{"id":2949,"date":"2016-02-15T14:27:40","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T14:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=2949"},"modified":"2016-02-17T17:54:16","modified_gmt":"2016-02-17T17:54:16","slug":"puerto-rico-road-trip-west-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/02\/puerto-rico-road-trip-west-coast.html","title":{"rendered":"Puerto Rico Road Trip: West Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"
Last year, I shared with you my tips for a Puerto Rico road trip along the east coast of the island<\/a>.\u00a0 Recently, as I produced my book, Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico, I had the opportunity to explore the\u00a0west coast of the island on a Puerto Rico road trip not once but twice this year.\u00a0 The west coast is more laid back and filled with local charm. \u00a0You get to experience the calm waters of Cabo Rojo to the surfer friendly beaches of Rincon. Expedia.com heard about my upcoming trip and asked me to share my picks for a west coast road trip of Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n Getting there:\u00a0 a drive to the west coast of Puerto Rico will take you from 2-3 hours from San Juan.\u00a0 Additionally, Jet Blue also offers routes to smaller airports such as Aguadilla and Ponce, brining you closer to the west coast. \u00a0Renting a car is easy in Puerto Rico. For my latest trip, I booked my car rental<\/a> via Expedia.com where I got a great deal with Sixt Rent a Car.\u00a0 Dining Traveler Tip:\u00a0 when looking for a car rental, consider booking from a rental off-terminal for a steep discount.\u00a0<\/em> Many like Sixt offer a complimentary shuttle to\/from airport.\u00a0 People complain about traffic in Puerto Rico but if you\u2019re coming from places such as DC, you will look at locals crazy when they complain about \u201cel tapon\u201d (traffic jam).<\/p>\n Day 1 & 2:\u00a0<\/strong> <\/em>Arrive in Cabo Rojo.\u00a0 I suggest starting in this town as it is the southernmost point of the island and working your way north along the coast.\u00a0 Cabo Rojo is filled with calm waters which I love to call \u201cnature\u2019s swimming pool\u201d.\u00a0 If you are traveling with small children, I recommend Combate Beach, Playa Buye, and Playa Sucia as the beaches are shallow and relatively surf-free.\u00a0 Perfect for swimming.\u00a0\u00a0 For the nature lovers:\u00a0 Cabo Rojo is also filled with natural wonders such as the Salinas de Cabo Rojo.\u00a0 These salt mines give the protected area pink sandy beaches, perfect for photos.\u00a0 Punta Guaniquilla has cave-like rock formations and the Puente de Piedra is also a not-to-miss attraction.<\/p>\n In the evening, take a 30-minute drive to La Parguera in the neighboring town of Lajas, where you can hop on a boat to the bioluminescent area. Due to environmental challenges, the organisms do not shine as bright as they used to, but the $9 boat ride under the stars is still worth it. Where to eat:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 I was hesitant to go to Annie\u2019s Place as it seemed very touristy.\u00a0 However, I was proved wrong.\u00a0 The fresh passion fruit sangria was one of the best cocktails I\u2019ve had in Puerto Rico.\u00a0 Dining Traveler Tip:\u00a0 plan your dinners at sunset, they are pretty epic on the west coast of Puerto Rico!\u00a0<\/em> Snacks for the beach?\u00a0 Go to the fruit stand of Parada La 100 for cold coconuts, papayas, and local made honey to bring home.\u00a0 Head to Sangre Boricua in Joyuda for their well-known craft sangria and seafood dishes.<\/p>\n Where to stay:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> Feeling adventurous?\u00a0 Stat at one of the most beautiful AirBNB I\u2019ve experienced, The \u201cJungalo\u201d with its outdoor kitchen and boho-chic decor. \u00a0Looking for more classic accommodations? Combate Beach Resort is a local-owned small inn (Parador) with spacious rooms, direct access to the beach, and most importantly (at least for me, wi-fi).\u00a0 Bonus: the staff there is one of the friendliest I\u2019ve encountered on island.<\/p>\n Day 3 & 4:<\/strong><\/em> Head to Rincon.\u00a0 On your way to Rincon, stop by Mayaguez for lunch.\u00a0 Mayaguez is the second largest city in Puerto Rico.\u00a0 Among locals, it is known to be a fun college town.\u00a0 There are two foodie items the town is known for:\u00a0 Brazo Gitano (jelly roll) and Sangria Fido.\u00a0 You cannot take a road trip to the west coast of Puerto Rico without having those!\u00a0 Have lunch at Ricomini Bakery.\u00a0 Although they have several locations, head to the one in the city center. \u00a0Their sandwiches are to die for!\u00a0 Try one of their meaty medianoche sandwiches.\u00a0 There, you can also purchase your Brazo Gitano to take on the road\u2026<\/p>\n Upon arriving in Rincon you may ask yourself \u201cam I still in Puerto Rico?\u201d\u00a0 as many gringos have flocked to that area for the perfect surf conditions and laid back atmosphere.\u00a0 My first time in Rincon years ago I took surf lessons and it was an amazing experience.