Puerto Rico

[chumley]

I'm gonna be in PR for the last two weeks in July ... anybody got any hiking suggestions (or other cool suggestions?)
... besides the Bacardi Factory, which is an obvious must-visit :GB:

I'll be home-based in San Juan, but there's nothing limiting my travels around the island.

Oh, and just to clarify the HAZ organization a bit, Puerto Rico is a US Territory, though it is certainly not part of the US Virgin Islands. There's occasional movement to make PR the 51st state, but that seems to get voted down every time its brought up.

[BobP]

PR isn't a US Territory its a Commonwealth . NEways...I went in 2007 after our US Fencing Nat'ls. Don Q is the rum of choice there .

As far as your question goes...I'll look thru my pics...etc. I went to some cool nontourist spots...and also to some touristy places.

[chumley]

Geez. I hope you don't strip statehood from the good people of Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania!

Thanks, I'd be interested in hearing of anything interesting you might find in your pix. I'm pretty sure I can find the touristy stuff myself (though wouldn't mind being told something is a complete waste of time). Its the other cool stuff it would be nice to hear about.

[Al_HikesAZ]

From Trails.com
"Puerto Rico, often called "The Shining Star of the Caribbean," is located 1, 000 miles southeast of Miami. Only 110 miles long by 35 miles wide, Puerto Rico is a land of great geographical contrasts. The north coast is wetter and greener than the southern tip, where cactus are common. In the northwest, caves, sinkholes, and haystack hills characterize the karst terrain. In the central mountain range, the altitude reaches an impressive 4, 389 feet at Cerro la Punta. These contrasts provide some very varied hiking, everything from dry forest to rain forest. The best-known hiking trails are those of the Caribbean National Forest, better known as El Yunque, located near San Juan. El Yunque receives so much attention that visitors usually aren’t aware of the many other available hikes. Scattered throughout Puerto Rico is a system of forest reserves that offer hiking from beaches to the highest mountain peaks. In addition, a stroll though old San Juan is easily the Caribbean’s finest city walk. Puerto Rico definitely is a walker’s dream. This trail guide contains descriptions of the following hikes: Old San Juan walk, the following El Yunque trails: La Coca, Big Tree, La Mina, Caimitillo, Bano de Oro, El Yunque Peak, Los Picachos, Mt. Britton, Mt. Britton Spur, El Toro (Tradewinds) and Angelito; Pinones Forest, Humacao Wildlife Reserve, the following Guanica Dry Forest trails: Baleena, Cueva, Meseta, Fuerte, Lluberas, Murcielago, Ganados, Gutierrez, Cobanas, La Hoya, Ojo de Agua, Velez/Vigia; Guajataca Forest Reserve, Carite Forest Resereve, Guilarte Forest Reserve, Toro Negro Forest Reserve, Rio Abajo Forest Reserve, Maricao Forest Reserve, Ponce, La Phosphorescent Bay, San German, Rio Camuy Cave, Arecibo Observatory, Caguanda Indian Ceremonial Park, Around Mayaguez. This guide also contains hikes on the following offshore islands: Culebra, Vieques and Mona. "

check your HAZmail.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Geez. I hope you don't strip statehood from the good people of Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania!

They aren't states, they are Commonwealths. I learned that in Middle School in VA. I also learned that the South would rise again, I was sort of in a rural environment.

[BobP]

Looking at Al's post here is what I remember....
Arecibo Obsevatory was cool
La Phosphorescent Bay was ok but real touristy
The mansion(Sugar cane/Rum family I think) in Ponce the gardens were really cool the home tour was ok.
If your into military history...El Moro is cool and theres lots of stairs to hike. They also do concerts sometime. Its a Fort in San Juan the views are awesome.
Beaches...far out from crowds Hatillo and if you "surf"(i think Camuy)
Vieques is supposed to be beautiful (didn't make it there)
El Yunque is a rain forest(didn't make it there)
San German for an old church because it was on the way to somewhere else
Guavate if you like to eat pig.

[The_Eagle]

El Yunque is a rain forest(didn't make it there)

It's been 15 years, but I was at the rain forest and there are a couple of sweet hikes to remote waterfalls that you can swim in.
http://www.elyunque.com/about.html

[chumley]

Thanks for the el yunque link. I haven't really started my research yet, but that looks like a great place to visit ... on a weekday! (Huh, a little like the best places in AZ!)