Bad Bunny, who was recently announced as the headliner for Apple Music’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, brought his concert residency No me quiero ir de aquí to Puerto Rico from July 11 to September 20 of this year, roughly eight years to the day since Hurricane Maria devastated the unincorporated US Territory in September 2017. According to CNN, the residency brought about $200 million to the local economy so far — but some estimates put that figure much higher.
After the success of Bad Bunny’s residency, tourism to Puerto Rico should continue, but only in an ethical way, supporting, respecting, and learning about the local community, wildlife, and culture.
My husband, who is Puerto Rican, has always dreamed of someday going to visit the island where all of his immediate family is from, including aunts, uncles, and cousins who still live there today. In an effort to finally take a dream trip while also continuing to learn about and pursue ethical travel, we went down to the island for the first time this past spring, just ahead of Bad Bunny’s blockbuster residency.
For our first experience in Puerto Rico, I couldn’t have dreamed of a more beautiful location — the lush tropical landscape paired with the sweet chirp of the coquí, Puerto Rico’s native frog, as the sun fell behind the mountains each evening — felt surreal. I also felt an undeniable sense of appreciation for the island and that it should remain as protected as possible.
My hope is for those traveling to places that have undergone colonialism, cultural erasure, environmental disasters, gentrification, and more, to make the effort to support but recognize what these special places are actually about and what the people there have lived through. Because ultimately, the ability to even visit Puerto Rico is a privilege.
Where We Stayed
I was graciously offered a stay at a Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy property located approximately 15 to 20 minutes outside the capital of San Juan, in the mountains of Guaynabo, at a home owned by a local Puerto Rican. Upon check-in, he gave us a tour of his stunning property.
Marriott Bonvoy, which allows you to use your Marriott Bonvoy points toward travel, allowed us to stay at this home with several other family members, making it an excellent spot for young folks to split the accommodation cost multiple ways for a relaxing escape away with a group of your choosing.
The home also came equipped with a machine from Essential Premium Eco Water, a Puerto Rican-owned company that aims to reduce pollution while also offering pure, sustainable water through the use of their equipment, accompanied by their reusable glass water bottles. Additionally, the property enforced a rule requiring guests to turn off the central air conditioning when not on the property. While it may seem small, these adjustments can have a significantly positive environmental impact over time as travelers continue to visit.
As dreamy as our stay was, we did, in fact, lose power for the day mid-week, which served as a reminder of the struggles that locals face daily due to Puerto Rico’s underfunded infrastructure. If you’d like to donate to disaster relief in Puerto Rico, check out Together Puerto Rico, “a 501(c)(3) organization staffed only by a team of dedicated volunteers, with zero overhead…we mainly distribute water filters and solar lanterns for disaster relief, but we also connect volunteers and donors to other community-based organizations.”
Where We Ate
El Jibarito originally opened in 1977 and has been serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine ever since. It’s walk-in only, which did mean a wait, but we didn’t mind. The atmosphere was chill, and the comfort food was excellent. We ordered several items, including the “sandwich el jibarito,” which was essentially a steak and cheese between two plátanos (fried plantains) with arroz blanco y habichuelas (white rice and beans) on the side. For the table, we also ordered pastelillos de carne y pollo (crispy fried turnovers stuffed with steak and chicken) and sorullitos de maíz (fried cornmeal fritters).
Café Regina specializes in espresso and experimental coffee drinks. Per their website, they “work with top roasters, incredible farmers and local producers/makers.” This was a favorite stop (yes, we went multiple times), and we tried something new each visit. I cannot recommend the papaya bowl as well as the salmón and the spicy egg sandwich enough — although you can’t go wrong with anything. We also picked up some merch, and loved the interiors of this spot!
I found a local spot, Piu Bello, via Google Maps, which offered a variety of sandwiches and Puerto Rican pastries, including BLTs, Cuban sandwiches, pan de Mallorca (a typical Puerto Rican bread roll that is sweet, fluffy, and buttery), and more. It was the perfect grab-and-go option to take onto Isla Verde beach.
