It is not unusual for Puerto Ricans to boast that we are well rankiaos, but between our beaches, forests, towns, culture and food, Puerto Rico has nothing to envy other places in the world.
To give that Puerto Rican pride an extra lift, here is a guide to 14 homegrown things you should do if you live here, in the Pearl of the Caribbean.
The island's mountainous interior offers sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean that have captivated Puerto Ricans for centuries.
At about 2,600 feet above sea level, Pico Rodadero offers a panorama of the south coast that has made it one of the most visited hiking attractions in the municipality of Yauco.
You can reach the summit after a walk of about 30 to 35 minutes; good physical condition and shoes with traction are recommended because of the mud and steep slopes.
We recommend: If you want to climb a mountain but are traveling with family, you can visit places like Monte del Estado, in Maricao, and Cerro Punta, in Jayuya. Both peaks have paved access; in the case of Maricao, there is also a vacation center where you can stay for a long weekend, for example.
The coastal route of Piñones regularly fills up on weekends with families looking for a day out in the sun and sand.
You will also find plenty of activity at the many fried food and seafood spots that line highway PR-187 along the Paseo de Piñones, where you can enjoy empanadillas, alcapurrias, stuffed potato balls, small cups of octopus and bacalaítos the size of your head, not to mention the rest of their menus.
We recommend: For fried food in Piñones, we suggest you follow whatever catches your appetite. Places worth visiting include El Cabo, El Imán, Rancho Alegre and Carmín, to name just a few.
Every Monday at El Boricua bar in Río Piedras, pleneros from San Juan and neighboring towns gather to treat the crowd to a full-on bembé of sounds and song.
Los Lunes de Plena are, at this point, an institution of plena culture in the metropolitan area, and a good feast you can enjoy with friends and a beer in hand whenever you want to reconnect with the cultural roots of Puerto Rican identity.
We recommend: Plena is not the only thing you will hear at El Boricua. Keep an eye on their social media pages to find out about their salsa and bomba performances each week.
When it comes to having a good time, few places deliver an experience quite like the Gozalandia waterfall complex in San Sebastián.
After walking a few minutes into the forest, you will come upon its main falls, more than 50 feet high, one of three that make up the attraction.
There, you can swing out over a crystal-clear pool before plunging into the cold waters of the Río Guatemala. Head west to discover this natural treasure!
We recommend: Check weather conditions carefully before your visit, as a rain shower upstream can create dangerous conditions in the water.
On extremely hot days, a small fleet of motorboats and rafts makes its way to the iridescent waters of Cayo Caracoles, in Lajas, to wade among the mangroves and spend time with family over music, beers and snacks.
Several docks along the coast provide transportation to the cayos of La Parguera for a reasonable cost, and when you return you can have dinner at seafood restaurants like Puerto Parguera and El Karacol.
We recommend: The cayos of La Parguera are just some of the many small islands that line the south and east of the main island. Other options include the cayos de Jobos in Salinas, such as cayo Isla Perdía, or cayo Icacos, in Fajardo.
Since 1968, Heladería de Lares has drawn visitors from across the island with its eclectic flavors, from traditional chocolate and vanilla to unusual rice-and-beans and avocado ice creams.
Countless town ice cream shops can also be found in a large number of the island's municipalities, and their affordable, fruit-based offerings have been refreshing Puerto Ricans for decades.
We recommend: Traditional ice cream shops are a cornerstone of Puerto Rico's food culture, from spots opened by Chinese immigrants in the west and south, such as Rex Cream in Mayagüez and King's Cream in Ponce, to places like Heladería Georgetti, in Río Piedras.
Without bakeries, there is no Puerto Rico. Whether for its pan de agua, pan sobao, mallorcas or brazos gitanos, the European legacy on the Island has given Puerto Rico a baking culture unlike anything else in U.S. territory.
There is no corner of the island where you cannot buy a pound of bread or sit down to a sandwich with coffee, and one of the most recognized bakeries in the metropolitan area is Lemy, which in addition to its distinctive bread rolls also offers an extensive pastry selection and a lunch counter.
