Puerto Rico: An Affordable Adventure Destination

Oct. 10, 2008 — -- For many travelers Puerto Rico is just a transfer stop on the way to another Caribbean destination, but now times are changing.

This island destination is in the process of reinventing itself as an affordable adventure hot spot. If you want to experience the true taste of Puerto Rico you need to trade in your Bacardi drink for some sturdy shoes, a backpack and an adventuresome spirit.

In the northern part of Puerto Rico, about an hour and a half drive from San Juan, is the Karst region of the island. This is where you'll find limestone hills and caverns, winding rivers and lush forests that make the perfect backdrop for an adventure trip.

Because some of the most beautiful sites to explore are on private land your best bet is to sign up with a tour group like Acampa Nature Adventures.

One of the first in the region to offer licensed full-day tours, Acampa runs seven days a week. The guides will pick you up from your hotel and provide all the gear you need for a day of hiking, river wading, cave exploring and zip-lining.

A word of warning: This is not a tour for the weak-hearted. This trip is rugged and you will be challenged, but it's still doable for a thrill-seeking beginner and interesting enough not to bore an expert.

For this adventure everyone has to pull their own weight and this means carrying your own gear. You need to wear a rugged pair of tennis shoes or hiking boots that can get wet, a backpack to carry your stuff in so your hands are free, a dry pack for your camera for wading through rivers, suntan lotion, water, bug spray and toilet paper. Wear your bathing suit under your clothes because you'll have a chance to do some swimming.

For each trip, Acampa uses two local certified guides who are extremely knowledgeable about Puerto Rican history. After arriving at the starting point you start off with an easy hike, passing avocado, banana and citrus trees as you trek down the valley to the Tanama River. For much of the trip there is no "set" trail. The guides pick a path and in a single file you follow.

After the cave exploration you spend the next 45 minutes hiking to an area where you can cool off and swim in the river. After a brief break the real adventure begins. You spend the next half hour trekking along the riverbed, often walking in the river, negotiating slick boulders and trying to keep your balance.

At one point you cross the river and depending on the time of year the water can be up past your waist so you have to carry your gear over your head. Dripping wet you then hike up another steep hillside to a narrow cave opening. For the first few feet it can feel claustrophobic but then the cave quickly opens up so you can easily walk through to the other side.

After another brief hike through the forest you reach the tour's halfway point where you're served a homemade organically grown lunch at the Perez family home that's almost hidden by overgrown foliage. Refueled and ready to go you then follow your guides down another steep hillside until you end up at a platform.

This is where the real fun begins! You spend the next hour zip-lining across the treetops, dangling over a deep river ravine. After wrapping up the zip-lining you hike back to the van exhausted but exhilarated. This all-day adventure tour, including transportation and lunch runs about $150 per person.

Another new adventure option in Puerto Rico is a wild ATV trip at the El Yungque Tropical Rain forest. For this trip you head an hour inland from San Juan and arrive at Hacienda Carabali . After handing out helmets and water the guides then point you toward an ATV and give you a quick lesson on how to brake before you race off on a two-hour guided tour of the rain forest.

For this ATV ride you're not just putting along. You'll cross rivers, face some tricky terrain and navigate down some steep hillsides. You have to have some arm strength to keep these ATVs on the path because each bump threatens to send you in another direction. Once you get the hang of using a little muscle to keep your ATV on track it's a great way to see and experience the area. After about an hour of driving you have a chance to wash off some of your sweat and dust by swimming in the Mameyes River before returning back to the Hacienda. The cost for the trip is about $75 per driver and $45 for a passenger.

The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is right on the beach in San Juan and can organize your adventure trips for you. The hotel has some great money-saving package deals so be sure to check the Web site for the latest offerings.

For other hotel specials in the area check out Puerto Rico's tourism bureau website.

Bangkok and Bombay is a tasty Indian and Thai restaurant next to the San Juan Marriott that's known for its authentic food and gracious service. The chef's favorite dish is "anything with curry."

Raices in Old San Juan is a solid favorite for true Puerto Rican food. Insider tip: It gets crowded so stake out your place early. Tuscany is an upscale Italian restaurant by the beach in San Juan that features an award-winning chef and desserts to die for.

BONUS: U.S. citizens don't need a passport to visit this Caribbean island.

For more on exploring Puerto Rico and other Caribbean hideaways check out Karen Schaler's Travel Therapy Web site at www.traveltherapytrips.com.