Puerto Rico is a great destination to visit in the Caribbean. It is like being in two worlds, the Caribbean and the United States. That means it has a level of wealth and stability that other Caribbean islands might not. And being part of the Hispanic Caribbean gives it that most exotic flavor.
So, in other words, you get the beautiful blue Caribbean sea and Caribbean beaches that the world loves to enjoy. But you also get American highways, shopping, currency, banks, businesses, etc. It’s a good combination.
Because Puerto Rico was a former sugar plantation colony, there are many African slaves there. This has led to a culture very different from that of other Latin American countries that did not have strong contributions from the descendants of African peoples.
It is the Hispanic Caribbean that has given the world the samba, merengue, rumba, salsa and other famous Latin American music. (It is similar to the American South with its African-American population, which gave the world jazz, blues, rock and roll, soul, R&B, and much more.) That mix of Europe and Africa in the tropics has produced a lively and vibrant Creole culture wherever that occurs. It is truly something for visitors to explore and discover.
If you are going to explore Puerto Rico on your own, you may end up renting a car for sightseeing. Keep in mind that driving in Puerto Rico is a bit crazy. Make sure you’re always checking all of your mirrors, though, and you’ll be fine.
- As for places to stay, perhaps the best thing to do is to look for a hotel with a view of the beach. The Condado area, just south of San Juan on the north coast of the island, has great hotels like this one.
- A must see area is Old San Juan. You can easily spend a few hours walking around there. It’s a bit hilly, so maybe take the free trolley to El Morro (the fort) and work your way back through town.
- There are plenty of places to eat and drink, no matter what your budget. One suggestion I have is to try Breakfast at La Bombonera (one of the oldest establishments in the city).
- Another recommended place to visit is El Yunque (rain forest) on the east side of the island. Once you are there, you can also spend the afternoon at Luquillo Beach.
- If you want to see attractive Puerto Rican architecture, you must go to Ponce on the south coast.
- West of San Juan on the north coast is the Arecibo Observatory. The James Bond movie Golden Eye and also the Jodie Foster movie Contact were filmed there.
- Another place I would recommend is Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve on the northeastern tip of the island. You can take a guided tour of the reserve in an electric cart, but you must reserve in advance.
- There is a lot to do here. Once you are there, you should consider a further trip to the islets of Vieques or Culebra on the east coast. The beaches are incredible.
- On the other side of the island, I would definitely recommend Rincón. It’s a pretty quiet area – great beaches, good surf, good places to eat, lots to do nearby.
- Try the local food stalls and simply enjoy all that the island has to offer.
As for food, there is everything you can imagine. In the Condado area for seafood try Miro’s. In Old San Juan, try The Parrot Club for Caribbean flair or Tantra’s for Indian cuisine.
If you are single or traveling alone and in your 30s, 40s, 50s or 60s, you may want to consider taking a weekend getaway vacation with other singles your age. It really makes exploring Puerto Rico so much more fun.
If you’re interested in doing that, you can check out Vacations for Singles Over 50. We answer your questions about the best place to visit in Puerto Rico, tourist places and travel deals to Puerto Rico.
Whatever you decide to do, be sure to make the most of your trip to Puerto Rico.