We recommend: If you are traveling around the island, also stop by places like La Borinqueña bakery, in Caguas, Panadería San Agustín, in Ponce, Ricomini Bakery, in Mayagüez, and Carrousel Bakery, in Arecibo.
Head into an adventure in the dark when you visit Cueva del Viento in Bosque Estatal de Guajataca. The cavern is the largest in this forest and invites you to explore its stalactites, stalagmites and small animals, including the island's well-known bats.
To visit the cave, you will need to pick up a map at the forest entrance and walk about an hour along marked trails to reach it. The hike is fairly long, but exploring this impressive structure, formed over thousands of years, is worth every step.
We recommend: Bring a flashlight and insect repellent, along with plenty of water and snacks, as the humidity can be stifling during peak sun hours.
Puerto Rican coffee is a source of pride for the island's farmers, and although production today is not as extensive as it once was, small-batch crops, especially in the mountains, are still plentiful.
At Hacienda Muñoz in San Lorenzo, for example, in addition to dining at the restaurant, you can take a detailed tour of the operation where you will learn about the history of coffee on the Island, explore the machinery used to process it and sample some of what they offer to the public.
We recommend: Each tour lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes on foot, and it is suggested that you arrive 15 to 20 minutes before it begins. The cost is $20 per adult and $10 per child, and you can find the schedule at the hacienda's website.
Learn how to make the perfect mojito in a class that covers the history of cocktails along with tips and techniques to make you the most sought-after bartender at your parties.
In this class led by the Bacardí distillery, you will also learn about the family behind the name and how they produce the white rum so characteristic of Puerto Rican and Caribbean cocktail culture. It is an experience that connects you directly with the history of Puerto Rican rum.
We recommend: Feel free to claim the title of máster mixologist. Don't leave without taking home a bottle of Casa Bacardi Special Reserve.
Barrio Guavate in Cayey has earned a reputation as the "roast pork highway" for the dozen or so chinchorros (casual roadside food and drink spots) that line highway PR-184 on its way up toward Bosque Estatal de Carite.
One of the most well-known is Lechonera El Rancho Original, where you can dig into a plate of authentic country cooking, whether that means arroz con gandules and pasteles or a perfectly crispy piece of roast pork skin.
We recommend: Guavate, however, is not the only chinchorreo (hopping between chinchorros) route you can enjoy. Here we review some of the spots you should visit the next time you hop on a bus with your crew.
El Pueblo de los Bellos Atardeceres, as its name suggests, is the ideal place to witness some of the best sunsets in Puerto Rico. At the Faro de Punta Higueras, located near Domes beach, you will also have a view of the island of Desecheo.
From December through March, you may also be able to spot the migration of humpback whales, which pass through local waters in search of warmer temperatures.
We recommend: The Tres Palmas community walkway, which runs along the old train route, connects Black Eagle, Tres Palmas, María and Domes beaches with a trail where you can take a leisurely walk or exercise during the cooler hours of the day.
Eating a tripleta after a night out
There is nothing like keeping the party going and enjoying a good tripleta after a night out with friends. It could be considered a tradition in its own right, and there are several places you can visit after hours.
We recommend: To satisfy your hunger, you could try places like Tripletas Mi Sueño, in San Juan, Tripletas On The Go, in Guaynabo, and La Tripleta Nocturna, in Bayamón.
Shouting "capicú" in a dominoes game
Playing dominoes almost always calls to mind the image of family gathered around a table, with the adrenaline that comes from competing with your own until someone wins. But nothing compares to the moment when someone places a tile on either end and shouts "¡capicú!," winning in the process.
We recommend: Did you know there is a Federación de Dominó de Puerto Rico? It has been recognized as an official sports organization since 1965, serving adults, children and young people on and off the Island. Learn more about it here.
Proud to be from here!
We are surrounded by adventures, new experiences and places to explore, all our own and worth trying. If you have not yet done some of the activities on this list, we invite you to try them and make us part of your journey by using #PlateaPR on Facebook or Instagram. Let's discover Puerto Rico together!
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
