Back in July of 2020, my husband and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary by driving the ‘97 MINI Rover we’d bought six months before the pandemic, to the Tuscan seaside.
Our ’97 Mini Rover
Although MINA has driven like a dream from day one, we’d never gone anywhere further than half an hour with her (yes, her – in Italian cars are a feminine noun). We took this as an opportunity to add a couple of nights in the medieval town of Volterra to our itinerary.
Volterra is just over an hour southwest of Florence and is known for its etruscan roots; the drive is lined with typical Tuscan countryside views. Rolling green hills, long, cypress-lined driveways leading to vineyards and villas, and plenty of curvy back roads for us to test out MINA’s handling
The road to Volterra
We stopped for a little photoshoot at one of the famous sculptures by renowned Volterrean artist, Mauro Staccioli. The huge red circle known as the Anello di San Martino (Hwy S68), provides a stunning life-size frame from which to admire the seemingly infinite horizon.
The landmark is only a short drive from the town center, so once we parked and dropped off our bags, we hit the town oohing and ahhing at all the history lying before us.
That night we did a little grocery run for the next few days and decided to have dinner at the apartment we’d rented. We’d booked a table for the next night at a restaurant that had been included in a Michelin guide. Ristorante Enoteca del Duca also happened to be a vineyard, so our dinner quickly turned into a paired tasting al fresco.
One of the beautiful sculptures we saw
We vowed to one day return – and we will! If you’re looking for places to stay, I found this gorgeous little apartment with a garden on an agriturismo on Airbnb. Or if you prefer the Villa vibe, here is this one – equipped with pool, onsite parking, and so much nature you won’t know what to do with yourself!
After two nights resting, recuperating and working remotely in Volterra, we made our way down to our final lodging destination for this trip. We had rented a lovely little cottage in the Maremma countryside for a few nights.
The location was quite strategic as it was just a 20 min drive to the posh coastal town of Castiglione della Pescaia and a mere 30 min drive to Punta Ala, still part of Castiglione, but a particularly popular beach destination for locals and visitors alike.
Enjoying the Italian countryside
As we pulled up to our cottage, we couldn’t help but marvel at what felt like miles and miles of sunflowers fields! And as soon as those fields ended the scenery turned to farmland with bales of hay scattered about like something out of a painting!
I had never known the actual name of those giant rolls of hay – I grew up in a metropolitan city! But I sure loved learning that word! And of course, having a photoshoot with them!
Although the apartment was in the countryside, we had ensured the internet connection was strong enough to get work done. So we dedicated time to finalizing work projects that first night we were there. We spent the morning lounging on the beach in Castiglione della Pescaia (eating our humble tuna salad for lunch) before hitting the town’s historic center for an unforgettable dinner later that evening.
I don’t know HOW we got so lucky, but we got a reservation at a tiny place located in a “suggestive vicolo” of the medieval fortress on Viadell’Amore. Stoppp! You can’t make this stuff up!! The ambiance was simply perfection and the owners were both well-traveled chefs that also happened to be brothers. They managed to combine their worldly experiences in quite an exquisite way. We will 100% return there, too!
The next day, we headed a bit north to the stunning blue water beaches of Punta Ala. Now, this was all one big adventure for us. Having never been to either place, we failed to realize that for these beaches you either bring ALL your own stuff to a spiaggia libera or you pay through the nose to lay in one of the lounge chairs on one of the several private beach clubs that dot the coast.
The great part was that we found this really cute campsite that offered bungalows and even airstreamers for rent! So you didn’t actually have to camp to stay there and enjoy direct access to the perfect beach. Next time we might check out that one or one of the many other interesting beach clubs we stumbled upon on our way back to the car that day. Here is a place I found on Airbnb that is right on the beach.
A beautiful Tuscan sunflower field
Driving back to Florence along the curvy countryside roads, we felt incredibly thankful that we had the opportunity to take a trip like that mere months after Covid-19 hit. The balmy July air played with our hair as we sang along to our music with the windows rolled all the way down (no AC in a classic MINI!).
