Puerto Rico Archives | Rum Therapy

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021

Tropical Islands with the Most Amazing Blue Water

My husband started it. That is, my obsession with tropical beaches with water so blue that you can’t take your eyes off of it. I had always dreamed about experiencing this amazing hue, but hadn’t gotten the chance to see it in person. Until our honeymoon in Hawaii….

Well, let’s just say I was hooked from that first Hawaiian beach we laid eyes on. The clear, azure water was absolutely mesmerizing and just as amazing as I had pictured in my mind. Since then, we have been lucky enough to enjoy many, many other beaches in Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas. They’re all different and most are beautiful in their own way – but there’s still just something about that blue, blue water.

If you’re looking to find a tropical island to visit with incredibly blue water, here’s our list of 12 Tropical Islands with the Most Amazing Blue Water to start with. Are these the only ones? Heck no. As you can tell by the number of entries, it was very hard to narrow it down and there are so many more islands worthy of a mention. We could have actually named several entire island chains with incredibly blue water – such as the British Virgin Islands, Exuma Cays, Abacos, Turks & Caicos, US Virgin Islands, etc…, but space prohibited listing them all. These are some of our favorites to date for the amazing blue color of their water. Be sure to leave a comment with your favorites below!

Find out more about many of these beautiful island destinations here!

US Virgin Islands – Buck Island, St. Croix

Turks & Caicos – Leeward Beach, Providenciales

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC.
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

April 25, 2019July 10, 2021

Rum Experiences on the Island of Puerto Rico

The rum capital of the world. That’s what Puerto Rico touts itself in its “Rums of Puerto Rico” campaign. We’ve had the pleasure of visiting Puerto Rico on several occasions, but we decided to return to the island recently to explore its world of rum.

We did a little research prior to our visit and found that the rum brands produced in PR include Bacardi (which actually started in Cuba), Don Q, Ron del Barrilito, Caliche, Club Caribe and Trigo Reserva Añeja. Two we had heard of prior to our visit (who hasn’t heard of Bacardi?), but the others were new to us. We also learned that there are several characteristics that Puerto Rican rums must have to be granted that approving seal of quality. Those signature distinctions are high quality molasses, a continuous distillation process, aged for a minimum of one year in a white-oak barrel, and it must be produced in Puerto Rico. We were ready to start our rum journey, and off we flew to San Juan to begin our week of rum, relaxation and research.

I must admit, this type of “research” is quite enjoyable. We fit as much as we could into our week on-island and from that time, we compiled this list of suggested Rum Experiences on the Island of Puerto Rico. We will no doubt add more to the list after subsequent PR visits!

*Ron del Barrilito and Don Q Cristal – two of the Rums of Puerto Rico*

A visit to the Ron del Barrilito Visitor Center. They have just begun giving tours in their facility in Bayamón. A very good rum (we’re fans of the Three Star), and they recently started three tours; a Heritage Tour, a Mixology Tour and a Tasting Tour. Find out more about the tours here.
Take the Rum Runners Craft Cocktail Tour. This 2 hour craft cocktail walking tour will take you through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to some of the best watering holes in town to sample 3 different cocktails crafted by local mixologists. Learn fun facts about the origins and backstories of the spirit that shaped Puerto Rico while enjoying the evening with a small group of rum lovers, like you! Find out more about this tour here.

*Piña Coladas at* *Barrachina’s* *in Old San Juan*

Order a Piña Colada at Barrachina’s in Old San Juan. Barrachina’s is purported to be the birthplace of the Piña Colada where Don Ramon Portas Mingot created what became the world famous creamy rum drink in 1963. Although the drink is pre-mixed (perhaps as a time saver due to the large amount of them ordered), it’s fun to sit at the bar in the outside courtyard, enjoying the ambiance and chatting rum with the friendly bartenders.

Head on over to Casa Melaza in Old San Juan and learn all about Puerto Rican Rums by participating in one of their daily rum tastings. It’s a great way to sample several Puerto Rican Rums to find out which is your favorite before buying a bottle. Find out more about Casa Melaza’s Rum Tastings here.

