Venturing Beyond San Juan: A Fully Immersive Puerto Rico Adventure

Zip-lining through the mountains at ToroVerde is such an amazing experience and the perfect place for anyone looking to cross zip-lining off their bucket list. Eighty miles per hour at 1,200 feet in the air on a zip line about two miles in length may sound daunting, but the views are absolutely worth it. After your zip line adventure, take time to sit on the upper deck. Enjoy a meal with the $25 restaurant credit included with your initial purchase while taking in the stunning views of the mountains in the background.

El Pastillo Community has a beach called Playa El Pastillo. This beach is covered in coconut trees, with coconuts hanging low enough for you to harvest and drink straight out of! Get the chance to drink fresh coconut milk. See tons of crabs scurrying through the sand as well as a screen saver worthy view of the ocean. Definitely the perfect spot for couples or families trying to skip the crowded touristy areas.

Cañon Blanco is another secluded and quiet place away from the tourists that is perfect for adventurers. To get there, you'll have to drive through some pretty tight turns and narrow roads through the mountains, but you won't be disappointed. After a short walk from your parked car, you will be amazed by what you see. In front of you will be a peaceful stream, to your left, a small basin to swim in and to your right, jaw-dropping mountain view sitting perfect dead center in line with the cañon. For those who want even more, climb the rocks to the left and continue to venture in that direction. There are tons of spots to set your stuff down. Enjoy your own little personal and private cubby in the cañon, all with breath-taking views and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.

Head to Yauco and see the art gallery city Yaucromatic. Draped across the side of a mountain on a fairly steep incline, this community features houses painted in such vibrant colors, making it a must-see attraction, perfect for exploration. Once you reach the top, you'll be taken aback when you look out and see the entire City of Yauco and beyond.

Gozalandia Falls is a relaxing retreat. Although it has bit more people present, the area surrounding the waterfall has ample space for multiple families, couples or solo travelers to sit back and enjoy the view. Better yet, bring a swimsuit and swim in the pond at the bottom. You'll even have the ability to climb up and jump into or use a small section of the waterfall itself s a water slide to slide in.

Take the Puerto Rico Ferry to either Vieques or Culebra. Culebra has the insanely beautiful Flamenco Beach. If spending a day on the beach is for you, then the white sand and crystal blue water on the island of Culebra is your spot to visit. If you have any interest in seeing the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, Vieques is what you are after. Vieques is home to Mosquito Bay, where you can sign up for a tour to go kayaking in a clear-bottom kayak and watch the water light up beneath you.

La Ruta de Lechon is an absolute must for pork lovers visiting Puerto Rico, and really a hidden gem. This “pork highway” is home to multiple restaurants with you guessed it, pork on the menu. My personal restaurant of choice was Guavate. Such friendly faces greeted me, and the bartender was kind enough to share a shot with me, wishing me good travels for the rest of my trip. The food and service are an absolute 10/10.

The Eclipse Restaurant located at the Villa Montana Beach Resort is the perfect date night spot. With views of the ocean while dining, a well-designed menu, and a great staff, you can’t go wrong booking you and your significant other a reservation. I recommend booking sound 6–8 pm depending on the time of year for a sunset that will leave you in awe.

Dolce Salao is the restaurant to go to for anyone visiting Yaucromatic. This place has a cute, boutique, open-air courtyard where you can enjoy your meal, or if you prefer you can be seated inside the building and behold its beautiful interior design. I recommend coming during breakfast or lunch to enjoy their sweet and savory menu options.

Hacienda Don Jando is an awesome spot in Quebradillas. Puerto Rico is where the Piña Colada originated, and of all places this had the best one. Not only were the drinks great, but the food was out of this world. The dishes are authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, and it’s hard to choose what exactly to order. My suggestion? The Mofongos Rellenos Carne Frita. But seriously, you can’t go wrong with any of the options here. You’ll also be treated to somewhat of a show watching the chef hand-toss pizza dough at the front of the restaurant right in front of a wood burning pizza oven. Can’t recommend this place enough.

El Quenepo Vieques is one of the best restaurants on the island of Vieques. The restaurant sits right on the road with big open windows, giving you the chance to feel and embrace the atmosphere. It’s the perfect dinner spot and it’s just around the corner from the Mosquito Bay Kayaking Tours. The food is out of this world , and this was the hands down the nicest staff in all of Puerto Rico.