Patricia Esmeralda Estrada is a Salvadorian American polyglot (en, sp, it, brpt). Born in New York and raised in LA, she met her Florence-based Calabrese husband while working in Brazil. She shares her daily life via Instagram Stories @EsmeraldasRoad where she shares her #firstgenjoy through healing intergenerational trauma. She’s called Florence home since 2015 and has no plans of going anywhere anytime soon.
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If you’re a freelancer, remote worker, or an entrepreneur, you know working independently and having a location-independent lifestyle can be freeing.
But moving that often can also be an adjustment. If you are not prepared, your work may suffer, and that can hurt your source of income.
So here is a list of tips and tools to make your location-independent lifestyle easier.
Bonus: If you are looking to quit your job and start your own business, here’s a complete guide to get you started on building a life you love.
Choose the Right Place to Stay
Choosing the right place is more than picking a destination. You have to think about what’s most important to you and what brings you joy.
Know What Environment You like
One of the amazing things about living a life of travel is that you get to explore many places. As you travel more, you will learn what environments you enjoy the most.
I know I feel alive with the sun, so I choose destinations that have temperate weather and where nature is abundant even if it means letting go of some conveniences.
For me it is about the quality of life and the experiences I get to have with other travelers like going to the beach to watch the sunset.
When choosing your destination, ask yourself what would improve your quality of life.
Some question you can consider are:
Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?
Are you a city person or a country person?
Are you comfortable sharing a room, a house, or prefer a place to yourself?
Do you prefer a place with more natural scenery or a place filled with tourists attractions?
Not only will choosing the right type of destinations bring you more joy, the environment will help you get into the flow of your work with more ease.
Aside from knowing the types of destinations you enjoy, it helps to know what accommodations you need to feel comfortable and productive.
Type of living setting
There are many options for stays when you travel, each for different personalities and budgets. You want to consider what type of setting works best for you that is within your budget.
A hostel may not be the best option if you need plenty of personal space or if you have done that and are ready to try a different life of travel.
Other people may choose spaces with co-working areas like those offered by Selina, We Work, and Coliving. These could be great spaces to network and create lasting friendships with people who have a similar lifestyle.
Pro tip: One way to break the ice is using games like in the loop card game to start building deeper connections that make your travel life more fulfilling.
Internet Connection
Needless to say that if you are traveling, your work will be done virtually, so you will need a reliable internet connection. Wherever you decide to stay, check that they have high-speed internet connection.
Find a traveling pace that works for you
We are all different, have different energy levels, and have different priorities. So when you are thinking of this lifestyle, think about this: how fast can you move and still sustain your workflow?
Some people like my friend are slow travelers who stay months in one place while others prefer to travel more frequently.
Recommended: If you want to learn about how to start your location-independent life, check out my IG live with Guido on the first steps you should be taking.
The pace of your traveling life will depend on your own energy and even the type of work you do (e.g. if you need more time for deep work moving at a slower pace can let you do that more efficiently).
Tools of Your Trade (and more)
When you travel, you also want to make sure you have the necessary tools for your success and ease of mind.
Your Work Tools
With virtual work you will want your laptop, and any other tools you need to run your business.
Client management tools like Honeybook and Calendly to keep track of appointments and communicate with your clients
Project management tools like Clickup or Google Workplace that will make delegation easier when you bring additional support like a virtual assistant.
Flodesk– everything feels intuitive with this powerful email marketing tool and one of the key reasons we love it here at Livin Vivaciously.
And tools like Canva and Inshot will make content creation for your business social media simpler. (I used Canva to create pre-made, 100% customizable templates that you can use in your biz to save you time with creating content!)
Financial tools like Bench who will take care of your bookkeeping needs, so you don’t have to stress about it and are prepared for tax season.
Whichever your choice, do your research, so you can choose the tools that make working while traveling easier for you.
Choose Items that Bring You Home
This tip may be unconventional, but the truth is that being away from loved ones is not easy. Even if you are very free-spirited, you may miss those close to you.
