La Factoría

Puerto Rico

　　The so-named Hijos de Borinquen (or Sons of Puerto Rico) has three distinct zones in one shabby-chic space – a cool cocktail lounge, wine bar and swinging salsa club; you'll have to elbow your way in for the live bands at weekends. Fill up on tapas and indulge in a...

Hacienda San Pedro

Puerto Rico

　　San Pedro is a small working coffee farm with an attached museum and cafe/tasting room where you can get a fascinating insight into the coffee-making process from green bean to dark-roast espresso. Tours are available on weekends at noon, 2pm and 4pm: when tours are not running, you are free...

Casa Blanca

Puerto Rico

　　First constructed in 1521 as a residence for Puerto Rico’s pioneering governor, Juan Ponce de León (who died before he could move in), Casa Blanca is the oldest continuously occupied house in the western hemisphere. Today it's a historic monument containing a sparse museum and an Andalusian-style garden. The interior...

La Taberna Lúpulo

Puerto Rico

　　This beautiful old corner bar has been updated with Puerto Rico's best selection of artisan beers, including Ocean Lab and Boxlab. Pull up a stool to check out the ever-changing lineup on the 50 taps, including some of America's best and most unusual brews. It does a good hangover brunch...

Cañón de San Cristóbal

Puerto Rico

　　The St Christopher canyon is so unexpected – both in location and appearance – that it takes many a breath away. The deep green chasm seemingly drops out of nowhere, its rocky crags hiding a veil of falling water. Only 8km north of Aibonito and cutting more than 500ft down...

Cabezas de San Juan Reserva Natural

Puerto Rico

　　A nodule of land on Puerto Rico’s northeast tip, this Para La Naturaleza–run reserve protects the Laguna Grande bioluminescent bay, rare flora and fauna, mangroves and lush rainforest, and is home to an important scientific research center. At the time of research, the reserve was closed due to post-hurricane repairs...

Gozalandia

Puerto Rico

　　Sometimes a little piece of paradise lies in store in the least obvious of locales, and Gozalandia is San Sebastián's: a flurry of dramatic cascades, three miles (4.8km) north of town that tumbles into some inviting plunge pools. The crashing river here is backed by steep forest and is a...

Bahía Mosquito

Puerto Rico

　　Locals claim that the magnificent Bahía Mosquito (Mosquito Bay), a designated wildlife preserve located on the island of Vieques, about 2 miles east of the town of Esperanza, has the highest concentration of phosphorescent dinoflagellates (algae) not only in Puerto Rico, but in the world. 　　When movement disturbs these creatures,...

Isla Culebrita

Puerto Rico

　　If you need a reason to hire a water taxi, Isla Culebrita (Culebrita Island) is it. This small island, just east of Playa Zoni, is part of the national wildlife refuge. With its six beaches, tide pools, reefs and nesting areas for seabirds, Isla Culebrita has changed little in the...

Playa Flamenco

Puerto Rico

　　Stretching for a mile around a sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay, Playa Flamenco (Flamenco Beach) is not only one of Culebra’s best beaches, it also makes a regular appearance on the world's best beaches lists.  　　It gets its name from the nearby lagoon, which attracts flamingos in winter. If you plant to...

El Yunque National Forest

Puerto Rico

　　El Yunque National Forest is one of Puerto Rico’s crown jewels with nearly 29,000 acres of lush, mountainous terrain scattered with waterfalls, rushing rivers, towering trees and bamboo groves, all opening up to spectacular ocean views. 　　The only rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque (named after the...

La Guancha Paseo Tablado

Ponce & South Coast

　　Commonly known as ‘La Guancha,’ this rebuilt public boardwalk is around 3 miles south of the city center near the relatively lonely Ponce Hilton and the Port of the Americas. Refurbished in the mid-1990s, it’s a haven for picnicking families and strolling couples. Its chief points of interest include a...

Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña

Ponce & South Coast

　　This spacious pink villa designed by Juan Bertoli Calderoni, father of Puerto Rico’s neoclassical style, offers one of Ponce’s best museum experiences. A guided tour showcases development of Puerto Rico’s sound, allowing hands-on demonstrations of indigenous instruments. The collection of Taíno, African and Spanish instruments – especially the handcrafted four-string...

Hacienda Buena Vista

Ponce & South Coast

　　The overgrown coffee fields and quaint historical buildings of Hacienda Buena Vista make this one of Puerto Rico's best-preserved 19th-century coffee plantations. Wandering the grounds while listening to the screech of the coquí frogs makes a tranquil, historically themed half-day trip. Now, as in its heyday, the ingenuity of the...