\u00a0 The swells are not as intimidating as the ones I\u2019ve seen in Hawaii but big enough to channel your inner surfer.\u00a0 Most recently, we had the chance to spend the morning with Ramse of Surf Lessons Puerto Rico<\/a>, a local owned surf school at Las Marias Beach as he led a hands-on surfing class.\u00a0 There, you can see the beautiful people of Rincon, locals and visitors alike surfing along the coast. \u00a0For the best vantage point, head to El Faro to catch all the surfing action from above.<\/p>\n Where to eat:\u00a0<\/strong> <\/em>Catch another epic sunset at La Copa Llena with a great happy hour ($2 medalla beers, and $4 well drinks) and delicious tapas such as flash fried cauliflower and anchovy montaditos.\u00a0 If you love seafood, head to La Cambija, a local-owned establishment which started as a skewer stand and has evolved into a full service restaurant.\u00a0 There, choose from fresh catch such as red snapper and dorado for fresh fish tacos.\u00a0 For those looking for a vegetarian dish, check out Jack\u2019s Shack food truck.\u00a0\u00a0 They have veggie friendly items such as veggie burritos and quinoa salads.<\/p>\n Where to stay:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Rincon has a great selection of vacation rentals.\u00a0 We were a huge fan of the AirBNB in which we stayed.\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for ultimate luxury, stay at the Horned Dorset Primavera with its Moroccan inspired rooms, breakfast with an ocean view, and a pool surrounded by the lush vegetation of the property.\u00a0 The owner, Austrian-born, Wilhelm has been living in Puerto Rico for 20 years. He can be seen roaming around the property with his adorable rescue dogs.<\/p>\n Day 5 & 6:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> Aguada & Aguadilla:\u00a0 The beauty of taking a Puerto Rico west coast road trip is the diversity you get to experience along the way when it comes to beaches.\u00a0 If you are a surfer, the beaches of Rincon may seem a bit crowded for you.\u00a0 Drive to neighboring Aguada for more swells in a much rustic environment. Head to beaches along route 441 for a more local experience.<\/p>\n Aguadilla is home to one of my favorite beaches in Puerto Rico, Crashboat Beach. The clear turquoise waters, the old pier where you can jump off of, transports me back to my college days when I first discovered this beach.\u00a0 Make sure to bring a snorkel as you can see plenty of fish swimming along the pier. Lesser known to tourists is the area called \u201cMuelle de Azucar\u201d (sugar pier) where if you\u2019re brave enough you can jump from a pretty high point.<\/p>\n Where to Eat:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> One of my most epic meals I\u2019ve had in Puerto Rico has been at Marullo, with inventive dishes such as tuna with guava sauce and curried chicken. For a light lunch,\u00a0 Levain Bakery is a favorite of locals in Aguadilla.<\/p>\n Where to Stay:\u00a0<\/strong> <\/em>If looking for a unique, affordable lodging experience, stay at Grateful Souls Hostel in Aguada.\u00a0 This beachfront property has shared rooms and offers activities like yoga, rainforest walks, and cooking lessons during high season. More about my stay here<\/a>. If your lodging preferences are a bit more classic, the Courtyard Aguadilla offers all the classic amenities and it is closely located to Crashboat Beach. \u00a0Additionally, there are many vacation rentals in this area via AirBNB and Home Away.<\/p>\n The verdict:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> if you prefer a more laid back, local experience, taking a Puerto Rico road trip on the west coast may be an option for you. The roads are a bit more rugged than San Juan or the East Coast of the island but it provides you a unique perspective of the island.\u00a0 From the sleeping beach of Playa Combate to the roaring waves of Rincon, the west coast of Puerto Rico is definitely an experience not to be missed.\u00a0 Have you taken a Puerto Rico road trip?\u00a0 What have been your highlights?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last year, I shared with you my tips for a Puerto Rico road trip along the east coast of the island.\u00a0 Recently, as I produced my book, Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico, I had the opportunity to explore the\u00a0west coast of the island on a Puerto Rico road trip not once but twice this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95,335,2,12],"tags":[267,466],"class_list":{"0":"post-2949","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-puerto-rico","8":"category-road-trips","9":"category-travel","10":"category-travel-tips","11":"tag-puerto-rico","12":"tag-puerto-rico-road-trip"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
West Coast of Puerto Rico Road Trip Itinerary:<\/em><\/h2>\n
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Bathing Suit by Spanx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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Photo by Italo Morales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
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