A week in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has no shortage of supply. This itinerary focuses more on hitting the beaches of San Juan, the south side and the island of Vieques, but those wanting to explore an island full of giant lizards, whale watching, snorkeling and diving can head west of Rincon. Apart from seaside fun, Puerto Rico has a lot of natural beauties: caves, rainforests and mountains vie for space on this small island. Hurricane season is obviously not the time to go, but the rest of the year, rarely varies over time despite what people see can give you when they realize they are going to the beach in "winter". 

Just remember that in Puerto Rico, the time constraints are meaningless, so be prepared to be flexible, or more likely, you are ready to just relax and do what feels good. 

Days 1 and 2: Bacardi-drenched wanderings in Old San Juan 

The well kept beaches are the main reason to visit Puerto Rico, and for visitors to the schedules must be flexible to adapt in time on the beach when the sun is shining. During the first two days in San Juan, hit the beach in Condado, Isla Verde and Ocean Park when it's sunny, and when the clouds begin to roll in, head to Old San Juan to be enchanted by pastel colored houses and cobblestone streets. The shops here cover all needs, from local crafts hand made ​​high end stores. Keep cool with a kayak or shaved ice, sold out of cars around the main square. 

Old San Juan is the walled city built in 1509 by the Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon and many buildings of the era are still in excellent shape. Check out the White House, the former home of Leon, San Juan Cathedral and Dominican Convent, which is now the Institute of Culture. Watch the sun sink from El Morro, one of two stone forts built to protect the city from the Dutch and British.

Exploring the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. 

The next day, after another lie on the beach, cool off with a mojito at Casa Bacardi factory, located in a sugar cane plantation of 127 acres. The tour takes visitors walks through the small museum and ends with some free drinks. Then head to the upscale neighborhood of Miramar to see historic wooden houses and to rent a yacht for the afternoon. At night, gorging on mofongo, mashed plantains with garlic and pork rinds. If you feel lucky, hit the casinos, or any number of bars and clubs in Old San Juan, Isla Verde or Condado - just be aware that most places in Old San Juan operate at tourist prices.

At Casa Bacardi Factory in San Juan. Photo by drbertdelgado / Flickr. 

If it is too hot, head to Plaza las Americas, a huge shopping center where people from all over the Caribbean comes to storing clothes and other goods. Can be depended on to have a constant supply of water, electricity and air conditioning in hurricane season, more winter clothes is unsurprisingly sold for very cheap. 

Day 3: artificial and natural stunners in Arecibo 

An hour west of San Juan is the world's largest radio telescope, which rests in the middle of a forest. Continue to feel dwarfed while riding The Beast - a zip 50 mph so long that it is impossible to see the end from the beginning. Once back on land, 15 minutes drive south of Rio Camuy Caves experience. Frightening or exhilarating depending on your point of view, this park is an underground network of limestone caves, canyons and sinkholes. One is still home to a forest, several species of animals and a waterfall, which is powered by the world's third largest underground river.

The observatory is recognizable in the movie Contact. Photo by hmboo Electrician and Adventurer / Flickr. 

Day 4: Fresh mountain air and the south side 

From Arecibo, it's time to cross to the south side. Along the way, do not miss the Black Forest Reserve Toro, which includes the highest point of the Central Cordillera, and a hike to the waterfalls Juanita. After a morning at the top, return to sea level in Ponce, Puerto Rico from Second City. Ponce has no beaches, but visitors can see the art museum or the cathedral to stretch your legs. Near Guánica has seven beaches, each of which boasts white sand and turquoise waters. Keep your energy levels with fried yucca and a seafood lunch.

Off the coast of Guánica. Photo by Ricymar Photography / Flickr. 

Day 5: Explore the Tropics 

The only tropical rainforest in the United States Forest System, 28,000 hectares of El Yunque is absolutely stunning. Just an hour southeast of San Juan, the forest plonks direct visitors to another world. Visitors can choose to walk or drive through the jungle. The two most popular trails are El Yunque trail that climbs 1,500 feet to the summit of the forest, and the paved Mount Britton Trail, which is much less stressful and leaves visitors at Mount Britton Tower in the clouds in a 45 minutes. After returning to nature, it is a return to modernity shaking in the popular beach of Luquillo, one with all services.

Just a normal scene in the stunning El Yunque. Photo by InspiredVision / Flickr. 

Days 6 and 7: Vieques beckons In Fajardo

on board a ferry to the undeveloped island of Vieques, which is only four miles wide and 22 miles long. Vieques used to be a military base in the United States and various parts of the base are now open to the public. Ferries dock at the town of Isabel Segunda and visitors can either stay there or take a taxi to the small town of Hope on the other side of the island, which is more tourist-friendly. Rent a jeep to find all the deserted beaches and the pursuit of Stonehenge-like structure built by the Taino Indians. One should do is a night in the bioluminescent bay kayak, micro-organisms called dinoflagellates that light up. There is also the option to do this in Fajardo, but is much brighter in Esperanza because of the lack of pollution.

The beautiful red beach in Vieques. Photo by Angel Javier Viera / Flickr.