I’ve been in Puerto Rico for a week. As you can imagine time flew by. Everything you see in all the movies and tv shows is exactly the same. The vibe, handsome people, beautiful beaches, music everywhere: everything was so much fun! Old San Juan was my favorite place to be. You hear reggaeton everywhere and see people enjoying themselves on the streets. In the evening you should definitely visit La Placita de Santurce -a Farmers market at day time- if you want to dance with the locals.
When you are in San Juan you will only see Americans. Puerto Rico is to Americans what Spain is to the Dutch. Was sorry to see that they were the only tourists who visited the island. The locals I had spoken to shared the same opinion. They would have liked to have seen other tourists as well, because that is an enrichment for them as well. For example, many had never met anyone from the Netherlands before(?), which is very bizarre, because every traveler/backpacker knows that Dutch people are really all over the world. Puerto Rico is simply not as strong on the map as say, Cuba.
Many people think that Puerto Rico has not recovered from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and of course you also have the usual ”not safe’ stories. Of course there are neighbourhoods and cities where you can’t really walk around on your own, but with a little common sense you can manage to make smart decisis.s.
I must add that locals have warned me to not go out by myself in the evening, because there have been cases of robbery and rape. Of course these warnings are given more often in South and Central America, but I don’t always listen. A ‘negative’ side that I have is that I’m not scared that easily, but I have to be careful with that. I also have to stop thinking that nothing can happen to me because I could pass for a local in every country because of my appearance. The reality is that something can always happen and as a woman. You’re just more at risk.
Luckily I have something like an intuition and in San Juan I had a bad feeling about going out alone in the evening, so I left the going out part for what it was. Especially because I stayed in a neighborhood where it was very quiet on the streets. Which means I stayed in the hostel for most of the week in the evening. Luckily I am someone who always fully supports my decisions so I didn’t have crazy FOMO. I enjoyed the evenings/nights that I did go to La Placita with people I got to know and that’s more than enough for me!
Beaches
San Juan wouldn’t be San Juan if it didn’t have beautiful, chill beaches. Beach life in San Juan is everything. The atmosphere and tranquility means that you don’t want to visit other beaches at all.
- Playa El Escambrón
- Playita Del Condado
- Playa Ocean Park
These are three beautiful beaches within walking distance where you can enjoy your rest. These beaches are a bit different from all those other beaches, because it’s so quiet. Bring your rum, sunscreen, fruit and speaker and you will have the best relaxing day ever.
- Luquillo Beach
Luquillo is about half an hour’s drive from San Juan and ideal for surfing, snorkeling or tanning and hang out.
- Vieques
- Culebra
The two most popular islands that you can find within an hour by boat. Whether you make it a day trip or a 2-day trip: you will come back home with joyful memories of white beaches and the most crystal blue waters.
Most people visit these islands with a tour. It is the ideal place for snorkeling, diving and swimming. Consider prices around 100-150 USD. If you want to travel to the islands on your own, you will pay similar prices. The ride from San Juan to the ferry can cost up to USD 100 if you decide to take a taxi/uber, while the ferry costs only USD 2.
With a broken heart I decided to not take this trip/tour, because it was so expensive. I was at the beginning of my trip and I still had 10 more months to travel. So, while I was really sad about this, I promised myself that I would definitely come back in the near future.
Restaurants / cafes
- Hacienda San Pedro
You will find the tastiest chai lattes and coffee here. This place is right in front of Santurcia Hostel and ideal for working on your laptop in silence. They put their air conditioning on freezing mode, but this applies to many places in Puerto Rico.
- Ajo Del País
This restaurant has been recommended by several locals. It seems to be the nicest and best place to try local food. There are, of course, a lot of similar restaurants, but this was the first place I thought was affordable.
The most famous dishes you should try in Puerto Rico:
- Mofongo this is basically fried plantain which is either mashed or fried. It is often made with chicken, shrimp or vegetables.
- Empanadilla are half moon turnovers that are filled with meat and potatoes.
- Pastelbes are banana leaves filled with vegetable dough and meat.
- Arañitas is shredded and fried plantains.
