06-15-2024, 09:13 PM
I just returned from Puerto Rico, and I own property on the West Coast. I'm clearly prejudiced on this issue, but I'd like to bump this threat and add a bit.
Pitbull wrote an outstanding piece that captured much of the nuance and paradox of this amazing island. Overall, I believe it is one of the most underestimated tropical holiday places. I lived in Hawaii (Oahu) for several years, so I can provide an accurate personal comparison.*
Despite its current struggles, Puerto Rico has an authentic and distinct Latin culture that is both diverse and sophisticated. Pitbull's write-up centered on San Juan, so I'll add some color to the other side of the island.
The Western and Southern parts of the island are home to some very enchanting tiny villages and communities, stunning Spanish Plazas, and innumerable small festivals featuring incredible music and food.
As for beaches. Rincon and Isabella offer THE finest surfing in the Caribbean, and one of the greatest in the world. All of this with significantly less of the "wolfpack" surf mindset and crowds found in other popular places. There are several gorgeous beaches where you can be alone with few or no people around.
CrashBoat Beach in Aguadilla is especially picturesque. It was a historic sugar loading pier with ruins (now inhabited by schools of gorgeous fish) to swim around and crystal-clear water. It can get crowded, though, because it's so beautiful. However, excellent beaches may be found all around the western coast. Playa Aguada, located approximately halfway down the west coast, is not the finest maintained beach park, but it makes up for it with its sheer expanse and uncrowded environment. And because the west coast runs north-south, you can expect to see some spectacular sunsets every night.
Playa Sucia, located on the island's south-west tip, is without a doubt one of the world's most stunning beaches. I don't say this lightly, because I formerly lived in Hawaii. The name is humorous because it means "dirty beach" in Spanish, but it is because it is located on the other side of some salt flats and dark mangrove trees, which appear really cool and dystopian. To keep the beach less busy, they have purposefully limited parking, and the road is in embarrassingly awful shape, so you have to drive slowly and carefully out there, and then you have to walk a long distance to get to the beach. WELL WORTH THE TRAVEL! The beach is a white sand horseshoe that views out into two hills and has a tiny channel that let water in. On one of the bluffs, there is a lighthouse and these tremendous cliffs that descend into the water; you can stroll around them to your heart's content. I'll publish some favorites later because it's quite gorgeous. Even the journey there is enjoyable, with beautiful farmland and numerous roadside stops for Coco Frio (ice cold coconut water eaten directly from a fresh cut coconut), empanadas, and so forth.
La Parguera is also located nearby. This is a small, extremely local Puerto Rican seaside village in an area dotted with mangrove islands and coral reefs. Awesome snorkeling and dive diving. You can even rent a motor boat for roughly $20 per hour. There's also a mini-bioluminescent bay. When you're done snorkeling, stay for the food and nightlife in this very charming tiny town. It has a very local feel to it, reminiscent of a 1960s boardwalk.
Inland, there are numerous gems. If you want off-the-beaten-path hiking, there are several fantastic waterfalls to see, including Gozalandia Falls, a family-run waterfall in San Sebastian. There are various levels, and you can even jump into the waterfalls, which is enjoyable. In the center of the island, there are some massive volcanic lakes as well as quite charming settlements. Jajuya and Lares (the cradle of the Puerto Rican independence revolt in the 1960s) are particularly attractive.
As previously stated, Puerto Rico is not an ideal destination to find an easy lay, unless you are seeking for vacationers in the San Juan area. The zika fad has passed, and San Juan, particularly Old San Juan, remains as popular as ever. If you take one of Fajardo's guided catamaran excursions of the Islands (also magnificent, but that is for another subject), you will undoubtedly be on a boat with some mainland sorority sluts, bachelorette parties, and so on... As for the normal Puerto Rican girl who isn't overweight or on welfare, I believe you'll discover an absolutely charming and traditional woman who can cook like a champ and take excellent care of you. Most people leave with the impression that the people in Puerto Rico are quite nice! This is especially true in the countryside and on the West Coast.
So, to summarize this very haphazard post: aside from gaming, consider Puerto Rico - the entire island - as a terrific spot to visit and enjoy some very accessible but secluded Caribbean culture and beauty. You will experience all or most of the attractiveness of other Latin American countries, with significantly less risk and dysfunction.
I'll post more about specific areas on the island later, along with photographs, but for now, I wanted to start this topic since I believe Puerto Rico is underrated. Especially as an expat bug-out destination! But more about that later...
RHH
*I'd want to clarify that none of my analogies to Hawaii are intended to disparage Hawaii; they are only for the sake of comparison. I'll be the first to acknowledge that Hawaii has PR beat hands down in many ways.