Parque de Bombas

Ponce & South Coast

　　Ponceños (people from Ponce) claim that the eye-popping Parque de Bombas is Puerto Rico’s most frequently photographed building, which is not too hard to believe as you stroll around the black-and-red-striped, Arabian-style edifice and make countless unwitting cameos in family photo albums. 　　Originally constructed in 1882 as an agricultural exhibition...

Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes

Ponce & South Coast

　　The ancient ceremonial center of Tibes is one of the Caribbean's most important archaeological sites, due largely to evidence found here of pre-Taíno civilizations, such as the Igneris. Though Tibes lacks the dramatic scale of sites such as Mexico's Uxmal, it is a quiet spot, ideal for imagining the people...

Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Ponce & South Coast

　　The twin bell towers of this striking cathedral and local landmark cast an impression of noble piety over Ponce's Plaza Las Delicias. The cathedral appeared on the city’s skyline in 1931, on a site where colonists erected their first chapel in the 1660s, which (along with subsequent structures) succumbed to...

Plaza Las Delicias

Ponce & South Coast

　　Within this elegant square you’ll discover Ponce's heart as well as two of the city’s landmark buildings, Parque de Bombas and Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. The Fuente de los Leones, a photogenic fountain rescued from the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, is the square’s most captivating attraction. The...

Museo de Arte de Ponce

Ponce & South Coast

　　Brush Strokes in Flight, a bold primary-colored totem by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, announces the smartly remodeled MAP, where an expertly presented collection ranks among the best in the Caribbean. It is itself worth the trip from San Juan. A US$30-million renovation celebrated the museum’s 50th anniversary and the...

Bonus Nuclear Power Plant

Rincón

　　A curious landmark, this green dome poking out from behind the palm trees north of Rincón town behind the Punta Higüero Lighthouse once housed the Caribbean's first nuclear-powered electricity-generating facility. Back when the Beach Boys led the surfin’ safari, the Boiling Nuclear Superheater Plant (known half-sarcastically by the acronym of...

Parque Pasivo El Faro

Rincón

　　The pleasant urban park upon which the Punta Higűero Lighthouse perches makes a breezy place for a sunset picnic, to spy migrating whales (during winter) or to observe dozy iguanas (year-round). ...

Plaza de Recreo

Rincón

　　With its popular Thursday evening art walk, its pleasantly designed amphitheater and general leafiness, this is definitely one of Puerto Rico's nicer central squares. It's also surrounded with bustling restaurants and bars which means most people gravitate here at some point. ...

Punta Higüero Lighthouse

Rincón

　　Nicknamed El Faro, the Punta Higüero Lighthouse dates from 1892 and rises almost 100ft. It was restored in 1922 after being severely damaged by a tsunami set off by the devastating 1918 earthquake. The 26,000-candlepower light has been automated since 1933 and still helps ships navigate the Pasaje de la...

La Concha Resort

San Juan

　　Popular La Concha boasts spacious and serene white rooms with pops of color and ocean views. Add in its three pools (one adults-only), expansive indoor and outdoor seating areas, hallways in crayon colors, a 24-hour casino, a spa, an Italian restaurant imported from Miami and nightclub Fifty Eight, and you...

La Placita de Santurce

San Juan

　　Built in 1910, the Mercado de Santurce has been the center of activity for over a century, vendors doing a roaring trade in fruits and vegetables from around the island. Today is no different but come evening, the neighborhood transforms into one of the hottest nightspots in town, a street...

El Capitolio

San Juan

　　The capitol of the Commonwealth is in an impressive columned and domed neoclassical building in a commanding location overlooking Puerta de Tierra's wave-lashed coast. The much-revered constitution of the Commonwealth, which moved the island further away from colonialism in 1951, is on display inside the 80ft rotunda. Regular sessions of...

Playa Condado

San Juan

　　Hemmed in by hotel towers and punctuated by rocky outcrops, Condado’s narrow beaches are busier than Ocean Park’s and less exclusive than Isla Verde’s. Expect boisterous games of volleyball and plenty of crashing Atlantic surf. Families congregate around the big hotels, while gay men like the beach at the end...

Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico

San Juan

　　This 75-acre urban green lung has hiking trails through arches of bamboo leading to a lotus lagoon, an orchid garden with more than 30,000 flowers and a plantation of more than 120 species of palm. The air smells of blossoms, nutmeg and cinnamon trees. Pick up a free map at...

Kiosko La Comay

San Juan

　　Luz cooks up all manner of fried Puerto Rican goodies, such as crab alcapurrias (green plantain fritters) and bacalaítos (salt-cod pancakes) on weekends. Look for the kiosk on the inland side of Rte 187 opposite Playa Piñones, almost to the town of Loíza. Cash only. ...

Paseo de la Princesa

San Juan

　　Conjuring up a distinctly European feel, broad Paseo de la Princesa is a 19th-century esplanade just outside the city walls. Lined with antique streetlamps, trees, statues, benches, food-vendor carts and street entertainers, this romantic walkway ends at the magnificent Raíces Fountain, a stunning sculpture and water feature that depicts the...