Visit the Luquillo Kiosks to sample local food and drink at the series of local eateries. Although not the fanciest of establishments (it’s basically a series of kiosks!), you can find some delicious and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and beverages. We enjoyed a Piña Colada from one of the kiosks as well as a tasty Mojito from the Mojiito Lab and some local dishes all enjoyed by the beach. It was an enjoyable afternoon after exploring the rainforest.

And last, but certainly not least, The Bacardi Tour. The Bacardi brand of rums is probably one of the best known brands in the world and although some discount it due to its mass production, Bacardi does have a few delicious premium rums in addition to its very popular mixing rums. At its tour location, Casa Bacardi, across the bay from Old San Juan, there is a choice of three experiences: the historical tour, the rum tasting tour and a mixology class. We participated in the historical tour many years ago and found it to be informative about the brand and its history – and of course enjoyed the cocktail served at the outdoor Bat Bar Pavilion. Find out more about booking a tour here.

Do you want to try good sipping rums from Puerto Rico? We would recommend trying Ron Del Barrilito 3 Star, Don Q Gran Añejo,
Trigo Reserva Añeja and Bacardi Reserva Limitada.

Are you thirsty for a Piña Colada now? Here’s a delicious recipe to try: The Best Piña Colada.

Have you enjoyed a rum experience in Puerto Rico that you’d like to share? Let us know – we’re already making a list of what to see and do for our next PR visit! Cheers!

Other posts you might be interested in:
10 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Puerto Rico

8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Culebra

8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Vieques

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

October 10, 2016June 6, 2019

8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Culebra

Culebra is a picturesque little island that lies approximately 17 miles east of Puerto Rico. It’s an island municipality under the domain of Puerto Rico. At seven miles wide and three miles long, Culebra is the smallest of the inhabited Spanish Virgin Islands.

Although modest in size, Culebra has a welcoming small island charm, stunning beaches and amazing snorkeling. There are no large resorts on island, but there are a few cottages, guest houses and villas available for rent. Due to a good ferry schedule, many visitors come to Culebra just for a day visit. You can also take a short flight from PR, which may give you more time to play.

What should you do if you’re lucky enough to spend some time on this pretty island? Check out this list of the 8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Culebra to start your planning!

1. Flamenco Beach

Frequently listed as one of the top beaches in the world, Flamenco is even prettier than a postcard. A long swath of soft, white sand surrounded by stunning hues of blue…
See more photos of Flamenco Beach here

2. Tanks on Flamenco

Although it’s a rather abnormal attraction to list, the old tanks on Flamenco Beach are interesting enough to seek out. On the far west side of the beach you will find one sitting in the beautiful water just off the shoreline. Painted over and over by the locals, the tank is a vivid reminder of the history of Culebra when it was used as a training site for the US Navy.
Read more about it here

3. Snorkeling

You’ll find clear water and pristine snorkeling spots in several areas on Culebra. Best part? Most have beach access, so just slip on your flippers and mask and get going!
Discover some of the best snorkeling spots on Culebra here

4. Eating

You’ll find some of the same delicious treats on Culebra as on Puerto Rico, such as this Puerto Rican Pincho served from one of the food kiosks on Flamenco Beach, but there are other dining options to explore as well. Mamacita’s serves up dishes with a Mexican flare and you can find a few other delicious options here

5. Explore by Golf Cart

Culebra is not a large island and you can certainly explore a lot of it in one day. Best way to get around? You can rent a jeep, but why not just rent a golf cart? Economical and easy to zip around it!
Here’s one of the rental agencies on Culebra

6. Zoni Beach

You may get so stunned by the beauty of Flamenco that you will forget to visit some of the other gorgeous beaches on Culebra. One of our favorites? Zoni Beach, on the islands northeast side – quieter than its famous neighbor, but still beautiful.