Pitbull wrote an outstanding piece that captured much of the nuance and paradox of this amazing island. Overall, I believe it is one of the most underestimated tropical holiday places. I lived in Hawaii (Oahu) for several years, so I can provide an accurate personal comparison.*
Despite its current struggles, Puerto Rico has an authentic and distinct Latin culture that is both diverse and sophisticated. Pitbull's write-up centered on San Juan, so I'll add some color to the other side of the island.
The Western and Southern parts of the island are home to some very enchanting tiny villages and communities, stunning Spanish Plazas, and innumerable small festivals featuring incredible music and food.
As for beaches. Rincon and Isabella offer THE finest surfing in the Caribbean, and one of the greatest in the world. All of this with significantly less of the "wolfpack" surf mindset and crowds found in other popular places. There are several gorgeous beaches where you can be alone with few or no people around.
CrashBoat Beach in Aguadilla is especially picturesque. It was a historic sugar loading pier with ruins (now inhabited by schools of gorgeous fish) to swim around and crystal-clear water. It can get crowded, though, because it's so beautiful. However, excellent beaches may be found all around the western coast. Playa Aguada, located approximately halfway down the west coast, is not the finest maintained beach park, but it makes up for it with its sheer expanse and uncrowded environment. And because the west coast runs north-south, you can expect to see some spectacular sunsets every night.
Playa Sucia, located on the island's south-west tip, is without a doubt one of the world's most stunning beaches. I don't say this lightly, because I formerly lived in Hawaii. The name is humorous because it means "dirty beach" in Spanish, but it is because it is located on the other side of some salt flats and dark mangrove trees, which appear really cool and dystopian. To keep the beach less busy, they have purposefully limited parking, and the road is in embarrassingly awful shape, so you have to drive slowly and carefully out there, and then you have to walk a long distance to get to the beach. WELL WORTH THE TRAVEL! The beach is a white sand horseshoe that views out into two hills and has a tiny channel that let water in. On one of the bluffs, there is a lighthouse and these tremendous cliffs that descend into the water; you can stroll around them to your heart's content. I'll publish some favorites later because it's quite gorgeous. Even the journey there is enjoyable, with beautiful farmland and numerous roadside stops for Coco Frio (ice cold coconut water eaten directly from a fresh cut coconut), empanadas, and so forth.
La Parguera is also located nearby. This is a small, extremely local Puerto Rican seaside village in an area dotted with mangrove islands and coral reefs. Awesome snorkeling and dive diving. You can even rent a motor boat for roughly $20 per hour. There's also a mini-bioluminescent bay. When you're done snorkeling, stay for the food and nightlife in this very charming tiny town. It has a very local feel to it, reminiscent of a 1960s boardwalk.
Inland, there are numerous gems. If you want off-the-beaten-path hiking, there are several fantastic waterfalls to see, including Gozalandia Falls, a family-run waterfall in San Sebastian. There are various levels, and you can even jump into the waterfalls, which is enjoyable. In the center of the island, there are some massive volcanic lakes as well as quite charming settlements. Jajuya and Lares (the cradle of the Puerto Rican independence revolt in the 1960s) are particularly attractive.
As previously stated, Puerto Rico is not an ideal destination to find an easy lay, unless you are seeking for vacationers in the San Juan area. The zika fad has passed, and San Juan, particularly Old San Juan, remains as popular as ever. If you take one of Fajardo's guided catamaran excursions of the Islands (also magnificent, but that is for another subject), you will undoubtedly be on a boat with some mainland sorority sluts, bachelorette parties, and so on... As for the normal Puerto Rican girl who isn't overweight or on welfare, I believe you'll discover an absolutely charming and traditional woman who can cook like a champ and take excellent care of you. Most people leave with the impression that the people in Puerto Rico are quite nice! This is especially true in the countryside and on the West Coast.
So, to summarize this very haphazard post: aside from gaming, consider Puerto Rico - the entire island - as a terrific spot to visit and enjoy some very accessible but secluded Caribbean culture and beauty. You will experience all or most of the attractiveness of other Latin American countries, with significantly less risk and dysfunction.
I'll post more about specific areas on the island later, along with photographs, but for now, I wanted to start this topic since I believe Puerto Rico is underrated. Especially as an expat bug-out destination! But more about that later...
RHH
*I'd want to clarify that none of my analogies to Hawaii are intended to disparage Hawaii; they are only for the sake of comparison. I'll be the first to acknowledge that Hawaii has PR beat hands down in many ways.