This is why I suggest you travel with items that make you feel at home wherever you go.
For me that includes my copy of 365 Tao, tarot cards, affirmation cards, and my journal. These help me tap into my inner self, so I can always feel at home in the world.
A friend I met on the road travels with a little rug she used to use in her camper van. It instantly makes her feel at home.
Ask yourself what items help you feel centered and at peace with yourself. You can even use the Vision Book I created to help with reflecting on this!
These are a few things to think about as you go on your own journey and discover what a location-independent life looks like for you.
If you are ready to build an online brand that allows you to live a freedom and joy filled life, check out my brand development coaching program. This program gives you hands-on experience creating your brand from scratch, including messaging and social media strategy.
If you want to find your authentic brand strategy, check out this brand strategy quiz I created to help you understand how to show up in your business in alignment with your unique energy, personality & Human Design.
If you’ve been in need of a quick nature fix and some sense of adventure after months of quarantine, look no further than the nearby Hudson Valley.
The Hudson Valley, Catskills, Upstate New York—whatever you want to call it—is absolutely rich in state parks, waterfalls, hiking trails, and mountains. The best part is that it is very easy to get to from New York City.
I went on a much needed 8-day trip and stayed at a cute Airbnb cabin in the woods located in-between Kingston City and Woodstock in Ulster County, about an hour and 45 minutes drive from NYC.
However, I know how frustrating it can be, especially during COVID-19, to figure out which hikes to do and what beaches or trails that are still open.
So I put together this guide to help you figure what to do in the Hudson Valley, upstate New York during COVID-19.
FYI, this trip is safe and perfect for solo women travelers, couples, and families.
1. Minnewaska State Park Preserve
This 22,275-acre preserve located in Ulster County (about 30 mins from where I was staying) features various trails for biking and hiking, waterfalls, and a massive lake for swimming with gorgeous viewpoints.
Points of Interest:
Awosting Falls
Difficulty Rating: Easy
I hiked to the Awosting falls, which was a fairly easy and paved 1-mile hike from the parking lot to the falls. The falls stand at 60 feet tall and are surrounded by dense woods and rocks.
Although tempting, you can not swim in the falls, unfortunately.
Minnewaska Lake
Difficulty Rating: Easy
This is where you can take in these breathtaking views of this sky lake at the Minnewaska Lake View Point.
There is also a designated swimming area called Minnewaska Lake Beach where you can enjoy taking a refreshing dip after a long hike along the trails that surround the lake.
Pro Tip: Pack a little picnic to enjoy while taking in the views from up top!
Entrance Fee: $10 per car
Park Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Parking: Reduced by 50% capacity to maintain social distancing. Please check this website and call before going.
COVID-19 Precautions: Social distancing and masks are enforced.
2. Overlook Mountain
Difficulty Rating: Moderate uphill hike. You will definitely sweat!
Located near Woodstock town, this sweaty 3 hours 5-mile hike to Overlook mountain is a must-do while in upstate New York.
The trail to the top is a clearly paved and shadowed gravel path, nothing too exciting really but the views at the top are totally worth it. Hiking shoes or sneakers with good cushioning are recommended for this hike!
On your way up, you will come across something fascinating; an abandoned hotel from the 1800s. Here you can catch your breath for a minute or two while wondering about what happened to this eerie hotel.
As you continue your upwards hike, you will see a sign that says “Fire Tower”, this is where the hiking trail starts getting prettier. You want to keep walking until you see the fire ranger station (the small building across the fire tower) and go behind it to get to the viewpoint cliff overlooking the Hudson Valley.
Take some time to take in the views here and if you packed snacks, this would be the perfect time to enjoy them. Oh and make sure you bring your camera to capture these views!
Lastly, you will want to check out the fire tower. While technically you are not allowed to climb up, some adventurers hikers have created a small hole in the wire doors for people to climb up the tower. So if you are feeling adventurous, you can check it out for even better views.
