Tours and Special Interests
1. Tours of San Juan
Although the best way to explore San Juan is on foot, free trolleys make sightseeing easier on hot days, although there is no narration. Also popular are Segway tours of the city, which run to 45 minutes or 2 hours and are narrated in English. Rent a Bicycle (for further details see Cycling) runs fun bike tours. By night, a guided walking tour with Legends of Puerto Rico brings the past back to life.
Segway Tours • www.segwaytourspr.com
Legends of Puerto Rico • www.legendsofpr.com
2. Excursions to Vieques & Culebra
Day trips are a great way of sampling Vieques and Culebra. East Island Excursions offers daily trips to Culebra aboard a high-speed catamaran, and nightly trips to Vieques to see the Bahía de Bioluminiscente.East Island Excursions • www.eastwindcats.com
3. Day Trips and Activities
Puerto Rico is small enough to explore on day trips from San Juan, and many companies offer excursions. Erin Go Bragh offers snorkeling and sailing trips to the Palominos Islands, which lie to the northwest of Fajardo. Other trips include kayaking in Laguna Grande, and hiking in El Yunque.
Erin Go Bragh • www.egbc.net
Kayaking Puerto Rico • www.kayakingpuertorico.com
4. Spanish-Language Schools
Visitors keen to learn Spanish have plenty of opportunity to do so in Puerto Rico. Several language schools offer programs in San Juan and elsewhere on the island.Spanish Abroad • www.spanishabroad.com/sanjuan.htm
5. Bird-Watching
Puerto Rico is an ideal bird-watching destination. Despite its small size, it is home to some 350 bird species, including 17 endemic species, and 25 species that are endemic to other Caribbean isles.Amazilia Tours • www.amaziliatours.com
6. Sport Fishing
The waters off Puerto Rico are world-renowned for superb marlin fishing. The Mona Passage is good for dorado, marlin, and tuna. Several charter boats offer sport-fishing trips.
Parguera Fishing Charters • www.puertoricofishingcharters.com
Wild Fly Charters, Vieques • www.wildflycharters.com
7. Surfing
Puerto Rico offers tremendous surfing year-round, although the best surfing season is October through mid-April. Rincón is regarded one of the best surf spots in the world, with waves exceeding 30 ft (10 m).Rincón Surf & Board • www.surfandboard.com
8. Scuba Diving
Scuba diving off Puerto Rico is an exhilarating experience. Coral reefs stretch along almost 300 miles (500 km) of coastline. The north coast offers spectacular wall dives. Go through a diving company – you’ll find several around the island.
Culebra • www.culebradivers.com
Vieques • www.blackbeardsports.com
Isla Vieques • www.tainodivers.com
9. Whale-Watching
Humpback whales pass through the Mona Passage in winter. Whale-watching trips set out from Rincón, which has a tailor-made lookout area.Taino Divers • www.tainodivers.com
10. Gourmet Dining
The local culinary scene fuses traditional island ingredients with international cooking techniques, resulting in world-class dining. There are plenty of gourmet restaurants throughout the isle, and especially in San Juan.
