Budget Puerto Rico

Adventures Inn Hostel

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Hotel | "Venture Inn Adventure"

Venture Inn Dorm Photo - Adventures Inn Hostel, Vieques, Puerto Rico

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While not at the pier and/or on the beach, Toefri and Jake made staying at Adventure Inn on Vieques Island very special. I cam away as a friend and fan of these guys. I was picked up and dropped off at the pier. I was offered a ride to pick up a rental bike which in the future they will offer (hooray) and dropped off at a central point for my cycling exploration. They told me what beach they would be spending the day and to come by for a ride back which I did. Even at the beach where I tried not to intrude, the hospitality of conversation, frolicking in the water and cool drinks could not be ignored. The pampering and scheduling me into their itinerary was simply the norm for them. Paying it fo...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 20, 2012

Adventures Inn Hostel
Isabel Segunda
Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765-9187

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Culebra International Hostel

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Hotel

Culebra's Dining Option Photo - Culebra International Hostel, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

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Culebra International Hostel, on Culebra Island was very difficult to find as nobody claimed to know where it was. This was due in part to the fact that it was know more by the owner's name. The journey of and in itself of how I got there is in my special section under "I'm Lost".The hostel almost seemed to be an extra long garage converted into a row of six beds with a bathroom, lacking in hot water, at the end. There were two overhead lights that when turned off left to a completely dark walk to the bathroom if you didn't have a flashlight. To make matters worse, there was a single step between the third and forth bed. If you sleep in the beds near the bathroom and the a/c was on, i...Read More

Culebra International Hostel, on Culebra Island was very difficult to find as nobody claimed to know where it was. This was due in part to the fact that it was know more by the owner's name. The journey of and in itself of how I got there is in my special section under "I'm Lost".

The hostel almost seemed to be an extra long garage converted into a row of six beds with a bathroom, lacking in hot water, at the end. There were two overhead lights that when turned off left to a completely dark walk to the bathroom if you didn't have a flashlight. To make matters worse, there was a single step between the third and forth bed. If you sleep in the beds near the bathroom and the a/c was on, it was quite cold.

Annie, a native Puerto Rican and interesting lady, asked me and another guest, Thomas, if we would like to join them for dinner and told us they were only having a meal of traditional Puerto Rican roots. We accepted and dined on a mix of potatoes, yams, yucca, carrots and other roots topped off with fresh tomatoes and avocado. Afterwards, her husband said they charged $10 per meal. Needless to say, we were taken aback thinking it was a dinner invitation. Not to say that we wouldn't have accepted, but not knowing we were expected to pay for a meal in which we had no choice in entree was totally unexpected.

We did learn that only a pizza place and Chinese restaurant were dining options on Culebra. This explains why same day trips are popular. Without a kitchen, we consumed orange juice and rum along with two fellow travelers from Germany. We were all going to go to dinner, but spent the evening in pubs.

Brandi, a lovely young lady that works at the hostel and manages the computer reservations and check-ins is a huge reason to visit, eat at, or stay at this hostel. Tell her what you want and she can tell you where to go and either how to get there or take you there. She told me the best beach to go to for snorkeling as oppose to a family friendly beach, white sand beach etc...I was told to the left was sea grass with turtles, which I saw at least 20, and to the right was other creatures where I saw a spotted eagle ray and trigger fish. She gives details of bio tours, car rentals and has the absolute best stories of her experiences touring mainland Puerto Rico. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on May 20, 2012

Culebra International Hostel
Playa Sardinas Ii
Culebra, Puerto Rico 00775
(787) 502-9711

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Hostel Bahia del Paraiso

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Hotel | "Bahia del Paraiso Hostel"

Bahia del Paraiso dorm Photo - Hostel Bahia del Paraiso, Naguabo, Puerto Rico

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Dawn and Josue, from California and Puerto Rico respectively, have been at Hostel Bahia del Paraiso for two years and live in the house-turned-hostel. I occupied one of the seven beds in the dorm room, but there is also a private room. The patio has a view of Monkey Island and Malecon Playa Naguabo (not to be confused with downtown Naguabo). A few dolphin graced us with a distant but pleasurable appearance shortly after I arrived. While finding this place is a nightmare without a GPS as there are no street numbers or names, it is worth it.Looking at the dramatic photos of where this place is located I would have figured it to be an expensive bed and breakfast and budget minded people w...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 22, 2012

Hostel Bahia del Paraiso
Calle 9 #182
Naguabo, Puerto Rico 00718
(787) 412-8656

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El Yunque National Forest

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Attraction | "Strolling the rain forest"

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El Yunque rainforest is one of Puerto Rico's claim to fame. It is located in the northeastern quadrant of the country. Tours are offered from San Juan but are generally expensive considering the time spent traveling to get there and the amount of time at the stops. Some of the buses were large while others were mini-buses. Driving a car enable me to arrive at the stops at different times than the buses. Locals, obviously, visit the park during the weekends. School field trips are scheduled during the week. The rainforest is free, but El Portal Rain Forest Center is $3.00. The displays were more about statistics such as what percentage of the plants found in the rainforest are used medicinally ...Read More