On your way out of (or into) the parking lot, you will notice a beautiful building across, which is a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Unfortunately, they are completely closed to visitors right now, but you can check out their website here for updates.
Pro Tip: Watch out for rattlesnakes! I saw one but it was peacefully napping.
Entrance Fee: $0
Park Hours: 24 hrs
Parking: Limited, fits about 20 cars
COVID-19 Precautions: Social distancing and masks are encouraged as you will be crossing other hikers
Woodstock Town
After your hike, be sure to drive to the artsy town of Woodstock, about a mile out from the Overlook Mountain trail parking lot.
Here you can grab some food, coffee, or ice cream while you walk around taking in the art on the walls and checking out the various vintage shops, which are open for business right now.
3. Ashokan Reservoir
Difficulty Rating: Very easy
The Ashokan Reservoir is a water reservoir surrounded by the Catskill Mountains, located in Ulster County close to the Kingston area. This reservoir is what supplies New York City with water!
The Reservoir can be visited from the eastern or western sides of the town through clearly marked pedestrian bridges that are great for walking, biking, or even rollerblading.
The views of the clear blue lake against the lush mountains are simply stunning but make sure you have enough sunscreen on because there is no shade on the trail.
I recommend going to the Eastside basin and packing a picnic. If you are feeling artsy like me, you can bring a sketchbook and some coloring pens to capture this scene.
If you like to fish, fishing is allowed here with permits, check this website for info.
Entrance Fee: $0
Park Hours: Unknown
Parking: Limited
COVID-19 Precautions: Practice social distancing and wear masks as you will be crossing others walking the bridge.
4. Kingston Point Beach
For some reason, it was very hard for me to find a place to swim while in the Hudson Valley. Every time we’d drive to a creek or a lake there will be No Swimming allowed signs posted.
So I was extremely excited to have found a place to actually swim and sunbathe!
Kingston Point Beach is a small beach located in downtown Kingston. Now, this is no white sand beach but still a clean beach with clear shallow waters surrounded by some beautiful cliffs.
The beach is a little rocky so watch out and there are lifeguards who make sure that you only swim in the designated areas.
After swimming, you can check out this cute little coffee shop, called Village Coffee & Goods for a pick me up. They also have farm-fresh produce and other cool things like plants and kitchenware.
Entrance Fee: $0
Beach Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am – 5 pm
Parking: Limited (Every other spot has been blocked off to ensure social distancing)
COVID-19 Precautions: Social distancing and wearing masks are enforced
5. Geo Refrigeration Crevice
Difficulty Rating: Easy
I left the weirdest thing for last because I have never seen or heard of anything like this before!
This Geo Refrigeration Crevice is exactly what it sounds like!
It’s a crack or a cave-like structure in the rocks that blows really cold air. It felt like I was standing under a powerful air conditioner. Definitely feels good if you are biking or hiking the rest of the trail.
You can get to the crevice by going through the Rail Trail and Trestle Access at Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, Rosendale, NY 12472.
Entrance Fee: $0
Trail Hours: 8 am – 8 pm
Parking: Right across the trail entrance, which is directly on the highway, is a big parking lot called Binnewater Parking
COVID-19 Precautions: Social distancing and wearing masks are encouraged by all hikers.
Grocery Stores – Hudson Valley
Adams Farm
A huge grocery store that has everything!
Emmanuels Marketplace
Medium-sized grocery store with a good specialty food selection.
Davenport Farm
Small store with limited selections.
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If you are ready to build an online brand that allows you to live a freedom and joy filled life (and travel whenever you want!), check out my brand development coaching program. This program gives you hands-on experience creating your brand from scratch, including messaging and social media strategy.
If you are anything like me, a travel junkie, then you might also be suffering from a severe case of wanderlust in the time of COVID-19.
As an empath, I can’t help but feel for the people that might have finally built up the courage to book their first solo trip this summer. Or the seasoned traveler that at last quit their job to travel around the world this year.
So, in efforts to help ease and cure wanderlust in this time of isolation, I wanted to share with you a few meditative thoughts and tips.
Sometimes to rise, we have to stand still.
