This week’s Beach Thursday post is a photo essay about the things to do in Fajardo Puerto Rico. One of my favorite beach towns, I love its narrow roads that hug the ocean and the many hidden beaches to choose from. Also, it happens to be the doorway to the outlaying islands of Vieques and Culebra, which I will talk about in the coming weeks. Let’s discover Fajardo’s great food and spectacular scenery!
The Governor’s House Reserve
This claims the top spot of things to do in Fajardo Puerto Rico! Now legal to enter, the sign is battered and the policemen that actually found my friends and I while there were simply checking us girls out whilst telling us to not pass a certain mark. Oh, yes, because we walked so far into the reserve that we actually found the secret Governor’s Beach House — as of the “Camp David” of the Governor of Puerto Rico…
This is the reason why I have personally named this “unidentified” natural spot as “The Governor’s House Reserve” XD 😛 Ha! What an adventure. Only way of reaching this beauty is by walking for 30-40 mins. through the coast (from Seven Seas Beach). Water, rocks, bushes, and narrow dirt paths. This is how your trail should look like (read the photo captions for detailed instructions, by the way!)
1. Walk toward the left of the entrance to the Seven Seas beach, until you see the rocky part. head that way (and take some photos with your friends on the way)
2. After the ocean rock path, you go through a path like this…for like 30-40 minutes…
3. After ocean, rock, and bushy path, you encounter this…but there are some people here already. Thus, keep walking, toward the left side of that beach
(this is the “oleaje peligroso” or “dangerous shorebreak” the sign warns you about, by the way)
4. Walk 15 minutes more…aaand here! Hope you made it!! 😀
Ahhh, the beauty of my Puerto Rico, la Isla Del Encanto
Walk a little further and you won’t see any bathers. At all. Enjoy! 😉
Bioluminescent Bay or Lagoon
!!!
There are only 5 bioluminescent bays or lagoons in the world, from which a whooping 3 are located in Puerto Rico. One of them is in Fajardo and you can kayak there at night. My advice, of course, is for you to book a tour in order to reach the best area to see the bioluminescence. It is a truly magical experience.
I believe Vieques’ Mosquito Bay has healthier organisms, making the glow stronger, so you should head there if you can only visit one of the bays. You may reach La Isla Nena by a short flight or simply pay the $4.00-round-trip ferry ride.
Icacos, Palomino and Palominito Cays
View from a beach in Icacos (Photo: Jeff Gunn, Flickr)
Speaking of boat rides, you should ither befriend some Puerto Ricans and/or hitch a boat ride to the islets (or cays) of Icacos, Palomino or Palominito. If you seek an isolated beach (other than the “Governor’s Reserve”! 😉 haha), Icacos is the least crowded of the 3, as you can only get there via private boat.
Conversely, Palomino and Palominito are so well known that too many locals and now even tourists on tours from the nearby 5-Star El Conquistador Resort flood their tiny coasts daily. Still, if you like a good vibe, the latter have gorgeous beaches and offer more activities. Icacos is better suited for those seeking to just drink with locals and be lazy at a beach with few visitors. The choice is yours!
Fajardo Town Square
Last days in town and just wish to unwind? Plaza de Fajardo (Town Square) is a perfect place to read a book, look at colonial Spanish architecture (i.e. the Santiago Apostol Cathedral) and/or simply people watch. The characters of el pueblo are interesting and very photogenic, so be sure to drop by, photographers! 😉
Las Cabezas de San Juan Lighthouse and Reserve
“View of the Northeast Ecological Corridor and El Yunque National Forest as seen from the Lighthouse at the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve” (Wiki Commons)
A natural reserve with mangroves that happens to be the home of one of the oldest lighthouses of Puerto Rico. Enough said? 🙂
La Estación Restaurant
Red snapper with all things homemade. Yum! (Photo: Tripadvisor)
Eating the street food and/or dropping by a local restaurant right in front of the sea whilst visiting Seven Seas beach is a given. However, after a long day sun baking, do yourself a favor by eating at La Estación in order to close the night with broche de oro.
This amazing restaurant cooks homemade BBQ and seafood that is to die for. They use some traditional cooking methods as well, in addition to making their own salad dressings and sauces. Please try the Lobster or Mahi Mahi Mofongo — and go right up to Puerto Rican food heaven.