Puerto Rico is one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean! Not only is it home to the only tropical rainforest in the US and three of the only five bioluminescent bays in the world, but its crystal clear waters, white sand beaches and endless reefs will make you never want to go home. In addition to all the activities in Puerto Rico on the mainland, there are also plenty of things to do on the high seas!
The east coast of Puerto Rico is the starting point for many of the excursions that will take you to other islands. Icacos Island, Palomino Island, Palominito Island, Lobos Island… you get the idea! But each island is different:
The island of Icacos is a small paradise off the east coast of Puerto Rico that can only be reached by water taxi. The beaches are white and the water is blue with no buildings on the island to mar the scenery. The water taxi ride from Fajardo takes about 20 minutes and is worth every second. We recommend that you bring some food and drink and enjoy the day! There are no restrooms or restaurants on this island, so prepare accordingly.
Palomino Island is a 100 acre oasis directly east of Fajardo. This island has a lot to offer! Activities include horseback riding, jet skis, snorkeling, and other water sports. This island is home to Iguana’s, an oceanfront cafe that offers burgers, seafood, tropical drinks, and much more. This is actually a private island, but the Conquistador Hotel rents out parts of it and is therefore basically open to the public! Rumor has it that the owner of the island gets paid $30,000 a month just to use part of his island. Not a bad concert!
Isla Palomito is a small island, off the coast of one island (Isla Palomino)… which is off the coast of another island (Puerto Rico)! Need we say more? The island is an iconic scene to say the least. Magnificent blue water, white sand, limited tourist traffic. This island has no facilities, so plan to pack accordingly. Scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean 4 were filmed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMYlTWEZxbI
Lobos Island lies east of Icacos along the northeastern tip of mainland Puerto Rico. It is also a private island, but sadly none are open to the public. However, there are some AMAZING reefs that can be seen while snorkeling. Ricky Martin is said to often vacation here.