One week in beautiful Puerto Rico

Highlight Photos

Highlights Map

After years in which we were uncertain on how wise it is to exit the US due to possible visa issues while reentering we settle on Puerto Rico as a great place to explore while still officially staying inside the US. After starting to research Puerto Rico we are surprised at how many things there are to see and do so we settle on a week of vacation and on we go.

Click on the Links below or Markers on the map above to go directly to a specific part our wonderful trip.

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  First steps in San JuanNovember 20, 2011
  We start the day in San Juan by exploring the downtown area and trying to find something to eat
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  Castillo de San Cristobal, our first fortress of the dayNovember 20, 2011
  The first attraction of the day is Castillo de San Cristobal, a beautiful Unesco WHS with lots of interesting places to visit
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  San Felipe del Morro Castle, the second castleNovember 20, 2011
  We walk past La Perla to the second major Unesco WHS San Felipe del Morro Castle an imposing castle at the tip of the peninsula
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  Evening exploring the south of San JuanNovember 20, 2011
  We spend the evening exploring the beautiful San Juan downtown and the many stores and end the day at the impressive, for us, Parque de Las Palomas
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  Exploring the Laguna del CondadoNovember 21, 2011
  Today we leave San Juan and stop first at Laguna del Condado at the outskirts of the city for some short hiking
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  Time to eat at the Luquillo kiosksNovember 21, 2011
  Next stop is our lunch place at Luquillo kiosks a famous row of kiosks with a variety of local specialties
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  Reserva Natural de Las Cabezas de San JuanNovember 21, 2011
  We end the day at Las Cabezas where we get rained out so we check in at our accomodation and have dinner at a mall
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  Rain in El Yunque rainforestNovember 22, 2011
  We spend the day exploring and getting wet in El Yunque rainforest while looking for elusive parrots and enjoying waterfalls
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  Arecibo Observatory, the first point of contact for ETNovember 23, 2011
  While passing it we have to visit Arecibo Observatory made famous by multiple scifi movies and books as the point of origin of the Arecibo message
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  The locally famous Rio Camuy CavesNovember 23, 2011
  Besides Arecibo a major sight in this area are the Rio Camuy Caves, huge grottoes that are worth visiting
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  Easy start of the day at Playa CombateNovember 24, 2011
  We start the day with birdwatching and swimming at Playa Combate near our hotel
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  Playa Sucia, the scenic oneNovember 24, 2011
  Next we explore the headlands of Cabo Rojo with a scenic lighthouse and the beautiful Playa Sucia which is popular with the locals
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  Bioluminescent Bay, finallyNovember 24, 2011
  After a missed chance earlier today we finally have the opportunity to see a Bioluminescent Bay one of the three in Puerto Rico
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  Guanica Dry Forest, a rare dry bosqueNovember 25, 2011
  First stop today is at a rare dry forest in Guanica to see some rarer plants and maybe some birds
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  Ponce, the colorful cityNovember 25, 2011
  We spend a few hours exploring Ponce with the famous Bombas fire station and historic downtown
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  A visit at a lechonera near GuavateNovember 25, 2011
  We end the day with a dinner from a lechonera near Guavate which is quite good and worth the interesting experience
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  One last visit to Isla Verde beachNovember 26, 2011
  On our last day we explore the beach next to our hotel, Isla Verde beach, which is quite impressive