- 1) Old San Juan
- Distance: 8 mins by car
- Cost: Varies
- Duration: 1 - 2 Days + Evenings
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- A must visit! Travel back in time along the cobblestone streets. If you are traveling around Jan 20, enjoy the week-long famous celebration of San Sebastian Festival. Lots of music, parade & locals dancing on the street. The entire old city fills with live and spirit!
  
- Visit El Morro & San Cristobal Fortresses (1/2 - 1 Day)
- By touching the walls of both fortresses, it will remind you the history and wars they stood for. Both fortresses offer hidden passages for you to explore. In June, bring along a kite & join the locals for the annual Volantín Festival. Let your kite take flight on the wide-open breezy slopes in front of El Morro Fortress.
  
- Casa Blanca & Fortaleza (2 - 4 hours)
- A short tour of Casa Blanca will show you how Ponce de Leon used to live in the 16th century. The guides are very detailed and informative. This nice little tour is not to be missed. Or enjoy colonial interiors and stained glasses in Fortaleza where our governor of Puerto Rico lives and works. There is also a nice garden overlooking the bay of San Juan.
   
- Sofo & Nightlife (Evenings)
- Dine stylishly near the SOuth of FOrtaleza street in restaurants such as Dragonfly, Parrot Club, Agua Viva and Tantra (belly dancers).
- For nightlife, try Nuyorican Cafe (live music of Spanish Rock, Salsa, Meregue & Raggaeton), Rumba (Salsa & Meregue) & Club Laser (young crowd). Also there are parties near the dock and in the touristy Señor Frog & Hard Rock Cafe. Besides, don't forget to ask us about the hidden cafes & budget criollo restaurants where the real sanjuaneros gather.
  
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- 2) Bacardi Rum Factory
- Distance: 20 mins by car
- 45 mins by ferry & bus
- Cost: FREE!
- Duration: 1 - 2 hrs
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- Get a free tour of the facility & rum tasting. You could get there by car, or take the AquaExpress ferry ($0.25) to Cataño from OSJ & then take the free bus provided by Barcardi.
  
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- 3) Shopping
- Distance: Plaza Las Americas - 6 mins by car, Belz Outlet - 15 mins
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- Besides Old San Juan’s artisan galleries and factory outlets such as Polo & Coach, there are great shoppings in the malls of Plaza Las Americas (BCBG, Anne Taylor, Armani Exchange, Old Navy's, Zara, Border's & souvenir stores) & Belz Outlet (Calvin Kelin, Izod, Geoffery Beene, Nike & Mikasa), especially on a day with not so perfect weather.
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- 4) Museums
- Distance: 20 mins on foot
- Cost: Museo de Arte: $6
- Museo de Arte Contemporaneo: FREE!
- Duration: 2 - 3 hrs
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- Museo de Arte exhibits Puerto Rican paintings & sculptures. It also has one of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico - Pikayo ($$$). Reservation & dress code is needed. Museo de Arte Contemporaneo features mostly latin-american arts. On the way to either museum, stop by Plaza de Mercado in Santurce for lunch. This traditional market was recently renovated. There you will find one of our favorite seafood restaurants, El Pescador ($ - $$). Try their Arroz con Calamares. It's always packed with locals. Lunch & early dinner only.
 
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- 5) Escambrón Beach
- Distance: 5 mins by car
- Cost: $3 Parking
- Duration: 1/2 - 1 Day
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Intermediate
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- What a surprise that this tropical urban beach with pristine water serves also as a natural fish nursery!
- Escambron Beach is one of the enlisted blue-flag beaches (there are only four in the entire Puerto Rico including Culebra & Vieques). Schools of colorful baby fishes are within your grasps. The beach is right near Old San Juan, on the side of Caribe Hilton & Normandy hotels.
 
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- 6) Botanical Garden
- Distance: 20 mins by car
- Cost: FREE!
- Duration: 1/2 Day
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- Even though not as spectular as the rain forest El Yunque, you still can get a touch of the tropical nature when you visit the Botanical Garden in Rio Piedras. Also try to get there by the new subway - Tren Urbano (a great quick peek of San Juan skyline through different neigborhoods like Santurce & Hato Rey) to the University of Puerto Rico and plaza of Rio Piedras.
  
