Winter In Puerto Rico

For us there’s no better way to escape the winter for a couple weeks than to go to Puerto Rico. We love spending our Christmas break there, it’s a great time to see family and have warm beautiful days.

On our recent trip to my beautiful Island we had a lot of fun as usual, but it was very special because we did a few firsts for all of us. So here are the details of those places we visited for the first time.  That’s why we recommend them and think you should consider them when visiting Puerto Rico.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

We took Isabella for the first time to “El Castillo San Felipe del Morro”. The construction of this Historical landmark of Puerto Rico began in 1553.  The purpose of the construction was to protect the Island from attackers approaching from the sea. When you tour El Morro you will learn all about this great history and enjoy the beautiful architecture and spectacular views.

After taking this tour, stroll around Old San Juan and have a piragua, stop at a local bar or try one of the many great restaurants.

El Morro is open most days from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and the entrance fee is $10 and covers the Castillo San Cristobal as well.

Carabalí Rain Forrest Adventure Park

It was our first time here, and I have a feeling it won’t be our last. What a great day we had! Carabalí Rainforest Adventure Park features over 600 acres of farmland that runs between the foothills of El Yunque National Forest and the Atlantic Ocean. They have various adventures you can do like, ATV, UTV, and horseback riding among others.

Isabella is learning how to ride, and it is something she really enjoys. So, we thought it would be a great family experience to go horseback riding. We choose the 2-hour adventure, and we explored the unique flora nearby El Yunque. We enjoyed great views, learned about the area, ate fresh passion fruit and cooled off in the Rio Mameyes. And all this escorted by two great guides and excellent service.

After our two-hour horseback ride, we had lunch at their restaurant, Carabalí Bar & Grill, and the food was delicious. We ate the fried pork, arroz mamposteao and tostones de pana, but everything from the menu looked wonderful.

The adventure park is around a 40 minutes’ drive from Condado, and it’s a pretty much an easy drive. Prices vary depending on the adventure you choose, but in my opinion, they are all fair. Call and make reservations ahead of time.

Luquillo Beach

We took advantage of being in Luquillo for the adventure park and we decided to visit one of the beaches in this town. They are many beautiful beaches here and we have not been to before as a family, so we went for it.  It was a beautiful day, and we found a good spot in a very nice beach, named Playa Costa Azul. Luquillo is a great town to explore also, if you make it there don’t leave without visiting the Luquillo Kiosks, they are very popular and for good reasons.

Kayaking

We did a birthday celebration for Isabella with some of my friends and family and their kids. And for this celebration, we decided to take the kids for a kayak tour of the Condado Lagoon, with VIP Adventures. Our experience with them was amazing. I did the reservation a few weeks in advance via phone and everything was set for Isabella’s day. The services were on point, the facilities beautiful and the kids had the best time. We had kids as young as 3 in our group and they had the experience and enjoyed it.

It was Isabella’s first time kayaking and she loved it. VIP adventures has many different adventures for the whole family and the pricing is very good.

Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park

This park is one of the most treasured sites in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean’s most important Taino agroecological site. And guess what, it is in my hometown, Utuado. 

On your visit to the park, you will be able to see several bateys, stone monoliths and petroglyphs. The bateys where the place where the Tainos played the sport of Batu, according to history this sport was very similar to soccer. The park has also a small museum with several pieces that the Tainos used in their daily life.

We finally took Isabella there and it was Jerry’s first time as well. And it was nice to just be there and tell Isabella a little bit about our history. Fun fact is that Isabella told me; “Mami, I didn’t know you where Indian”. So, it was the perfect occasion to tell her about the beautiful mix that Puerto Ricans are, indigenous Taínos, Africans, and Spanish.

To enter the park, you pay a small fee of $3, and it is around 90 minutes from San Juan.

New Eats & Drinks

Ocean Lab Brewing Co.

My brother Josue and his wife Mariela invited us here and it did not disappoint us. We went in the evening, but I can assure you that if you go during the day, you will enjoy beautiful ocean views.

Their beers are made for the beach and to be enjoyed in a sunny day. I tried one of their flights and some more and they were very good. The food here was very delicious as well. Good service and ambience in a family friendly place. We had a great time here.

Grecafe

Grecafe is a café and bistro located in Dorado, around 25 minutes from San Juan. It is a charming place with incredible food and amazing coffee. It is beautifully decorated and has seating inside and outside in a very cozy terrace.

They have a very diverse menu and all what we tried was delicious. Some of the items we tried were chilaquiles, french toast, croquetas, longa sliders and plantain soup. If you are a coffee lover, like me, I recommend you ask for the “greca service” the coffee quality and taste is fantastic.

La Bodega de la Brujas

This is a family restaurant with a farm to table concept, located in the town of Jayuya. This place is unique, fun, with seating inside and outside with a very particular atmosphere. The literal translation to English of the restaurant’s name is “The Witches’ Cellar”. That’s why you will see in the pictures some items related to witches.

We tried several items off their menu, and I tried a very distinct drink called, bad witch. The girls played outside, and after having pizza of course, they went for their cotton candy. We all had a great afternoon.

Hacienda Victoria Lucia

This estate is all you need! Located in Jayuya, Hacienda Victoria Lucia has a restaurant, bar, gorgeous architecture and splendid views. Jerry and I visited this place with one of my best friends since 7^th grade and her husband. It was an adult only outing and we had a blast. We had few drinks and appetizers. And everything was so good, next time we are definitely eating in their restaurant. To top it off, there was live music to enjoy.

Hope you enjoy these ideas! Puerto Rico has so much to offer. If you haven’t made it to this Island yet, book your flight and let me know.