From mountains to oceans: the versatility of adventure photography in Puerto Rico
I think every Wisconsinite gets cabin fever during the winter months. And, this year I was no different. After researching flights and VRBO accommodations, I decided to book a solo spring trip to Puerto Rico. The Island is only 100 miles long, but it features an amazing diversity of sights, scenery, and culture.
I decided to rent a car for the week, and booked a condo for myself in Cabo Rojo, which is located on the southwest coast of the island and known for its calm waters and beaches. A perfect break from the snow and ice from winter in Wisconsin.
Travel Day(s):
Because I’m thrifty, I did not choose the luxury of a direct flight. Rather, my flights took me through MKE - MCO - SIG with about 12 hours spent at the airport or on an airplane. Sometimes, budget wins over convenience but as a solo traveler I’m totally okay with it.
During my 5 hour overnight layover at MCO, I tried to find a quiet spot to catch maybe a little bit of sleep. My overnight in an airport hack is to use my noise-cancelling Beats by Dre headphones and some of my favorite Solfeggio Frequencies downloaded to try and tone out people in order to get some sleep. That did not really happen.
When it was finally time to board the plane to SIG, I found my window seat quickly, positioned my travel pillow just right and somewhat fell asleep for the 3.5 hour flight.
Arriving finally at 7am, I gathered my luggage, found my rental car and off I went on my 2.5 hour journey to the other side of the Island. I stopped at a local grocery store to pick up some basics for the week to try and help save on my expenses.
Narrow roads and a questionable tow truck tie down. I love it here!
On the Island:
After what seemed like an eternity, I finally arrived in Cabo Rojo! The roads navigating to this part of the Island are so much fun to drive, I knew I should have rented a motorcycle for this trip. I was quite surprised I did not see more two-wheels on the road during my drive.
Spanglish is in full effect in Puerto Rico. Speed limits are measured in miles per hour, yet roadside markers are measured in kilometers. Gas is sold by the liter, yet vehicles track gas by gallons. At least driving is on the right-side of the road!
Los Morrillos Lighthouse Hike
I knew when I booked this trip, a hike to this iconic lighthouse was top on my list. I set out from my condo by 8am with my camera and water in hand. Several of the designated parking areas closer to the lighthouse are closed, so be prepared to hike several miles in/out.
That means don’t go there.
Lizard on the Cliff (Prints Available)
Old bridge at the start of the trail
The Los Morrillos Lighthouse sits up on these 200 foot limestone cliffs. It was built in 1982 to guide passing ships through the southeast entrance from the Caribbean Sea through the treacherous Mona Passage into the Atlantic Ocean. (Prints Available)
Views of Los Morrillos Lighthouse from Playa Suica. (Prints Available)
Sunsets for Days
My home-away-from-home for the week is situated on a small strip of land between Bahia Salinas and Bahia Sucia. This meant I would have epic sunrises and sunsets. And I sure did! Both of these sunset pics were taken at Playa Combate, one of the many beautiful Puerto Rico beaches.
Beautiful sunset from Combate Beach again…I really liked it here! (Prints Available)
Sunset from Combate Beach
Kayaking the Caribbean Sea
You’re bound to make friends and friends-you-call-family all over the world when you travel. Sometimes, I believe the universe has a way of connecting you to those you need to be with. Call it fate, call it a coincidence, or just call it good freaking luck, my best friend from grade school step-daughter and boyfriend happened to be in Puerto Rico at the same time (thanks, Facebook!). We immediately connected, and I invited Erin and Addiel to head to my crib for a day of kayaking fun.
The condo I rented came with several kayaks for use, and I totally took advantage of this perk! Launching right from the condo into Bahia Salinas, we set out on our adventure heading South into the wind, so hopefully coming back we’d have the wind at our advantage. I took a solo kayak, and Erin and Addiel opted for a tandem. I am a very seasoned kayaker, so as soon as I saw an inlet to a protected lagoon out of the wind, we took it! Pelicans diving for fish is one of my absolute favorite ocean-viewing pleasures, and to have an up-close view made me giggle several times.
Once we came back into the bay, we spotted a private beach near the start of the limestone cliffs. We decided to make that our next destination, to swim and explore the shoreline outside of the kayak.
