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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
Top Kiteboarding Destinations in Puerto Rico
Kiteboarding and Puerto Rico go hand in hand. The thrills, the adventure, the views — it all adds up to an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life. But with so many kiteboarding options on the island, how do you know which is best?
Here are some of the best kiteboarding spots in Puerto Rico
San Juan Kiteboarding Spots
As Lou Martin of USA Today tells us, the San Juan area offers several kiteboarding beaches worth exploring. Visitors near the capital city should take the time to check out Isla Verde, Caballos, and Punta Las Marias. All three locales are just minutes away from the international airport and are known for their large waves.
Numero Uno’s affiliated kite boarding and surfing outfit, Kite Puerto Rico, offers part day, single day and multi-day options for all ability and interest levels. Recently added: a downwinding experience that wraps all the way around San Juan’s oceanfront.
Gilligan’s Bay
It’s easy to see what makes Gilligan’s Bay one of the most notable kiteboarding beaches on Puerto Rico’s south coast. Shallow crystal water and remarkable vistas everywhere you look will have you wanting to come back again and again. Note that you’ll have to launch from a boat because there are no launching pads at the bay.
La Parguera
If you’re willing to drive further away from San Juan, La Parguera could be the ultimate kiteboarding destination. La Parguera is one of three bioluminescent bays found along the region’s coastline. However, swimming and kiteboarding are only allowed in La Parguera.
Jobos Beach
Those looking to plan a kiteboarding trip on the northwest coast should have Jobos Beach at the top of their list. The water starts off shallow at the shoreline before quickly getting deeper. Whereas beginning kiteboarders typically prefer waters near the shore, more experienced kiteboarders favor the outer edges of this spot.
Shack’s Beach
Put your skills to the test with a kiteboarding adventure in some of the more difficult conditions in Puerto Rico. Shacks Beach, located near Jacobs, features a sharp coral reef where waves crash throughout the day. We suggest assessing the conditions once you arrive and only kiteboard if you’re well-versed in the activity.
When’s the best time to kiteboard in Puerto Rico?
Except for September and October, which are typically hot, low-wind months, Puerto Rico has fairly consistent wind throughout the year. You could say conditions are often perfect for kiteboarding, with winds ranging from 15-18 knots. However, even during the offseason, we can still experience up to 20 windy days a month!
We suggest experienced kitesurfers visiting the island between December and April for the best waves and conditions. Trust us; the wind can make all the difference in your sessions! Don’t hesitate to talk to a kiteboarding instructor about the forecast once you arrive.
Where to Learn Kiteboarding in Puerto Rico
If you’re new to Puerto Rico, you want to experience everything the area has to offer! You’ll learn right away that kiteboarding and other water activities are a huge part of the lifestyle here. That’s why we suggest booking a few sessions with a professional who can show you the proper skills and techniques before you venture out to any of the above beaches.
Kite Puerto Rico is the premier kiteboarding school on the island. Not only do they have IKO-certified instructors on their staff, but they have a real passion for kiteboarding. These people love sharing their knowledge and then watching customers become independent kiteboarders in a matter of hours.
Whether you’re new to the activity or consider yourself an expert, Kite Puerto Rico has a lesson with your name on it. Sessions include both instruction and equipment, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself. In addition to ensuring customers have the time of their lives, the Kite Puerto Rico staff always make safety a top priority.
So, what are you waiting for? Book a lesson at Kite Puerto Rico today!
Puerto Rico COVID-19 Reopening Status and Travel Tips
Bioluminescent Bays in Puerto Rico
On your search for things to do in Puerto Rico, you might have already read about the bioluminescent bays (bio bays). They make for a truly unique and unforgettable experience — one you can’t miss out on. The great thing about it, it’s an activity that’s accessible after dark. It’s meant for all types of travelers, nature lovers, and families alike. Where can you find the bio bays and when is the best time to see them? Here’s what you need to know before planning a tour at one of the three bio bays on the island.