And I will not be talking about virtual tours or printing your travel photos and hanging them up around your house. However, if you are interested in virtual travel tours, you can check out the Lonely Planet’s list of countries that are offering virtual tours right now.
1. Togetherness and Interconnectedness
If this global pandemic teaches us one thing, it is that nothing exists separately in this world we live in. Everything is intricately interconnected.
Seeing how fast a disease can spread across the globe from a remote village in China, really puts into perspective the effect we can have on the whole planet. It wasn’t one person that spread it, it was a collective act.
Imagine what we can collectively do to protect our planet in the future??
Anyways, I’m finding comfort in knowing that we are all going through this together. It feels a little tribal and it’s bringing out the empath in a lot of us.
This video by Visit Portugal is a beautiful message for all of us travelers right now:
You are not suffering solo. A lot of us are experiencing wanderlust right now. A lot of us are flipping through pictures from past trips feeling extremely nostalgic.
But, staying at home now is all we can do to start traveling sooner rather than later!
2. Travel is a Privilege
Feeling like the world is off-limits at the moment, got me thinking about how much of a privilege it is to be able to travel the world freely whenever we desire.
Thinking about all the people who have been living in a state of political unrest, war, and poverty for many years now. I just can not imagine living a life without the freedom to travel. Ever.
Travel for many of us has brought about lots of value, flavor, culture, and love into our lives. So, together we can practice gratitude for all those things that travel has brought to us.
And next time we are able to hop on a plane, we will be extremely thankful for that privilege we have.
3. Re-exploring the Known
As travelers, we are always on the go. We are constantly working hard to save up for the next adventure that we sometimes forget about the beauty that surrounds us and that’s within us.
Now that we are at home saving lives by not socially gathering or traveling, it is a great opportunity to travel within the known—our neighborhood and our Imagination.
Through this exploration, we will develop a new appreciation for the simple things.
The sunlight that comes through our windows, the blossoming trees that line our streets, the trail close by, the old bike in our garage, the birds and insects that seem happier than ever before.
We will fall in love with the little things and that will make us even better travelers.
Next time we are facing a majestic mountain or a breathtaking sunset on a beach, we will intentionally take in every single moment of that beauty in front of our eyes.
4. Responsible Travel
Now that we can clearly see the interconnectedness of things, we know better. We understand the impact we can have on mother Earth.
When we travel again, we will care for this Earth and the wellbeing of the people and animals around us. We will do our best to travel responsibly. We will reduce our waste and footprint wherever we go. Maybe even some of us will develop a new passion for volunteer travel!
There are studies out there that prove the planet is showing signs of healing due to less traffic and carbon emissions. Maybe a lot more people will adopt this car-less lifestyle even after the COVID-19 passes?
Imagine that!
Also, since more people are working remotely, this might mean less pollution and paper waste from offices and more freedom and travel in the future? Now that’s work-life balance!
5. The Wonders Still Remain
Fact: The world’s wonders will still be here when this virus passes.
Stay home now so that we can travel later.
The Andes, the Pyramids, the Mayan Ruins, the Machu Picchu, and all the other wonders and beauties will be there.
We will have another chance to marvel at their greatness and wonder how the heck did people of ancient civilizations build this??
Watch this video for some inspiration from South Africa:
I take comfort in knowing that there will be another chance to travel soon and it will be even better than before.
6. Plan for the Future
I know that a lot of us might not be in the mood to even think about travel for a while. Some may even be feeling their wanderlust diminish day by day during the quarantine.
I’m feeling it too and I never thought I could feel that way as an avid solo traveler.
However, what if we took the time to imagine where we want to go as soon as we can travel again?
Where will we go??
Here is what I recommend right now to help revive our wanderlust
Re-write that old bucket list – maybe even do a little reflecting with the Vision Book I created to help you feel centered
Grab a world map and look up countries that you never considered traveling to
Our biggest lesson, in my opinion, is that things can change very very quickly.
