Inspiring Travel and Wellness. Join me for adventures above and below the ocean, exploring nature, luxury travel experiences, spa and wellness activities.
My experience buying 2 different homes in Puerto Rico. I share the timeline, mistakes, and process for purchasing property on the island.
We moved to Puerto Rico in January 2016, planning to buy a home within a year. Well, that didn’t happen. I can blame hurricanes and more plausible sounding reasons, but I did not purchase for several reasons, including not wanting to deal with the process of buying a home in another language!
Nine years later, we have bought two homes in Puerto Rico! I wish I had purchased years earlier! So do not let intimidation or the unknown delay you from purchasing property in Puerto Rico.
Palmas del Mar resort community in Humacao, Puerto Rico is known for golf, tennis, pickelball, hiking, Palmas Farmers Market, and activities year round.
There are also incredible scuba dive sites right outside the Palmas del Mar community in Humacao on the east coast of Puerto Rico! The reef off the coast of Humacao is not part of Protected marine areas (MPA) or Nature Researve, so it is popular with commercial fishermen and scuba divers for lobster and lionfish hunting.
Palmas del Mar Dive Sites
Cubera Reef at La Conga Dive Site – 80 foot bottom
Hansi Hub – 50 foot depth and a lionfish favorite hangout with the occasional nurse shark
Cayo Largo – reef wall at 60 feet surrounded by 140 foot drop
Udûn (dark pit) – sandy bottom reef 70+ depth with great visability, teeming with lobster, lionfish, crab, and reef fish
The first time I saw Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fort in Old San Juan was by cruise ship approaching the port of San Juan. The approaching view is spectacular by land or sea. Visiting El Morro Fort is my number one cannot miss recommendation for old San Juan, Puerto Rico!
View of El Morro by Sea in 2012
The perfect place to begin any walking tour of Old San Juan is along the North coast. With good sun protection and sturdy shoes, the walk between Castillo San Cristóbal and La Perla is stunning, if you have the time and energy. History buffs will want to visit both Castillo San Cristóbal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro forts in Old San Juan, but if you are not feeling that ambitious or tight on time then El Morro is the better tour.
The La Parguera Bio Bay tour offers a unique and captivating experience in one of the world’s few bioluminescent bays, located in Lajas on the southwest corner of Puerto Rico. This tour allows participants to witness the natural wonder of bioluminescent dinoflagellates with both kayaking and swimming in the greenish-blue glittery glow!
Where are the Bioluminescent Bays?
There are only five bioluminescent bays in the world! You can find them in Halong Bay, Vietnam, and Luminous Lagoon, Jamaica. The remaining three, known as Bahía Bioluminiscente, are all located in Puerto Rico:
1. La Parguera in Lajas, on the southwest corner of the island offers a unique experience where you can kayak and swim in a bioluminescent bay.
2. Laguna Grande in Fajardo, on the northeast corner of the island, which is the closest to San Juan and the easiest to access.
One of my favorite festivals in Puerto Rico is the Feria Agrícola Nacional del Valle de Lajas! This is no ordinary agriculture festival! What makes this festival so fantastic? It is agriculture education meets food festival with music & entertainment, helicopter rides, petting zoo, and mini safari!
Learn about agriculture in Puerto Rico, farm animals, meet local farmers, see the latest tractors and farm equipment, pony rides, mini petting zoo, food & drinks, and exotic animals on the drive through safari.