While financial woes may be a dark cloud currently shadowing over Puerto Rico’s economy, there is still an abundance of beauty to enjoy there right now. There may be quite a bit of buzz surrounding what is wrong and what does not work, but that can never detract from the unspoiled beauty that is Puerto Rico.
Of course, you can visit all the hot tourist spots, but Puerto Rico is so much more than that and offers so much more, as well. There are hidden jewels and unspoiled places just waiting to treat you like a local in some of these unspoiled places of Puerto Rico.
Vieques: A Little Island with a Big Draw
If you live and work in a big city and wish to take a big break from all that traffic, than the magic seclusion of Vieques is the place for you. This charming isle’s idea of traffic is a few stray cows and horses that roam freely about the land. If little traffic is appealing, just wait until you explore the most bioluminescent bay in the world.
Mosquito Bay on the southern tip of the isle of Vieques will light up your life and, if not, will at least light up your night. Certain organisms in the water reflect a glowing light when disturbed. You can take a see-through paddle boat and go for a ride and watch as the magic of these little organisms light up the night with their magical blue light in the water. It’s magic that you will most likely not experience anywhere else.
As far as the beaches are concerned, sure you can find a beach such as Sun Bay that offers all the typical amenities; however, if you are looking to give new meaning to getting away from it all, explore Media Luna, Navio. If you do visit this beach, be sure to take out what you brought in. This beach is secluded, has clear waters and the water can sometimes be a bit calmer.
A Little Taste of Guavate
A small space with plenty of charm, Guavate is not unknown to the locals of Puerto Rico. Tourists, on the other hand, may find this area delightful as it remains tried and true to Puerto Rico’s culture. Sometimes an area can be crowded, well-known and well-loved but still remain an unspoiled region because it remains true to its heritage.
In Guavate you can find traditional foods of Puerto Rico such as mofongo (mashed green plantains) and a pig slowly roasting to savory perfection. You can dance to salsa music or simply listen to music with a traditional Caribbean vibe. While Guavate may be crowded on weekends, it is still an unspoiled spot in Puerto Rico because it holds true to its culture and heritage.
La Guancha
If being too secluded or being steeped waist-high in culture with the rest of the crowd is not on your list of unspoiled places to visit in Puerto Rico and you are seeking to act like a local, check out La Guancha. La Guancha is the perfect spot for families looking to keep it real and stay tried and true to Puerto Rico’s culture.
If you are feeling laid back but don’t want to go full out remote destination or hang out in the most crowded spots, you might find that La Guancha is your perfect definition of unspoiled. On this family-friendly boardwalk, you can enjoy the sights and sounds that are true to Puerto Rican heritage. Take in the musical vibes of traditional music or take some time to savor the tastes of traditional Puerto Rican foods.
The locals will be sure to put a smile on your face as they are some of the friendliest people around the area. If you need a little something extra to keep the kids busy, you have a host of activities from kayaking and boat rides to the beach and the playground. While you are there you can take a leisurely walk along the boardwalk, checkout the kiosks and stop along and feed the tarpon. The tarpon gather around the railings just waiting for you to give them something good to eat.
One of the nicest amenities about La Guancha is how the locals and tourists mingle together, listening to the sounds of traditional Puerto Rican music, tasting its foods and staying in touch with nature by feeding the tarpon. This is one of those places on earth where both locals and tourists as well as wildlife can manage to keep it unspoiled.
While you may think of an unspoiled locale as miles of untouched beach with pristine aquamarine waters, these locals have their own version of being untouched – untouched by change or time. Once you visit them, you will clearly see why.
