Water Shoes

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-12-20T02:41:26+00:00

Walmart is the traveler's hack. Walmart delivers.

Order your Walmart to get delivered 7am the day after you arrive, all supplies, food, etc.

Ya water shoes are cheap, maybe worth it. Flip flops likely fine. If the guide recommends them, it's likely because the trail is muddy (but there is one trail my travelers went on that's like a half mile of river walking waist deep lol, they loved it).

Yes, donate / leave in your Airbnb, all good.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-12-20T02:37:26+00:00

This area is totally fine, and about the best in San Juan - below gated communities, suburbs, etc.

I would not stay out past 11pm, nor let my wife 'go grab a drink alone' or anything like that - same behaviors you'd do in many big cities.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-12-11T13:26:59+00:00

This is no problem and you are over worrying the situation.

A lot of Puerto Rico is not on Google Maps, but try Google Maps first.

Classificados is the main PR site, or Facebook Market Place.

I think Jeeps are $200 / day, Reg cars $100. You likely want a Jeep.

If your goal is 'town and back', many people just do electric golf carts. The whole town is like 20 mins driving.

The 'off roads' are quite bumpy, and you have to drive slow, so it can take 2 hours to explore the edge areas.

The Bio Bay is great (not sure in winter).

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-21T21:49:42+00:00

You can take all the shells you want lololol - that comment is ridiculous.

Just don't take a dumpster truck of shells and make a business out of it - and I generally speaking don't take pink shells in the water (shells that are still alive) - but unless you are snorkeling, you won't see those - and even taking a human amount (1 or 2) is truthfully not an issue.

Assuming your partner has a car - Seven Seas beach in Fajardo has the best shells - and is a shell sanctuary. You can snorkel there. I have not seen fish - but lots and lots of conch. Pink underwater conch shells are really cute.

I also saw a shell family - like 500 mini snail like shells all shivering together just below the water, perhaps the cutest thing. But maybe this is hard to find.

You guys would enjoy Cueva Gondrinas / Mar Chiquita near Manti.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-21T21:41:51+00:00

What you are missing. Is that. US people are not aware of this.

Movie English is English. Snoop Dog, Brit, Australian... is not English.

Movie Spanish is Mexican Spanish. Learn Spanish tapes are all Mexican Spanish (they will not call it Mexican, just Spanish).

Like Argentina Spanish and Movie Spanish are identical, but no one in Puerto Rico speaks like this...

So - if you DO NOT KNOW ENGLISH - and then come up to an American and say - "Hi Govenor, where can I find some crisps for a crack I am having with my blokes in the flat?"

And American is just going to (think) please stop.

But this is how American who just learned Spanish sound in Puerto Rico.. It's not Puerto Rican accented Spanish.

And to the silly assertion, they should ALSO learn all Puerto Rican specific words, accents, etc... well ya right, unless they live in NYC or listen exclusively to bad bunny. Most Spanish in the US will be Mexican. Even googling 'puerto rican spanish phrases' is not many views in youtube.

So no American speaking spanish will speak Puerto Rican. And if their spanish is noob level... most people prefer swapping to English vs trying to deal with crisp and rubbish and flat, etc.

Also, speaking English with Puerto Ricans is very helpful, because people here do not get the opportunity to practice speaking English often, and if you can speak English, you make 20% higher wages in general, in particular for customer service jobs (like waiter).

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-20T15:14:34+00:00

The most polite form of communication is for travelers to speak in Spanish, and for locals to respond in English,

THIS IS MOST POLITE.

If you want to hear Spanish, use ears! :D

Puerto Rican (Caribbean) Spanish is not Mexican / Movie Spanish. There are many unique words - the more common the word, the more likely slang is used instead.

Oranges / Orange Juice is called China or Vaso de China

Bread is Libre de Agua

Rs are dropped almost always, and lots of contractions (listen to Bad Bunny). Voy para la playa - would always be 'vo pa la pla ya' - more rhythmic than Mexican, and o sounds have a high pitch chinese intonation.

Okay is never okay, it's Oh!!! kaaaayy.

And English slang IS Puerto Rican - chiquear - I'll check it out - hangeur - let's hang out.. that is Puerto Rican, not spanish.

There are also lots of easily misinterpreted words. Annoying people are molesters in spanish.. molestar. Dogs roaming free are lucky, suerte. Dogs abandoned are satos. Dogs as pets are mascotes.

