Deciding Where to Go
Got fed up staring at my boring apartment walls. April always feels like spring but still kinda chilly here, right? Needed some real sun. Scratched my head thinking of somewhere cool that wasn’t gonna cost a fortune. Puerto Rico popped into my mind. Flights seemed decent, no passport hassle since it’s U.S. territory. Decision made: Puerto Rico for April!
Digging Around for Info
Cracked open my laptop, obviously. Figured April would be good weather time for beaches. Started reading stuff online. Saw tons of “best of” lists for Puerto Rico, but like, which ones were actually awesome specifically in April? Read through loads of travel forums and blogs. Everyone screamed about Old San Juan, El Yunque rainforest, and different beaches. Wanted my own personal hot list for my week trip.
Building My “Must-See” List
Scribbled down notes like crazy while researching. Tried to sort places by location. Ended up with a solid list based on all that reading and what felt right for me:
- Old San Juan: Those colorful buildings looked incredible, had to see them in person.
- El Yunque Rainforest: Huge and lush, hiking trails and waterfalls sounded perfect.
- Vieques Bioluminescent Bay: Kayaking in glowing water at night? Wild! Saw April listed as a good time.
- Culebra Island: Specifically Flamenco Beach. Photos of that water looked unreal.
- Rincón: Famous surfer town on the west coast, seemed chill and pretty.
The Actual Trip Experience
Plane landed in San Juan, ready to go. Based everything in San Juan first. Wandered Old San Juan for a solid day. Cobblestone streets were cute (but rough on the feet!), forts were massive, colorful buildings everywhere – lived up to the hype. Grabbed some awesome local food in little spots. Verdict: Absolute must-do.
Drove out to El Yunque. Weather in April was spot-on – warm but not super humid in the forest morning. Hiked the Yokahú Tower trail. Views were bananas! Saw a waterfall, splashed around a bit. Felt incredibly fresh. Tip: Book your entry ticket beforehand! Almost messed that up.
Took a little plane over to Vieques for the bio bay. Did the kayak tour at night. Paddling through the mangrove channels in the dark felt crazy, but then the water started glowing every time you moved. Like swimming in stars! So cool, even if the kayaking bit was tiring.
Hopped on the ferry to Culebra. Found Flamenco Beach. Dude… the sand is SO white, the water is ridiculously blue and clear. Spent the whole day just floating and relaxing. Perfect. April was busy but not packed out. Highlight: Totally.
Finished up the trip driving to Rincón on the west coast. Different vibe, super relaxed. Found cool lookout points, chilled at beach bars, watched surfers catch waves. Didn’t find huge “attractions,” just soaked in the atmosphere. Perfect end to the week.
What Went Right and What Didn’t
Overall, April weather was fantastic. Warm, sunny, a little rain sometimes but not too bad – just pack a light raincoat! Getting around needs planning though. Renting a car was essential for the mainland trips outside San Juan, but the ferry rides to islands take time.
- Surprise Win: The bio bay on Vieques was way better than I expected. Paddling was work but worth it.
- Reality Check: Rincón is super beautiful and laid-back, but if you’re only chasing big sights, maybe less essential than the others for a short trip. Great for chilling.
- Annoyance: Almost forgetting to get the mandatory reservation for El Yunque! Heard others complaining they didn’t know. Book it!
Final Thoughts
So, yeah. Puerto Rico in April? Awesome idea. Old San Juan, El Yunque, Flamenco Beach on Culebra, and the Vieques bio bay were absolutely my top picks from the trip. They delivered big time. Rincón was cool for the scenery and vibe. Felt like I got a solid taste of beaches, nature, history, and that unique bioluminescence magic. Pack the sunscreen, book the ferries and El Yunque in advance, rent wheels, and prepare for a really good time soaking up that sunshine.
