Leaving To Puerto Rico Tomorrow, what should I see? 

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426) 01/06/2015 at 12:41 • Filed to: None

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It's that simple. Will have a rental car (aka the fastest car . . . . in the woorrrrlllddddd).

My citroen won't start > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/06/2015 at 12:42

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What did you rent?

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > My citroen won't start 01/06/2015 at 13:03

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Fiesta, I think.

coqui70 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/06/2015 at 21:25

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Old San Juan, the west coast beach towns (Aguadilla, Rincon, Cabo Rojo), La Parguera, El Yunque Rainforest, Arecibo Radiotelescope Observatory, Camuy Caverns, Castillo Serralles (Rum distillery), Ruta Panoramica (mountain scenic route), Hacienda Juanita (old coffee plantation), Old Town of San German (Porta Coeli), Town Square in Ponce and Mayaguez, Culebra Island.

Regisque > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 08:50

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If you can get out to Vieques, the bioluminescent bay is a must see. There are ferries that run from Fajardo.

aranxa1 > coqui70 01/07/2015 at 09:18

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The Ponce Art Museum

aranxa1 > coqui70 01/07/2015 at 09:29

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Playa Luquillo and the ratty looking food stalls on the road in front. Don't let let their appearance fool you. They have the best fried everything. And they're really, really cheap.

aranxa1 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 09:45

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Rincon on the west coast definitely. It's like an American ex-pat surfer community and everyone, including the locals speak English as the primary language. It's one of the best surfing spots in the world. Stick to the north end, Rt 413, nothing built up, nothing commercial, like Puerto Rico was when I was little. They have whale watching (the same whales there are the ones that summer off Cape Cod, horseback riding on the beach (not tacky, actually really awesome), parasailing, etc...West coast beaches are smaller then the sweeping beaches of the north coast, but have lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Skip Mayaguez (where I'm from) unless you need a Kmart. It's just another built up town on the water.

AlanJustAlan > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 09:55

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Do the hike into the rain forest, nice drive out there too....

aranxa1 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 10:00

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Zip lining in Utado is awesome. It's in the Tanama National Forest, very high in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere. Utado is in coffee growing country along the narrow road that runs along the top of the mountain range that runs across the middle of Puerto Rico. Here is where you will find the hiberbos, (farmers/locals) that still follow the old traditions and by and large don't speak English. Roads are very narrow, very rutted, very steep, and very fun if you've got the stomach for it!

jdjonesdr > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 10:05

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Come to the Dominican Republic on the ferry. Coqui70 listed a lot of great places too. The island is full of them once you get out of San Juan.

onlytwowheels > coqui70 01/07/2015 at 10:53

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Do the bioluminescent bay tour too.

http://www.biobay.com/

Brian, The Life of > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 11:33

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You have a car? Drive to Arecibo!

OneFastPuertoRican > coqui70 01/07/2015 at 12:26

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Estos. Todo estos.

This. All of this.

OneFastPuertoRican > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 12:28

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If you're feeling especially brave, ask a local for a good lechonera up in the mountains.

Whole roasted pig on a spit.

get-nick > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 12:39

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Uh, i think you're thinking of Cuba with the old vintage cabs and cars.

On topic, I was just in PR in March. Culebra is a must. It's the #3 beach in the world.

This is my personal picture of Flamenco Beach. If you do go, you must also visit Zoni Beach.

get-nick > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 12:42

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Oh, and cock fights are legal too. I went just to see what it was like. So crazy. This is Club Gallistio.

Jizanthapus > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 22:21

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A sign that reads "Welcome To Anywhere But Puerto Rico".

Nah, I'm kidding.

I know nothing of this place.

Satan's Advocate > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/07/2015 at 23:33

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Ponce, because the rest is just parking.

trenchcoat4hire > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/08/2015 at 04:11

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Outside of San Juan, just across the bay and a bit south is a place called Bayamón. It's home to one of my all time favorite rums, Ron del Barrilito. The same family has been making it since 1880 at their estate- the Hacienda Santa Ana. The don't distill the rum there anymore, they buy raw distilled alcohol from local producers like Bacardi, but they blend it and age it there on site in old wine and sherry barrels. This is unique, because most other distilleries on the island use old whiskey barrels for their aging process. The end result is two classes of rum; the Two Star- aged 3 years, and the Three Star- a blend of barrels aged 6 to 10 years. Both are delicious but the Three Star really is great. It almost comes across like a cognac or brandy, I'm assuming because of the wine and sherry barrels.

The real cause to visit the Hacienda isn't just sightseeing, they sell the rum there on site, and at a really compelling price. I pay about 45 dollars at my local liquor purveyor for a bottle of Three Star, I've heard you could buy three bottles for less than that at the Hacienda.

A link to more info- http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/hacienda-santa…

coverttuna > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 01/08/2015 at 07:43

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This:

http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/au…

tk-421 > get-nick 01/08/2015 at 08:21

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Yeah, I don't support animal fighting, but I was in a country where cockfighting was common and went to one. (Girlfriend wanted to go, ironically.)

It was quite an experience, and made me understand why I don't think it's necessary.

I did find it amusing, in a dark way, that there was a chicken on a stick vendor there, and yup, if the bird lost badly enough, it got eaten.

get-nick > tk-421 01/08/2015 at 10:44

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I'm from Seattle, so we are one of the liberal capitals of the country. There isn't much fighting of anything here. I know in the south dog fighting is popular in some areas. It just doesn't make sense to me.

But I was there with my girlfriend as well. Apparently this place is like the Madison Square Garden of cock fighting and it was super bowl weekend. People were flying in from Cuba, Miami, etc for that weekend. It was the biggest betting weekend of the year. It was crazy to see and imho, a great cultural experience. I spent $5 to get in and $5 on two beers. We left after about 40 minutes and 3 fights.

ERN > get-nick 01/08/2015 at 19:18

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Sure is nicer than the Philippines.....

get-nick > ERN 01/08/2015 at 20:57

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It's where the pro athletes, business professionals, and old money goes to gamble.

ACESandEIGHTS > aranxa1 01/09/2015 at 15:37

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The very east end (the right end, as you face them) of the kioskas is a fried food cafeteria and doesn't have a name really, but is probably like Kioska 47 or whatever, and shouldn't be missed. The deep-fried lobster pastries are like $2 or something ridiculous and a couple of those with some other fried stuff along with a pop or a pina or something and you're all set.

The very west end (left) has Jefe Burger and the chorizo burger shouldn't be missed. IF YOU GO AT NIGHT, stay on the west end since the east side becomes the third world and increasingly sketchy. Luquillo beach is nice (that is, the uh... Monserrat paid entry beach I think it's called) though there's no in-and-outs so bring lunch or walk to the kiosks and walk back with food.

It's too bad the only virgin sort of beaches there are in Vieques and Culebra (not even the Puerto Rico I think of, not Borinquen, but more like P.R. V.I.), but I still love the northeastern coast. Lots of rustic spots to take a dip, set up the chair in the sand, have a drink or eight, wonder just how cold it is in the midwest.

Honestly though, spend a day walking San Juan Viejo, and shoot stay there at El Convento or somehwere else if you can, grab a roll and a lemonade at Mallorca, walk along the bay at night. And Coqui mentioned that mountain highway... yes, hit that. My new bride and I drove a convertible through the hills years ago and it was awesome. And speaking of coquis, hopefully you can keep your windows open at night or chill on the balcony and listen to the surf... and the frogs. Super relaxing.

I am totally bummed I didn't find this thread until days after you'd left.

samssun > Brian, The Life of 01/13/2015 at 07:22

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Drive *in* Arecibo