Puerto Rico has had a rough go of it lately . What with the president of the United Statesdeclaring health pinch there(thanks , Zika ! ) and the res publica straight - uprunning out of money . get in a slight respite in the form of surpassing lawn tennis player Monica Puig , who just score Puerto Rico its first atomic number 79 ribbon ever . After her upset profits , she grant a shout - out straight to her fellowpuertorriqueños : " This is definitely for them . They ’re croak through some tough times and they need this and I needed this . I think I just combine a Carry Nation . "
But while the news swirling around the Caribbean of 3.5 million ( and falling ) contain a mostly somber spirit , this is the time to remember : Puerto Ricoreally is amazing . Before a trip a span calendar month ago , I had yet to really treasure how much so ; I had only literally ported in for 24 hours while on a Carnival Cruise with my parents circa 1994 . And despite the fact that I had long heardthe country predominate superior in many way , I ’ll include , it never top my " must travel here " tilt . Here ’s why I was wrong , and why you should head to Puerto Rico to help oneself it get its groove back .
Getting there is quick and easy
Half the reasonableness most the great unwashed do n’t book trip is the farseeing - ass escape there , which is why I have yet to go to Thailand . Puerto Rico feels like , and is , a pretty serious escape valve … and yet it ’s less than four hours lineal from New York , Boston , or Atlanta , and less than five from Chicago , Dallas , or Houston . Andyou do n’t need your passport , which mean – yep – no customs . That shave a brace hours off the travelling time right there ( perchance three if you ’re the variety who always insists on fetch yield on your flight ) .
Driving there is a cinch
I was most agreeably surprised about this fact . When I went to Costa Rica – which , side annotation , is likewise incredible – I severely overestimated the simpleness of road travel ; my system of logic being " yeah , that ’s in all probability only , like , two hour away . " It was n’t . As a result , a lot of clock time was spent in transportation system on many a teeny - tiny dirt road . Puerto Rico is similarly divided in the way that there is a " ironical " side and a " besotted " side ( aka beaches vs. rain forest ) . But thanks to major highway and not as much land to cut through , you could actually hit both sides in a daytime .
The outdoor activities are ludicrous
Some of the only US rainforest are in Puerto Rico , which not coincidentally is now home to El Monstruo ( " The Beast " ): the longest zip line in the whole wide world , span almost 7,500 ft . After recovering from that , the move is to boat , swimming , Virginia Wade – and dodge bats in – one of the 200 cave in Rio Camuy Cave Park . At their deepest points the caves are auction pitch pitch-black , which is why I grow to weary one of those kick - buttocks mining hats with a build - in light .
When you need a breather , hike a trail or find a cliff to rappel or jump from in these same parks . Condado Beach , at the island ’s tip , is a seaport for every water play ever – and just as importantly , for every beach bar to hit afterward .
Do absolutely nothing in total bliss
Here ’s where to amply check off out : Playa de Guanica . It ’s palm trees , skunk hutsin the piddle , mess all around you , and proper cocktail at Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa . This beach is also the launch point for a ferryboat to a tucked - away spot ( cleverly ) call Gilligan ’s Island . It ’s not precisely where the S.S. Minnow went down , but aside from locals toy music and BBQ - ing on the banks , it has the same tactile property . The integral hide island is a labyrinth of pee and mangroves that you’re able to saunter , swim , or just drift through ; if you drift late enough you will be sitting on your own private little beach that , accord to one of the locals I met there , " you’re able to be totally naked on and no one will even see . "
Puerto Ricans like to party
Oh , do they ever . My time saunter Old San Juan was a fuzz of monumental fortress , run through ceviche and everything else that ’s on Fortaleza St , impinge on up the coffee bean counter ( check at one ; they do deep brown right here ) , and perusing telling graffiti artistic creation . At nighttime , it ’s acompletelydifferent kind of blur . The street are swamped with people drink , salsa dancing ( Nuyorican Cafe is the smirch for this ) , and general carrying on . And this is n’t for a special occasion – although I was there during Noche de San Juan , when everyone leap in the ocean at midnight for good luck ( TBD if it ferment ) .
Vieques. Oh, and Vieques.
Eight mile off the east sea-coast of Puerto Rico is a slight island named Vieques . When you first boat up to it – and you’re able to only get there by boat or plane – it search frighteningly like that D - tilt Brooke Shields movieThe Blue Lagoon . Nothing but thenar tree diagram , magically clear H2O , grand blank sand beaches , and beaucoup sea turtles . Seriously , you will see one ( in all probability more than one ) while snorkeling , which is an absolute must . There is plenty of culture ( it even has a St. Regis ) , but you could feel hundreds of mile aside from it if you choose .
And then , there is the Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay . Do n’t lease the " mosquito " part gross out you out . The water emits a low haze from million of microorganisms that hold up in it . It ’s like drown in real Narnia .
All of your technology works
Pokémon - obsessed or not , this is a vast winnings . Calling your supplier to figure out how to avoid swan charge , finding chargers that crop , only being able to post to Instagram when you have Wi - Fi ( which , in some foreign country , can be scarce ) – it ’s all just a giant pain in the ass . But since Puerto Rico is a US territory , none of that applies . Roam away , friends .
The food is excellent
Ever hear of mofongo ? This hooey is so good it will ruin all other side dishes for you ; technically , it can be eaten as an full meal . It ’s made from plantains that have been mashed into obliviousness with salt and piddle . Then you bring whatever the hell you want to them . One of those things should utterly bechicharrón(crispy fried porc ) .
The locals want you to love your stay
Puerto Ricans justmakethe experience of chitchat more than any other situation I ’ve been , because they only love the crap out of their country of origin . They ’d bear - squeeze their area every day if they could . Everyone I met there need to ensure I not only saw the honest things , but really go through them . For instance , it was n’t enough that I went to one local ’s favorite seafood billet , I had to stress the ceviche nachos … and the seafood mofongo … and do n’t forget the cappuccino , they have the effective in San Juan . When I was strolling Gilligan ’s Island , a bunch BBQ - ing on the beach directed me to a cloistered mangrove spot with the best view ( not the same guy who state me about " naked beach , " but that sorta counts too ) . When I did n’t see any sea turtle in the first snorkeling spot in Vieques , two local divers took me to a bridge where I quick saw three . I swear , one dude spill the beans to me about the unexampled shopping centre with possibly the greatest degree of enthusiasm I ’ve ever heard . Everyone contributes to this overallIsn’t it amazing here?vibe , and it ’s catchy .
Good God, the rum
Studying abroad in Italy ruined wine for me back in the States . ( concede , when I get back I was still in college crapulence Franzia . Still . ) Drinking rum in Puerto Rico is similar – once you ’ve had the best poppycock , you ca n’t go back . And just your $ 30 bottle here is steady ol' firm vino in Europe , in Puerto Rico you’re able to drink in the Pappy Van Winkles of rums at bargain prices . light in lovemaking with a bottleful ? Oh , well , gee , why do n’t you just stash some in your suitcase ? After all – since this bears reprise – you may find a million mile from home , but you ’re not going back through customs , cowboy .
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