Discovering Puerto Rico 2025

Discovering Puerto Rico, La Isla de Encanta – 2025

Day 1 – A Stroll Through Old San Juan

The moment we stepped onto the blue cobblestones of Old San Juan, we felt like we had wandered into a painting. The stones glistened in the morning sun, worn smoothly by centuries of footsteps, each one carrying its own untold story. The pastel-colored buildings, trimmed with wrought iron balconies and bursts of bougainvillea, leaned gently toward one another like old friends whispering secrets.

We had come to Puerto Rico to escape the noise of city life—to unplug, unwind, and remember how to breathe again. We also came to celebrate my 50th birthday while simultaneously paying homage to where my grandparents were born and raised. But what I didn’t expect was to fall in love.

Not with a person, I am already completely and utterly in love with my wife.

With a place.

Wandering slowly through the streets, we let the city guide us. Every turn brought something new, a vibrant mural, the sound of distant guitar music, the smell of fresh mallorcas baking in a panadería. It was like walking through a living museum where history danced together with the present.

Later, we climbed the ramparts of El Morro, the great fortress that had guarded the city for nearly 500 years. Up there, the wind was wild and playful, tugging at our hair and tossing it into the salty air. We looked out over the Atlantic, where the waves crashed against the stone walls in an endless rhythm, and felt time stretch out like the horizon—endless, patient, and wise.

El Morro is packed with incredible sights and experiences—it’s not just a fort, it’s a journey through Puerto Rican history and some seriously stunning scenery.

Here are the best things to see and do at Castillo San Felipe del Morro:

The Main Fortress

The heart of El Morro with six levels to explore.
Massive stone walls, winding ramps, sentry boxes (garitas), and dungeons.
Don’t miss the chapel and the lighthouse (added later in 1843 and rebuilt in the early 1900s).

The Green Lawn (Esplanade)

Massive field leading up to the fort—perfect for flying kites (a local tradition!), picnics, or just chilling with the view.
Locals and tourists alike love it here, especially on breezy afternoons.

Ocean Views and Lookout Points

The views from the ramparts are insane—you can see the Atlantic Ocean stretching endlessly.
Great photo spots, especially around the north wall and upper levels.

Tunnels and Passageways

Explore the narrow, dim corridors used by soldiers.
Some lead to storage rooms, jail cells, and even hidden staircases.

Visitor Center and Exhibits

Learn about the history of El Morro and Puerto Rico through detailed displays, maps, and artifacts.
There are sometimes guided tours or ranger talks if you catch one!

Bonus Tips:

Sunset from the walls? Unbeatable.
Bring water and wear comfy shoes—there’s a lot of walking and stairs.
Your ticket also gives you access to Castillo San Cristóbal, just a 10-minute walk away.

Day 2 – El Yunque National Forest

Nestled in the lush, emerald mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest rises like a dream from the mist. It is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, and stepping into it feels like entering a living, breathing fairytale.

From the moment you arrive, the air changes—thick with moisture and scented with wild orchids, damp earth, and the faint sweetness of ripe guava. The canopy above dances with shifting light as sunbeams pierced through layers of green, illuminating moss-covered branches and trailing vines that twist like living sculptures.

A symphony of sounds fills the forest: the distant rush of waterfalls, the rhythmic croak of the coquí frogs, and the chatter of parrots darting through the trees. It’s not just noise, its nature’s heartbeat, pulsing through every leaf, stream, and root.

Trails wind through the landscape, each offering a different kind of wonder. Hike up to La Mina Falls, and you’ll pass bamboo groves and towering tabonuco trees. When you reach the cascading waters, the sight is breathtaking: a veil of crystal-clear water plunging into a cool, inviting pool surrounded by slick stones and verdant ferns. It’s a perfect place to rest, to listen, to breathe.

The beauty of El Yunque isn’t just in what you can see, it’s in what you feel. There’s a sacredness to the place, a timeless energy that hums through every drop of rain and every rustling leaf. It’s as if the forest remembers something ancient, and if you sit still long enough, you might remember it too.

In El Yunque, beauty is not just visual—it’s visceral. It wraps around you like the mist, soaks into your skin like the rain, and leaves you forever changed.

Day 3 – San Sebastián

Set in the lush northwest corner of Puerto Rico, San Sebastián offers travelers a mix of charming historical sights and exciting outdoor recreation.

Residents are known as pepinianos, which is based on the town’s official name: San Sebastián de las Vegas del Pepino. San Sebastián shares a border with several other municipalities, such as Isabela, Quebradillas, Lares, Moca, and Las Marías, to name a few.

The Plaza de la Identidad Pepiniana is a permanent outdoor exhibit that commemorates the political, cultural, sports, and religious contributions of the famous pepinianos. A colorful outdoor mural chronicling the town’s history adorns Paseo 24 de Septiembre.

Day 4 – Bacardi Tour

Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world. Originally known for its Bacardí brand of white rum, it now has a portfolio of more than 200 brands and labels. Founded in Cuba in 1862 by the Spanish businessman Facundo Bacardí Massó, Bacardi Limited has been family-owned for seven generations, and employs more than 8,000 people with sales in approximately 170 countries.

The company’s Cathedral of Rum in Puerto Rico, the largest rum distillery in the world, produces 85% of Bacardi rum worldwide, while the remaining 15% originates from distilleries in Mexico and India.

Casa BACARDÍ is located in the heart of Cataño, Puerto Rico, which by the way, is where my grandfather was born and raised.

The world’s largest rum distillery, Casa BACARDÍ celebrates their rich heritage, rum process, exciting classes, and more.

Discover the BACARDÍ family legacy by getting to know the history of the World’s most-awarded rum. In their Legacy Tour, you will learn about their origins, understand the meaning behind their iconic bat, and become a part of the family!

The tour includes one welcome cocktail and a guided tour bus to the Visitor Center.

This tour is offered in English 7 days a week. Spanish tours are available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 12:30 pm.

Guests must be 18 years or older to participate.

Price is $40.00 USD + tax | Duration: 50 minutes

Day 5 – Driving Around PR, Last Thoughts

Driving around Puerto Rico felt like slipping into a postcard that never ends. As the wheels hummed along the winding coastal roads, we were treated to a kaleidoscope of colors—lush green mountains on one side, and the deep blue Caribbean Sea stretching endlessly on the other. The salty breeze rushed through the windows, carrying the scent of ocean mist and roadside lechón asado from mountain kiosks.

In the morning, you might start in Old San Juan, where cobblestone streets echo beneath your tires and pastel-colored colonial buildings flash by in the golden light. By afternoon, you’re coasting through El Yunque Rainforest, mist curling through the trees, waterfalls glistening just off the shoulder of the road. Then, as evening falls, you drive west toward Rincón, where the sun dips low into the sea and surfers ride the last waves of the day.

Each turn brought a new rhythm—reggaetón from a passing car, the call of coquí frogs, or the gentle hush of palm fronds swaying above. It’s not just a drive; it’s a symphony of nature, culture, and spirit wrapped in island air.

Me encanta Puerto Rico!