Puerto Rico - Rainforests, Caves & Surf

This week's destination spotlight is Puerto Rico! It is technically part of the U.S. but once you're there, the language, food and weather definitely gives you an exotic, international getaway feel.

For all of our destination spotlights we include our must dos and must skip recommendations. One of the best things about our top things to do lists is that our favorite things to do are usually extremely budget friendly!

Best things to do in Puerto Rico:

8. Old San Juan

In Old San Juan you can visit castles, numerous historical sites and have great food. The town has been around since the 1500s so if you love history this is a great stop. The most touristy region of all of Puerto Rico but a good place to spend the afternoon to check it out.

7. Hang out at Crash Boat Beach

Crash Boat Beach is located on the northwest coast and is a beautiful beach that is mostly filled with locals only.

6. Camuy Caves

The Rio Camuy Caves Park is filled with lots of large caves. It is by guide only so the downside is it is a bit touristy but it is like nothing we've ever seen before and is definitely worth checking out!

6. Surf Rincon

Rincon is the town in Puerto Rico known for its surfing. We stayed two nights here in a studio in the back of a surf shop which was really helpful for us to get the inside scoop on the best breaks. We were fortunate enough to be there during a nice hurricane swell.

5. Chill on Flamenco Beach

Flamenco Beach is on the island of Culebra just a short ferry ride off the main island. Once there we easily realized why this was named by Travel Channel one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Just watch out for the pounding shore break which caused the loss of our car rental keys.

4.  Surf and stay in Luquillo

We caught the best waves of the trip in Luquillo. The water was about 85 degrees, air 90 degrees and waves head high. We could have stayed surfing there for weeks! We ate the best food in this town as well and stayed in the cute little boutique hotel below that we loved.

3.  Cueva Ventana

Cueva Ventana is known as a local's secret. Not typically found in any guidebook so we were so grateful we were told about this hidden gem by a local. The caves were filled with bats to add some adventure. Climbing down into the caves you find yourself in a fascinating environment that is so unique and mysterious. The view shown below that one cave leads to is unreal!

 2. Hike El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque National Forest is the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. There are dozens of trails you can take. We did a few and our favorite led us to a large waterfall with a swimming hole that felt great after a hike. The entire rainforest is covered in lush tropical plants and waterfalls that make you really appreciate its natural beauty.

1. Take a ferry to Culebra

Culebra is a small island about 17 miles off the coast of the main island. While in Culebra we'd often find ourselves the only ones on a beach. We had a whole snorkeling cove to ourselves! The isolation and exoticness of Culebra made it our favorite thing to do in PR.

Things to skip in Puerto Rico:

- The local dish of "cow guts". We were talked into trying it at a little restaraunt we stumbled on when needing food asap that had gambling going on up front and then served food in the back. We're always down to try local food so being that this placed looked about as authentic as it gets we went for it. Needless to say cow guts is about as appetizing as it sounds.
- Any road food labeled "Barbecue"