Curious~Ness
Now please don’t get me wrong- I love soaking in the sun and taking a dip, but some days, staying dry is the way to do it. If you’re feeling like taking a day away from the water, here are some great ways to make memories while connecting with Mama Earth. I can’t promise the rain won’t make an appearance, but these options will aim to keep you away from swimsuits and sand.
LET’S CHECK IT OUT →
Feature Story
Mirador San Cristóbal
🗓️Monday-Sunday during daylight hours (Approx. 7:00 am - 4:00 pm)
♿ Lacks wheelchair accessibility
🐶✅ Dog-Friendly
🌟 5.0 Star Rating on Google
This location is a bit inland and nestled in an incredible mountain range known as “Cordillera Central”. The drive was stressful due to the potholes and semi-trucks (check out “What to do with a day in Barranquitas” for more on this), but the views and quiet pace absolutely made it worth it. Cañón San Cristóbal has many entrances and trails to enjoy the truly breathtaking scenery. For our trip, we went to “Mirador del Cañón San Cristóbal,” which was truly stunning, as one of the deepest canyons in the Caribbean. The trails we took/saw were well established and easy to identify. The actual Mirador/lookout point was perfect; not large or intrusive, but a simple cut-out hole in the side of a mountain that centered the views and preserved the surrounding natural beauty. You could probably fit 4-5 people lined up on it, but since the trail was pretty empty, it accommodated the two of us perfectly. We spent our time and enjoyed the view for about ten minutes before moving on. Please be sure that you’re bringing water and snacks on the walk so you can truly enjoy the scenery without worrying about getting to your next refuel station. Unfortunately, this location would not be considered handicap accessible, and parking itself was on the side of the road, so getting some practice in on the three-point turn may be helpful before your trip. Overall, the spot we started our hike made for some great photos and a memorable hike. I would absolutely check it out again, but go to a different entrance point to get a more well-rounded perspective on the incredible Cañón San Cristóbal.
CHECK OUT MORE OF WHAT TO DO IN BARRANQUITAS, PR →
Plaza Pública Bicentenaria Monseñor Miguel Ángel Mendoza Rivera
Downtown Barranquitas
🗓️24/7
♿Accessible entry features to get in the plaza
🐶✅ Pet-Friendly
🌟 4.7 Star Rating on Google
This little plaza in downtown Barranquitas was quite charming and mellow. The plaza features a gazebo across from the local church, with benches conveniently placed all over the plaza. It is a great place to spend a mellow day with a book or writing, but restaurants are not within immediate reach. The local convenience stores do have some snacks, but you may need to walk a few blocks for a restaurant. We went mid-day on a Thursday, so maybe it was quiet, so it was perfect for our purposes of photos, a mellow day writing in the plaza, and a paleta/popsicle from the convenience store.
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Zipline Adventure
Toro Verde Adventure Park
🗓️ Thursday-Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
♿ Ziplining is not wheelchair accessible; however, there is a ramp to get to the overlook and restaurant
🐶❌ Service animals only
🌟 4.7 Star Rating on Google
If you are going to Puerto Rico, I can’t recommend this experience more. The Toro Verde Adventure Park experience was absolutely breathtaking. We zipped over the canyon 3 times during our time at the park with the support of friendly staff and a very safe-feeling harness system. I can’t even begin to understand what my ancestors may have thought about this opportunity to view such a magical place from the sky. This was a huge highlight of the trip, and while it was on the pricier side of the things we did, sitting at $115 for the 3 ziplines, it was absolutely worth it. After the adventure, our group got food from the cafe and enjoyed the views. Even if you don’t do the zipline or adventures at the park, I would still recommend checking out Orocovis for its panoramic views.
Toro Verde Adventure Park
♖Zipline Platform
📸Zipline Views
🖼 Orocovis Lookout
Palomar Beach House
Casas de Colores
🗓️ 24/7
♿ Homes are not accessible due to stairs; however, if you are comfortable with going uphill, you can view the homes from the street as a sightseeing adventure
🐶✅ Pet-friendly to view; please check with host about pet policy
🌟 4.6 Star Rating on Google
The Casas de Colores are a local hotspot for tourists to take photos, but staying in the Palomar Beach Houses was an absolute treat. The home is within walking distance from the plaza, a freshwater spring, the beach, and countless restaurants. Not only was the view lovely from sunrise to sunset, but its central location made it easy to get out of town and explore surrounding areas. Besides the location, the home was clean, cozy, and the host was absolutely incredible. During our stay, we got locked out, and the host was so incredibly helpful in kindly guiding us through getting back into the home. While I wouldn’t recommend the lockout, the attentive and responsive service provided by the hosts was incomparable. Overall, this has been my favorite place to stay for couples given its amazing location, supportive hosts, and beautiful views.
El Parterre
Ojo de Agua
A few steps away from the Casas de Colores sit El Parterre and the Ojo de Agua. This spring is surrounded by a beautiful plaza where we were able to spend the day enjoying the lovely landscaping and scenery of this hidden gem in Aguadilla.
🌸The Gardens
🌉 The Bridge
💧Ojo de Agua
The View
Palomar Beach House
Puerto Rico’s National Park
Bosque Nacional El Yunque
🗓️Monday-Sunday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
♿Partially handicap accessible
🐶✅ Pet friendly
🌟4.8 Star Rating on Google
This adventure was easily the best hike I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. I can’t recommend this affordable $8 experience more. Be sure to pack plenty of water, snacks, comfy shoes, and even a small raincoat if you are trying to stay dry. During my experience, I did not get any rain, and the weather was perfect; however, I have heard reviews from others that the rainforest can experience rain, so prepping for that can be a solid option if you’re determined to keep yourself dry. Once you get to the peak on a clear day, you can get a panoramic view spanning all the way to the coastline. It’s absolutely breathtaking. You can spend the day hiking the many trails this gem of a park has to offer and enjoy its visitor center: El Portal de El Yunque Rainforest. They feature videos, exhibits, a gift shop, cafeteria, and more in this lovely feature of the park.
Check out more pictures next→
Views from the Hike
El Yunque
My absolute favorite hike and one I will always recommend.
🥾Paved Walkway
El Yunque Peak Tower
🖼 The Descent
A Final Note
NOTES FROM NESS
“Share as many moments of joy as you can and find that joy outside — it sure makes for a happy life”
Stay Curious,