Nothing is permanent. Not our jobs, not our homes, not our loved ones, not our health, and not even our planet. So what can we do about it?
Well, we can learn to take more chances on us and more risks in life.
This pandemic has made it clear to us that experiences and humans matter more than anything else.
That we need to go on that trip before its too late. That we should say “I love you” when we feel it. That we need to forgive others and let go of the fear or the baggage that is holding us back from living more vivaciously.
What is your biggest take away so far? I’d love to hear it in the comments below.
This carry-on packing checklist was specially designed for female travelers to help you pack lighter —carry-on only—and efficiently every time you travel. Giving you time back to focus on the adventure, not the packing.
No more “oops I think I forgot to pack a toothbrush…” moments or unnecessary things in your suitcase. Because really sis, who needs to be carrying around that extra baggage anyways!
The Carry-on packing checklist works for a one week or a month-long trip—or even longer if you pack those versatile basic pieces you own!! You can even tweak a few items to make it work for winter or summer trips.
Roll everything out on your bed and place them in their respective categories.
If something is too bulky when it is rolled, then keep it folded to lay on top or under your packing cubes once in your suitcase.
Step 3
Let’s Pack it Up
Wardrobe your packing cubes: Place clothes of similar weights or categories in the same packing cubes to help you find them faster when getting dressed on your trip.
Begin placing things in your suitcase or backpack: Start with the largest items and finish with the items that have not been grouped in bags/cubes
You can see exactly how I pack my carry-on backpack in the video below:
Step 4
Relax, Breathe and Enjoy your Trip!
And remember that it is about the journey not what you will be wearing. Ultimately you can always find and purchase anything you need or left behind at your destination.
Here you have it ladies, a carry-on packing checklist that you can reference anytime for your trip to ensure that you will be traveling light, effortlessly and fabulously but never leaving anything important behind. Feel free to comment if you thought this was helpful or reach out to be here with questions.
If you are ready to build an online brand that allows you to live a freedom and joy filled life (maybe even travel full time!), check out my brand development coaching program. This program gives you hands-on experience creating your brand from scratch, including messaging and social media strategy.
Disclaimer: I might make a small commission on some of the links mentioned above at no extra added cost to you.
In this blog post, I will share with you a complete Puerto Rico travel itinerary to satisfy the beach bums and nature lovers amongst us.
(You’re here because you love travel…so if you are ready to build an online brand that allows you to live a freedom and joy filled life, check out my brand development coaching program. This program gives you hands-on experience creating your brand from scratch, including messaging and social media strategy.)
Why Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is home to the Rainforest, bioluminescent bays, many picture-perfect Caribbean beaches and delicious Mofongo(the national dish made with root veggies). Need we say more?
Aside from all its natural beauty, Puerto Rico is JUST so easy to travel to if you live in America!
Caracas Beach, Vieques Island
If you are a US citizen or a US Green Card holder, this beautiful tropical island needs to be on your travel list now. Why?
Because it is a hop and skip away from the US (4hrs non-stop from NYC!!) and requires you to carry nothing else but a National ID or Driver’s Licence to enter the island.
There is no need to exchange currencies if you use US dollars because they also use the US dollar. The majority of people speak Spanish and English, but yeah, that’s no excuse not to try practicing your Spanish!
Here is Your Complete Puerto Rico Travel Itinerary
San Juan
This is the main town that you will most likely fly into. It is known for the Old Town of San Juan filled with Spanish Colonial buildings, forts like San Cristobal Castle and El Morro, upscale restaurants and the buzzing nightlight.
Walking around San Juan
However, there is much more to explore outside of the Old Town.
How to Get Here?
Take an Uber from the airport into town. Uber is very affordable and reliable in the San Juan area, use it to get around instead of renting a car, just yet.
Rides cost anywhere from $5-$15 around town.
Where to Stay in San Juan
I recommend Airbnb for affordable and unique stays. If you are looking for budget options, there are also a few hostels, I stayed at Villa Eshta. Or you can stay at Hotel Stay at Marre right on the beach. Book in advance the winter is high season in PR.
