A mini guide to Puerto Rico

I enjoyed all sorts of activities during my trip to Puerto Rico: from zooming down one of the world’s longest zip-line at Toro Verde Adventure Park and sampling rum at Casa Bacardi distillery to unwinding at a spa experience at The St Regis Bahia Beach Resort and trekking through the only rainforest in the Caribbean - El Yunque.

And my favourite part? A cooking class in the middle of nowhere with amazing scenic views of the mountains and the Caribbean Sea. I enjoyed lots of wine and some delicious home-cooked food. The real star of the show, however, had to be Santiago - a pet cockerel that everyone was obsessed with!

Puerto Rico holidays allow you to be adventurous - exploring the local historical sites and small neighbourhoods. Or, if you want to relax, simply flop onto one of the many beaches and soak up the sun. No two days must be the same!

The people are so friendly and welcoming - it’s easy to see their pride in their home island. They are more than happy to give tips and recommendations. The hosts of the trip would regularly recommend I hire a car and explore the whole of the island, as there are so many amazing things to see and do.

In terms of resorts to stay at, there are some really beautiful ones. But one that stood out to me is the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort - a beach-front property which borders the stunning El Yunque Rainforest. You can choose between a room view of the rainforest, where you’ll hear tropical birds and wildlife from your balcony, or you can opt for a spectacular view of the sea. Spend some time by one of the three lagoon-style swimming pools or bask in the sunshine on your private beach.

Feeling hungry? Tuck into delicious food at one of the nine restaurants, or perhaps a cocktail or two in the pool bar named ‘5 o’Clock Somewhere’? This beautiful hotel has everything you need!

I was lucky to learn many things about this incredible destination during my trip! Here are some cool facts about Puerto Rico that I learned during my trip:

1. Puerto Rico is where the famous Piña Colada was invented. “If you like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain” – and if you didn’t sing that out loud, how?
2. Ricky Martin was born here (thank you, Puerto Rico!).
3. The island has almost 300 miles of coastline and nearly the same number of beaches!
4. The music video for Despacitio was filmed in one of the colourful Old San Juan neighbourhoods.

En route to your Puerto Rico holiday, you should stop in New York or Boston. While there, stay for a few days to break up your journey. This is the perfect way to tick off another fantastic destination.

I chose to explore Boston during our five-hour layover, but I’d have loved to have stayed longer. Read more about my five-hour Boston experience.