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- 7) Pinoñes & Biking
- Distance: 8 mins by car
- Cost: Dos Locos $6 per hr per bike, Hot Dog $? per hr
- Duration: 1/2 - 1 Day
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Intermediate
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- Just west of Isla Verde, Pinones is one of the best places to see local culture & flavors. Stop by one of the colorfully painted wood-shack style kiosks where they still cook with charcoals. Enjoy the popular fritters like alcapurrias de jueyes (crab meat), arepas con bacalao (salted cod fish) or piononos de carne (meat).
- If you like biking, this is a real treat for an ultimate tropical experience. Rent a bike in either Isla Verde or in Pinones & take the 11 miles boardwalk trail along the beaches of Isla Verde & Pinones. Then through the Pinones Forest Reserve & naturally-formed gigantic rockpool, you finally reach the miles-long totally untouched savage beaches near the town of Loiza. On the way at one of the kiosk, try a coco frío - you drink the juice right out of a chilled raw coconut. Highly recommmended. A nice photo will make a great souvenir for yourself.
  
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- 8) Ocean Park Beach & Watersports
- Distance: 2 - 5 mins on foot
- Cost: Varies from different
- schools
- Duration: 1/2 - 1 Day
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Experts
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- Of course don’t forget to relax on our beach and work on your tan to show your friends & co-workers.
- Or try either kite or windsurfing. The kite-surfing school is right on the beach meanwhile Vera Uno on Loiza Street also provides classes at the Puntas Las Marias Beach which is 5 mins away by walking.
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- 9) Local Concerts & Dance performances, Salsa Classes, Yoga & Capoiera Studios.
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- For artsies, try to catch a show by local song writers & modern dance artists in Taller Ce, a co-op association near the plaza of Rio Piedras. Also recharge your spirit in a yoga or capoeira session either on the beach or in the studios nearby our guest house.
- If you are coming around Nov 16, come celebrate the 4th annual Danz Aqui International Dance Festival in Taller Ce.
  
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- 10) El Yunque Rain Forest
- Direction: East to Rio Grande
- Distance: 30 mins by car
- Cost: $3 entrance per car
- Duration: 1/2 - 1 Day
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Experts
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- The rain forest is open all year-round & it's an excellent way to re-connect with the nature. We recommend the La Mina Fall trail where you can hike half-way & take a dip at the La Mina Waterfall. The trail is about 1 hour each way. If you would like to ascend to the top, prepare 7 - 8 hours for both ways. There is also a secret rock slide...
  
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- 11) Catamaran Snorkeling Tour
- Direction: East to Fajardo
- Distance: 45 mins by car
- Cost: $65 per person
- Duration: 1 Day
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Intermediate
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- Enjoy an exciting catamaran ride to a couple of small cayes & coral reefs near the northeast of Puerto Rico. Fishes will be coming to you as you feed them with bread. Sandwiches, snacks & all piña coladas are included. Please ask us for details. The tour is from 10am - 3:30pm.
  
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- 12) Bioluminescent Bay in Las Croabas
- Direction: East to Fajardo
- Distance: 45 mins by car
- Cost: $45 per person
- Duration: 1 Evening
- Difficulty Level: Beginner - Intermediate
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- Kayak thru the hidden mangrove channels in the evening & observe this rare phenomenon. The planktoms emit tiny dots of green lights when you touch the water. See yourself glow in the dark. On the way, you will be greeted by friendly iguanas on the tree branches. A truely unique experience - highly recommended! You could easily combine this activity with the rain forest or the catamaran tour.
 
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- 13) Camuy Caves, Space Observatory, Caguana Park
- Direction: West to Utuado
- Distance: 1.25 hrs by car
- Cost per person: Camuy Cave - $10, Obervatory & Caguana Park: FREE!
- Duration: 1 Full Day
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- This trio makes a great 1 day tour near Arecibo. Take the well-organized tour to the lime-stone caves & sink hole in Rio Camuy, the third longest underground river system in the world. Enjoy spectacular stalagmites & stalactites formation in this gigantic natural sink hole. Then stop by the largest satellite dish in the world & its small space exhibit in search for extra-terrestial life forms. Finally relax & experience yourself in the Taino native's Caguana Ceremonial Park. There is a small museum & replicas of early indian native pictographs.
  
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- 14) Lago Dos Bocas, Lago Caonillas, Toro Negro Rain Forest & Panoramic Route
- Direction: West to Utuado
- Distance: 1.25 hrs by car
- Duration: 1 Full Day
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- Enjoy scenic lake views in Lago Dos Bocas by riding a electric boat around the lake. Stop by one of the restaurants & sample local dishes. Or rent a pedal boat in Caonilla Lake surrounded by tropical mountains. For off-the-beaten-paths, leave your foot prints on the trails of untouched Toro Negro Rain Forest. Unlike El Yunque, you can even camp there. At last, go by the Panoramic route near Joyuya. Since it's near the highest mountain in Puerto Rico, you will be able to enjoy both north & south coastal breath-taking views on the same road. Also stop by a plantation & check-out what a coffee plant, bread fruit tree & banana tree flower look like before their fruits are collected.
 
