Who's been to Puerto Rico?

"Jagvar" (Jagvar) 02/10/2014 at 10:03 • Filed to: None

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Just booked a much-needed, four-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan this spring! I'm pretty psyched. I've never been to Puerto Rico before, and it looks beautiful (at least the tourist-friendly parts are). Who's been before, and what are the can't-miss things to do/see in PR? I'm told I need to see the historic Spanish forts, but that's the only tip I have so far.

offroadkarter > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:06

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I've been to San Juan twice and I'm going back again in like a month.

DO NOT ROAM AROUND

Seriously, the touristy area and old san juan is fine, but once you leave the "safe zone" you're on your own. I've never seen so many bad drivers and stray dogs roaming on rooftops in my life. Ever seen a yamaha rhino with plug and play HID's rip down a highway at 50+MPH? Well theres a good chance you will, because I did on my first trip.

Also everyone goes to Sénor Frogs while in San Juan

Jagvar > offroadkarter 02/10/2014 at 10:11

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My American Lit professor was killed while vacationing in Bermuda. He was struck by a speeding motorcyclist while crossing the street. So you'd better believe I'm going to be looking both ways.

McMike > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:13

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Been there twice (sort of)

I was born on the NW corner of PR when there used to be an USAF base. We decided that we would go back for my 40th birthday, and visit. (Marriott had converted the old hospital into a hotel)

We rented a car in San Juan and drove straight there, and spent our time on that side of the island. I can't say much about SanJuan, we only stayed there one night before we left.

offroadkarter > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:13

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Wow, and Bermuda is one of the cleanest/nicest islands I've been to. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere!

Slight OT: Last time I was in San Juan, A guy in a dinan tuned E39 M5 went coasting through the old streets. Was certainly different to see that roaming around.

Leadbull > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:14

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Check out Castillo de San Cristobal. Besides being neat in and of itself, the views are great from there.

N/A POWAAAHH > offroadkarter 02/10/2014 at 10:18

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That sounds AWESOME!

Brian, The Life of > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:30

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Check out the Arrecibo radio antenna. Very interesting tour and especially cool for Bond fans. "Bio Bay" near Fajardo is really neat. They have kayak tours that start after dusk so you can watch the bioluminescent critters glow as you paddle by. The Serrallès Castle in Ponce is a super neat tour of the family home of the rum magnet.

Slave2anMG > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:35

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I'll be down there the first week of March on business...I get down there once or twice a year. I don't drive there...don't need to. I don't really need to...the drivers aren't great and my associates drive me where we need to go.

Old San Juan is really neat, very European feeling in a lot of ways. The rain forest parks, I'm told, are great to visit.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:39

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Well I live here!

The historic district of San Juan is a pretty good tourist spot. The Castillo San Cristobal and San Felipe del Morro are the two forts, with El Morro being the larger and more visited one.

Restaurants I'd recommend are Vaca Brava for the meat, Raices and Cafe Puerto Rico for traditional Puertoriccan cuisine, Pirilo if rustic pizza is your thing, Old Harbor Brewery for the selection of beers and El Hamburger for pretty good mini burgers with a great ocean view.

I've heard good things about Marmalade but I've never eaten there myself. I have also been it's quite expensive though.

The driving gets pretty hectic so just be alert when driving about.

offroadkarter > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:47

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Oh yeah I got distracted

As far as things to do, the first time I went to San Juan I went horseback riding in the rainforest. You'll get to see the rainforest and what the real puerto rico looks like as you travel along the highway.

The second time I went, I only roamed around town with my brother and had to do some homework for one of my comp classes by using the wifi at a burger king. So not as exciting.

The Dummy Gummy > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 10:57

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I stayed literally right around the corner from the Ritz. Down the street from you there is a place called Lupi's Mexican Grill. I really enjoyed this place. It was cheap good food.

When you get into old San Juan after visiting the castle (absolutely stunning there btw), if you like beer hit up La Taberna Lupulo. This place had a wide varieties of beers and really just an awesome atmosphere. You can walk to there from the castle, its about 10-15minutes walk at most. El Patio De Sam is right around the corner from Lupulo and they serve a pretty tasty Mofongo. Just to warn you though it is loaded with garlic so you will smell like that for a while.

There is a zip lining place about an hour and a half from the Ritz basically in the rain forest. It is very secluded and pretty much in some guys back yard (it is safe though I swear). The road is rough getting there, but we made it in a Hyundai Sonata. It is very much worth the money and trip. You can get a package where they will take you zip-lining and then into a cave on a raft. I recommend both. When I have a chance to look up the companies name I will reply with it.

El Alambique Bar was kind of a fun local bar on the beach (basically.. just across the street). I went there to catch a game and some cheep beer. I didn't have the food so I can't really comment on that. There is a restaurant on Calle Amapola street near Hotel La Playa (not complete) that had great scenery, but just okay food. The margaritas were really weak also. Also stay clear of Brother Jimmies. I honestly didn't expect bbq to be good there and my intuition was right. I twas awful. I only went because my wife really wanted to hit it up (I hate going to chain restaurants on vacation).

Have fun!

Edit: I've attached a picture from the castle. It doesn't do it justice since there was an overcast and this is off my phone not my actual camera.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 11:29

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Lived there for a few years. You should definitely check out the rain forest if you get a chance. The drivers are pretty bad, definitely.

You can also try to go to the Arecibo Observatory. It was featured in Goldeneye.

Raphael Orlove > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 11:34

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I've only been in Southwest PR, so all I can say is keep an eye out for sweet old Japanese cars - tons of AE86s and assorted other things still road around there. It's the only place I've ever seen a first-gen Colt, and it was pootling through highway traffic.

Nonster > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 11:35

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you should go check out El Yunque rain forest. I went hiking up the mountain and it was pretty awesome, some really great views

Nonster > Nonster 02/10/2014 at 11:40

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Oh yeah definately go spend some time in Old San Juan too. Here's some pics from my trip there.

Jagvar > Nonster 02/10/2014 at 11:42

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Awesome. I'll hike any chance I get. Love it!

demonsun > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 12:44

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I go down every year for Christmas/New Years, and I always stay on Culebra. It's a nice little island surrounded by little islands with some of the best beaches in the world. It's also relatively cheap to get to, with a cab ride to fajardo from san juan and the ferry to the island only costing around 30-50.

And I second the other advice in the comments... Tourist San Juan is safe, Anywhere else is sketchy...

demonsun > demonsun 02/10/2014 at 12:45

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This is the big beach that most everybody knows
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Rev…

911e46z06 > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 12:56

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Go fishing. Don't wait 'til you're there, you'll end up on some shitty boat (never the one they tell you you'll have when you book) with a shitty captain. Get online and find a good captain.

Jagvar > 911e46z06 02/10/2014 at 13:23

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This guy looks legit!

911e46z06 > Jagvar 02/10/2014 at 13:35

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Nah. He needs a bigger boat.

Jaaaag > Jagvar 02/11/2014 at 10:21

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Go to El Yunque. It's a real rain forest and it's beautiful. Also, go for a drink and a look around El Convento, a hotel that used to be a convent. It's a staggeringly beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture that drips with old world elegant charm.