There are many things to do in Puerto Rico. Here are 5 of Puerto Rico’s best-kept secrets.

These are a few things you might not have thought about doing.

Visit where Rum is made

Visit the Bacardi Factory in Old San Juan and try the rum.

Not only does the island have great rum, but you can also visit where it’s made. As a by-product of the sugar-making process, rum production in Puerto Rico became a major industry in the 16^th century. Sugar cane juice (guarapo) is extracted and boiled at a high temperature. The process yields a syrup called molasses, which when mixed with water and is fermented, produces the distilled spirit rum.  Bacardi, Don Q, and Ron Barralito are some of the best Puerto Rican rums. You can see how rum is made and have a tasting at the Bacardi factory in Old San Juan.  Read more here: A Taste of Puerto Rican Rum History

Explore Arecibo Observatory

NOTE: This attraction is permanently closed. The sad news is that the telescope has collapsed and will be demolished.

Explore Arecibo Observatory and view the massive telescope.

1,000 Foot Diameter Dish in a Sinkhole

The Northern Coastal Valley region of Arecibo Puerto Rico is marked by stark contrasts.  It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north and numerous caves, sinkholes, and wooded hills to the south. One sinkhole, in particular, is known for nestling an awe-inspiring 1,000-foot diameter dish. This dish, a radio telescope,  keeps us safe from asteroids, beamed a three-minute pictorial message 23,000 light-years away to the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, and has assisted in numerous notable discoveries. Exploring the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico should be on your to-do list when visiting the island. Read more here: Exploring Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico

Try the Local Foods, they’re Delicious

Mofongo a traditional Puerto Rican food is made with mashed plantains and filled with seafood, beef, chicken, or pork.

Traditional foods are part of Puerto Rico’s heritage and are strongly rooted in the history and culture of the island.  Find a local roadside stand, the beach-front hut, or a restaurant with grandma cooking at the stove down a side road. You’ll not only get a taste of the food but the culture as well.  Wake up your taste buds and eat like a local in Puerto Rico. read more here:

Read more here: Eat Like a Local in Puerto Rico

Go Snorkeling

You will see an amazing amount of fish when snorkeling in Puerto Rico.

When spending time in Puerto Rico, many people who decide to visit this amazing island will lounge on the picturesque white-sand beaches, play in the clear blue water, and soak up the sunshine.  However, renting a paddleboard or a kayak and snorkeling the crystal clear water should be on your list!

Read more here: Where to Snorkel, Kayak, and Stand-Up Paddle Board in Puerto Rico.

I highly recommend this full face snorkel mask.  It makes snorkeling much easier because it forms a seal around your face which prevents water from leaking in.  It’s comfortable, easy to use, and does not fog.  You can click this link for easy ordering.

Traverse the Cave System

Visiting the Camuy Caves will leave you breathless when you view this massive sinkhole.

Located in northwest Puerto Rico in Arecibo, there’s a cave system called The Parque Nacional de las Cavernas del Río Camuy or Rio Camuy Caves.  In the 1950s researchers discovered this large network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved out by the third-largest underground river in the world, the Río Camuy.

The canopy of trees and lush vegetation is dense and it’s hard to believe such an extensive cave system hides below the thick forest. Today there are more than 10 miles of mapped trails leading to 17 entrances and 220 caves. Only a small part of the cave system, a 268-acre park, however, is open to the public.  It is home to 3 sinkholes through which an underground river runs, and 2 awe-inspiring caves which visitors can explore. Read more here: Two Caves to Explore in Puerto Rico
When traveling around Puerto Rico it helps to have a GPS to help navigate.

You can click the Amazon link for easy ordering.

When in Puerto Rico, step out of your comfort zone and eat the local foods, explore a cave, or snorkel in the crystal clear waters. You never know what you’ll find when you take the road less traveled.

Here’s how to get to some of the 5 Best Kept Secrets in Puerto Rico https://www.viator.com/Puerto-Rico/d36-ttd

We are a participant in the Amazon Associates, LLC program, an advertising program allowing us to receive fees when you purchase the product above. It does not in any way add to your cost.

Where to Snorkel, Kayak, and Stand-Up Paddle Board – Puerto Rico

Get Social with Boulevards & Byways and like us and follow us at:

The post 5 Puerto Rico’s Best Kept Secrets appeared first on Boulevards & Byways.

There’s nothing better than rum punch on the beach.

As a by-product of the sugar making process, for rum production in Puerto Rico became a major industry in the 16^th century. Sugar cane juice (guarapo) is extracted and boiled at a high temperature. The process yields a syrup called molasses, which when mixed with water and is fermented, produces the distilled spirit rum.  This is just a taste of Puerto Rican  rum history and here are two places you can visit to learn more.

