In this edition of Travel Over the Rainbow, we head to the Southern Caribbean to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. As a US territory, Puerto Rico feels like an international vacation without the need for a passport. Travelers to the Island of Enchantment will lavish on sandy beaches, explore historical sites, tour rum factories, and party the weekend away in the gayborhood in San Juan. Rainbow travelers to Puerto Rico are overwhelmingly welcomed. They feel comfortable holding hands with their partners as they explore the island’s beautiful experiences.
During the day, explore historical sites such as the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park in Utuado, the La Fortaleza (or El Palacio de Santa Catalina) in Old San Juan, or explore the must-see UNESCO site Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The island is rich in history, and travelers can spend several days exploring locations across the islands.
Adventure seekers need not fret. There are plenty of activities to keep even the most adventurous traveler entertained. Spending the day hiking through the mountains proves why this island has enchanted visitors for centuries. Day excursions are plentiful and include zip-lining through the forest, an evening kayaking adventure through a bioluminescent bay, or a day trip to the world’s largest radio observatory for those looking to geek out.
As the day turns to night, head back to your resort to clean up and change for the night. The night starts to kick off around 6 pm, but as the day fades away and the stars come out, the party gets bigger in the gayborhood of Santurce. During the day, the area is home to artists who have staked claim to this historic neighborhood. But at night, you’ll find bars for every taste of party goer. You’ll find bars welcoming to all, go-go bars, and even Bear Tavern. It shouldn’t be unexpected that the best nightlife is Friday and Saturday nights, with Circo Bar (the island’s largest gay bar) staying open until 4 am!
After a Saturday night of partying, the morning (or afternoon) is the perfect time to relax on the beach. Each Sunday, the Atlantic Beach of San Juan is taken over by LGBTQ travelers and locals alike who need the sun to detox and brunch to cure their hangovers.
Travel from the mainland is easy, with direct flights to San Juan coming from dozens of airports across the country. Traveling to Puerto Rico can be a quick weekend getaway or a full week vacation. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to explore the island, which can be fully traversed in a single day.
With so much to do on the island, planning a trip to Puerto Rico can be stressful as you try to figure out the best locations, activities, and such. But it doesn’t need to be. Rainbow Getaways takes care of all the research and planning for your trip. All you have to do is show up to have a great vacation.
Rainbow Getaways is a full-service travel agency specializing in travel for the LGBTQ community and our allies. Each trip is meticulously planned to ensure our travelers have a fabulous trip. Ready to start planning? Schedule your free consultation today.
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