Explore Puerto Rico
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10 Of Our Favorite Puerto Rico Diving Spots
Puerto Rico is a scuba diver’s dream, where 360 miles of coastline skirts turquoise waters and must-see coral reefs. Here are 10 of our favorite dive spots in Puerto Rico.
Vieques
Attractive for advanced intermediate and beginner divers, Vieques is a small scuba mecca in Puerto Rico. There are countless dive sites on the southern shore, ranging from 100 feet deep. The location is spectacular, with Blue Tang Reef, Angel Reef, and Lobster Reef nearby.
Divers and snorkelers often catch glimpses of nurse sharks, rays, eels, lobsters, and other marine life here. You could also spot manatees or dolphins, depending on the day. It all adds up to a scuba diving experience you’ll remember forever.
Culebra
There’s an adventure for all skill levels on the island municipality of Culebra. Take your pick from over 50 different dive sites, including sunken vessels, coral reefs, and caves. Note that most tour groups and dive shops here specialize in beginner classes.
Cayo Raton
Trust us; you’ll want to check out Cayo Raton in Culebra. Locals know this gem as one of the fishiest in Puerto Rico, but there’s more to this setting than the smell. Enjoy all sorts of sea creatures around here, such as butterflyfish and queen angelfish.
Mona Island
History and fun await after a 50-mile boat ride from Puerto Rico to reach the incomparable Mona Island. The “Galapagos of the Caribbean” features beaches, campsites, and endangered animals. Those interested in checking out this wildlife preserve must first request a permit or visit the agency’s office in San Juan.
Desecheo Island
You can find some of the area’s most incredible coral reefs on Desecheo Island. Though visitors can’t access the island itself, the waters are highly popular among scuba divers. You and your group can plan for different kinds of fish, turtles, sharks, crustaceans, whales, and dolphins at this remote locale.
Candyland
Think back to your childhood for a second. Do you remember playing the game Candyland (because we’re guessing you do)? Well, Candyland on Desecho Island is a giant coral reef named after the crazy, colorful board game we all know and love.
Las Cuevas
Candyland isn’t the only crowd favorite on Desecheo Island. Las Cuevas boasts an entire world of canyons and arches, as well as the opportunity to swim and explore. This spot is perfect for all skill levels of scuba divers and beginners in particular.
La Parguera
Ask previous guests of La Parguera about their experience, and chances are they’ll discuss the bioluminescent bay of glowing algae that lights up at night. But the bay isn’t the only reason to make a trip to southwest Puerto Rico. La Parguera offers some of the most amazing scuba diving adventures on the island.
Efra’s Wall
The Wall, or Efra’s Wall as it’s also known, ranks as one of the top scuba diving settings in Puerto Rico. The miles of underwater wall with coral reefs and various sea life (including sharks) creates an adventure you can’t replicate anywhere else. Pro tip: Book your trip to The Wall in the weeks or months before you arrive in Puerto Rico.
Humacao
Beginner, intermediate, and experienced scuba divers love Humacao for its variety of sites. You’re sure to encounter dolphins, whales, or manatees regardless of your skill level! There are also opportunities for relaxing on any of the beaches and snorkeling.
The Best Golf Courses in Puerto Rico
Exploring Puerto Rico’s Different Regions: What to do, where to go.
When many think of a Puerto Rico vacation, they imagine Caribbean beaches, rum drinks with little umbrellas and perhaps the vibrant and famous streets of Old San Juan. Puerto Rico may look like a small island, at just over 3,500 square miles, but the nation is actually home to a diverse ecosystem that includes rainforest jungle, mountains and a plethora of satellite islands that play home to some of the natural wonders of the world.
Getting out and around Puerto Rico is as easy as hopping in a car, but knowing where to go can be a bit overwhelming. In this piece we dive into some of Puerto Rico’s regional centers, natural attractions and islands that can help extend your trip from a beach stay to a full-blown island adventure.
Exploring Puerto Rico’s Six Regions
Puerto Rico is divided into six regions: North, Metro, East, Central, South, and West. From there, the island is broken down further into about 78 municipalities.
Metro Region
The Metro Region has a lot packed into a small area. There are seven cities within Metro: Bayamón, Carolina, Cataño, Guaynabo, San Juan, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto. Bayamón is referred to as “El Pueblo del Chicharron,” the “fried pig skin city” specializing in deep frying different cuts of pork and sometimes chicken.
Bayamón is also a part of the metropolitan area of San Juan and is the second-most populous city in Puerto Rico. Suppose you are looking to tour a distillery on your trip. In that case, Cataño is the perfect place in the Metro area to visit because it is home to the prestigious Bacardi Rum Plant (considered to be the largest rum distillery in the world).
San Juan City
San Juan, the island’s capital, is situated in Metro, the smallest region of the island. It’s a city that is very popular with tourists for the broad range of activities, resorts, restaurants, and shopping to choose from.
