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18 Day itinerary in Puerto Rico, Central America & Caribbean

Discover Puerto Rico

Discover the best that Puerto Rico has to offer during this backpacker style 18-day trip! You will gain experiences that you won´t forget, meet local´s that will inspire you & head into different adventures and of course relax by the beach...

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Geraldine

By Geraldine

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

San Juan

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Kayaking

Hiking

Meet local people

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Tour of a coffee plantation

2

Hiking tour at the Rainforest, El Yunque

3

Outdoor activities in Carabali

4

Kayak tour to the Biobay

Itinerary

Budget Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place ¡Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico!

The first day, at the airport baggage claim area, one of our team member will greet you with a personalized sign outside the baggage claim area and escort you to your private transport. Porter services at a moderate rate are available at the airport on arrival and departure. Located in the vibrant city of San Juan, welcome to a cozy hostel made by travelers, for travelers! The owner, our dear friend Walid will welcome you in the heart of the Calle Loiza / Ocean park district, which is famous for its local and international culture and beach proximity. You will have access to many places like restaurants, bars, clubs, and after-party spots. Across from the hostel is a pharmacy, a landmark famous bakery, and a well-known pizzeria. Icing on the cake? Walk 2 minutes, and you will arrive at warm sand and glistening waves at Ocean Park Beach.

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 2

place Colorful Old San Juan with a fun PhD professor

Departure from your hotel to Old San Juan [15/20 min ride from your hotel]. You will take a historical tour of the old city, the crown jewel of Puerto Rico. In the company of our friend and guide Alvaro Rivera (PhD in Puerto Rican History, professor at the University of Puerto Rico) you will stop at the two forts: San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal + La Casa Blanca museum. This Tour has a duration of 2/ 2.5 hrs Lunch break / many restaurants on spot In the afternoon we will take you to the Museum of Las Americas, where you’ll enjoy the following exhibitions: local arts, African heritage or Conquest and colonization. This Tour has a duration of 1/ 1.5 hrs

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 3

place Feel the authentic: ¡Santurce es ley! - Culture and Art in a popular neighborhood

Public art has been emerging for years in various urban areas of Puerto Rico. It is especially manifest in Santurce, a very famous neighborhood in the heart of San Juan. Many pieces have been created by recognized artists and others by emerging artists. By visiting the area around Cerra Street in Santurce, one can enjoy remarkable well-executed murals, with phenomenal creativity ! Our guide, a Puerto Rican artist, will tell you the story about the neighborhood and its art scene. This Tour has a duration of 1.5 / 2 hrs We will stop for lunch at a small restaurant inside the neighborhood. Let’s paddle baby ! After lunch, we’ll head to Condado’s Laguna. You’ll pick your paddle board [or kayak] for a relaxed time on the water. Stand Up Paddle boarding has become extremely popular in Puerto Rico. It is very easy to do and requires just a little equipment. This Tour has a duration of 2 hrs

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 4

place The only tropical rainforest in Puerto Rico hiking at El Yunque

Departure in the morning to el Yunque rainforest for an easily accessible hike. In the company of our eco-minded tour guide, you'll walk into the mountainous terrain, with waterfalls and spectacular ocean views. And if you are brave enough at the end of the hike, you can take an icy dip. Stop at Luquillo beach for a late lunch [kioskos on the spot] After a relaxing time, we’ll go back to San Juan. This tour has a duration of 5 hours.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 5

place CARABALI: greetings from the mountains!

Departure for a day-long visit of the Caribbean countryside in the largest theme park in Puerto Rico : Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park. In the morning, you will join local guides for an exhilarating one-hour ATV ride1 through the foothills of El Yunque! After enjoying a nice lunch featuring Puerto Rican traditional dishes on site, you will enjoy a scenic horseback-riding adventure through the most beautiful forests, beaches, and rivers of this part of the island. This tour has a duration of 4.5/5 hours.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 6

place CULEBRA, just another day in paradise.

Catch the next Ceiba Ferry to Paradise. It’s unthinkable to go to Puerto Rico and not stop on the small island of Culebra. Located ten kilometers to the east, it’s famous for having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Flamenco Beach. Culebra is a real paradise, with miles of white sand and crystal-clear waters. It’s far from tourist resorts, for sunbathing and swimming in absolute peace. You’ll ferry back to the main island in the early evening after a day of total relaxation.

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 7

place ¡Metele sason! COOKING CLASS

Meet our local crop specialist and permaculturist! Chef Nivia will host you for a four-hour interactive Farm to Table experience. Part of the group will take part in a garden project while the other part will be introduced to the peculiarities of the Puerto Rican agriculture. Both groups will switch activities to enjoy the full experience. Just steps away from the mountains, you will then treat your taste buds as you cook and discover Puerto Rican specialties.

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 8

place Relax, you are in paradise!

Free day for independent exploration in groups or individually. Hit the nearby beach, rent a bicycle, play basketball in the neighborhood, head to the city center to buy a souvenir... Many options are available for you to make the most of this day.

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 9

place A COFFEE PLANTATION: learn the process from seed to cup!