7. Culebrita
Just off the eastern shore of Culebra sits Isla Culebrita, a small uninhabited island that is a wildlife refuge. Only a few people visit Culebrita each day, so it’s likely that you’ll have plenty of space to explore the beaches, an old lighthouse, relax in tidal pools and snorkel. You’ll need to hire a water taxi or join an excursion to get to Culebrita.
Find out more about this pretty island here

8. Top off the day with a drink at The Dinghy Dock

Top off a perfect day on Culebra by stopping by The Dinghy Dock to check out the huge tarpon swimming right off the dock, chat with the locals and listen to the tales of sailors that frequent the bar and enjoy a refreshing drink – such as this cold and creamy Bushwacker.

Have you been to Culebra? Tell us about it!

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

September 17, 2016June 6, 2019

8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Vieques

Isla de Vieques, a small island located approximately 8 miles off of Puerto Rico, is easily reached by ferry from Fajardo or a short flight from San Juan International Airport.

Considered one of the two main Spanish Virgin Islands, Vieques is probably best known for either its Bioluminescent Bay, said to be the brightest in the world, or its history with the US Navy as a former bombing test range.

Not as well known is the fact that Vieques has not been overly commercialized, has a good number of beautiful unspoiled beaches and retains its small island charm. Want huge resorts, nightlife, casinos or crowded beaches? You’ll have to look elsewhere, but if you want a quiet island with friendly people where you can get away from the grind, you might just fall in love with Vieques.

Thinking of visiting? Check out this list of 8 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Vieques to help you start your planning.

1. Sun Bay Beach

Just one of the beautiful beaches on Vieques, Sun Bay has a long expanse of soft, golden sand and calm shallow water, making it a great beach for the whole family. A snack bar and restrooms are close by too. You may find horses wandering the grounds and enjoying the beach and scenery as well.

2. Horses

Speaking of horses… (see above) It may seem an odd addition to the list, but be sure to watch for the horses that roam freely on Vieques. Find out more about these beautiful creatures here: Vieques, Where the Horses Roam Free

3. Mosquito Bay (Bio Bay)
Mosquito Bay, on the southern side of Vieques, is a bioluminescent bay. Best observed during the New Moon phase, the waters of Mosquito Bay, that are rich in a single celled dinoflagelate organism, “light up” at night when they come in contact with another organism, such as a boat, oar, or person. There are several bio bays in the world, but Mosquito Bay has claimed the title of “the brightest” bio bay in the world by the Guiness Book of World Records.

4. Hike to Playa Negra – a black sand beach

Playa Negra is a black sand beach just west of Esperanza. The color of the sand is a little surprising given the goldens, tans and whites of the other beaches on Vieques, but the pretty hike down a riverbed to the beach made it worth it to us. We were the only ones on the path except for a mare and her foal who walked right past us.

5. Enjoy a rum punch at Bananas

Thirsty after your hike to Playa Negra? Stop at Bananas Beach Bar & Grill in Esperanza for a delightful Rum Punch. Want to stay a little longer? Check into Bananas Guesthouse – a no frills place that’s close to the Bio Bay.

6. Enjoy the shops, museum and restaurants at El Malecon, Esperanza

The coastal side of Experanza is known as El Malecon or “The Strip”. Here you will find a few small shops, some restaurants, a museum, a beach and a beautiful view. This is probably the busiest area on Vieques and a favorite hangout for visitors. Tours for the Bio Bay leave from this area.

7. The Rest of the Beaches

We visited a number of Vieques beautiful beaches during our visit and were pleasantly
surprised with the beauty and solitude of many of them. If you have the time, rent a jeep and see how many beaches you can visit. They’re all a little different, but none are crowded.

8. Catch a sunset at Al’s Mar Azul

Before catching the ferry back to Puerto Rico, stop and enjoy a sunset (with your favorite cold drink) at Al’s Mar Azul – just a block from the ferry. The sunsets here are spectacular and it’s a beautiful way to end your day on Vieques.

Have you been to Vieques? Tell us about it!

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

August 26, 2016June 6, 2019

10 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Puerto Rico

East of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands lies the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Approximately 3,500 sq. miles and about the size of the state of Connecticut, PR is a US territory and US citizens do not need a passport to travel to and from Puerto Rico. With one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the world, many tourists visit Puerto Rico before or after embarking on a cruise.