Parque de las Palomas

San Juan

　　On the southern end of Calle del Cristo, the pigeon-filled Parque de las Palomas is in a tree-shaded cobblestone courtyard on the top of the city wall, with views of Bahía de San Juan and the crisscrossing water traffic that often includes city-sized cruise ships. Bird phobics should give it...

Museo del Mar

San Juan

　　This small maritime museum is home to an impressive collection of model boats – from 15th-century galleons to modern-day cruise ships – as well as countless miniature boats-in-bottles, antique navigation tools and the world's largest collection of life preservers. At the time of research, it was closed for remodeling, due...

La Fortaleza

San Juan

　　Guarded iron gates mark the imposing La Fortaleza. Dating from 1533, it's the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the western hemisphere. The original fortress for the young colony, La Fortaleza eventually yielded its military preeminence to the city’s newer and larger forts and was remodeled and expanded to...

Museo de San Juan

San Juan

　　Set in a former marketplace, this small museum offers the definitive take on the city's 500-year history. A permanent exhibit showcases well-laid-out pictorial testimonies from the Caparra ruins to modern-day neighborhoods. There’s also a 120-seat theater and two temporary exhibition spaces that feature work from contemporary Latin American artists. Every...

Catedral de San Juan Bautista

San Juan

　　While San Juan's cathedral is smaller and less flamboyant than many Spanish churches, it retains a simple elegance. The first church on this site was founded in 1521 and destroyed by a hurricane eight years later. They began constructing its replacement in 1540 and it slowly evolved into today's neoclassical-inspired...

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico

San Juan

　　This museum sits just down the road from the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in an eye-catching neoclassical Georgian building – the former Rafael M de Labra school – dating from 1918. The museum hosts rotating exhibitions showcasing artists from the mid-20th century onward, mostly from Puerto Rico, the...

La Placita de Santurce

San Juan

　　Santurce's famous market – La Placita – is also the hub of one of San Juan's hottest nightlife scenes. Especially good on Thursday and Friday nights, the historic market plaza and its surrounding streets host what becomes a veritable street party; people meeting up after work, eating, drinking and, as...

Cafe Con Cé

San Juan

　　This cupboard-sized cafe, with its industrial-chic walls and Scandi-influenced furniture, brews top-notch coffee, perfect with the delicious vegan-friendly baked goods on offer. It even sells stylish stationery. Next to food-truck Cafe Tresbé, it has its own small, tranquil patio. ...

Parques Luis Muñoz Rivera & Parque del Tercer Milenio

San Juan

　　Spanning the broad swath between the Atlantic and Av Ponce de León, Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera injects a much-needed green space into the urban landscape. Trails wind under shade trees to a playground, fountains and a pavilion for community events. Across Av Muñoz Rivera, Parque del Tercer Milenio was the...

Casa Bacardí Rum Factory

San Juan

　　The ‘Cathedral of Rum’ sits in vast grounds near the mouth of San Juan Bay. Three signature tours (45 minutes to 1½ hours) are offered throughout the week. The historical tour includes a guided visit of the museum and the story behind the world’s most-awarded rum. The rum-tasting tour adds...

Playa Ocean Park

San Juan

　　Protected by offshore reefs and caressed by cooling seasonal trade winds, this wide sweep of diamond-dust sand is a favorite of locals. But this residential ’hood's namesake beach is open to all – just pick a road through the low-rise gated community and follow it to the water. ...

Playa Isla Verde

San Juan

　　With countless tanned bodies lounging or flexing their biceps around the volleyball net, this urban beach basks in its reputation as the Copacabana of Puerto Rico. Serenity seekers may prefer to head west to Ocean Park but despite the crowds, this broad, mile-long swath of sand lying between Punta Las...

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

San Juan

　　San Juan boasts one of the largest and most celebrated art museums in the Caribbean. Housed in a splendid neoclassical building that was once the city’s Municipal Hospital, MAPR holds 18 exhibition halls spread over an area of 130,000 sq ft. The artistic collection includes paintings, sculptures, posters and carvings...

Balneario El Escambrón

San Juan

　　This sheltered arc's raked sand, decent surf breaks, local action and a 17th-century Spanish fort shimmering in the distance are the hallmarks of what's considered San Juan's finest beach, with Blue Flag status and only a stone's throw from the old city and the busy tourist strip of Condado. Best...

Museo de las Américas

San Juan

　　This museum presents an impressive overview of cultural development in the Americas, including indigenous, African and European influences. Four permanent exhibits integrate art, history and anthropology in thoughtful and provocative ways; the coverage of slavery is particularly moving, including the recreation of travel on a slave ship. Audiovisual highlights and...