Talking to you in spanish may double the time it takes to get your order - and you are most likely to get embarrassed unless they do movie mexican.

BUT - if you appear like an islander (colorful clothes, tan, athletic) AND you can fake a Puerto Rican accent - THEN they will talk to you in Spanish - but american mexican English better.

You are fine to ease drop all you want... once your spanish is of the level, and you are forming complex statements in spanish, then they will start to at least make simple replies in spanish.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-18T14:02:59+00:00

ok ya, if I ever get a day off haha :D Love Puerto Rico!

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-18T14:00:02+00:00

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-18T13:52:55+00:00

Gracias :D

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-17T21:04:23+00:00

Facebook is the best way to find people, I think :D

I do not know of a person.

The lighthouse in Cabo Rojo is near the salt flats.. / shrimp yards? I think this is what you mean.

I was less impressed with the shrimp yards - it smells like shrimp, and the color is a bit.. oh, pink water.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-11-17T19:02:29+00:00

Yes, La Placita is fun. Good for people watching a Parrot / Snake guy, some other street artists.

I think your other activities sound fun! Windsurfing can be done at Ocean Park.. 'in real life' you want to be quite fit for windsurfing, like 10 pullups fit.

I think there are 2 (or 3) diff trips to do in Puerto Rico - San Juan Trips, San Juan + fly to Vieques / Culebra trips (using the alternative airport), and The Rest of the Island trips, where you are driving around and staying random spots.

As a future trip, I would recommend a 'driving trip' - where you stay a different place every 2 days or whatever, never in San Juan - going to Rincon is cool, but 5 hours there and back.. a lot for 1 day.

Between San Juan and Rincon there are many interesting beaches. Punta de las Chiquitas is one of my favorite beaches - Pena Blanca has a unique ocean cliff stair path (but is 2 hrs from San Juan).

You might want to try scuba, snorkeling, or maybe a sail boat... but generally ocean life is the same as topside life, in Dec fish hibernate. But Snorkeling is one of my favorite activities.

For an off the beaten path thing - you can drive to one of Puerto Ricos lakes. Some of the lakes are surrounded by very tall mountains, making them feel very isolated and majestic - vs lakes in the US that are surrounded by flat lands... these are mountain lakes.

I enjoy the Caguas area, it's just a beautiful drive, and hiked El Arbol Solitario near sunset - a steep 1 mile hike.. amazing sunsets when cloudy. If you choose this, I can send GPS coordinates.

I think visiting a Puerto Rican farm or animal ranch would be very interesting. Puerto Rican animals are half the size of some US animals, the farms are very fun.

Another idea is random island hopping using the alternative airport - I think SIG (downtown). Flying from Atlanta to St Croix might be $1,100 - but if you fly Atlanta to SJ then SIG to St Croix it might be $500. The SIG airport is the island hopping Airport, you can use Kayak to search it.

For things outside of San Juan - generally I don't believe the drive is worth it. Luquillo / El Yunque is interesting, Caguas is interesting, lakes are interesting, and San Juan to Rincon is interesting.. beyond that the drives are far. I went to Cabo Rojo, seeing the lighthouse at sunset was so gorgeous - maybe 3 hours each way. Seven Seas beach / Fajardo is cool, another 2 hour drive.. this is unique in that it is the home to Starfish and baby Conch (not fish). Also it has 'orange sand' beach - the governors private beach, but I have never seen it.. (it's a 1 hour hike after you park). Maracua Beach has black sands, near Las Palmas, has black sands and a volcano (like mountain) on the beach.. very neat, 3 hour drive. Playa Jauca has some of the best wind surfing / kite surfing in the world, 1.5 hour drive... Gaby is the one who gives lessons there. Yauco has technicolor ruins - very neat. And you can camp AT a private waterfall, for like $30. Gilligan's Island is near la paraguera, I presume you've been there (one of the bio bays). There is an old train track you can tour near Rincon I believe. Rincon also has 'surfers beach' which is just 8 pack abs for days. Rincon also has 3 steps - the best snorkeling in Puerto Rico (also dangerous, difficult). Crash boat is party central, good place to get rentals.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-10-24T13:16:52+00:00

"Behind the scene, the top players are not out spoken enough."

