, even though San Juan is absolutely amazing! Visit some of the smaller towns outside the city. You would be surprised how different the atmosphere is out there. Loiza is a small town with a unique history that is incredibly close to San Juan. In Loiza, you can visit a cave, and go inside with a cute hard hat addition to your outfit, that was used to hide runaway slaves way back when. You can also talk to the community center that sits right next to the cave. Many schools around PR will take their students here to learn about the community that has a very different history. Local women have booths set up selling handmade souvenirs that are completely different than anything else you might find. Personally I bought a doll and earrings but there was so much more! You can also take traditional bomba dance lessons at this center or explore their museum which highlights African heritage in PR. Nearby, you can find a local artist who is more than happy to give anyone a tour of his studio (and sell some work at the end). This is where I recommend going to the beach. About 10 minutes outside of Loiza, is a beach where parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie was filmed. I mean if you are going to spend time at a beach might as well be one that made it on to the big screen.
5. Toro Negro
Possibly one of my favorite parts of my PR trip was leaving San Juan to travel to Toro Negro (took around 2 hours). When we arrived, we met with the Amigos de Bosque Toro Negro, a sustainable tourism company. They took us on a beautiful hike that ended at the highest watch tower in the area. We could see for miles and the view was absolutely breathtaking. My icon picture is from the top of the mountain. It was a fairly easy hike, anyone could do it (no hiking experience necessary). I had forgotten sneakers or hiking boots so I did the hike in keds and was fine! It was wonderful to join the amigos on the hike as they were able to stop along the way to tell us about the local flora and fauna and the history of the site. Before we started, they even played a song to ask the mountain permission to hike and to thank if for allowing us entry. After, they gave us a small tour of the area, where there was a pool about to open before the hurricane. The pool is now closed again until it can be fixed. They explained all of the damage in the area from hurricane Maria and how it affected the locals. It was a sad yet fascinating and important conversation. Later, they took us to a small natural pool in the mountain for us to swim. It was freezing (we were up in the mountains after all) but absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend the adventure!
6. San Salvador
Again, venture outside of San Juan to another impactful experience. We traveled to the rural town of San Salvador, outside of Caguas and not too far south of San Juan. Here, we met with a group who is working to create a community garden and museum. This project began after the effects of the hurricane. In small areas such as San Salvador, you find the most concentrated pockets of people who never received the aid they needed. These are the areas where people lost power for the longest, some still lack power. The local community decided to take actions to prevent their neighbors from facing as severe problems again. They can work in the garden and even sleep there once it is up and running. The staff there is kind and always welcoming people, such as my group, ready to spend the morning or day helping out in the garden. I promise it will not all be work, as rewarding as that experience is. They also have a wooden type of swing where several people climb into a structure and walk around a pole while others sit below and have a fun ride. They might also take you on a short walk to another natural swimming hole and waterfall. The male guide may even teach you how to climb the waterfall if you are lucky enough. It was a lot warmer than the water in Toro Negro and just as fun! I will forever cherish this amazing memory.
7. Go listen to live music!
Music is an important part of the culture in PR and so a trip to PR would not be complete without experiencing some live music. I found a unique outside bar on the streets of San Juan. People were dancing in the streets, drinking, and listening to a live band! It was a spectacular time that partially made the trip.
8. On the same note as above: Enjoy the nightlife
San Juan has a great nightlife with lots of different style bars made for everyone. However, beware of age restrictions. Most bars in PR serve alcohol to anyone over 18 but some wait until 21 or even 24. Just be careful when you walk in. But go out and find the perfect bar scene for you. My favorite was a bar playing more traditional music where I could sit, talk to the bartender, and enjoy a really good daiquiri or pina colada.
9. Protest art
Many people on the street simply walk by graffiti and see it as dirty. They want it to be removed. However, there is a strong movement of people who see graffiti as the protest art is can be. In San Juan, there is a space where protest art is allowed to be drawn on the side of the walk along the river. It is beautiful and informative about the feelings of the people. However, not all is legal. All over the city, you can find graffiti engaging in protest art. Why not take an afternoon to walk around and admire the artwork the people of San Juan have worked so hard on. It is always interesting, creative, and sometimes beautiful.
I hope these tips were helpful! I absolutely loved my trip to Puerto Rico and I hope you do too! Finally I would like to talk about accommodations. Although I was lucky enough to be able to stay with a host family (pictured above), not everyone has that opportunity. However, I strongly believe that to make the most of your trip and to avoid exploiting the locals, you should not stay in one of the giant hotels along the beach. Find a nice apartment for rent or a fun hostel! Just please try to make your trip as sustainable and beneficial for the locals as possible!
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