Puerto Rico Luxury Travel Guide: Paradise without A Passport
Itineraries
The Caribbean’s Easiest Escape Awaits
Dubbed “the gateway to the Caribbean” for its large cruise ship and air presence, the 110-mile long and 35-mile wide island of Puerto Rico has much more than just beaches to offer guests. Luxury shopping, resorts for every style of traveler, world-class golf, and nature activities galore offer something for families and couples alike.
Stay Here
Deciding on what “type” of vacation you’d like to have may be the hardest decision you make during your entire visit to this friendly island. As islands go, Puerto Rico is large, and you’ll likely start and end your journey in historic San Juan, the capital.
Sadly the Ritz-Carlton has been closed since the last Hurricane, but we like the well-located
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, which is full of gorgeous Spanish Revival architecture. We love the Commodore’s Suites— these corner suites have two balconies and massive living spaces, perfect for multi-generational travel. You also won’t want to miss the new taco and tequila bar, a more casual dining option than the popular onsite 1919, where chef Juan Jose Cuevas, who came from a background of three- and four-Michelin star restaurants, puts farm-to-fork cuisine at the forefront. The spa is also a must-visit – it boasts the only hammam in Puerto Rico. The neighborhood is also a great one to experience the local culture.
Fans of boutique properties will love Hotel El Convento, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property built inside a three-centuries-old Carmelite Convent, with its marble chessboard floors and mahogany furniture.
The adults-only O:live Boutique Hotel, another Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, is perfect for couples with its intimate, 15 room size and trendy Sage Steak Loft restaurant. Be aware – the see-through glass showers aren’t for the modest, and rooms, while impeccably designed, can be on the small side.
Were it up to us, we’d split our time between Condado and a more remote resort destination – we love St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort along the island’s Eastern coast, perfectly poised between El Yunque National Forest and bordering the 5,000-acre Espíritu Santo River State Preserve. This eco-retreat blends signature St. Regis service (it’s the only hotel from the brand in the Caribbean) and perks like nightly champagne sabering and a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, Fern, with laid back Caribbean charm. Relax in the Remède Spa (the private gardens are fab) or get active on the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. golf course.
However, there’s no doubt that the island’s top property is Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. The world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded residences and first Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel to open in the Americas is the island’s top resort, pampering without being showy. You’ll never need to leave, either – three restaurants, golf, water park, tennis, and the top-notch Spa Botánico (relax in the purifications gardens) provide all the amenities you’ll need. Choose between oversized residences and well-appointed hotel rooms and suites, many with private plunge pools, split between East and West Beach locations. Broadly, the West Beach is more coveted given its location, but many clients prefer East due to the added privacy and more quiet feel. For longer stays, book a multi-bedroom residence or the 5 bedroom Su Casa, a 1920s hacienda-style villa originally built by Clara Livingston (friend of Amelia Earhart) and later owned by Laurance Rockefeller.
What To Do?
It has been said that Old San Juan has more museums per square foot than anywhere on Earth. The city itself is often considered a life-size museum of colonial architecture due to the number of buildings that have been declared National Historic Sites. At the San Juan Museum of Art and History, once a marketplace in 1855, visitors will find exhibits of traditional Puerto Rican art that showcase the island’s rich history.
Looking for a take-home keepsake? Rum is a critical part of the island’s history – and also a major US export; around 80% of the United States’ rum is made in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is the only country that requires its rum to be aged for at least one year, and generally in charred oak barrels, which lends a distinctive, more complex flavor. Skip the Bacardi and go for names like Don Q, Ron Rico, Barrilito, and Ron Llave.
The island may be known for its 200+ miles of beachfront, but also boasts the U.S. Forest Service’s only tropical rainforest, El Yunque. For a truly unique experience, try a nighttime hike, where you can see bioluminescent mushrooms, insects, and nocturnal creatures.
Naturally, water activities abound – the best scuba diving is off Cayo Diablo, rare black coral abounds off the island’s southwest coast, and surfers love Rincon – but the most enticing are nighttime swims in the island’s many bioluminescent bays—Mosquito Bay in Vieques and La Parguera in the South are the best known.
Shop Til You Drop
It’s no real surprise that a U.S. territory would have the best shopping in the Caribbean. Most name-brand stores are in Condado’s Ashford Avenue, where you’ll find names like Cartier, Gucci, and Ferragamo. Should you hit a rainy day, hit up the new Mall of San Juan, which opened this past spring just five minutes from the airport. It features a massive Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as popular shops like Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, and Anthropologie.
Dine There
Like most Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico’s cuisine – dubbed “cocino criolla” – is a blend of styles, ranging from European to Afro-Caribbean to Latin-American. Enjoy everything from local home cooking at El Jibarito (which translates to “The Hillbilly”) on Calle Del Sol in Old San Juan and a drink at Barrachina, inventor of the Pina Colada (ask for an extra shot of rum) to La Copa Llena at The Black Eagle for an oceanfront setting that serves tapas dishes in a light, bright and tropical decor.
Up-and-coming neighborhood “La Placita” boasts food stalls and markets by day and fun bars and nightlife; hit up Santaella, for local fare from Food & Wine “Best New Chef” winner Jose Enrique.
As mentioned above, for really special experience, 1919 is the way to go. Diners will experience fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers incorporated onto a menu that changes around 5 times a year to enable this farm-to-table dining. These Puerto Rican dishes are perfect portrayals of the natural bounty of the island - and are always vibrant and enticing. The decor reflects a similar earthy vibe, with muted tones and golden lighting, allowing guests to fully enjoy the experience as they overlook the ocean.
Know Before You Go
Puerto Rico’s U.S. Territory status makes it one of the few locations one can travel sans passport, making it an easy escape for family and couples alike. San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s main entrance point, is a busy travel hub to many other Caribbean destinations, so expect a line and often long waits through security – be sure to leave extra time. But as a perk, it’s easy to island-hop, or score direct flights to New York via airlines like American, Delta and JetBlue, often $300 or less round trip. If you want to connect to an island like Vieques, a ferry is available, you’re better off with a quick puddle-jumper into VQS instead.
As of publication time, vaccinated travelers (two weeks after final shots) no longer need to quarantine with proof of vaccination, and all must complete entry-level health paperwork.
There’s also ample opportunity to tack Puerto Rico onto the front or back of a cruise – as the second largest port in the Western Hemisphere, you can hop on names like Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean easily, right from San Juan or satellite ports in Ponce and Mayaguez.
There’s hardly a “bad” time to visit, but high season generally runs through the winter and holiday months, with the best combination of warm temperatures and sunny skies occurring between December and late March. Plan a trip between April and early June for great “shoulder season” deals with little to no chance of hurricanes – but know that May brings the island’s highest chance of rain, usually not much more than an afternoon shower.