Numero Uno Beach House is conveniently located in San Juan, with our sister location close by in the city of Loiza in the East region. Old San Juan is a richly historical area with an old military stronghold dating back 500 years and is worth exploring during your visit. While San Juan has a lot to do, it is still worth your while to see what else the island offers to see what will fit your interests the most.
The East
In the east of Puerto Rico, 40 minutes away from San Juan, lies the incredible El Yunque nature reserve, also known as the Caribbean National Forest. The East Region has gorgeous beaches, amazing sunsets, delicious seafood and offers up plenty of secluded spots for those on a romantic getaway. Here are a few of our favorite spots in the East region.
Fajardo
Fajardo is considered one of the most beautiful spots on the island. It is home to around seven unique ecosystems and is a significant location for scientific research. Las Cabezas de San Juan in Fajardo is the most vital natural area on the island. It’s also the perfect spot to snorkel or scuba dive in the clear and still waters replete with coral reefs, mangroves, and lagoons.
Vieques
Looking for some secluded stretches of beach to relax in the sun? Take the ferry from Fajardo to Vieques and Culebra. Two beautiful areas known for their secluded beaches, snorkeling spots, and stunning views. The island of Vieques is situated between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. This historic old haven for pirates is the perfect place to enjoy pristine beaches with sand that ranges from white to black.
One of the must-see spots in this region is Mosquito Bay, where you can view more than just gorgeous sunsets. Located on the southern shore of Vieques, it is considered the brightest bioluminescent spot in the world. We recommend you plan your visit to the bay during a New Moon phase. There are plenty of guided tours available to get the most from your nighttime adventure.
Loiza
Located a mere 20 minutes from San Juan, Loiza is a 20 minute day trip escape from San Juan into the Afro-Caribbean roots of the island. Loiza and nearby Piñones play host to a colorful street food scene.
It is also where you will find your very own oasis of calm: Numero Uno Pinoñes. Air conditioned rooms, a chic pool bar and on-site water sports activities like e-foiling, water tubing and surfing await.
The North
The North is made up of nine cities: Arecibo, Barceloneta, Camuy, Dorado, Florida, Hatillo, Manati, Toa Alta, Vega Alta, and Vega Baja. This region has abundant history and boasts the world’s most extensive underground cave system. Of the nine cities, the three listed below are our pics for a day trip or extended visit.
Arecibo
Arecibo has lots of history to offer its visitors. Settled in 1556, Arecibo was an early Spanish-controlled area. One of the city’s most popular points of interest is “La Cueva del Indio,” a cave and archaeological site known for prehistoric cave drawings dating back to earlier generations of the native Taino people.
Arecibo is also home to the Arecibo Observatory and space telescope, made famous in films such as The Landing and Goldeneye.
Barceloneta
Abundant pineapple plantations dot the land in the town of Barceloneta and is also referred to by many as the “pineapple city,” or “La Ciudad de las Pinas”. This town is also famous for gorgeous black sand beaches.
Camuy
Just a little over an hour’s drive from San Juan, Camuy is a gorgeous destination that is an accessible day trip from San Juan or other Northeastern destinations.
A great spot for outdoor enthusiasts, Camuy is home to the third-largest underground river in the world, Rio Camuy Cave Park, offering visitors 268 acres of nature trails and large caverns. The limestone caves cover the span of three towns in this area, including Camuy. You will have to reserve your spot before going to the park these days, so don’t wait too long to plan your excursion to Camuy.
Central Puerto Rico
In the Central region, you can enjoy a cooler climate filled with dense tropical forests. The lush wilderness is dotted with caves and waterfalls, including popular hybrid cave-tubing tours offered on the Tanamá River.
This is where you will find the highest peak and elevation in Puerto Rico., and home to many of the island’s coffee plantations. You can stop to indulge the senses in both nature and freshly grown coffee at places like Hacienda Tres Ángeles.
The West Coast
If all you care about is coming to the island for the beaches, the Western region will be perfect for you! The West has 21 cities, a few of which are tiny islands of their own. Some of the island’s most popular beaches are found along the hundreds of miles of the Puerto Rican coastline. If you’re big into surfing, you are sure to find the perfect spot in Aguadilla. If you are looking for some of Puerto Rico’s best moonshine, look no further than Añasco for a taste.
Southern Puerto Rico
The South tends to be the hotter and drier region of the island. Ponce, which is historically significant for its Spanish colonial past, has been an area of intensive restoration and preservation in recent years. For history enthusiasts, the Southern region is worth visiting to see the impressive architecture and unique cultural sites.
Planning Your Puerto Rico Road Trip!
While this article only skimmed the surface of what you can do during your visit, hopefully, it has given you an idea of what areas you want to explore or stay in. Whether you are a food enthusiast, a history buff, just looking for a relaxing spot on the beach, or a watersports thrill-seeker, Puerto Rico has something for you. There’s plenty of culture and fun for everyone of all ages, with lots more to discover on this unique island.