Don Q Rum & the Serralles Castle in Ponce

A Taste of Puerto Rican Rum History

A refreshing mojito is my favorite rum drink.

If you’re interested in the history of rum production in Puerto Rico, the Serralles Castle museum in Ponce is an interesting place to start.  This elaborate summer home of the family of Juan Serralles, the founder of the Serralles Rum Distillery, is the producer of the very popular Don Q Rum which is known for its distinctive flavor.   Build in the 1930’s, the mansion sits high on a hill with stunning views of Ponce and the Caribbean Ocean from its elaborate gardens and terraces.  Tours are offered of the mansion, which contain many of the family’s antiques, and includes information about the history of sugar cane production and rum distillation.   You unfortunately do not get any rum samples to taste here, this is strictly Puerto Rican rum history.   The rum is produced at the Serralles distillery in town, but they do not give tours.

You can purchase a ticket to just visit the castle or you can buy a combination ticket which will also include the Cruceta del Bigia and the Japanese Gardens which are across the street.  The Cruceta del Vigía or the Watchman’s Cross is a 100-foot-tall cross used by early Spanish settlers in the 1800s as a look-out for invaders and pirates.  This ten-story vertical tower with a horizontal sky bridge provides amazing views of the city of Ponce and the Caribbean Sea.  A Japanese garden was built on the grounds near the cross with the purpose of encouraging spiritual peace and harmony by the means of nature and Zen music. The garden features small lakes, rivers, bonsais, and bridges.

Hours for the Castle: Thursday through Sunday 9:30-5:50. Admission can include the museum only, the museum and gardens, or the museum, gardens, and crucifix.
Address: #17 Sector El Vigia, Pso De La Cruceta, Ponce
Phone: 787.259.1774
Web: Museo Castillo Serrallés or castilloserralles.org

The Bacardi Factory in San Juan

At the Bacardi factory you will learn how to make delicious rum drinks.

The Bacardi Visitors tour in San Juan is a popular tourist destination devoted to the history of Bacardi Rum.  The company actually began in Cuba and moved over to Puerto Rico in 1936 before Fidel Castro took power. The Bacardi brand’s fermentation process gives Bacardi rum its clear color and distinctive taste.

There are three tours:

• $15 History Tour Includes: Learning about the past, present, and future of the Bacardi brand and how it evolved from being a small rum manufacturer in Santiago de Cuba to becoming one of the largest rum producers today.  This informative tour takes you through the history of sugar production and rum making and includes a movie about the Bacardi family and their rum production business. You receive: A commemorative Bacardi cup, a Bacardi special “welcome” cocktail for adults, and refreshments for children.
• $45 Rum Tasting Tour includes: All of the above and PLUS guests will learn how to prepare a cocktail and learn about the attributes of the finest rums within the Bacardi portfolio. A  Distillery Tour and access to the Cathedral of Rum with an assigned Brand Specialist is also included .You receive all of the above, plus an  Honorary Certificate of Completion.
• $45 Mixology Tour Includes: All of the above PLUS a class on how to prepare three legendary cocktails: Cuba Libre, Mojito and Daiquiri.

Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 4:30pm
Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm

Address: Carretera 165, Catano, 00949, Puerto Rico

Phone: +1 787-788-8400

Website: casabacardi.org

Ron del Barrilito Rum

Ron Barrilito rum is a local favorite.

I would be remiss if I didn’t write about Ron del Barrilito, Puerto Rico’s oldest rum brand, and one highly esteemed, it is often called a “cult rum”.  Lauded for its deep, almost whiskey-like complexity, the two-star rum rests for three years, and the three-star is a blend of six- to ten-year-aged rums. Barrilito only exports to Spain and a few states.

As the story goes, in 1871, Pedro Fernández took over the property where his father was running a sugarcane plantation.  He had been producing small amounts of rum for guests. Fernández developed the secret rum formula, aged in Spanish sherry barrels that his family still uses today, and produced a smooth and mellow rum.   The small family run factory in Bayamon is not seeking endless growth. They only want to make excellent rum.

It’s 5:00!

Time for a Pina Colada.

It’s 5:00 somewhere, so it’s time for a taste of Puerto Rican rum history. Cuba Libre, Mojito, Pina Colada, and coconut rum are some of my favorite rum drinks. Which one should I have today?  Which one is your favorite? The history of rum and its long-standing relationship with Puerto Rico must be tasted to truly understand The culture.

Read more here:

3 Places to Visit for Coffee Production in Puerto Rico

5 Things to do in Puerto Rico

Get Social with Boulevards & Byways and like us and follow us at:

 Check out this book to learn more about Puerto Rico’s History:

We are a participant in the Amazon Associates, LLC program, an advertising program allowing us to receive fees when you purchase the product above. It does not in anyway add to your cost. 

The post Where to go for Puerto Rican Rum History appeared first on Boulevards & Byways.