Sunset timelapse from my VRBO rental in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
The warm crystal clear water was exactly what we all needed.
Bahia Salians stay relatively protected from the wind, so paddling back to our home base was relatively simple. Off in the distance, we watch a rain shower heading towards us, which seemed like a daily occurance mid-afternoon on this part of Island.
I had such a fantastic time kayaking, I opted to go out solo one more time before leaving the Island, and this time ventured North up the bay. I navigated around the small cape of Punta Aguila, however, the backside of this channel was pretty shallow and I wasn’t sure I’d get myself out of…but I did!
Beach days
One of my personal goals for this trip was to slow down and enjoy my time. I spent a lot of some much needed time relaxing at the beach reading a book.
Crash Boat Beach is a very popular destination on the west coast, and another must-see spot that was on my list. I spent the entire day reading an entire book, something I haven’t done for myself in a while.
One of the many beached boats at Crash Boat Beach in Borinquen, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (Prints Available)
Pink Salt Flats Hike
My hike through Las Salinas was an eye opener. Located on the shore of Playa Salinas, the pink salt flat lagoons are used to mine salt.
The Pink Salt Flats in Cabo Rojo
Old salt mining equipment
Old wooden machinery that has stood the test of time.
It’s well documented that Puerto Rico has a major problem with trash. Numerous studies have documented the unprecedented amount of trash floating around our oceans, and landing on the shores of numerous islands throughout the Caribbean. My hike through this area revealed live and in person the devastating impact plastic has to our Mother Earth.
It doesn’t matter who’s responsible; what matters is collectively as a society we choose to do something about single-use plastic pollution. Consumers can choose to buy products that do not add to the problem. Producers need to invest in biodegradable and Earth-friendly packaging to stop this insanity.
The impact of single use plastic to Mother Earth.
El Yunque National Forest
The only tropical rainforest in the National Forest System, El Yunque covers 29,000 acres in northeastern Puerto Rico. When Erin and Addiel mentioned they wanted to go explore, I jumped at the chance to join them. Tickets are required for entry, and after a lot of trial and error, Erin finally landed us tickets for Friday. I set off from Cabo Rojo to the complete opposite side of the Island to meet them at their AirBnB and drive over together.
Entering El Yunque National Forest
Located in the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains, El Yunque received up to 240 inches of rain per year. And it rained on and off during our entire visit.
A quick stop at the historic Baño Grande, this once popular man-made swimming pool is now closed to swimmers. It’s a beautiful stop in the park.
Baño Grande Stone Bridge (the Big Bath)
Views from the tower window.
Narrow tower stairways
Our next destination was to conquer the 1.6 mile round trip Mt Britton Trail. This hike is way more challenging than I expected! While it is a mostly paved trail, it is very slippery when wet, and we are hiking in a rainforest. The views from the top of the tower are spectacular, and worth the uphill trek.
Views from the summit of Mt. Britton (Prints Available)
La Coca Falls at El Yunque (Prints Available)
Return Travel Day(s):
To get back to the good ole frozen tundra, I opted for another adventure, flying the red eye from SIG - MCO - MKE. If all went to plan, I would arrive in MKE by 11:15 am, and be back home to cuddle my beloved cat, Jack, by noon.
The universal cat distribution system in full play.
I named her Diane.
She visited me every day/night at my condo. Such a sweet girl!
After saying goodbye to my vacation kitty, who I named Diane, I set off late Saturday night for the 2.5 hour drive back to San Juan. I wasn’t sure how traffic would be late at night on a weekend, so I opted to leave way earlier than I probably needed. Returning my rental car also took way less time than expected, same with catching the shuttle to the airport. The security line was non-existent at 1 am, so I breezed through and had plenty of time to try and get a quick nap before by 3am boarding. Overnight travel is not easy, but it’s worth it if it means still visiting great destinations on a budget.
I absolutely love my personal tradition of taking a solo trip to a new destination every year. Exploring Puerto Rico was so enjoyable, and running into old friends (who are basically family) during the adventure made this trip one to always remember. This trip truly combined my love of the ocean and mountains into one amazing week.
