(click on the above images to see in more detail)
If you are planning (or even thinking of) a trip to Puerto Rico, remember there is more to the island than just the area around San Juan. Don’t get me wrong the San Juan area is great. You have great beaches, great shopping and the beautiful historic area of Old San Juan. But, if you are here for several days, do yourself a favor and discover the island.
The above shots were taken a few weeks back when we headed south for a late lunch at the coastal town of Salinas. Salinas is about 50 minutes south of San Juan if you take the expressway (#52) (just watch out for road works). The drive south is pretty impressive with mountain ranges on either side and as you get further south the scenery changes to a more arid landscape with the Caribbean Sea in the distance. This same road will also take you to Ponce if you prefer.
Once in Salinas, we headed to a group of restaurants that overlook the Caribbean Sea and had a very relaxing lunch of freshly caught fish. The menu included a lot of Puerto Rican food and concentrated as one would expect on freshly caught seafood. The prices are a little on the expensive side, but then again, you have to take into account the view.
After lunch we took advantage of the local boat that circles the marina (it stops at several points around the marina, you just have to ask) and got great views of the coastline and the many yachts in the marina. For $5 per person it was well worth it.
So if you are feeling a little adventurous take a trip out of San Juan and head south. As well as Salinas, there is Guayama, Ponce and other coastal towns along the way.
