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 more 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 roads, 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. That has led to a very different culture from your 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 samba, merengue, rumba, salsa and other famous Latin American music. (It’s 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 occurred. 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 your mirrors though and you’ll be fine.
- As far as places to stay, it might be best 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 excellent 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 bus to El Morro (the fort) and make 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 (rainforest) on the east side of the island. Once you’re there, you can also spend the afternoon at Luquillo Beach.
- If you want to see attractive Puerto Rican architecture, you should 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 the Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve in the far northeast of the island. You can take a guided tour of the reserve in an electric cart, but you must book in advance.
- There is a lot to do here. Once you’re there, you should consider an additional 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 just enjoy all that the island has to offer.
As for the 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 are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s, you may want to consider taking a weekend vacation getaway 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 50s. We answer your questions about the best place to visit in Puerto Rico, tourist places and travel offers to Puerto Rico.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get the most out of your trip to Puerto Rico.