Puerto Rico

Including Old San Juan, El Yunque National Forest and Charco Azul

The fort “El Morro” in old San Juan
January 27th - February 2nd, 2025

Island of Enchantment

After the Virgin Islands, we decided to also include a one week stay in Puerto Rico since it was only a half an hour away by plane.The main draw for us was to visit El Yunque National Rainforest, which did not disappoint.

We stayed in El Condado, which was only a 15 minute Uber ride away from Old San Juan. We loved Old San Juan, the colorful architecture was amazing and there are some really fun historic forts/castles to explore.

We did two excursions while we were here, a tour of El Charco Azul, which is really amazing natural swimming hole, and a bioluminescent bay kayaking tour.

El Morro

The first thing we did once we arrived in Puerto Rico was go to El Morro, which is a historic fortress/castle that the Spanish built back when they first settled the island. It was really cool to explore the fortress and imagine what life for a Spanish soldier would have been like.

Exploring around El Morro
Exploring around El Morro
Views from El Morro
Views from El Morro
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
Narrow passageway out to a turret
Narrow passageway out to a turret
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan
Rooms inside El Morro
Rooms inside El Morro
The exterior of El Morro
The exterior of El Morro
Narrow passageway out to a turret
Narrow passageway out to a turret
El Morro, Old San Juan
El Morro, Old San Juan

Old San Juan

We loved downtown Old San Juan, the architecture style reminded us of Portugal, where Natalie served her mission. The colorful buildings, the narrow streets and the historic forts/castles were all so magical.

Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
We went to an amazing breakfast place in Old San Juan
We went to an amazing breakfast place in Old San Juan
View from the breakfast place we went to in Old San Juan
View from the breakfast place we went to in Old San Juan
Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
Colorful buildings and architecture along the streets in Old San Juan
Old San Juan is surrounded by a fortress wall like this one
Old San Juan is surrounded by a fortress wall like this one

Castillo San Cristobal

Another fort/castle nearby to El Morro, this one had underground tunnels and dungeons and were really fun to explore.

Castillo San Cristobal
Castillo San Cristobal
A water well inside Castillo San Cristobal
A water well inside Castillo San Cristobal
Views from the top of Castillo San Cristobal
Views from the top of Castillo San Cristobal
Views from the top of Castillo San Cristobal
Views from the top of Castillo San Cristobal
The view from a lookout in Castillo San Cristobal
The view from a lookout in Castillo San Cristobal

El Yunque

Our main draw to come to Puerto Rico was El Yunque National Rainforest. We did a 6.9 mile hike here called "El Yunque Forest Big Loop", which we felt like took us on an amazing tour of El Yunque and got us up to the highest vantage points to look out to the rainforest. There were also multiple castle like towers that added additional charm to the hike. We loved the lush green rainforest of El Yunque, definitely the highlight of our trip!

El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque National Rainforest
Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
The view from the top of Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
The view from the top of Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
The view from the top of Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
The view from the top of Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
The windows you look at as you're climbing the stairs up to Torre Yokahú
The windows you look at as you're climbing the stairs up to Torre Yokahú
Looking out the windows in Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
Looking out the windows in Torre Yokahú in El Yunque
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque National Rainforest
Climbing to the top of El Torre de los Picachos
Climbing to the top of El Torre de los Picachos
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of El Yunque rock
View from the top of El Yunque rock
View from the top of El Yunque rock
View from the top of El Yunque rock
View from the top of El Yunque rock
View from the top of El Yunque rock
Hiking to the top of El Yunque rock
Hiking to the top of El Yunque rock
Pico El Yunque Tower, which stands at the top of El Yunque
Pico El Yunque Tower, which stands at the top of El Yunque
The view from Pico El Yunque Tower, which stands at the top of El Yunque
The view from Pico El Yunque Tower, which stands at the top of El Yunque
El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque National Rainforest
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
View from the top of Torre Los Picachos along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
Pico el Yunque Tower at the very top of El Yunque
Pico el Yunque Tower at the very top of El Yunque
View from the top of Pico el Yunque Tower
View from the top of Pico el Yunque Tower
Looking out the window of Pico el Yunque Tower, looking towards Torre de Los Picachos (where we had been 2 hours previously).
Looking out the window of Pico el Yunque Tower, looking towards Torre de Los Picachos (where we had been 2 hours previously).
Mount Britton Tower along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
Mount Britton Tower along the El Yunque Forest Big Loop trail
El Yunque National Rainforest
El Yunque National Rainforest
La Coca Falls in El Yunque, visible from the road
La Coca Falls in El Yunque, visible from the road
Baño Grande in El Yunque, which was once a popular swimming hole.
Baño Grande in El Yunque, which was once a popular swimming hole.
This outlet is where all the water from El Yunque drains into the ocean
This outlet is where all the water from El Yunque drains into the ocean
After hiking en El Yunque, we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed the sunset
After hiking en El Yunque, we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed the sunset
We loved the food we had after hiking in El Yunque
We loved the food we had after hiking in El Yunque
After hiking en El Yunque, we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed the sunset
After hiking en El Yunque, we went to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed the sunset

Charco Azul

We went on an all day excursion of El Charco Azul, which is a really beautiful swimming hole that is somewhat reminiscent of a Utah slot canyon. We swam in the water, did some cliff jumping, and our tour guide also took us to an interesting cave feature.

El Charco Azul
El Charco Azul
Our friend Peter who was on our tour climbing up a log to the entrance of the cave
Our friend Peter who was on our tour climbing up a log to the entrance of the cave
El Charco Azul
El Charco Azul
Swimming into the cave entrance
Swimming into the cave entrance
Inside the cave at Charco Azul
Inside the cave at Charco Azul
Exiting the cave and swimming downstream
Exiting the cave and swimming downstream
The cave in Charco Azul
The cave in Charco Azul
Charco Azul
Charco Azul
Charco Azul
Charco Azul
The swimming hole at Charco Azul
The swimming hole at Charco Azul
The cliff jumping we did in Charco Azul
The cliff jumping we did in Charco Azul
The cliff jumping we did in Charco Azul
The cliff jumping we did in Charco Azul
Charco Azul, similar to a southern Utah slot canyon
Charco Azul, similar to a southern Utah slot canyon
Charco Azul
Charco Azul

Bioluminescent Bay

Puerto Rico is home to multiple bioluminescent bays, which are bodies of water where microscopic organisms produce a "glow-in-the-dark" effect called bioluminescence. We went on a kayaking tour to one of these bays, which was a unique experience to kayak in the dark with only moon light as a light source. When you would swish your hand or paddle in the water, it was almost like it produced flashes of temporary sparks of light in the water. Our pictures are unfortunately too dark and blurry to see anything, but it was a pretty neat experience over all.

Kayaking in a bioluminescent bay
Kayaking in a bioluminescent bay
Kayaking in a bioluminescent bay
Kayaking in a bioluminescent bay

Museo de arte de Puerto Rico

We went to Puerto Rico's museum of art, which had a really pretty sculpture garden that we spent some time in.

Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico
The sculpture garden in Museo de arte de Puerto Rico

Airbnb

Our Airbnb was located on the 11th floor of a tall apartment complex in El Condado. It had a nice overlook of Laguna del Condado.

The view of Laguna Condado from our Airbnb's window
The view of Laguna Condado from our Airbnb's window
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Looking out to the beach from our resort in Punta Cana
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Virgin Islands

Looking at St. John island from the vantage point of Peace Hill Tower.