Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get this whole Venezuela to Puerto Rico thing sorted out for ages, and I finally did it. It wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be, but hey, what is these days?
First off, I started digging around for flights. I checked all the usual sites, tried some different dates, you know, the whole deal. Turns out, there aren’t a ton of direct flights from Venezuela to Puerto Rico. Ended up having to go through Panama most of the time.
- Flew from Caracas to Panama City.
- Had a layover in Panama City, wasn’t too bad. Grabbed some food.
- Then, Panama City to San Juan.
Next, I needed a place to stay. I’m not really a fancy hotel kind of guy, so I looked for some local guesthouses and some affordable hotels. Found a few decent options in Old San Juan, which is like, the coolest part of the city, all colorful buildings and cobblestone streets. Ended up booking a small, but cozy place.
Then came the fun part – figuring out what to do. I’m a big history buff, so I made a list of all the historical sites I wanted to check out. Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal were top of my list. These old forts are massive, and the views are insane.
- Spent a whole day just wandering around Old San Juan, taking pictures, soaking it all in.
- Tried some local food. Mofongo is a must-try. It’s like mashed plantains with all kinds of good stuff.
- Took a day trip out to El Yunque National Forest, it’s the only tropical rainforest in the US forest system, which is pretty cool. Hiked to a waterfall.
Oh, and the beaches! Can’t forget the beaches. I made sure to spend some time just chilling on the sand, soaking up the sun, and swimming in the crystal-clear water. Condado Beach was nice, and I also went to Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island. That one was a bit of a trek, had to take a ferry, but totally worth it.
Getting Around
Getting around was relatively easy. In San Juan, I mostly walked or used the public transportation. It’s pretty cheap and efficient. When I wanted to go outside of San Juan, I rented a car for a couple of days. Driving was a bit crazy, but I managed.
All in all, it was a great trip. Learned a lot, saw some amazing sights, and ate some really good food. It took some planning, especially with the flights and figuring out the best way to get around. But, it was definitely an adventure I won’t forget.