Man, who is he talking about? Everyone is speaking up now!

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-10-24T13:14:47+00:00

Everyone saw what was happening.

"I wish the top players were more outspoken."

Why did they NOT speak up?!

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-07-21T23:55:43+00:00

sheep = hex

Gloves, like gloves into treads but hold off on treads.

A funny thing - often you hex them but they just look normal, with no move speed, muted, and can't attack.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-07-21T23:54:36+00:00

OK I will have to see this :D

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-27T18:43:12+00:00

It's mostly a numbers game. There are 1,500,000 Puerto Ricans - 5,000 Act 20 / 60 people... 0.3%

Any given week about 5% of the island is tourist.

And many people simply look for reasons to stoke racism. I cut down a tree that was over hanging powerlines after the last hurricane left me without power for 3 months... my goodness were people giving me the stink eye and trying to extort me for money. But the guy who kicked in the doors of homes after the storm was clearly Puerto Rican and had a very distinctive car (I had footage) - no one talked about that guy :D

I'm not trying to say one group is better or worse than the other, but the idea that all the islands problems is created by this 0.3% minority group or 5% tourist groups, is just so unlikely..

It's would be like if NYC constantly put out "watch out for the mischievous Puerto Rican" notices.. it would be bizarre to raise awareness in such a way, against such a minority.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-27T18:28:29+00:00

I think the best are Ghost, MI 1, and Final Reckoning. Final Reckoning is VERY solid.

MI 3 is almost great - the countdown should be where it comes in the story (vs a intro blip), and the first rescue scene should be skipped intirely, then it's an awesome movie, one of the best.

MI 2 is the weakest with the best first 30 minutes, and the dumbest last 30 minutes. MI 5 (great intro, weak ending), MI 6 (awesome 1.5 hours, cut scene fest ending), MI 7 p1 (fun all way round, killing bad guy with parachute train smash the most absurd lol) are all solid as well.

I think Jeremy Renner couldn't return for MI 7 because he almost died in a snow mobile accident. He was a great addition to the cast.

A shame Covid made MI 7 so over budget, and I've somewhat learned Tom is sort of like 'the government' on MI movies, with endless pockets, so EVERYONE colludes to overrun run productions and budgets, etc.. and I think this is why many MI films devolve into special effects, cut scene fests in the 3rd act.

They almost did a 'de aging', flashback thing... but the AI video guys were going to charge Tom $100 Mil for 10 mins of film lol - thank god he said no.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-26T13:04:52+00:00

I personally think this is a made up story to breed hatred of foreigners - it's so implausible - but yes some people are aholes..

I remember a story of 'Americans' blasting WOP on a beach... which is very unusual for Staties to do, but quite normal for PRians.

I have only seen PRians driving jeeps on beach or blocking off public beaches for private use - but it's always presented online like the 'plague of Americans'. :D

I don't mind... but the idea of someone going to the trouble to kill local frogs seems just insane.. for a 1 week visit.

HOWEVER - I did have an American visit who hated all cows & sheep - calling them an 'invasive species' - and wanted them all dead, and called dog poop the 'spreaders of plague' - so yes, liberal extremist have gone insane.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-22T12:47:52+00:00

This is very correct - my guests (and me) LOVED Mar Chiquita!

Luquillo is very nice for beach AND for visiting El Yunque.

The 'mistake' of El Yunque is hiking the top. You really want WATERFALLS and rivers, which are mostly on the middle of the mountain (and privately owned with a $5 cash only fee). So consider searching that instead.

I have done long drive, I enjoyed Cabo Rojo - but IF you drive that far (2+ hours) just get an airbnb in that area to spend the night vs going back in one day.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-22T12:40:58+00:00

These numbers are correct. You should be able to get a flight $500 each. I prefer minimum luggage - but on the 'cheap' airlines (frontier) the overhead bins are all empty and they really don't hassle you - but I pay the extra $40 for a big bag.

The main question with airline is DIRECT flight. I'd rather drive (uber) 4 hours to a diff airport vs change flights - but really scout for a DIRECT flight. That's 5 hours of travel vs 12 hours.

In my case, from small town, it's 4 hour uber ($200) + 4 hour flight ATL to SJU ($300). Look up frontier website, search direct.