Although the list of things to see and do on this culturally colorful island is extensive, we’ve listed 10 Things You Shouldn’t Miss on Puerto Rico to get your travel planning started.

1. Old San Juan
Founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, the 7 square block area contains a wealth of history, culture, restaurants and shopping. Take time to walk down the streets taking in the colors, the historic buildings and delicious aromas surrounding you. Look to see if you can find the blue cobblestones in old town. The bricks were brought over on Spanish ships in the 1700’s and time and moisture have caused them to have a blue hue, but word has it that they are slowly being replaced due to cracking and unevenness.

Blue cobblestones

2. El Morro and San Cristobal
It’s hard to miss the forts of El Morro and San Cristobal while walking around Old San Juan. Construction on Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) was begun in 1539 as a way to protect the city from an attack by sea, but it not completed until 1787. Castillo San Cristóbal was built to protect the city from attacks by land. The views here are phenomenal and history is always so much more interesting when you’re able to experience it in person.
Read more about exploring El Morro here

Gun turret in El Morro

3. El Yunque
El Yunque National Forest is located approximately 25 miles southeast of San Juan. Receiving over 200 inches of rain a year, this jungle like area is filled with lush flora and fauna (some species only found here), beautiful waterfalls and trails that crisscross the area for easy exploration. Listen to the sounds of 13 species of coqui fill the air and keep your eyes open for the endangered Puerto Rican amazon (parrot) – the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico.
Read more about exploring El Yunque here

Small waterfall in El Yunque

4. Drink a Piña Colada
Named the national drink of Puerto Rico in 1978, you won’t have a problem finding a bar or restaurant that serves one. In fact, two places in San Juan claim to have originally created the creamy rum drink, Barrachina and Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar. If you want to do a bit of “research”, you could try one at each location to see which you prefer.

Piña Coladas at Barrachina’s

5. Eat
Puerto Rican cuisine was not something we were familiar with before we started visiting the islands and now we love it. Not typically spicy – but well spiced, it seems to be a unique and tasty blend of influences from different ethnic groups that settled on the island. Mofongo (mashed plantain filled with steak, chicken, shrimp, pork, etc.), Alcapurria (fritters made of green bananas and filled with seasoned meat), Mallorca (Puerto Rican sweet brean), Bacalaítos (fried codfish fritters), Lechón (roasted pig) and Arroz con gandules (the Puerto Rican style of rice and beans made with pigeon peas and sofrito) are just a few of the succulent delicacies or dishes you might find.

Mofongo

6. Roadside Food Stands
As if there’s not enough good food to choose from in Puerto Rican restaurants, there’s another place to sample great local cuisine with the added bonus of chatting with the cook/owner. On roadways all over Puerto Rico you’ll find roadside food stands selling everything from barbeque chicken to arepas to pinchos. Want to wash it down with smething cold? Try a Coco Frio (coconut water), Medalla Light (the local beer) or another Piña Colada. Our favorite? A row of food kiosks close to Luquillo Beach!

Luquillo Beach Food Kiosk

7. Rum
Called the rum capital of the world, Puerto Rico sells 70% of the rum sold in the US. Bacardi is the best known and has a distillery with tours on island, but if you have the chance, be sure to sample the local favorite Don Q and our favorite – Ron Del Barrilito Three Star, considered the “Cognac of the Caribbean”.

Puerto Rican Rums

8. Check Out the Non-Tourtisty Areas
Sure it’s great to be able to visit the popular tourist attractions in PR – they’re popular for a reason! But there are so many other things to experience on PR if you have the time and some transportation. If you’re staying on-island and can rent a car, check out some of these less touristy, but still cool destinations. Spend some time exploring Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla – the site of a former military port that still has some of the military pier infrastructure, surf in Rincon, a sleepy town on the west coast that is a favorite of expats, kayak over to Gilligan’s Island (Cayo Aurora) from Guánica and do some snorkeling, visit Café Gran Batey Coffee Farm in Utuado for a tour, a tasting and some coffee beans to bring home, and explore the neoclassical architecture of Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second largest city, founded in 1692 by Ponce de Leon’s great grandson.

