LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO : PUERTO RICO

It was 10:00 am and we found ourselves in the middle of the Miami Aiport. We had breakfast at Ku-Va restaurant an hour or so before boarding time. Our destination: San Juan, Puerto Rico.
After finishing up breakfast, we headed to Starbucks for 2 Caramel Frappucinos – our snack for the flight ahead. Hey, treat yourself, right?

We arrived in San Juan around 3pm, got our luggage and headed to our hotel which was conviniently located 5 minutes away from the airport. After checking into our hotel, we immediately changed into our bikinis. We headed to the hot tub before calling it a night; it was much needed relaxation time.

The next day, we got up bright and early. We had an hour and a half drive to the Fajardo Ferry Terminal ahead of us. Our destination: Vieques Island
We had done some research on how things worked at the Ferry Terminal. So we were prepared. Get there at least 2 to 3 hours ahead of time they said, there will be a long line they said.. So, of course, we planned to arrive early and we did. There was no one in line and getting tickets was an absolute breeze.
It was time to board the Ferry. We set our carry-ons in the luggage room and found seats inside. The Ferry ride is about an hour and a half so as exhausted as I was, I was asleep within 2 seconds of sitting down. Before I knew it, we were there.
We got our suitcases and got off the Ferry. There were multiple taxi drivers available just steps from the exit. The ambiance was fun and lively. There was a taxi driver that automatically came over to us and we told him where we were headed: W Retreat & Spa.
A short cab ride later, we drove past the entrance and immeditely fell in love with our surroundings. Talk about island vibes!! The property is beautiful, from the entrance to the lobby to the rooms to the pools. Wow! Paradise in Vieques Island alright. Our stay was fantastic! We stayed here 2 nights, 3 days and can’t stop raving about it. Time flew by and it was time to embark on our next journey.

We called a cab and headed back to the Vieques Ferry Terminal. We headed back to Fajardo. When we got there, we noticed there was an ice cream cart down the block. Perfect for a warm day. Minutes later, we got back in our rental and took off to San Juan. We checked into our hotel, grabbed dinner, and once again, it was hot tub time.
I woke up the next day to a beatiful view of the ocean. It was Monday, April 17th and it was my birthday. I felt blessed, extremely blessed. My morning started with a delicious breakfast and coffee. Don’t you just love a good breakfast? After getting ready, we went downstairs for a few birthday drinks: Pina Coladas and Margaritas by the beach. The sky started turning gray so we found seats in the beach bar. We sat there, reminiscing, talking, and laughing, as the tropical rain fell around us.

I’ve had my share of fancy dinners and I love them. But when they asked me what I wanted as my birthday dinner, I said pizza. Yes, pizza. Trust me, it tastes different in Puerto Rico. Do I dare say… better? It reminds me of the pizza we’d eat in El Salvador, maybe that’s why it’s special. We got 2 pizzas, breadsticks, and garlic bread. Delicious.
The next day, we woke up wanting to visit Culebra. So we did. We headed to the Ferry Terminal once again, got our tickets, and boarded. Little did we know moments later we’d be in the craziest Ferry ride we’ve experienced. It had been raining but it was sunny now so we decided to sit outside and enjoy the view. Less than halfway into the ride, the ferry started rocking back and forth noticeably. Seconds later, a wave hit the side of the ferry and we were absolutely drenched. This went on for more than 30 minutes. It’s safe to say, it’s been one of the scariest, funniest, but mostly exciting, times ever. We got off the ferry completely soaked. I can’t help but laugh even typing it now. It was an actual blast. It was one of those times when you feel most alive.
So after an interesting ferry ride, we had made it to Culebra Island. Our hotel was walking distance from the terminal so we walked down the small town sidewalks. Our first day in Culebra, we ran into a friendly local who pointed us to the car rental office, we wanted to rent a Jeep, so we did. We went to dinner at a family-owned spot down the block from our hotel and let me tell you, it was a delicious homemade style meal. We had such great sleep that night.
We woke up around 6:30 am for breakfast and to get ready for our beach day. We wanted to check out Flamenco Beach since we’d heard great things about it. We hopped into the Jeep and took off. We got there before the crowd started to arrive which was perfect because we had already claimed our spot before everyone else. We settled our things under a palm tree a few steps away from the water. Let’s talk about the water at Flamenco beach shall we? It is gorgeous! So clean and turquoise. One of my favorite beaches for sure. Can I go back already? We then drove to Tamarindo beach, the water was beautiful and calm. You can snorkle and see turtles here.

After hours under the sun, it was time to go back to our hotel to grab our things. Fortunately, even after you check out of your room, you can leave your stuff in a locker and there is a shower available outside. We definitely made use of these. We walked down to the Culebra Ferry Terminal and it was a mess. We waited what felt like forever to buy our tickets. No, I’m not exaggerating. We waited until it was boarding time and everyone, and I mean, EVERYONE, had boarded. The thing is, at this terminal, they favor the locals or those who had purchased a round-way ferry ticket that morning. Which we didn’t do, since we had gotten there the day before and they don’t let you buy tickects in advance. Oh well. So we waited, which wasn’t a big deal. They opened the gate for us to buy tickets and we were the first in line, so we did. We got on the ferry and headed upstairs to the outside seats but unfortunately, there weren’t any available. I guess we really wanted to experience the waves again haha. We found seats inside. Once again, we’d done so much during the day that I quickly fell asleep. I woke up 15 minutes before getting to our destination, looked outside the window and saw a gorgeous sunset. Minutes later, the sky was utterly black.

We made it to the Fajardo Terminal and we headed back to San Juan. We’d be leaving Puerto Rico the next day. We went to dinner down the block from our hotel. We drank the last piñas coladas of the trip here. The next day, we had a few hours to enjoy the beach and pool before going to the airport. We tanned and talked and enjoyed the water. We packed and got ready in 30 minutes to head to the airport, that’s record time for us. Truth is, we were loving our time in Puerto Rico so much that we wanted to use up every minute possible. Getting ready to leave wasn’t a priority. We left our hotel, headed to the airport and it was a complete mad house. There was a sea of people. The check-in line moved fairly quickly (priority line happened to be closed) and then we waited for our plane to be ready to board. Just like that, it was time to head home.

Life’s not meant to be ordinary. Sometimes, you go through life following a routine, thinking you have enough time – to live later, to love later. But sometimes, if you’re really really fortunate, you find yourself. I know we must all work toward something, something that gives our lives meaning. Routine is functional. After all, they say practice makes perfect. But don’t lose your spark on the way, remember to enjoy the ride. Remember to explore and to not live the same day twice.
After my latest trip to Puerto Rico, I had a realization. Well, more like a reminder. Life’s not meant to be ordinary. Be a wanderer, a traveler, a dreamer, a doer, and always choose happiness. During our trip to Puerto Rico, we explored like never before. Spontaneity became our best friend.

With Love, Maria ♡

W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island
http://www.wvieques.com/
Phone: 787.741.4100