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- 15) Indian Cave, Cambalache Forest & Arecibo Light House
- Direction: West to Baceloneta
- Distance: 30 mins by car
- Cost: Indian Cave - $1 for parking, Cambalache Forest - Free, Arecibo Light House - Adults $9 / Children $5
- Duration: 1/2 - 1 Day
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- This is another great surprise! Cueva del Indio is a cliff with sink holes & rock pools by the beaches in Barceloneta. Just so happened there are indian pictographs in one of the sink holes. Contrast to Rio Camuy Cave's guided tour, this area is totally uncharted & very interactive! It's a completely different experience altogether. It's a great place to explore both geology & archeology and for everybody from kids (under guidance) to adults. We had so much fun by trying to walk on or climb these rugged terrains & secret tunnels - just like an Indiana Jones adventure.
  
- For biking experts, take these Cambalache Forest trails & show your skill & stamina. It's very challenging - the trails are unpaved & they are full of karst, roots & mud. Yearly competitions are held in this forest. You will need to rent a car with roof rack & a BMX bike from Hot Dog. Also there is a camp site for families.
  
- Or take your family to the theme park in Arecibo Lighthouse. Your kids will have a blast in this "Pirates of Caribbean" fantasy land. There is also a mini-zoo & a beach right at the entrance.
  
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- 16) Museo de Arte Ponce, Serralles Castle & Tibes Indian Park
- Direction: South to Ponce
- Distance: 1 hr by car
- Cost per person: Museo de Arte Ponce - $12, Serrallés - $4
- Duration: 1 Full Day
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- Spend a couple of hours in the Museo de Arte (enjoy a drink at their relaxing courtyard). Then take a tour to the Serrallés family mansion & garden if you like architecture & history. On a sunny day, you will be able to view the entire town of Ponce. Also take a photo of the Parque de Bombas in the town square as well as the old colonial houses in the nearby streets.
- Then explore the Tibes Indian Park - this major pre-historic site dates back to 400 A.D. An impressive museum & archaeological grounds will keep you entertained.
- Also on the way to Ponce, stop by Guavate to have lechón (roast pork meat) or the Coamo hot spring baths in a winter evening.
  
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- 17) Islas de Culebra & Vieques
- Direction: East of Puerto Rico
- Distance & Cost per person: 1.75 - 2 hrs by car ($?) & ferry ($2) in Fajardo, 10 - 20 mins by plane ($75 each way) from San Juan / ($35) from Fajardo, 2 - 3 hrs by high speed ferry ($68 - $78 r/t) from OSJ
- Duration: 1 Day or more
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- Isla de Culebra
- This is a really long 1 day trip but really well-worth it. Flemenco beach is enlisted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world (also another blue-flag beach). Absolute nature's beauty! Please ask us for info & check ferry schedule in Que Pasa magazine.
- Vieques
- This island is too big to explore in 1 day. The transit time may easily take the fun out of the trip. If you want to observe the bio-luminescent activity in Mosquito Bay, you will need to take a flight back because the last ferry leaves Isabel II before evening. So we recommend you staying there at least 2 - 3 days to enjoy Vieques & its virgin beaches.
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- 18) Southwest & West
- Distance: 1.5 - 2 hrs by car
- Duration: 1 Day or more
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- In the southwest, you could enjoy fresh seafood like clams & oysters in the town of Boqueron. Or enjoy the best coral reefs snorkel & dive near Parguera (colorful & abundant aquatic lives with superb visibility).
- May be you also want to take a surf lession in Rincon or challenge the 10-foot waves if you are an expert.
- There are also other fun sightseeing places like the zoo in Mayagüez, Porta Coeli in San German - one of the oldest churches in the western hemipshere, an ice-cream parlour in Lares offers the strangest flavors such as corn & rice, a mineral bath that claims to heal your body in Cabo Rojo, & the Dry Forest Reserve in Guanica where large iguanas & land crabs roam freely & cross the roads.
  
- You may have realized by now that Puerto Rico has A LOT to explore! Many of these humble but enchanted offerings are easily overlooked. We hope you'll have a wonderful travel experience here by trying one of these suggestions mentioned above. Enjoy and have a great time! :)
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