Crash Boat Beach

9. Explore Puerto Rico’s Beautiful Out Islands
There are approximately 143 islands, cays, islets and atolls surrounding the island of Puerto Rico and the only inhabited ones – Vieques and Culebra are great for day trips or longer and easy to get to via ferry.

Sun Bay, Vieques

10. Relax
After all the sightseeing, don’t forget to just take time to relax, breathe in the tropical air and enjoy the sunshine. After all, you’re in paradise!

Great place to relax in a hammock in Rio Grande

To see more posts on Puerto Rico and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

October 24, 2015June 6, 2019

Vieques, Where the Horses Roam Free

Before we visited Vieques, a small island east of Puerto Rico that is part of the island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands, we knew very little of the island except that it had been used in the past for naval exercises. As we read more about Vieques, we learned that although there is a population of around 9,350, it has no stoplights and there were herds of wild horses roaming the island. Cool, we thought. But, as excited as we were to spot some of these horses during our visit, we eventually learned we were only half right about them…

As we roamed the charming island on our way-too-short day visit, we were not disappointed in our wild horse sightings! Horses were lazily grazing along the road to the Vieques National Wildlife refuge.

Horses walked right by us as we hiked to the black sand beach.

And there were lots of horses in the area around Sun Bay (find Sun Bay on our Puerto Rico Map). These two were enjoying a stroll on the pretty beach.

So what were we only half right about? Apparently, although the horses on Vieques roam freely, most of them actually do have owners. Hmmm…there’s definitely got to be a benefit to the owners in savings on feed (and not having to pick up horse doo), but there is certainly a benefit to residents and visitors alike who love to see the beautiful horses roaming freely on this beautiful island.

Have you seen the horses on Vieques? Tell us about it!

You might also be interested in:

A Day Trip to Vieques

A Day Trip to Culebra

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

April 10, 2015June 6, 2019

A Day Trip to Vieques

A few days after our day trip to Culebra (read “A Day Trip to Culebra” here), we headed back to Fajardo to board the ferry to the other main Spanish Virgin Island – Vieques. Vieques lies about 8 miles east of Puerto Rico, and is an easy ferry ride from the mainland. Although there were a few raindrops on our ride over, we were greeted with a full day of warm sunshine upon our arrival.

Wanting to explore as much of the island as we could in a day, we rented a Jeep from a small car rental agency just a few blocks away from the ferry.

So what did we do during our day on Vieques?

Vieques is known for its beautiful beaches, and our goal was to see as many on the south side as possible. We left Isabel Segunda and headed down island, entered the US Fish and Wildlife Reserve on the east side and took the road as far as we could. There are still some areas of Vieques off limits due to the cleanup of former military exercises (see a brief history here) and several of the beaches in this area were closed during our visit. It was a pretty, but bumpy ride through the Reserve and the area had an abundance of horses roaming around.

We got a chance to peek at several beaches, including Pata Prieta, Red Beach (or Caracas Beach), Navio Beach, Media Luna and Sun Bay. Our favorites that day?

Media Luna because it was shallow, sandy and calm…

And Sun Bay. A beautiful long expanse of tan sand with calm clear water. Sun Bay also had a small restaurant/bar/gift shop and a bunch of wild horses meandering the area around the beach.

After an hour or two in the surf and sun, we wandered into the small beachside town of Esparanza. The town was quiet and laid back – just the type of town we could see ourselves hanging around for a while. Thirsty, we stopped at a colorful place called Bananas for a beverage.

Rum Punches were the Happy Hour special, so we ordered a couple.

The drinks were delicious and the view across the street wasn’t bad either.

We could have stuck around Bananas enjoying a few more cocktails and chatting with the locals and other visitors, but we were determined to find the black sand beach – and headed west. We took a hike down to the beach on a dry river bed and spent a couple of minutes enjoying the contrast of colors with the sand and the cliffs.