What are bioluminescent dinoflagellates?
Before planning your tour, it’s good to know a little bit of background on dinoflagellates. Dinoflagellates are unicellular organisms that light up like glow in the dark stars and cause the effect we call bioluminescence. They are incredibly tiny marine organisms, but sometimes they’re found in freshwater as well. It’s a type of plankton, and usually harmless for humans to be in contact with. An exception to this would be an overpopulation of certain types that cause ‘red tides.’ The dinoflagellates in the bio bays we’re talking about are harmless. The moment something gets in touch with them, they light up for a second. These white firefly-like lights you can then see is caused by the chemical reaction that happens upon contact. This effect is why swimming or playing around in the water with bioluminescent dinoflagellates is such a cool experience. You can literally ‘throw’ glistening water up in the air and for a split second witness being surrounded by the tiniest stars.Exploring Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays
Mosquito Bay, Vieques Island
To see the bioluminescence at Mosquito Bay, you’d have to fly or ferry over for at least an overnight trip to the small island called Vieques. It’s just east of the island of Puerto Rico. Mosquito Bay is the biggest and also said to be the brightest bio bay in the world (Guinness Book of World Records, 2006). After Hurricane Maria in 2017, for a moment, it looked like there was a setback for Mosquito Bay. But by 2019, the brightness is double than it was before. This is due to the relocation of dinoflagellate colonies after the hurricane. At Mosquito Bay, you can take an electric boat or glass-bottom kayak tour, that allows for a very close-up magical experience while staying dry yourself. The 2-hour guided kayak tours start at around $60.La Parguera, Lajas
Near the southwest corner of Puerto Rico, and a 3-hour drive from San Juan, there is the bio bay of La Parguera. Right at the lively little town center of La Parguera in Lajas, motorboats depart after dark (starting 7:30 pm) to the nearby bioluminescent bay. You can’t miss the vendors near the dock, and it’s very easy to get a ticket for this experience. Prices for a 30-minute tour start as low as $10. Bring your swimsuit, as this tour allows for swimming unless the weather is unpredictable. On the way back, you can see the lights of the town and the scenic wooden fisherman’s houses right at the waterside with their boats docked out front.Laguna Grande, Fajard
A one hour drive from San Juan to the east coast of the island brings you to the town of Fajardo. There you can see the bioluminescent bay of Laguna Grande. For Laguna Grande, the best and most common way to see the bioluminescence is by one of the kayak tours that start at sunset and have you paddling into the dark to see the phenomenon. The other options include a walking tour and an electric boat tour. In this bio, bay swimming is not allowed to protect the health and ecosystem of the bio bay. Kayaking tours will take around two hours total, and they leave from Las Croabas in Fajardo. The average price for this tour is $60.4 tips for a next-level bioluminescent bay experience
- Plan your trip around a new moon. A quick Google search will tell you when that is. You’d want to go when it’s as dark as possible out. Or, in other words, with the least amount of light pollution. Around the new moon, there’s hardly any moonlight, and that makes the bioluminescence even more visible. If you go during a full moon, the moonlight will dim the organisms.
- Look up as much as you look down to the water. In dark places like these, when the sky is clear, there’s usually an impressive amount of stars visible in the air. While on your boat or kayak ride, you should watch the stars in the endless sky — it’s unreal. Especially if you’re a city-dweller, this is something you won’t often see where you live.
- Don’t do it for the ‘gram. Forget about taking pictures or videos, as they won’t turn out the way you want to. Far from that: most likely, your shots will be all black, unless you carry highly professional equipment (and skills) with you. Instead, use your time on the water to be in the moment and enjoy it. You will be in an out-of-this-world type of environment.
- Be an environmental-friendly human. When you plan on swimming, try not to wear any creams or make-up as the chemicals can end up in the water and slowly but surely this is damaging this beautiful ecosystem. Biodegradable bug repellent might come in handy.