Ofcourse there is loads of food to try, but these are the only appetizers that I’ve tried. But if you have a small guess then you would know that most Puerto Rican food is fried, lots of rice, lots of meat and mostly plantains. So it can be a pretty though job to eat healthy, but the solution to that is simply: do your groceries and cook.
Little side note: I had a mini break down in the supermarket since i never saw such high prices before. But yeah, eating out was even more expensive and sometimes you have to make decisions. So the choice for evening meals was quickly made for that week.
Accommodation
I stayed at the Santurcia hostel. Santurcia hostel is a fancy hostel in a fancy neighborhood, with the sweetest people I’ve ever met, as owners. It is a married couple who immediately makes you feel at home upon entering. The hostel had a homely atmosphere where everyone interacted like family. Normally I’m not always into this, but this just felt right. I couldn’t have picked a better place for a budget price.
Plus: one of my favourite museums Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is on the same street. You should definitely visit .
Price
- Dorm: € 28-33 per night.
- Private room: € 63-108 per night.
Practical information
- Language
The spoken language in Puerto Rico is mainly English and Spanish.
- Visa
You do not need a visa for Puerto Rico. The island is territory of the United States. That is why the same admission requirements as America apply to Puerto Rico. This means that you need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This is a kind of travel authorization to enter the country. They look at your travel history among other things. You can apply here. Arrange this in advance.
- Money
In Puerto Rico they pay with American Dollars. There are ATMs where you can withdraw money. Here you will pay a small commission for each admission. This can sometimes be a few euros/dollars per admissionwhich is crazy. So make sure that you withdraw at least a large amount. Credit card companies such as Revolut do not charge a commission up to a certain amount. It is cheaper to pay with your debit or credit card.
- Safety
Puerto Rico is basically a safe country. There is crime. Most crime is drug-related and takes place in the suburb. Again, you should always use common sense. Don’t walk around sketchy neighbourhoods especially not in the late hours.
Hurricanes can occur in Puerto Rico in the months of June to November. Hurricane Maria devastated many areas in Puerto Rico in 2017. This was the most violent hurricane in 90 years. Take into account, smaller hurricanes or severe weather changes, that do occur annually.
The central emergency number of Puerto Rico is: 911. You can call this number free of charge. Save this number before you leave for Puerto Rico! There are not a lot of international embassies in Puerto Rico. Google your country to get more information. You can read more about safety for solo female travelers here.
- Electricity
The mains voltage is 120 volts and a plug with two flat pins is used. So make sure you have a world plug to charge all your equipment!
- Transport
One noticeable thing is that renting a car in Puerto Rico can be very cheap, especially if you share the costs with others. Think of prices between €9-31. Unfortunately I haven’t driven for 8 whole years, while I have had my driver’s license for 10 years. To start again abroad seems to me the worst idea ever since fear plays a very big role. That’s why I had to wait until I met people who wanted to rent a car. Or take a cab or Uber.
Uber is unfortunately ten times more expensive than renting a car. You easily pay € 10-30 for a ride of 10-20 minutes. A big hit on your wallet. That’s why I definitely recommend going for a nice walk in San Juan when you are not able to drive, like me.
- Vaccinations
Here you will find an overview of the vaccinations you need for Puerto Rico.
Don’t forget to make an appointment months before your trip. Some vaccinations acquire two shots. A lot of people don’t get vaccinations because they find it very expensive and/or unnecessary. In some countries, however, certain vaccinations are mandatory, such as yellow fever. You must be able to demonstrate this by means of a vaccination passport. Keep this in mind. No vaccination is compulsory in Puerto Rico. However, it is advised to take the DTP and hepatitis A vaccination.
Tip: check whether your health insurance covers the vaccinations. Do they not compensate you for this? Then change your insurance if that’s possible in your country. This can save you a lot of money!
Puerto Rico was at the start of my long journey and very expensive – probably one of the most expensive places I’ve ever been. This is because everything is imported from the US. Puerto Rico is still territory of the US. Nevertheless, I really recommend the island 1000%, even if you have a limited budget. You can keep it to a minimum by preparing your own meals, visiting beaches within walking distance or sharing costs with people you get to know in hostels, for example.
No Comments