This is how we do it down in Puerto Rico.
– Luis Fonsi, “Despacito”
As you may or may not know, I recently got back from a week-long trip with my friends to Puerto Rico, La Isla del Encanto! We stayed at Luis’ Condominio San Tropez Airbnb in Carolina and also spent some time in Old San Juan.
Our trip consisted of multiple visits to the beach, a Casa Bacardi Rum tour, a trek through El Yunque National Forest, delicious food, and pretty cocktails.
Of course, I took way too many photos for this diary, so here’s a curation of the best ones, organized by day, beginning on August 16 and ending on August 22:
Day 1: Hitting the beach after landing in Puerto Rico
Isla Verde Beach in Carolina, PR
Beach chillin’ with Kristell
Day 2: Casa Bacardi & Raices Restaurant
Fun Fact: I’m almost positive that 95% of cocktails made in Puerto Rico’s restaurants and bars contain Bacardi.
Real women wear hats 😉 Taken aboard the Casa Bacardi tram.
Bacardi Limited Reserve is AMAZING.
I graduated Bacardi School!
Chicken empanada and plantain for dinner at Raices in Old San Juan
Frozen Margarita with a green salt rim at Raices!
Day 3: El Yunque & Pirilo Pizza Rustica
Views.
Niketa at La Coca Falls
Yokahu Tower
This is what Dana wears to hike through the forest.
It took a lot of work to get all the way down into La Mina Falls.
Found this little guy at a gift shop in El Yunque Forest. Name: Juan Ponce (nickname Mini Ponce), Northern Mockingbird
Sangria from Pirilo Pizza Rustica
Pirilo’s Margherita Pizza.
Day 4: Old San Juan’s Casa Blanca, Forts, Castles, La Rumba Cruise & More
Portrait of Juan Ponce De Leon at Casa Blanca
El Morro
Iguana at El Morro!
El Morro selfie
Old San Juan
Soldiers stand guard at Castillo San Cristobal. I swear the one on the far left looks like Hugh Laurie!
Castillo San Cristobal
Aboard La Rumba Party Cruise
La Rumba Cruise
Brava nightclub at El San Juan
Day 5: Museo de las Americas, Señor Paleta, Platos Restaurant, & More
These guys at Museo de las Americas looked fun.
Art at Museo de San Juan
The line outside Senor Paleta
Strawberry Lemonade from Señor Paleta
Pigeon stampede at Parque de las Palmas
Dinner at Platos in Carolina, PR
Coconut Sangria from Platos
Ricaturas cartoon of Kristell, Niketa, and I during our visit to Platos!
Day 6: Ocean Park Beach & Solar Eclipse 2017
Corona con lima at Ocean Park Beach
Coconut ice cream on the beach
At this moment, I realized I did not want to leave Ocean Park Beach, much less Puerto Rico.
I saw the solar eclipse through the end of a street cone (don’t ask).
Day 7: Returning to New York
Thanks for the mems, PR.
And now I’m back in NYC. Puerto Rico was wayyyy too much fun! I’ve never vacationed on an island before this, and boy do I finally understand why it’s such a popular spot. So relaxing and so much culture to explore.
The road rage on the island definitely needs to chill out. Other than that, my friends and I had an amazing adventure.
Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