The afternoon was flying by and we started back to Isabel Segunda to return the Jeep. We made a stop at Al’s Mar Azul (read more) to grab some dinner and a drink and enjoy a phenomenal sunset before heading back the the ferry for our ride back to the mainland.

As wonderful as our day on Vieques was, we just couldn’t squeeze everything we wanted to see into just one day, including more beach time, time to roam around some of the towns to check out the local shops, restaurants and bars, learn more about the history of the island, enjoy more wild horse sightings and take an evening excursion through the Bioluminescent Bay. Another visit of several days or more will remain on “our list”!

Have you been to Vieques? Tell us about it!

Find Vieques on our Puerto Rico Map

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

March 30, 2015June 6, 2019

A Day Trip to Culebra

17 miles off the northeast coast of Puerto Rico sits Culebra, one of the Spanish Virgin Islands. This quiet little island is a mere 12 square miles in size. Regardless of its relatively small stature, Culebra boasts several gorgeous beaches, one of which, Flamenco Beach, is frequently listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the Caribbean.

While spending some time in Puerto Rico, we wanted to experience a day trip to Culebra and arranged to take the ferry on a weekday morning to try and miss some of the local weekend traffic.

We arrived at the ferry terminal in Fajardo at 7:30 am. We’d heard that the ferry to Culebra can fill up quickly and that if we wanted to be sure to get on the early ferry, we needed to be there ahead of time – in fact our hotel recommended up to 2 hours early. So, we set the alarm, rushed out the door of our resort in Rio Grande, battled a bit of rush hour traffic and arrived at about 7:30 for the 9:00 ferry. Thankfully, we were the first ones in line for tickets.

For $4.50, we each purchased a round trip ticket on a large and comfortable vessel with plenty of seating. We plugged in our iPod’s, settled in and enjoyed the smooth hour long transfer to Culebra. On the trip over, we were able to reserve a golf cart for the day and upon arrival were whisked to Carlos Jeep Rental to finish the transaction.

So what did we do during our day on Culebra?

We started out with a frozen mango – guava cone sold at a stand right off of the ferry dock.

Headed to Flamenco Beach where we spent a good part of the day walking from one end to the other in the beautiful white sand,

floating in the warm water enjoying the sunshine and scenery,

then washing down some tasty Pinchos with a cold Medalla.
(Read and see more pics from our Flamenco Beach post here)

Drove the golf cart to the other end of the island to see Zoni Beach, another spectacular stretch of sand on the islands east side.

Strolled through town to check out the shops, restaurants and bars

Then capped off the day sipping Bushwackers at the Dinghy Dock while watching huge groupers swim by the dock…

What did we miss? Quite a lot actually. We could have used at least one more full day to enjoy some of the islands best snorkeling at Melones Beach and Carlos Rosario Beach, some time to hike and enjoy the beautiful vistas and more time sipping a cold beverage while chatting with the locals and other visitors at the Dinghy Dock. Then, we would like yet another day to take a water taxi over to Culebrita, a little uninhabited cay off across from Zoni Beach to hike to the abandoned lighthouse, check out the beautiful, deserted beaches and to snorkel with the islands resident turtles.

Ok, if we had our way, we’d have to stay at least a week to totally take in the beauty and charm of this laid back island where you can really kinda feel yourself entering island from the moment you step ashore.

Have you been to Culebra? Tell us about it!

Find Culebra on our Puerto Rico Map

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

February 10, 2015June 6, 2019

Bacardi Rum Factory Tour

On our list of things to experience in Puerto Rico during our recent stay was, of course, the Bacardi Rum Factory Tour in Cataño, PR.

Cataño is on the north side of Puerto Rico – west of San Juan. Although it’s a very popular excursion from hotels and cruise ships in San Juan, we decided to drive on our own since we’d rented a car for the duration of our stay. Surprisingly, the factory wasn’t all that easy to find, although we did eventually arrive after taking a scenic tour of Cataño!

At the time of our visit, the Bacardi Rum Factory Tour was free of charge and included two free rum drinks which you could choose from the menu below.

