Despite being a U.S. territory, many Americans aren’t familiar with Puerto Rico. While not part of the continental United States, Americans don’t need a passport to travel there, and Puerto Ricans are also officially American citizens. The island has almost 300 miles of coastline and nearly the same number of beaches, and while that is certainly a reason to visit, it’s definitely not the only one.
Puerto Rico’s art scene is amazing—both in the renowned works found in its museums and the hundreds of murals that decorate city walls. The island’s architecture is striking, and its history is preserved in homes and forts that still stand in city centers. There’s also a wilder side to be found along the Ruta Panorámica, a scenic driving route that takes road-trippers into the heart of a tropical rainforest.
San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital and largest city, is probably the best-known vacation spot on the island. Its widest beach fronts the Isla Verde resort strip, which is known for nighttime entertainment, numerous restaurants, casinos, and shopping opportunities. Old San Juan, the historic district with its cobblestone streets, colorful Spanish colonial buildings, and 16th-century landmarks, is also a major attraction. This easily walkable city is a feast for the eyes—from La Fortaleza, the Caribbean-blue residence and workplace of the governor of Puerto Rico, to the multicolored buildings that line the streets to the stunning shades of blue in the bay.
You can’t help but notice the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a hulking fortress located at the entrance to the Bay of San Juan. Once the most feared of all Spanish colonial fortifications, this massive edifice—located on a 140-foot promontory at the entrance to the Bay of San Juan—was used by Spanish troops to fire on enemy ships. Today, the fort—which also provides amazing views of the bay and the city—is open for tours.
Ponce
The second-largest city in Puerto Rico, Ponce is located on the island’s southern coast and features some truly unique attributes.
Towering over the city is Cruceta del Vigía, a 100-foot-high cross-shaped building that was erected in the 19th century to enable the city’s Spanish rulers to watch for pirate attacks and monitor the arrival of commercial ships. Visitors can take an elevator to the 10th story to enjoy the scenic views from the skybridge.
At the base of the cross stands a Japanese garden, which is a surprising find among the busy streets of Ponce. Created to promote spiritual peace and harmony through nature and music, the garden features small lakes, rivers, bonsai trees, flowering plants, and colorful murals at its entrance.
Another must-visit is the Museo Castillo Serrallés, located just across the street from the Cruceta. Once the residence of the owner of Ponce’s Destilería Serrallés, one of the country’s largest rum distilleries, the home now serves as a museum dedicated to the history of sugarcane and the rum industry. The four-story structure, built in the 1930s, is open for scheduled tours, which include a visit to the terrace to view its immaculate landscaping.
Brilliantly flamboyant murals cover almost every concrete surface in Ponce, creating a vibrant backdrop to the thriving city. Pop culture fans will love the Fox Hotel, decorated to celebrate the golden age of cinema from the 50s and 60s. Originally inaugurated in 1931 as the Teatro Fox Delicias, this iconic Art Deco building has evolved from a beloved movie house to a bustling shopping mall and is now a chic boutique hotel.
Luquillo
Known as La Capital del Sol (The Sun’s Capital), Luquillo is renowned for its beautiful beaches, as well as its iconic food kiosks (Kioskos de Luquillo), a collection of more than 60 vendors situated along Luquillo Beach that provide a huge array of tasty local food and drink. Visitors can find everything from traditional Puerto Rican fare to locally caught seafood to Italian favorites and island drinks. Because of its amazing location, you can also dine alongside the ocean, providing the perfect ambiance for a tropical meal.
Catano
Rum drinkers can’t miss making a stop in Catano, home to Casa BACARDÍ. This “Cathedral of Rum,” which opened in 1962, offers a number of different tours, rum tastings, and mixology classes, providing visitors with an enticing opportunity to learn more about the rich heritage of the world’s largest rum distillery.
Ruta Panorámica
The Ruta Panorámica, or Scenic Route, is a 167-mile network of roads that traverse the island of Puerto Rico from west to east. The route is made up of about 40 secondary roads, beginning in Mayagüez and ending in Maunabo.
This amazing, often single-lane route is not for the faint-hearted, however. While only a six-hour drive from end to end, the route contains extremely curvy roads, steep drop-offs, heavy jungle-like canopy in some areas, and, following hurricanes, can also include a number of downed wires, as I learned on a 2022 trip to the area.
On the plus side, it is an amazing journey, with highlights including the Carite Forest Reserve, Piedra Degetau Lookout, Orocovis-Villalba Lookout, Toro Negro State Forest, and Guilarte State Forest. Not to mention the small towns that dot the route, which can result in wonderful surprises. While taking pictures of a small, pueblo-style church, for example, its caretaker proudly came out of his home next door to show us the inside. For a true taste of local culture, this route is a must-do.
To learn more about all of the things to do and see in Puerto Rico, visit www.discoverpuertorico.com.
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