well here's my trip report as promised, for everybody who doesn't go there ๐
we were there over a week, first time, and found it fabulous ๐ด๐ต๐ท
there were six of us, coming from different locs and met up there. stayed most of the time in a great AirBnB in Punta Santiago right next to a nature preserve with tons of trails, we could walk all around the area including a spectacular beach. several hidden bunkers from WWII, now home to local art ๐
Lobo! (RIP)
we visited El Yunque NP, Vieques conservation area, Hucares, Palmas Del Mar (found the rich PRs ๐), Loquillo, Fajardo/Las Croabas (found the best beach there!), and finished our time with a couple days in Old San Juan.
we cooked a lot, but the food we ate out was pretty damn good. i had never had PR food...surprisingly meat heavy for a caribbean island! ๐คจ but very tasty...one of the best things we ate was some guys with a giant pit on the side of the road ๐ melt in your mouth pork and chicharrones...holy shit was it good ๐คค
rained several times every day, short bursts then done. it was hot but not unbearably so, the evenings were super breezy and pleasant, and sitting in shade was actually nice and cool. that was actually one of the best features - all the natural shade on the beaches! no need for umbrellas or cover, the vegetation is super dense.
most of the tourist areas seemed full of...Puerto Ricans? or at least some variety of Latin folk...even in OSJ, the gringos were way outnumbered. it was kind of nice ๐ eating out prices varied depending on the spot, but no place we went seemed exorbitant. groceries and gas were generally much less expensive than expected for a caribbean island.
damage from Maria is still very apparent on much of the island outside San Juan. lots and lots of still empty structures everywhere, some being worked on but many just waiting for buyers i guess. i was kind of fascinated by the architecture/buildings...generally squat cement structures that were obviously built well bc they are still standing...but completely hollow as the insides have been blown/flooded out. seemed like you just add new windows, doors, and wiring... until the next time it all gets blown out i guess ๐๐
all in all it was pretty awesome, we would definitely go back. we only had two days at the end in OSJ...i think when we return we'd spend several more days there...very much a NOLA vibe and lots of history. also think we'd do a couple nights in Condado, enjoy some high rise beach resort time. i'd go back for more hiking in El Yunque as well...spectacular!
El Yunque
Vieques
Hucares
surly special beach pup shot ๐
Seven Seas beach in Las Croabas
Old San Juan