Must-Do in San Juan
After walking around the Old Town and visiting the fortress, you will want to spend a day at Ocean Park Beach sipping on Pina Coladas from Numero Uno Beach Bar while sitting on bean bags watching the sunset. For another tropical day at the beach visit Isla Verde Beach.
Check out the Santurce area of clubs and restaurants!
Delicious Drinks at Numero Uno Beach Bar
Where to Eat in San Juan?
For breakfast and HUGE smoothies head over to Pinkys in Calle Loiza.The best tacos in town are at Acapulco.
Big Smoothie Portions at Pinkys
Enjoy an upscale dinner and amazing service at Verde Mesa in Old Town (Vegetarian/Allergy-friendly!). But for really authentic traditional and affordable food head over to La Placita (The Central Market area) and eat at La Alcapurria, say hi to the lovely owner Irvin!
Beautiful interiors of Verde Mesa in Old San Juan
All the restaurants mentioned above are vegetarian-friendly!
Where to Drink in San Juan?
La Placita is a fun place to dance and drink. When you get there look for an outdoors bar called El Coco de Luis for cheap drinks. Or head over to Old Town to La Factoria (rated the top 50 bars in the world) for anything from wine to tiki mixed drinks.
El Yunque Rainforest
El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico
This is not something you want to miss on your Puerto Rico trip. Many people visit El Yunque as a day trip but in my humble expert opinion, it is worth a night’s stay (or two) in the mountains and jungle near the Rainforest!
How to Get Here?
Now would be the time torent a car. It is about a 45-50 mins drive from San Juan. There are NO reliable public buses but you can also Uber from San Juan. Uber costs between $30-$50.
Where to Stay in El Yunque
I highly recommend spending a night or two in the mountains, you won’t regret it! I stayed at Elemental Eco Retreat Airbnb, which was truly a magical place.
The View at Elemental Eco Retreat
Must-Do Trails in El Yunque Rainforest *
*Note that hiking El Yunque Rainforest is appropriate for all fitness levels and ages. There is also no entrance fees!
When you enter the rainforest you’ll first stop at La Coca Falls and the Yokahu Tower. If you continue to drive up the road, you’ll come across a 5 mins trail that leads up to another beautiful waterfall/natural pool called Juan Diego Waterfall.
Juan Deigo Waterfall at El Yunque Rainforest
For an easy-moderate hike, keep driving until you see signs for Mt. Britton Trail. This is a 45 mins one-way hike on paved roads leading up to a tower with stunning views of the forest.
The longest hike in the park is 2 hrs one-way and its called Caimitillo/El Yunque Trails leading up to El Yunque peak.
Make sure to be out by 6 pm as that is when the gates close.
Where to Eat in El Yunque?
There are no restaurants in the El Yunque rainforest. There were also no restaurants close enough by our Airbnb. I recommend going to Walmart in San Juan and packing enough food and snacks for this trip. Or if you have rented a car you can drive to the nearby towns for restaurants.
Vieques Island
Caracas or Red Beach in Vieques Island
Vieques is an island off of the main island of Puerto Rico known for its stunning Carribean beaches and arguably one of the best of the Biolumencent Bays in Puerto Rico. It is 45 mins by ferry from the town of Ceiba. I recommend spending at least 2-3 days here.
How to Get Here?
You have a few options depending on where you are and how much time/money you have.
Ferry from Ceiba to Vieques
From El Yunque Rainforest to Vieques:
Drive to Ceiba Ferry Terminal in Ceiba, about a 45-50 mins drive from the Rainforest. If you did not rent a car, then make sure you organize for an uber to pick you up beforehand, ours cost $50.
From San Juan to Vieques:
You can still drive to Ceiba Ferry Terminal, it’s about a 1-hour drive and then catch the ferry to Vieques. But the most time-efficient option would be to fly straight into Vieques. This a 30 mins flight from San Juan International Airport. I heard its such an awesome experience and the views are great!
Flights range anywhere between $70-$250 one-way. Book in advance for cheap flights to Vieques.