To learn more about the different regions and what they offer, check out Discover Puerto Rico for more information. Also, don’t forget to book your stay at Numero Uno Beach House in San Juan or our sister location in Loiza, Numero Uno Pinoñes, as well as reserve your watersports activities while you’re at it. There’s never been a better time to make your island getaway a reality!
All About Puerto Rican Arepas
No trip to San Juan is complete without a dive into the local Caribbean cuisine. A local favorite — in homes and restaurants — is Arepas Puertorriqueñas, the island's unique take one of Latin America's favorite street foods. Ingredients and cooking method (pan-frying vs. deep frying) may vary depending on where you order them, but we’re pretty confident you can’t go wrong with any arepa recipe.
What makes an arepa Puerto Rican?
The Puerto Rican version of the arepa is almost always made with wheat or coconut flour instead of corn flour, more common in South America.
Puerto Rican arepas tend to be smaller than those found south of the equator, and can be served stuffed – typical across Latin America - or plain, more akin to a fry bread. Puerto Rican cuisine is also unique in its extensive use of seafood in arepa recipes.
The Piñones culinary team has its own fresh take on the dish – an arepa de coco with shrimp a la Criolla, a light, sharable arepa topped with fresh, seasoned shrimp.
Arepas Around the World
Sweet arepas
If you prefer sweetness, consider adding sugar or coconut to your arepa recipe. You can also try sweet corn arepas or arepas de Choclo (griddled sweet corn cakes). They’re most popular in Colombia, where professional and novice chefs alike will mix sweet corn with masarepa, a special precooked cornmeal perfect for arepas. And because they are made from corn, these arepas are generally gluten-free.
Colombian arepas tend to be thinner and flatter, like a tostada. They’re most often consumed for breakfast — especially when they’re made sweet. And most every Colombian arepa recipe you’ll find will call for masarepa, so be sure you visit the local supermarket before embarking on your arepa-making journey.
Most grocery stores carry this dried precooked corn flour. It just has to be combined with a few ingredients to make a dough that's easy to work with — saving you time and energy.
Arepas rellenas
Another favorite is the Venezuelan arepa, specifically the arepa rellena. These thicker arepas are often stuffed with ingredients like beef, chicken, black beans, or pork, similar to a sandwich. They’re also often seasoned with spices that offer a kick — think chili powder or onion. Depending on how these arepas are prepared – they can be fried or grilled. It’s completely up to you!
If you’ve never made arepas rellenas before, you can find relatively easy recipes on Relish.com.
How to make Puerto Rican arepas
With a little patience and a desire to experiment, you can pull together your own South American or Puerto Rican arepas platter at home. This recipe is for a traditional Puerto Rican arepas de coco, similar (but not identical) to those used as the basis for our arepas dishes at Piñones.
Arepas de coco
- Vegetable oil (about an inch)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ tsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup of coconut milk (regular milk is ok to substitute)
In a large bowl, whisk together the baking powder, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Use a spatula to add in the coconut milk. Stir until
Add some flour across a cutting board so you can knead the dough for 5 minutes. Transfer to a covered bowl for about 20 minutes before you roll the dough out.
After the 20 minutes is up, move back to the floured cutting board to roll the dough. It should be very thin. You can use a round cookie cutter to cut out pieces when it’s ready.
Next, it’s time to pan fry. Use a large skillet at medium temperature. Make sure the oil is hot before adding the arepa mix.
Let them fry to a light golden brown, and they’re ready to serve — once they slightly cool down, of course.
Puerto Rican Domplines
This recipe is courtesy of San Juan’s Raul and Richard of The Mindful Grub.
- 1 ½ cups wheat flower
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tbsp oil
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 tsp adobo
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 cups oil for frying
Mix all dry ingredients first. Then, add 1 tbsp of oil and mix again.
Add water little by little (you may not use all of it).
Knead the dough with your hands while incorporating the water until you reach a dough-like consistency.
Once it doesn’t stick, take a tablespoon of the dough and roll it into a ball with your hands. Then, use a rolling pin to stretch out until it’s about 1/16th of an inch and uniform in thickness.
Heat the oil in a medium frying pan and place the flattened dough in the oil for frying.
Using a spoon, take some of the hot oil and pour it over the top of the dough while frying. This will allow it to puff up on the outside, yet keep an air pocket inside the dough.
Once golden on both sides, place on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
Serve with stewed beans. The best way to eat domplines is to open them on one side and fill them with beans.
Where to find Arepas in San Juan
Not up for the challenge of making your own arepas? We can help! We can help! We have so many tasty options at Numero Uno Piñones. From pinchos and tostones to chicharrones and Puerto Rican arepas, we're home to the island's ultimate unique locally-inspired dining experience.
All meals are prepared fresh daily using healthy and local ingredients.
What are Pinchos: Kabobs with Puerto Rican Flare
