2 June 2024
With excellent road infrastructure and a US highway system connecting the capital to the rest of the Island, Puerto Rico makes for the ultimate tropical road trip adventure. From ocean vistas to vast mountains, a self-drive holiday allows visitors to go at their own pace as they explore the Island’s diverse landscapes. Only 110 miles long and 35.5 miles wide, travellers can get across the Island in a few hours and, therefore, plan multiple road trips for your getaway!
On average, the car rental costs $14 per day plus insurance. There are also local companies outside the metropolitan region (including Vieques and Culebra). Once your rental is set, you can navigate the Island with ease, following road signs and GPS such as Google Maps, Maps, and Waze, which work fine in Puerto Rico.
Here is some inspiration for destinations around the Island that are must-visits on any Puerto Rican road trip:
Savour a foodie road trip in Luquillo
To sample authentic Borícua food, there are few better places than the region of Piñones, which locals lovingly refer to as the “soul of the island”. The region boasts a proud Afro-Caribbean heritage which is reflected in its abundant street food. Visitors can hire a car and embark on a much-loved pastime among locals, an ocean drive starting at Loíza in the stunning foodie region of Piñones.
A road trip along Piñones’ pristine and unspoiled coastline is a perfect way to discover some of Puerto Rico’s most stunning untouched beaches and, of course, its local street food gems. Just past El Yunque rainforest is Luquillo, a beachside town famous for its kiosks and next door to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, Balneario La Monserrate. The combination of stunning vistas of the ocean, lively live Latin music, and the seductive smells of freshly cooked food at one of Luquillo’s 60 restaurants and chinchorros (kiosks) make for an unforgettable sensory explosion. Visitors can sample the huge array of street food, from delicious fritters to platters of Puerto Rican food such as pork, rice, fried plantains, alcapurrias and bacalaítos. Another street food staple, Pincho de Pollos or pinchos can be found all over the Piñones region as well as the rest of Puerto Rico. Here, tender chicken thigh skewers are marinated in a blend of Caribbean spices, grilled and served on its own or with a slice of fresh bread.
Adventure into the rural Central Mountain Region
Puerto Rico’s interior mountain region is perfect for adventurous drivers looking to get a taste of authenticBoricualife. With a history and culture rooted in agriculture, this region has diverse vegetation and produces most of the Island’s coffee, which travellers can taste at severalhaciendas.By road, travellers can easily venture into the majestic central mountains to savour tasty Creole cuisine and take in the sweeping views in every direction. To experience some local flavour, why not visit a working coffee hacienda, where you can tour the facilities, sample the locally grown coffee, eat some local food and enjoy yet more mountain views? This region has its own distinct cuisine; at the iconic local restaurants known asmesones gastronómicos, explorers can try the signature meat cooked over charcoal, fried foods and the famousmofongowith various sauces.
Experience a surfer’s paradise in Rincón
Known for its striking sunsets and diverse watersport offerings, Rincón has become a local icon for its surfing culture, complete with a surfing statue in the middle of the town. Located on the westernmost point of the Island, Rincón is home to beaches on the north and west coasts offering a wide variety of surf breaks and wave sizes suitable for all levels of surfers. The top beaches in Rincón include María’s Beach, Tres Palmas and Domes Beach which is one of the most famous surfing spots in the Caribbean, hosting an annual international surfing competition as well as various beach festivals throughout the year. For those without a board, surfers need not travel far to find one of the several shops offering rentals, including Mar Azul Surf Shop and Surf Town Rincón. Whether travellers are new to the sport or looking to learn new skills and tricks, Rincón Surf School is the ideal spot for those looking to learn.
For more information, please visitwww.discoverpuertorico.com
