What’s the best part about Puerto Rico? Maybe it’s the fact that its lush forests sit footsteps apart from its pristine beaches. Maybe it’s how you can find the best food and bars paired with beautiful sights anywhere you go. But one thing’s for sure – if you’re looking for a winter getaway, Puerto Rico’s warm weather in the year’s early months should make it #1 on your list.
Here are the best things to do:
Cueva Ventana
With a name naming “cave window,” this actual cave is truly a window to the landscape of the area. It sits atop a limestone cliff about an hour out of San Juan, in the mountainous town of Arecibo.
El Yunque National Forest
With a forest boasting 240 species of trees within its boundaries, this forest is completely safe while also totally diverse with wildlife such a lizards and frogs abound.
Pública
Pública Espacio Cultural is a large gallery that specializes in featuring local Puerto Rican artists. The roomy and amply-lit space often hosts community programs focused on politics, sustainbility, and more.
Navio Beach
This warm and turquoise-blue beach features cliffs, lots of foliage, hidden caves, and somehow remains secluded from the rest of the world.
La Placita de Santurce
This weekend farmers market features plenty of homemade food and drinks for a taste of the culture, while taking place in front of an old building for historical context .
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a fortification dating back to the 16th century, during Spanish rule. Its massive scale and survival into the present continue to amaze visitors to this day.
Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy
Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy is a natural limestone cave system with the Río (river) Camuy running endlessly through it – the third-largest underground river in the world. Its beauty is hard to picture, and well-worth seeking out.
La Estación
Described as “a little tiki and a little industrial-chic” by Conde Nast, this quirky gas station-turned-restaurant off the highway in Fajardo has food as eclectic as the setting.
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
Today a museum, this building was once a hospital before being given its new role in 1995. Its permanent collection includes more than 1,000 works dating all the way back through Puerto Rico’s history to the 17th century.