I am traveling to Puerto Rico.How long does it take to drive the coast?Any other suggestions for things to do?

Question

Staying in El Dorado.

Answer 1

I live here and I can tell you it's very cool. There are so many things to do. I live on the easternmost tip, Fajardo. From here to the western end of the island, it takes about three hours, sometimes more depending on the traffic going through the metro area. The traffic is heaviest here at around 4-6pm. Here in Fajardo, there are pretty beach spots. The popular beach here is called Seven Seas. And near here, the Bioluminescent Bay. The best nights to go and see these glowing underwater creatures are on cloudy, moonless nights...darker and better light! The next town over is called Luquillo. This is a reputed surfer spot. The main beach called the Balneario de Luquillo is the calm, flat one with a great view of the rainforest. There is also Playa Azul, which is very wavy so be careful. In the summertime, this beach is calmer but still be careful. I would advise against getting in during the late fall and winter. But it's a beautiful beach just to walk around on and view the sunset. The next spot in this town, near this beach, is called La Pared, which is the surfer spot. I wouldn't get in this water unless you surf haha. The next town over is Rio Grande, which is popular because it's where the Rainforest called El Yunque is located. This is a US Forestal Park so it's protected and totally pristine, one of the few areas like this left in Puerto Rico. I go every few weekends and it is just great. There are towers from which you can get the most breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding you. There are small creeks and swimming holes you can get in. A couple are La Mina Falls and Coco Falls, both of which are good to get in when it's been raining because of the deepness :). The hikes range from easy to challenging, so there's a variety for everyone, but I'm pretty sure most are paved, so they're not treacherous. Hiking is great here because it's not too hot. So the next thing I would suggest is the Old San Juan section of the capital, San Juan. It's very interesting, especially El Morro, an old fort built by the Spanish about five hundred years ago. The view of the crashing waves from the top of the fort is awesome. Also, walk around the old city. There are nice places to eat and shop, as someone else mentioned. The next place that is really great is on the western end of the island. This town is called Isabela and it's great. IT's got great beach spots as well as being near the Camuy Caves, where you can tour ancient caves. In Isabela, there is a horseback riding tour called Tropical Trail Rides.  It's great...they take you along the beach with breathtaking scenery and then you can take a hike up a pretty steep cliff (not too dangerous though, a little difficult however) and get a great view of the whole beach. During the wintertime by the way, you can see whales out in the distance. :). Also, don't neglect the interior of the island, where hills are abundant. The little farmland that exists is mostly here and here, you can get a taste of rural PR and it's old culture. Also, Ponce, another historical which is on the southernmost tip is a very nice place to go. Well, before I bore you anymore, that's that. A few more things you may want to know are : that Puerto Rico is heavily populated and virtually everyone has a car haha. Also, there are a lot of abandoned animals which is sad, of course. I don't mean to ruin your trip, but a lot of people are shocked when they get here. But all in all, it's a great place, really. Next time, if you want a similar experience in a bigger island, go to Dominican Republic, which by the way is a lot cheaper than Puerto Rico and has all inclusive resorts. Have fun! I hope I helped! :)

Answer 2

check out old san juan, pretty cool, small...some good places to eat and shopping.  not far from the airport are some nice beaches = Hilton.

Answer 3

That should probably take you about 1 day, depending on if you stop alot, etc.

Anyway, here are some cool things for you to check out:

Old San Juan

el Morro Fort

el Yunque rainforest with hiking trails & waterfalls

bioluminescent bay in vieques or the bio lagoon in Fajardo

Camuy Caves

Arecibo telescope

city of Ponce -castillo seralles & parque de bombas

Guanica dry forest

Taino Indian Park (Caguana in Utaudo or Tibes in Ponce)

town of Rincon for surfing & sunsets

Culebra or Vieques island for the best beaches

also the central mountains have great views. You can also horseback ride on a beach, do any watersport or fun activity you want. Maybe try something cultural like a cockfight or go to a patron saints festival. Dorado is a nice area, less than an hour from San Juan. The embassy suites & hyatt are very nice there, they have a small private beach. Enjoy :)

Answer 4

The best way to see the coast is to hire a taxi (they are usually vans) - one that is authorized to take tourists into the rain forest. They know the roads and are quite knowledgeable about the area. Make sure the cab belongs to an association affiliated with Puerto Rico tourism. We quit renting a car to tour the islands years ago, as these cab drivers really know what they are doing.