On our way to the south, we invite you to make a stop for an inspiring coffee tour. Learn about coffee’s history and the steps involved in producing our gourmet Puerto Rican coffee, right there on the plantation. The owners tend the plants, harvest, sort, roast, and package all of their coffee. At the end of the tour, you will have a cup of coffee prepared with your preferred method (poor over, siphon or French press) with home-made banana bread. This Tour has a duration of 2 hours. Then we’ll head to your hotel in Ponce

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Day 10

place Ponce Ciudad Señorial

We’ll take you to the center of the city. Explore Ponce with our cultural walk in the historic heart of “the most Puerto Rican city.” Wander through the streets and learn about the history and significant events that shaped what was once the largest and richest city of Puerto Rico! Discover locals’ favorite places, the best of Ponce’s food and art scene, and fall in love with this charming city! This 2-hour experience includes a local coffee and rum tasting, the two products that brought Ponce great development and importance in the 19th century. Lunch break [many nearby restaurants] In the afternoon, you will take a 30-minute guided Tour of the Sérralles Castle. There, you will take in the very experience of an important period in Caribbean history. Hear about the development of the important sugar industry and its main derivative, rum...

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Day 11

place Day in the coastal town of Guanica

From Ponce, and after a 40-minute ride, we will discover the natural wonders of the Guánica dry forest1, the driest land in Puerto Rico. We’ll take a 1.5/2-hour hike inside the 9,000-acre territory. “El Bosque Seco” is among the largest dry tropical forests in the world. While we’re nearby, we won’t leave without stopping by our favorite fruit and sunflower farm in town to take pictures. La Finca Girasol provides the perfect backdrop for souvenir-photographs you’ll be proud to share.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Day 12

place Playa Sucia - Don’t get misled by “the dirty beach”

Yes, another breathtaking stop! Playa Sucia (dirty beach) is one of the most unique beaches in the world, located on the other side of an other worldly salt marsh. Make the journey down to the southwestern tip of the island to find this spectacular, Caribbean destination where aquamarine waters roll gently across a curve of fine white sand. Another beach day of total relaxation!

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Day 13

place We know you seek more adventures! Gozalandia Falls and Camuy caves.

Early in the morning, and on our way back to San Juan, we will make 2 stops. The first one at Gozalandia waterfalls. Located in San Sebastian Puerto Rico. Gozalandia features a 60ft waterfall. A very short hike will take us to this main attraction. The area also has an “upper-falls” with another swimming area and a rope swing. Lunch break [nearby restaurant] After lunch, we’ ll head to Camuy. The city is known as "La Ciudad Romántica" (romantic city) and "La Ciudad del Sol Taíno" (city of the Taino sun). In this town, the most famous attraction will be our second stop: the Camuy caves. Full day activities

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Day 14

place At the heart of Afro-PuertoRican Traditions

Set out on a guided tour of the historic park of Maria de la Cruz in the city of Loiza. The birthplace of Afro-Puerto Rican culture. After the tour, we will visit the magical studio of local artist Samuel Lind, which is part his space for creating, part living museum, and part artisan market. Authentic Afro-Caribbean meal with fresh ingredients such as coconut, yuca (cassava) and jueyes (crab), offered by the well-known “El Buren de Lula”, We’ll participate in a “Bomba” workshop on the nearby beach. This folkloric drumming and song features a vivid dance where the dancer’s steps dictate the lead drummer’s playing. Full day activities

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 15

place The second longest Zipline in the world: Toro Verde

The Zipline is located in the town of Orocovis, about an hour and 45 minutes from San Juan and hidden between rolling mountains covered in dense forest. The area boasts some of the most breathtaking mountain views on the island, which you’ll see flying beneath you. Suspension bridges include two enormous ziplines, The Beast at nearly 1.5 kilometers and The Monster, the second longest zipline in the world, at 2.5 kilometers. In a horizontal flight position you will feel like superman This tour has a duration of 4 hrs

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 16

place Paddle one of the world’s brightest bioluminescent bays

If you have never experienced putting your hand in water and seeing the water light up, then this one’s for you. We’ll head to Fajardo BioBay in the late afternoon. There, you’ll enjoy an adventurous kayak tour through a mangrove forest with protected fauna and watch and learn about the constellations at night. The tour has a duration of 2/3 hrs

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 17

place Todo tiene su final, nada dura para siempre...

Free day at leisure. Yes, again. Because you’ll need extra time to rest after all these amazing adventures and also because you’ll need to mentally prepare your heart and mind... soon you’ll be leaving paradise.

Accommodation:

  • Budget Accommodation: Hostel
Day 18

place Adios Amigos!

We’re sad to see you go! We’ll just be here, hoping for you to come back. Transfer to the airport. End of our services.

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hostel
  • 3* Hotel

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (6)
  • Snacks (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Private Transportation for 16 days including ride from/to the airport
  • Ferry Tickets and transportation to Flamenco beach

Activities expand_less

  • 1 history tour In Old San Juan
  • 1 art tour in Santurce
  • 1 outdoor activity in Condado [Paddle or kayak]
  • 1 Hiking tour at the Rainforest, El Yunque
  • 2 outdoor activities in Carabali [ATV ride and horseback ride]
  • 1 full day escape to Culebra [ Flamenco beach]
  • 1 Farm to table cooking class
  • 1 Tour of a coffee plantation
  • 1 walking tour of Ponce
  • 1 Hiking tour at Bosque seco [Guaníca]
  • 1 full day escape to Playa Sucia [Cabo Rojo]
  • 1 hiking tour to the waterfalls of Gozalandia
  • 1 tour to Camuy caves
  • 1 afro heritage tour to Loiza
  • 1 outdoor activity to Toro Verde [zipline]
  • 1 kayak tour to the Biobay [Fajardo]

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fees for programmed tours, visits, and museums
  • Puerto Rico sales tax
  • 24 hrs. assistance once in PR

Not Included expand_less

  • Personal expenses
  • Unprogrammed meals (breakfast, lunches, and dinners) & Drinks
  • Transportation on day 8 and day 17
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips & Gratuities

About Geraldine

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,751.00 USD