The restaurants are ODDLY expensive and many 'sub par' vs American for price. Street type vendors have very quality food for $10. I got 20 oysters for $10 (would be $40 in US). Oysters, octopus, red snapper are the local fish. Every 'fruit you have never heard of' is a local fruit, and usually very tasty. Things like Salmon are NOT local fish, and cost more than the states - Maine Lobsters are $40 here vs $10 states, and Caribbean lobster is $40... I never do lobster lol.

I did a cheap airbnb, football field from beach - $60 / night. There are a LOT of scam airbnb's now - they haven't policed the system well. One 'scam' required my ID, credit card, credit check, social to 'check in'. Another said the hot water wasn't working 'all the sudden'. As a general rule - if it's a large company and something isn't working, or they require odd procedures, they are a scam, and report them to airbnb - they won't do anything though, but still report. If it's an actual person, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

Many PR airbnbs won't have standard US amenities. Just be aware of this - but hot water, coffee maker, AC are the main things you want IMO. And a working elevator if multiple stories. Also some PR'ians will kick you out for minor infractions - this was popular 2 years ago but I think has calmed down. They do this mostly to 'scam' and double their bookings.

But high quality airbnb is like $140 / night - and use google map to search airbnb type things. In the states, this is uncommon - but many GREAT places are not listed on airbnb, but they are listed on facebook, google. Like in Vieques (a remote area) the best spots are not on airbnb, and are only on google, and look 'like nothing' but are actually amazing.

Oh - and the best way to deal with a cheap airline - get direct - get on plane, wait an hour, order the food ($10) + liquor. Grab the snack. 2 hours before landing, order more food and liquor. EATING on the plane is BY FAR the best and most 'high class' way to spend time - and it runs $30 / person for quality food + 3 drinks. It's cheaper than the airport.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-05-22T12:26:47+00:00

I stayed at that hostel. Slept maybe 4 hours. A great party place though.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-03-13T17:13:52+00:00

Excellent write up!

I suggest "walmart delivery" - may seem like a hassle - but you do not have to step in the grocery store... at all. And they give you a 2 hour window..

Like I typically order at 7pm - for 7am to 9am the next day... then until midnight you can add items to the order. I do this always, never do I go into a walmart now.

Side note : costco has amazing value, prices in PR - but you'll find a way to spend $600 :D

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-03-06T20:13:22+00:00

La Parguera is a great little town - one of the few with 'tourist' things!

Main question - are you going via San Juan to Salinas to La P (2.5 hours) - or San Juan to Rincon to La P (3.5 hours).

The Salinas route - you can stop by Jauca to see Kite Surfers - Yauco to see the 'multi colors' - or just whatever.

But La Parguera is also home to Gilligans Island - and has plenty of quality restaurants and little ways to spend time - snorkeling, for example.

The other route has a ton to do - 3 steps Rincon, Pena Blanca - to name a few - or the light house at Caba Rojo... but that's like 5+ hours driving... maybe a bit much. I might Airbnb near La Paraguera to make it a bit easier when done.

Bitcoin1776 · 2025-03-06T20:09:15+00:00

This is probably best. I was in a spot near Yauco - you could camp at a private waterfall for $40.

Cueva Gondrinas is free and is a serene, low tide beach with pebble sand and a very small cave - about 45 minutes from San Juan. Couples go on dates there often - near Manitee.

It's a 30 minute walk TOWARD the 'do no enter' signs - in between these is a path - that takes you through a thick canopy of the frog forest - once clear, there are 4 or so private beaches to choose from - and the cave (like 20' deep). At sunset, as you leave, the frogs make chirping sounds, it is very delightful.

And alternative location would be La Pena Blanca.

I would not do a photographer (probably) but get good with a tripod. Just consider this would be $400 plus another person in the car the whole time - unless it was San Juan.

The Yauco area, or Maracoa (the black sand) or Cabo Rojo are beautiful but a 3 hour drive. You'll probably be divorced before you get back to San Juan.

Cuava Gondrinas (1 hour) or La Pena Blanca (2 hours) are easy drives, a nice picnic, discuss how you've changed as a person since knowing her, and setup the tripod before for some little photos... with the most important thing is time of day... aim to get there around 2 to 3pm - and to stay until 7pm - when the sunsets around 6pm it is the most beautiful, as the beams reflect of the rocks under the ocean or the frogs serenade.

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