Puerto Rico’s northeastern coast is an oft-overlooked gem. About an hour’s drive from San Juan, the small beach towns offer luxury beachfront resorts and hotels, gorgeous beaches, attractions, mofongo, and other Puerto Rican delicacies at cheaper prices than you’ll find in the capital, San Juan.
Getting around: Renting a car is easy in Puerto Rico. Check Hotwire.com or other travel sites for a good deal. Some parts of Puerto Rico might look more like a Central American country, but driving along the coastal highways offers scenic views and wide lanes. Distance signs on the highway are posted in kilometers, not miles.
Where to stay: The small coastal town Fajardo makes a great base. It’s close to sites like El Yunque rain forest and other tiny cool beach towns. There are nice affordable resort hotels like the Fajardo Inn.
What to do: Culebra island is located seventeen miles east of Puerto Rico and makes a perfect day trip. Ferries from Fajardo run a couple of times a day. Culebra’s Flamenco beach is great for snorkeling and swimming.
El Yunque rainforest offers hiking for all levels, waterfalls, and beautiful views. There is zip lining for the more adventurous and the less adventurous can relax knowing there are no poisonous snakes.
Where to go: Veve Calzada street right off the La Pared Beach in town of Luquillo has cool bars, surf shops, and a lively nightlife scene.
Boardriders, a rumshack, offers delicious food at a good price. They’re famous for their fish tacos and tropical mahi salad with pineapple salsa and coconut vinaigrette. Thirsty Thursdays offer $4 rum punches. Live bands on Sunday nights draw large crowds of locals, transplants, and pro surfers like David Santiago, who can be spotted serving up drinks behind the bar.