Puerto Rico named the piña colada — a typically rum-based tropical cocktail blended or shaken with cream of coconut and pineapple juice — as its national drink in 1978. You can also get the drink sans alcohol, like I did. The above is virgin, as evidenced by the rainbow sprinkles! The exact origin of the very first piña colada is still debated to this day, but it is assumed to have been created by two different bartenders at two different hotel locations in Puerto Rico during the 1950s.
- Lala Puerto Rico (Bad Bunny’s restaurant!)
- La Casita Blanca
- Mar y Rosa
- La Faena
Where We Shopped
Local 222 is a curated shop selling goods from a range of designers and makers, where brand strategist Humberto Vazquez aims to uplift local designers, specifically during a time when gentrification continues to impact the community. I ended up getting a shirt from Duvin, but I could have easily picked up some other clothing or trinket items as well. They also recently had a vintage digital camera sale curated by Audio Jack, which looked very cool, and I’m sad I wasn’t there for it!
Playero is a business founded in 1977 by surfer Tony Yordán along McLeary Street in Ocean Park, Puerto Rico, which now has multiple locations across the island, and is still driven by both “a passion for the sea and the waves” and “adrenaline and contact with nature.” I loved their store merch and also their display of colorful surfboards.
I could have spent hours in this store searching through endless bits and baubles. I actually found the shop on TikTok, and according to several comments found on TikTok, saw that it was also Puerto Rican-owned. I ended up purchasing three yards of brown cord, two plastic flower charms, and one blue blown glass heart pendant that I later assembled at home myself, but the store can also create necklaces (or bracelets, or earrings, etc.) for you for an additional fee. Many shoppers come in to select their charms and then return later to pick up their finished pieces after spending the day walking around Old San Juan.
I may or may not have purchased my second and third ever POP MART Labubu here… The owner, Julian Perez, who is also local to Puerto Rico, has recently opened a second location to cater to all your vintage, sneaker, and streetwear needs. There was a vintage Britney Spears concert T-shirt from 2001 that was iconic… Ultimately, I didn’t commit, but their curation of goods was so good.
I also loved this curation of vintage goods — my cousin snagged a vintage Palm Springs T-shirt that appeared to be from the ‘70s or ‘80s, and my husband picked out some stickers, one by local artist, rafoushō, of a “punk” version of Hector Lavoe, Puerto Rican salsa singer, and the other sticker saying “Punkarikan.”
Where We Explored
Isla Verde Beach is located in the town of Carolina, Puerto Rico, adjacent to San Juan, near both commercial and residential areas. The homeowner specifically mentioned this location, and it was absolutely perfect. We staked out for the day and picked up lunch at a local spot nearby. Always leave the beach cleaner than how you found it!
I booked a Culebra Snorkeling and Beach Tour trip through East Island Excursions, and while they are not Puerto Rican-owned, our tour guides themselves were from Puerto Rico, and educated us on the importance of reef-safe sunscreen, as well as not touching the coral reef or any wildlife so as not to disturb or damage anything.
East Island Excursions is also a Blue Flag Operator, meaning they adhere to the criteria set forth by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Per Blue Flag’s website, they are a “globally recognised eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that meet high environmental and safety standards. It is a certification programme based on rigorous requirements in the areas of accessibility, education and information, environmental performance, responsible behavior, safety, services, stakeholder engagement and water quality…the Blue Flag promotes environmental education and sustainable tourism.”
My husband grew up hearing stories about his family taking day trips out to El Yunque and how magical it was — and my only regret of the trip is that we didn’t have time for a full visit, so we just drove through to take in some sights instead, which were incredible. Per the Forest Service website, El Yunque “is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. At nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in size, yet one of the most biologically diverse.”
What I Wore
I knew going into the trip that my main outfit priorities were to be cool, comfortable, and versatile, given our range of activities and the temperate to warm climate, which averages 70-85 F (21-29 C) year-round. For the most part, I wore matching linen sets and lightweight button-down tops.
Below, I’ve listed links to shop, but be sure to check out more pieces from the Puerto Rican designers listed above, as well.
Thank you again to Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and I do hope this inspires you to travel ethically on your next trip to Puerto Rico! If you’d like to get involved with helping Puerto Rico, check out Together Puerto Rico, who share a list of organizations to donate to for a variety of different causes.