El Yunque rainforest is one of Puerto Rico's claim to fame. It is located in the northeastern quadrant of the country. Tours are offered from San Juan but are generally expensive considering the time spent traveling to get there and the amount of time at the stops. Some of the buses were large while others were mini-buses. Driving a car enable me to arrive at the stops at different times than the buses. Locals, obviously, visit the park during the weekends. School field trips are scheduled during the week. The rainforest is free, but El Portal Rain Forest Center is $3.00. The displays were more about statistics such as what percentage of the plants found in the rainforest are used medicinally and the number of species that live there than details about flora and fauna. There is a gift store with educational books as well as postcards and souvenirs.

I was able to complete all the hikes in the park except the one to the peak. That is to say the ones reachable from the north entrance. The south entrance had recently been opened and I did not have the chance to enter from there but was told there were far fewer people.

La Coca Falls is right off the main road and serves as a nice warm up to the area. Parking is on the shoulder as people don't spend too much time here. Less than a kilometer down the road is Yokahu Tower which is a stones throw from where you are in the parking lot. Made of brick in 1962, three stories high, it provides a nice view of the top of the rain forest. A good place to wet your appetite for more.

Less than 2 kilometers down the road is the parking lot for La Mina Falls. Don't be surprised if you have to park on the shoulder somewhere before or after the lot. Guaranteed there will be buses of some sort here. The trail has some steep stretches but is basically an easy to moderate hike. Thirty to forty minutes you will arrive at the falls where so many feel compelled to wade into in spite of the fact it is quite cold. A short suspension crosses the falls only to lead to a sign indicating the trail beyond which leads to a different parking lot is closed. The trek is lovely along the way with tiny white and lilac flowers, bright green ferns, bromeliads and incredibly large snails.

At the end of the road the trail to Mt. Britton Lookout Tower begins. It is a steep hike, but takes just under half an hour to reap the rewards. Four flights up and the panoramic views of the rain forest are further enhance by Caribbean Waters and Puerto Rico's smaller islands. What a great way to end a day of hiking. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 28, 2012

El Yunque National Forest
Road 191, Off Highway 3 To Luquillo Beach
Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721
(787) 888-1880

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Tamarind Beach

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Coral Nursey Photo - Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

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Culebra is wonderful place to spend the day. Locals visit on the weekend so its best to go on the weekend. The earliest ferry from Fajardo leaves at 9:00am and the last ferry returns at 5:00pm. This may not seem like enough time, but it is. Staying overnight in anything less that one of the resorts that are off by themselves, puts you at the disadvantage of finding very few places in which to dine. All we found were fast food taco, Chinese and pizza restaurants. The hours are limited as well.Culebra is more like two islands side by side and this is where the ferry arrives. The smaller island to the right, means you cross a small bridge. There isn't much here, all the beaches are on...Read More

Culebra is wonderful place to spend the day. Locals visit on the weekend so its best to go on the weekend. The earliest ferry from Fajardo leaves at 9:00am and the last ferry returns at 5:00pm. This may not seem like enough time, but it is. Staying overnight in anything less that one of the resorts that are off by themselves, puts you at the disadvantage of finding very few places in which to dine. All we found were fast food taco, Chinese and pizza restaurants. The hours are limited as well.

Culebra is more like two islands side by side and this is where the ferry arrives. The smaller island to the right, means you cross a small bridge. There isn't much here, all the beaches are on the other side. Each beach has a different function. Transportation is either by publicos which are a flat $3 or a rental golf car at a whopping $70 a day. Renting a bike for $25 seems like a good idea until you realize all the roads are hilly which is why mountain bikes and not beach cruisers are for rent.

I was given a ride to Tamarind Beach by Brandi from Culebra Hostel. She was spot on for taking me to a great place to snorkel. From the parking lot I head out towards the right where there was rocks and coral. Here I saw four cuttlefish that I hovered over for quite a while. As they changed colors from blue to red to silver, I had time to take a couple of video clips. They seemed to know I simply wanted to take it all it and meant them no harm. I bid them goodbye and floated off. As I admired the variety of small colorful fish I caught sight of a spotted eagle ray gliding effortlessly along the sea floor.

I came out long enough to drink some water and head out in the opposite direction where I quickly came to floor of sea grass. First one, then two, then three, then 20 something. Small turtles and big turtles, solo ones and pairs, eating grass and coming up for air ----- turtles everywhere. This must have been the results of the nesting from a couple of months ago. So many turtles so easily accessible was quite a treat.

I head up the road to the main road where I hopped to hail a publico. A fully loaded golf car passed by me and the one behind pulled over to ask if I wanted a ride. I happily accepted figuring they would take me to the main road, but as was typical with the people of Culebra, they took me all the way back to the pier. It was a nice way to end the day. Read Less

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