La Isla Del Encanto: Puerto Rico
- jackie.jay
- Feb 23, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2020
I had the pleasure to visit Puerto Rico this past January, and I must admit at first I was a little skeptical due to the consecutive earthquakes that hit earlier that month. Fortunately, San Juan was not greatly affected and we had full electricity throughout our stay. We also had perfect weather with the exception of rain the first two nights. My Puerto Rico trip will be the start of my long awaited travel blog! I am so excited to share with you my experiences and my most helpful tips to make your next trip to Puerto Rico that much easier.
Where to stay
1. Old San Juan
2. Condado Beach
3. Isla Verde Beach
All 3 are very popular areas, but it all comes down to what it is you want to do. If you want to stay in the city area and be culturally immersed I would recommend staying in an airbnb in Old San Juan. If a bustling strip of hotels and restaurants along a rocky beach is more your tempo, I would suggest Condado. Then there's Isla Verde, which is slightly further out but sits along a calm beach and less commercial area. This is where we stayed the first leg of our trip. Isla Verde is a touristy district within Carolina which lies just on the eastern boarder of the capital San Juan. Literally only a 15 minute car ride to old San Juan and a short 5 minute drive to and from Luis Munoz Marin International airport.
Why we chose this airbnb:
2 bedrooms ( master & queen)
2 bathrooms
balcony (ocean view)
beach chairs & towels
washer & dryer
onsite pool
located steps from the beach
pharmacy across the street
restaurants within walking distance
close to airport
This airbnb is located within a gated residential building with 24.7 security and to be completely honest, safety was never once an issue or concern for us. In terms of price, this apartment averaged around $350/night. You can definitely find cheaper accommodations around San Juan, but for the location, space and price this was the best option for us.
On our last day of our trip we decided to switch things up a little and stay at the Vanderbilt hotel in Condado. This 5 star luxury hotel is just what we needed right before we had to say goodbye to this beautiful island. If you want to be treated like royalty this is the place for you. The property has 4 onsite pools, including an infinity pool that over looks Condado Beach. The Vanderbilt is also home to the restaurant "1919" and if your in need of a fine dining experience, look no further. I highly recommend staying at this hotel for anyone looking to treat themselves to some R & R, even if its just for one day. Thank you Vanderbilt for making this such a memorable experience!
Taste Puerto Rico
I have to admit eating my way through San Juan was the highlight of my trip. I listed a few of my favorite options below, everything from breakfast to lunch to dinner.
Raices: is an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant located in the heart of old San Juan. This place is recommended by many and therefore very crowded. we came here for dinner on a Saturday night and waited 45 minutes for a table. Learn from our mistake and make reservations so you don't have to wait long! They are known for their flavored mojitos and mofongos, but do not pass up their passion fruit margaritas or stuffed avocado. I promise you'll be coming back for more. $$
Barrachina: the birthplace of pina coladas. If you love a good pina colada this is the place to be. This outdoor/indoor restaurant is located in Old San Juan. The service is fantastic and the food is delishhh, so good we ordered the appetizer sampler twice! $$
Serafina San Juan: this is a chain restaurant also located in Miami and New York, the one in San Juan however has a very different feel to it. If you're looking to have dinner in a vibey atmosphere this place is it. Located in Condado, this is an open air resturant with good music and a tropical feel to it. The calamari and salmon was the top of the seafood experience. $$$
Ropa Vieja Grill: Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine- this place is located in Condado and wins the award for juiciest steak, rice and beans combo. $$$
Waffle-era: who doesn't love a good waffle spot/ tea room? This place has Sunday brunch written all over it. Order yourself a mimosa, waffle, snap some pics and don't forget to soak in the beauty of old San Juan. $$
Papaya Playa: this little smoothie spot was a few blocks away from our airbnb and soon turned into our everyday breakfast routine before hitting the beach. They have so many fruit smoothies and fresh juices to choose from. Their granola is bomb.com and they have the best egg croissant sandwhich. Beware their service is not the fastest; but if your living on island time the food will make up for the wait. $$
Transportation
For the purpose of my trip we did not rent a car because we intended on only using Uber around the San Juan area. Most of all Uber rides within the metro area range between $6 to $12. And if you're from NYC like me, then you know that's a total steal. Many people usually like to rent cars to explore different parts of the island where Uber isn't readily available yet. If you are planning on traveling outside of the San Juan area then I would definitely suggest renting a car. The island is not that big and you can easily go from one end to the other in just about 3 hours.
Things to do
Day trip to Culebra: If white sand beaches and turquoise water sparks your attention you've come to the right place. Culebra is a small island off the East coast of Puerto Rico. You can either book an all day tour or go on your own. If you decide to go on your own, I recommend using porferry.com to purchase the ferry tickets. I promise you it is much easier to buy online than to buy at the port. The cost of the ticket is around $10 roundtrip per person. Try to visit on a weekday rather than the weekend because crowds tend to be larger on weekends. From San Juan its about an hour drive to the port of Ceiba. From there you will take a 45 minutes ferry ride to the island of Culebra. Once you arrive, you have the option of renting a golf cart or a Jeep to travel around the island with. There are several beaches to visit, but the most popular one is Flamenco Beach. Don't forget to check out the abandoned army tanks along the shoreline! They make a great photo opp!
Get lost in Old San Juan: Old San Juan is a small town full of so much life, culture and history. From the cobble stone streets and brightly painted buildings, every corner is as picturesque as the last and it's no wonder why they call it "La Isla del Encanto" (the island of enchantment). In my opinion, the best way to go about exploring Old San Juan is by foot, just don't forget to wear comfortable shoes! The town is not that big so don't worry about actually getting lost. Just follow the music (or your GPS) and most likely you'll end up in the right place!
Nightlife: Calle de San Sebastian is a street in Old San Juan where you will find many bars where locals and tourists meet. From what we were told bar hopping is the recommended thing to do here. There is also another area called La Placita which is located in the neighboring town of Santurce. Here you can find a strip of nightclubs and bars. Its definitely a lot less touristy than Old San Juan so just be a little extra careful of your surroundings, especially if you are traveling with only a group of girls. Try and avoid going out on Sunday nights as it is very quiet and there is not much going on. Instead, try going out Thursday through Saturday when San Juan comes alive.
I hope you found this information helpful for the next time you plan a trip to La Isla del Encanto! If you have any additional questions or comments feel free to leave them below and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for upcoming posts! XOXO
Comments