Sunday, August 23, 2015

Explore Puerto Rico the local way!

Get to know Puerto Rico the local way

Just call, plan and explore Puerto Rico with a local friend

These trips are special for travelers like you! For small groups, the tour guide will show you the best spots of Puerto Rico just the way the locals do it. Enjoy the real experience! 

For more info, feel free to contact us. :)
 








Sunday, July 26, 2015

The Sweetest Land

Charco Azul and Cuevas Arenales in Vega Baja

Located in the north coast and Karst region of Puerto Rico. Known as "La Ciudad del Melao Melao", melao means cane syrup. This city can't be any sweeter than it is. The beautiful landscapes and sights around this place are incredible. The half-egg shaped limestone mountains decorate Vega Baja.

Charco Azul and Cuevas Arenales is a must-go place. Although it seems like not many people know about it, when I visited this place, it was crowded on a Thursday, which seemed surprising to see so many locals. Many of the people I talked with there were either residents of this town or surroundings, and many people visiting for the first time, like myself.

As I walked with my buddy to the main spot, I saw some young people walking down the river and I asked what they were doing. They told me they were going to the caves. We decided to go with them, as we thought those were the caves we were looking for. I didn't know we signed up for an extreme adventure.

Walking down, when we reach the mouth of the cave, with a small stream of water coming in, we face a gorgeous limestone cave. As we go in, we had to walk over the rocks, holding the wall next to us. I thought we were going along with the stream, which seemed not very safe but no, we went inside a hole in the wall, total darkness.

At least we had flashlights and never encountered any scary animals. We crawled inside an extremely exciting pathway, to a second room. We had to walk and swim inside this path, and getting out from that path was super scary. The special thing about this cave is that is not slippery, as these limestone rocks were very dry and porous. I had to climb down the wall about 10 feet, scared of falling. At least these people made it first and waited for me down there.

We reached the end to find a beautiful tiny waterfall at the exit of this cave. It was pristine. Then, we continued walking along the river to explore a second cave! In this case, I felt safe but no less excited. We were swimming for about 5-6 minutes in total darkness again. Wonderful experience. By the end of this cave, we found a gorgeous swimming hole with spots to do cliff jumps.

I must say, there are other paths to reach this last place, through a trail that locals have made after many visits. I'm quite sure not many people have done this extreme adventure in this part of the river because the main gross of visitors go to the famous "Charco Azul" and pass this other area without notice. The main place is quite easy to reach through the road, but if you want to do something extreme like visiting these caves, I tell you is like one of those items in your bucket list.

Charco Azul is a natural spring with limestone formations surrounding it. This magical place is perfect for all kind of visitors. Always making sure to take the right precautions. Perfect for sightseeing, cliff jumping, swimming or just relaxing while you see an spectacle of cliff jumpers (beginners and some pros) with a big dose of adrenaline.

Check out the past posts and learn more about this beautiful island! For more info, feel free to contact us.

Check out this video on Youtube: Charco Azul
Is only about the famous part, Charco Azul, hopefully I can get a GoPro next time and show you the first caves.





Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Discover Vieques island in Puerto Rico

Vieques is one of the most beautiful islands in Puerto Rico. Even if Culebra (the neighbor island) receives more attention because of Flamenco Beach, Vieques doesn't have to be jealous about it.

Vieques has way more places to visit and explore! Like Red Beach (white sands like in Flamenco) and Black Beach (black-mineral sands). The centenary Ceiba tree (300 yrs old). Are only a few places to enjoy in this amazing island. Don't forget to visit the bio-luminescent bay during the night, considered the brightest of them all in the island.

Black Beach

Ceiba Tree

Red Beach

Pata Prieta Beach

Culebra Island - Puerto Rico

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Flamenco Beach is simply one of the jewels of Puerto Rico. Snorkel, dive, explore, discover this wonderful treasure of pearl-like sands.






Charco Hondo - La Planta in Arecibo


Two beautiful waterfalls at the amazing Tanamá River in Arecibo. The biggest one, called La Planta, a man-made waterfall made in the 1920's for electricity purposes. Now is classical and beautiful ruins of what it used to be.

Cueva del Indio

Cueva del Indio - Cave of the Indian in Arecibo

Clearly one of my favorite places in Puerto Rico. These place is the best example of what are caves made of. A land of limestone and spectacular views everywhere you look. 

This cave dates back before the Spanish conquest. Apparently, the Taínos (Puertorican natives) used to gather here to hold ceremonies and, after the Spanish arrival, used it to escape the Spanish persecution. Located in Arecibo, this cave is a must-see in Puerto Rico. It has carvings (petroglyphs) on the rocks, made by Taínos. 

If you are lucky, you can watch locals diving to the ocean from the rocks, in different parts of the place. It always brings confidence to those who would love to do it. You can also snorkel, or just explore the area. 

Outside the cave, there's a hidden path on the right side, through the mangroves. If what you saw was beautiful, it gets better. A nice walk through this path offers you amazing views from over 100 feet from the ocean. This path leads you to a beautiful beach. 

Arecibo is one of my favorite places. A cave at the beach, and from there, about 15 minutes away, you can find a beautiful waterfall, known as Charco Hondo, La Planta. 




Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Puerto Rico: The Jewels of the Caribbean

Exploring Puerto Rico couldn't be easier. Shortly after I started studying to become a Tour Guide, I have found the hidden treasures of Puerto Rico. Being a traveler, a backpacker, and a free spirit, this has led me to explore this archipelago. 

Explore with me all these wonderful places!




Together with friends, we've made a map with a list of "must see's" in The Jewels of the Caribbean. Click here to see the map

Please enjoy and feel free to contact me for more information.