Because of the recent availability of travel services at your fingertips, we were able to plan a trip without leaving the comfort of our home.
Getting There. A short hop from Northern Virginia, flying direct from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
What to Bring. Puerto Rico is a US territory, all that was necessary a driver license to rent a car.
Getting Around. In terms of transportation, we were left with limited option, upon arrival at San Juan International Airport we picked up a Hertz rental car equip with GPS to go around the island.
Not far from the airport is Isla Verde, where we stayed for three nights at a beach side condo through Airbnb. This part of town is the up and coming tourist destination, away from the crowd of old San Juan. Isla Verde is a local hangout where you find great food at affordable price. The beach on the weekend is full of beach activities- boogie boarding, family picnics, beach volley balls, cultural events and lively music.
An hour drive from Isla Verde is Ponce, an old historic and colorful town where kids wear uniform to school.
Nearby Isla Verde are the "best of town" lechon stands and Bacardi rum distillery where we joined a 45 minutes tour about Bacardi and rum making. For the price of $15, you get a free cocktail drinks made out of rum and a Bacardi glass.
Next, we drove to La Ceiba, catching a flight with Air Flamenco on a ten passenger propeller plane which took about 15 minutes versus an hour ferry ride to Culebra island where we stayed at a villa on Flamenco beach, a white sandy beach where section of it is a calm and shallow reef great for snorkeling.
On the last leg of the trip, through Priceline.com, we booked a two night stay at Gran Melia Golf Resort. Nearby was the El Yunque Rainforest, where we found ample trails to hike including the popular La Mina trail.
Schedule
Day 1, Sat Apr 23
Flagged an Uber and took an early morning flight, 8:20 AM from IAD to SJU via United Airline (UA 2021). Upon arrival, we picked-up Hertz rental car and drove to Isla Verde, Carolina where we met with Carlos at the Condo to check-in.
Moments later, we walked to a nearby local food stand, Los Chamos Arepas for late lunch and ordered their signature dish, Arepas.
That night, we drove to Old San Juan and visited San Juan National Historic Site, Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
We ended the day with a nice dinner at La Cueva Del Mar.
Day 2, Sun Apr 24
Hung out at Isla Verde beach all day.
Day 3, Mon Apr 25
Drove to Ponce, an old historic town, Coffee Plantation, and "best in town" lechon stand. Then toward the end of the day, hung out at Condado beach.
Day 4, Tue Apr 26
Drove to La Ceiba and catched a flight to Culebra via Air Flamenco.
Hung out and snorkeled in Flamenco Beach
Day 6, Thu Apr 28
To start the the day, snorkeled in Flamenco Beach then ride all around town on a golf cart before catchhing the 1 PM ferry to Fajardo.
Day 7, Fri Apr 29
Hiked at El Yunque Rainforest.
Day 8, Sat Apr 30
Drove to Bacardi Distillery facility. Joined the 45 minutes Bacardi tour. Catched a flight back to IAD via United Airline (UA 1416)
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