There are watersports opportunities throughout Puerto Rico, from San Juan's waterfront hotels to eastern resorts and the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra all the way to the Rincón on the west coast and Cabo Rojo in the south.
Beach Warning
In San Juan, don't go walking along the beaches at night, even as tempting as it may be to do with your lover. On unguarded beaches, you will have no way to protect yourself or your valuables should you be approached by a robber or mugger, which can happen. The exceptions may be the beaches in front of Barbosa Park in Ocean Park and Parque del Indio in Condado, which are lit up at night and draw many evening visitors. Beaches on the island, especially in vacation towns such as Vieques and Culebra, Boquerón and Isabela, are genuinely safer, but it's still a good idea not to stray too far off the beaten path.
Outdoor Adventure
If you'd like to experience Puerto Rico on horseback, Hacienda Caribalí (tel. 787/889-5829 or 787/690-3781; www.haciendacaribalipuertorico.com) offers 2-hour tours on majestic Paso Fino horses that take riders along the Mamayes River in the shadow of El Yunque rainforest for $60. The 600-acre ranch also offers four-track and mountain bike tours, and has a go-kart track. Tropical Trail Rides (tel. 787/872-9256; www.tropicaltrailrides.com) gives beach tours on Paso Fino horses at a beautiful locale in Isabela, which also has cavernous cliffs and tropical forests, as well as at the 2,200 acre Hacienda Campo Rico in Carolina, in the San Juan metropolitan area. There are a number of tours, including a sunset ride, but most last 2 hours. Prices start at $40.
Several other tour operators cater to special tastes, including Castillo Tours & Travel Service, 2413 Laurel St., Punta Las Marias, Santurce (tel. 787/791-6195; www.castillotours.com), which is known for some of the best deep-sea fishing, rainforest, and catamaran tours.
AdvenTours, Luquillo (tel. 787/530-8311; www.adventourspr.com), features customized private tours that include such activities as bird-watching, hiking, camping, visits to coffee plantations, and kayaking.
Eco Xcursion Aquatica, Rte. 191, Km 1.7, Rio Grande, Fajardo (tel. 787/888-2887), offers some of the best rainforest hikes and mountain-bike tours, both for individuals and groups. They also offer kayak tours to one of several Bioluminescent Bays in Fajardo, where you enter the water at dusk and paddle through calm water teeming with small marine organisms that respond to the slightest touch by glowing an eerie greenish yellow. Las Tortugas Adventures, P.O. Box 1637, Canóvanas (tel. 787/809-0253 or 787/637-8356; www.kayak-pr.com), also runs tours to Fajardo's biobay, as well as river tours of the rainforest and Piñones wetlands, and kayaking/snorkeling trips to deserted beaches, rimmed with reefs and teeming schools of tropical fish. Aventuras Tierra Adentro (tel. 787/766-0470; www.aventuraspr.com) offers the best island adventure tours, focusing on hiking through virgin forests, rock climbing, or cliff jumping. Four different adventures are offered, costing $150 to $170 per person, which includes transportation from San Juan. Most of the jaunts take place on weekends.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
