Sightseeing
Is home to some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, the West Region is the undisputed surfing capital of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean - and features the best sunsets on the island.
The feeling that you will get when visiting on the west side of the island is different from the hustle and bustle of the San Juan metropolitan area. Towns here are laid back, and you can feel the surfer vibe which isn't a coincidence, since surfers flock to Rincon from all over to ride the waves at the ironic beaches like Maria's beach and Domes beach.
The West Region is ideal for enjoying water activities, particularly surfing, Beginners who want to learn can find lessons in Isabela, Aguadilla, or Rincon, and more experienced riders can find board rentals and recommendations from local surf shops.
There are also, options for those of you who would rather stay on land. Los Marrillos Lighthouse , the puente de piedra (a natural stone bridge), the salt flats, and a stunning white-sand beach called Playuela can all be found at the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. In Isabela,you can enjoy an horseback ride on the beach, after your ride, hop on over the beach front restaurant to savor seafood, local draft beers, mojitos, and fresh coconut water. Another spot not to miss is La Parguera, a quaint fishing village in Lajas with a fun boardwalk, boat charters around the cays and it's own Bioluminescent Bay.
Where to stay?
In the west, there are luxurious properties like the Royal Isabela, boasting a noteworthy golf course and Ocean-View Villas, or more modest inns and paradores like Combate Beach Resort, which is located in a nature reserve steps from one the best beaches in Cabo Rojo.
There are many options for your stay in the West End of the Island.
A couple of facts about the region.
Towns that make up the region include: Aguada, Aguadilla, Anasco, Cabo Rojo, Guanica, Hormigueros, Isabela, Lajas, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Moca, Quebradillas, Rincon, Sabana Grande, San German, San Sebastian and Lares.
Visitors are drawn to this region's colorful architecture, historic art, and stunning natural beauty. A hub of culture and history on the the island.
Porta Caribe is a True Paradise for those who love the nature, adventure, culture, history and golf.
The South Region comprises of 11 towns: Pouce, Santa Isabela, Juana Diaz, Salinas, Yauco (coffee town), Penuelas, Villalba, Coamo, Arroyo, Patillas and Guayanilla.
Just six miles off the coast, Vienques is home to pristine wildlife refuge and the world's brightest bioluminescent bay.
As the biggest of the islands which is sometimes referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands, Veiques lies six miles southeast of Puerto Rico's mainland.
Vieques offers breathtaking scenery, unparalleled beauty, unexplored spaces and laid-back experiences. The trade winds blow directly over the island providing the perfect tropical stay,
Reaching Vieques, is easy, by plane or by ferry.
Some of the most astonishing and alluring beaches can be found on Vieques, one of the popular beach is the Sun Bay, it offers soft white sand with turquoise waters and lush landscape dotted with pine trees. Vieques also offers a Black sand beach, the sand is fine like baby powder and gold cliffs with naturally carved ridges.
More than 60% of Vieques is covered by Vienques National Wildlife Refuge, which includes several beaches, bays, mangrove forests, salt flats, bird-watching, and trails.
In 2006 Viegues was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Mosquito Bay, a glow-in-the-dark phenomenon is due to an abundance of tiny diopladellates.
Dining in Vieques features fresh seafood, farm-to-table fare, and traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. El Quenepo is a fine dining restaurant that exalts the freshest ingredients in dishes such as the traditional mofongo and tostones de pana (breadfruit), as well as whole lobsters, grouper, and scallops. Or, for a fusion of Mexican flavors with a Puerto Rican twist. Try Coqui Fire Cafe.
There are a lot of wonderful accommodations to choose from. Stylish and laid-back, El Blok is one of the hottest tickets in town with it's beachfront location and unique design evoking sublime underwater settings.
Hix Island House is an eco-chic guesthouse where the outdoors become the indoors. Derived from the Japanese Wabi Sabi philosophy, with 19 self-contained lofts surrounded by forest.
There are several guests houses, B & B's, unique vacation rentals, beachfront properties.
With plenty of options for Sports on the island, it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. If hiking, or biking on the back road, or jogging on the beach, or discovering exotic birds in a mangrove lagoon, explore cays by kayak or simply enjoy a picnic by the seaside shore or enjoy a romantic sunset.
Viegues is a perfect spot for your wedding or honeymoon celebrations!
Acclaimed for its white-sand beaches and active reef, Culebra is one of the larger islands in Puerto Rico's Archipelago.
Culebra is a peaceful, tranquil place to visit. It's located 20 miles off the coast of Fajardo, on the eastern sid of Puerto Rico. The whole island is 10 square miles and is divided into six barrios (districts), Culebra is surrounded by marine life and more than 20 cays. It's a haven for underwater adventures and casual beach-goers.
Flamenco Beach is consistently ranked as one of the top best beaches in the world. It's the softest white sand and gentle topaz waves are stunning with the contrast of rolling hills.
Surrounded by beautiful barrier reefs, Carlos Rosario Beach and Tamarindo Beach are among Puerto Rico's best snorkeling area. Tamarindo Beach also shares its waters with the Luis Pena Channel Natural Reserve - known simply as Cayo Luis Pena - and is part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which is a perfect place to watch turtles.
Dinning on the island, offers a wide range of restaurants a with a great specialties such as, swordfish, snapper, octopus, shrimp that is prepared with bold Caribbean flavor's.
Staying on the island offers accommodations nestled on the top of the hills. Club Seaborne is a mini-resort that offers an intimate escape.
There a numerous accommodations to choose from.
The Northern Region is a metropolitan area of Puerto Rico, called San Juan. Offering Old San Juan & the New San Juan.
Visiting the outdoor shops, singing on the corner-side, many restaurants to choose from San Juan is also known for a certification course for scuba diving and night dives.
As you can see, there is so much to see and do in Puerto Rico, the list is endless. We have covered Puerto Rico for the past 3 weeks.
I hope you have enjoyed it!