Around the World in Reality: The Return to Puerto Rico

With a busy start to the second quarter of the year, we wanted to take a short getaway before the summer. I had points with JetBlue, so I decided to fly with them instead of Delta, it proved to be a great experience. We returned to a place we really enjoy: Puerto Rico.

Day 1 – Friday, May 10

HIGHLIGHTS: Cayo Caribe

We arrived in Puerto Rico and checked into our Airbnb in Condado. Once we settled in, we realized we likely couldn’t wait until our reservation time to eat, so we decided to forgo our reservation and grab dinner at Cayo Caribe.

We were drawn to the restaurant because of all the seafood options. I started the night with a Tamarindo Mojito. I absolutely love tamarind, and this drink was delicious. For dinner, I had Shrimp Mofongo (9/10), which was absolutely amazing and full of flavor. Donnell had Salmon Risotto (7.5/10), which he said was pretty good.

Day 2 – Saturday, May 11

HIGHLIGHTS: Vagon, Ron del Barrilito, Museo del Arte Contemporaria, and Cocina Abierta

Unfortunately, our Saturday didn’t start as planned. I had an excursion booked, but it was canceled that morning. Not one to be deterred while traveling, I quickly started figuring out what we could do instead.

I had a place in mind for lunch, but it was only open for takeout. While wandering around, I stumbled upon Vagón. Donnell had a fish sandwich (7.5/10), and I had a taco de ceviche (8/10). It was just enough to kick off our day.

After lunch, we caught an Uber to Ron Del Barrilito, a long-established rum distillery. I instantly loved the vibe—it was small but cozy. Before our tour, we were given a token for a complimentary drink, and I chose the Lavender 75.

Once our group arrived, we went on a tour of the grounds. It was interesting to learn about the history of the distillery.

To wrap up our visit, we took a mixology class where we made three cocktails: Old Fashioned, Encanto, and Piña Colada. They certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol in these recipes. To balance things out, I ordered the spicy crab nachos, which were delicious. We had an amazing time here!

We then made our way to the Museo del Arte Contemporáneo, where the exhibit Puerto Rico Negrx was being shown. I’m always on the hunt for Black culture during our travels, so I was excited to see this exhibit. It did not disappoint.

For dinner, we headed to Cocina Abierta and enjoyed a tasting menu. This place was absolutely amazing. I knew it would be special when they were very accommodating in creating a pescatarian-friendly experience for us. Additionally, I requested the bartender’s choice for my cocktail. The bartender even came out from behind the bar to ask about my preferences, which was a first for me. He crafted a cocktail called the Last Word, and it was fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Day 3 – Sunday, May 12

HIGHLIGHTS: Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

Before heading back to the States, we decided to spend a day at the pool and beach. I used ResortPass for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. While I didn’t take photos of everything, we thoroughly enjoyed all the food and drinks. It was the perfect way to wrap up our trip before heading home.

Final Thoughts

Our 48-hour trip to Puerto Rico was just what we needed. It was wonderful to stay in a different neighborhood this time and discover amazing things to do. I look forward to returning to this beautiful island and continuing to explore.