Bring your Rental Car on the Ferry
Ferry Tickets to the Nearby Islands of Puerto Rico
If you take the ferry, you can purchase your ferry tickets in advance online here or arrive at the Ceiba Ferry Terminal early enough to buy them there in person. The cost is $2 for a one-way ticket at the ferry terminal.
How to Get Around Vieques Island
If you didn’t bring your rental car on the ferry, then you can rent a vehicle* once you’re on the island or even better, rent a golf cart.
Or
You can take private taxis. This is the number to call (787) 741-8294 to request a pick-up. They cost $10 or $15 to almost anywhere on the island.
Gua Guas in Puerto Rico
Another option is public cars called Gua Gua. These stop by the ferry terminal or in Esperanza and can take you to Caracas beach for $5 each way.
*They don’t recommend renting motorcycles because of the horses that roam free. Watch out for those at night!
Where to Stay in Vieques
I stayed at Casa Arena. This is a beautiful Airbnb with a pool & private access to the beach. You’ll need a car if you stay there because it’s away from the main area.
The View from our Balcony at Casa Arena
If you want to be in the main area of the island stay on Esperanza. There is Lazy Hostel or a nice hotel called El Blok, both are right on the main beach in Esperanza. Here are other great hotel options around the island; Malecon House and Isla Hermosa Guesthouse.
Must-Do in Vieques
Caracas or Red beach (the most beautiful beach on the island of PR!), La Chiva beach, Black Sand beach, Sun Bay beach & the Bioluminescent Bay (Mosquito Bay), of course. If you like the nightlife, then check out the Isabel II square for some hot bachata and merengue tunes.
Beautiful Shell at Sun Bay Beach in Vieques
I recommend Vieques Kayak tour company and Harold as your tour guide. I had an incredible time with them!
Playa Negra or Black Sand Beach in Vieques
Pro Tip: Make sure to check out the beach at night to see the stars, but go with a group for safety.
Where to Eat in Vieques Island?
Vegetarian Mofongo at El Guayacan
Bananas for a variety of foods and fun drinks, El Guayacán for traditional Puerto Rican food (the mofongo can be made vegetarian here), Lazy Jacks for cheap bar food and El Blok for high-end food.
Culebra Island
Culebra is another island off of the main island of Puerto Rico. It is smaller in size than Vieques, known for it’s Flamenco Beach with the navy tank in the water and Tamarindo Beach for snorkeling with sea turtles. This island is ideal for a day trip from San Juan or Vieques.
Flamenco Beach in Culebra Island
How to Get Here?
This will depend on which part of Puerto Rico you are getting to Culebra Island.
To get from Vieques to Culebra:
The cheapest option would be to catch the earliest ferry leaving Vieques to Ceiba Ferry Terminal. At the ferry terminal, you will catch the next ferry going to Culebra. This route takes about 2 hours but will cost you $4 total!
Alternatively, you can book a flight from Vieques to Culebra, but it will stop in SJU.
To get from San Juan to Culebra:
You can fly directly from San Juan International Airport (book it in advance here) or you can take an uber to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and catch a $2 ferry to Culebra. Here is the ferry schedule.
Where to Stay in Culebra
Here are some nice places to stay in Culebra; Villa del Sol 302, and Villa Ensenada Honda. You can either stay for a night on the island or do what I did and head back to San Juan after exploring. You can take the evening ferry back or fly back to SJ.
Must-Do in Culebra Island
Flamenco Beach ($2 entrance fees), Zoni Beach and Tamarindo Beach for snorkeling with turtles.
A Navy Tank in the Middle of the Ocean at Flamenco Beach
When you get off the ferry, you will find a lot of Gua Guas (public cars) shouting out the names of the popular beaches. It is very safe to ride these cars and it only costs $3 to get to Flamenco Beach!
Where to Eat in Culebra?
Culebra is a very small island so your options are limited here. There is a decent supermarket on the island if you want to cook but Zaco Tacos is a must-try for REALLY good tacos.