(Since our tour in November 2014, Bacardi has began charging $12pp for the tour, which apparently includes a rum drink)

The building where the tour originates is quite interesting architecturally – perhaps bat like in shape?

Tours leave every 30 minutes and we had to wait only about 15 minutes before our tour began, which gave us just enough time to enjoy one of our drinks.

We boarded a shuttle which slowly toured the grounds while the driver gave us information on the different buildings in the compound.

The tour culminated with a video of the history of Bacardi and a building that simulated processes involved in making Bacardi Rum. We didn’t get to see any actual rum production, but we did enjoy learning about Bacardi and it’s history, their fruit bat logo, the family behind it and of course, a few more tastings at the end of the tour.

Upon returning to the Visitor’s Center, we meandered through the gift shop, then decided to enjoy a snifter of Bacardi Reserva Limitada (extra charge – but you get to take the snifter with you).

We would have liked to see some of the inner workings of the Bacardi Rum Factory, but I’m sure due to the throngs of people that visit Bacardi – the logistics would be difficult. Even though this tour is more commercial than other rum factory tours we’ve experienced, if you enjoy rum and Bacardi products, you probably would enjoy the Bacardi Rum Factory Tour.

Have you taken the tour? If so, did you enjoy it?

To see more posts on Puerto Rico and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

January 20, 2015June 6, 2019

El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico

El Yunque, in the Sierra de Luquillo mountain range of Puerto Rico, is said to be the only tropical rain forest in the US National Forest System. It is located approximately 40 kilometers (or about 25 miles) southeast of San Juan. El Yunque is a tropical wonderland with waterfalls and clear pools, 240 native tree species (which 26 are only found in El Yunque), 50 species of birds and 13 species of coquí and the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot!

We’d taken a tour by bus of El Yunque many years ago, but during our most recent stay in Puerto Rico, we decided to explore much more of this beautiful, tropical, albeit very wet area. Our goal this visit was to explore several of the gorgeous waterfalls in El Yunque and swim in the pools beneath them.

Average rainfall in parts of the forest are well over 200 inches a year, so one day on our visit, when the forecast was for an all day rain, we decided to go to El Yunque! After all, we thought, we’d probably get wet anyway and maybe the rainfall would keep some of the visitors away. We stopped at the local drug store, purchased some rain ponchos and headed up to the rain forest.

Well, it not only rained that day, but it was a torrential rainfall and the park ended up closing early to flooding concerns, but we had a fantastic time anyway! Did some hiking, took some pictures of glistening flora and ended up at The Rum House at the end of the day. We’d love to go back again someday to swim in the waterfall pools AND to hike to the top of the Mt. Britton Observation Tower, but here’s what we got to see this time.

The entrance to El Yunque is in Rio Grande off of Rt 3 on Rt 191 (see map). There is no fee to drive through El Yunque, but if you elect to stop at the Visitors Center for more information on the area, there is a small charge per person. A stop at the Visitors Center is worth it if you’d like to learn more about the flora and fauna found within the park and learn the history of the area.

We’d stopped at the Visitor Center during our previous visit, so this time we passed it and continued up the hill – by now in the pouring rain!

First stop – the overlook of La Coca Falls. Right next to the road, you can park just a few yards away and walk down to the overlook.

Next, a quick stop at the Yokahú Tower. Given that we’d climbed the tower to take in the view during our past visit, we weren’t completely disappointed that it was closed due to the rain this day, but, when open, it’s worth the climb.

Just a little ways up from the Yokahú Tower parking area, are a few small parking areas along the side of the road along with a Juan Diego sign. This is the least known, but from what we hear, the best series of falls to explore in El Yunque. Due to the weather and the danger of mudslides, we reluctantly decided not to hike to Juan Diego Falls that day, but you can find out more about them here: El Yunque’s Best Kept Secret: Juan Diego Falls.

Not much farther, we pulled into the Big Tree Trailhead parking area, donned our stylish rain gear and set off for a hike down Big Tree Trails to spectacular La Mina Falls.

Big Tree Trail has a cement path that slowly winds down the rain forest towards the falls.