Out there

Calce: Tanama River is located in Arecibo and flows through Utuado and Adjuntas.

Eco-tours and adventure excursions offer unforgettable immersive experiences around the Emerald Isle

Whether you are visiting on business or pleasure, we hope you get to let things unfold on island time, that cadence that speaks to possibilities unrushed. It could be as simple as posting up poolside at your hotel for a few hours with a book in hand and a refreshing drink within reach as plans slowly take shape to eat at that celebrated restaurant or otherwise dive into the nightlife.  

Sounds good. But Puerto Rico is packed with places to see and things to do, you may also hear a call to get out there and have a good look around. Heed that call. It may just lead to unmatched experiences and indelible memories.

An ever-growing range of eco-tour and adventure excursions provide a great way for visitors to explore the island at a deeper level and immerse themselves in the Emerald Isle’s natural splendors.

Getting off the beaten path and into new experiences has never been easier given the wide variety of offerings for adventure seekers that put a premium on revealing new facets of the gem that is Puerto Rico in a safe, organized manner.

If by land or by sea, these guided trips offer fresh avenues to develop an essential understanding of the array of landscapes that shape Puerto Rico and its people. Topping out at the highest reaches of verdant mountains, trekking through caves, traversing along a cascading stream or diving into crystalline waters replete with life capped by a nighttime paddle across a glowing bioluminescent bay are just a few of the activities on tap.

Puerto Rico has truly emerged as a top-flight destination for ecotourism and sustainable travel through outfitters – many marked by a focus on conservation of nature and culture – that are well prepared to help you soak in the island’s landscapes. 

The offerings outlined below are far from a full accounting of the available options but provide a glimpse of the thrills that await travelers thirsting for adventure and rare experiences.

Tanama River Adventures

Winding its way down the limestone mountains and outcroppings of the karst region straddling the towns of Utuado, Arecibo and Adjuntas, the Tanama River opens a window into Puerto Rico’s unspoiled natural state. The cascading river is both a step back in time and timeless. 

Tanama River Adventures helps you see the way with varied guided tours that can include outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, tubing, rappelling, caving, canyoneering and cliff jumping. You won’t regret getting wet on this beautiful adventure.

Hike through farm fields of coffee, banana, plantain and orange crops and learn about the area’s history and culture from local expert guides along a river route marked by caverns, cliffs and waterfalls created by mountain rains as well as Taino petroglyphs carved into the rocks by the Tainos, who were the first people to inhabit the island.

The guided options range in intensity but all require a reasonable level of fitness. The Mukaro Cave Tour entails hilly hiking, cave and cavern exploration, easy rock climbing and time in the river wading, body rafting or swimming. Add in some optional free jumps in the water and call it a great day.

Step it up a notch with the Butterfly Tour or the Tarzan Tour, which add rappelling to the river and caving experience. The Butterfly Tour involves a 120-foot cavern rappel while the Tarzan Tour involves a 250-foot rappel that is billed as the longest in Puerto Rico. Buckle up.

Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Combine a night time paddle on Laguna Grande with a daytime trek around Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve.

The reserve, the name of which reflects the shape of the three rocky headlands that jut out into the Atlantic, is capped by an iconic lighthouse towering over unspoiled ecosystems including the bioluminescent bay, coral reefs, dry forest, mangroves and beaches both sandy and boulder strewn.

Guided hiking, biking, kayaking and trolley tours are offered with specialized staff at the ready to impart their deep knowledge of the history of the area, its varied landscapes and the wildlife within. Las Cabezas is a candy store for birdwatchers.

The popular visitors center is not to be missed. In addition to guided tours year-round, Las Cabezas hosts seasonal events, workshops, volunteer activities.

Toro Verde 

Toro Verde operates two wildly popular adventure parks on the island, with the operative word being wild. Their flagship Toro Verde Puerto Rico Park crisscrosses the highest reaches of the rural mountain town of Orocovis. 

Panoramic views, birds eye views, views seemingly forever. Beauty as far as the eye can see. But there is also a Beast, or rather La Bestia, a zipline that can hold its own with any in the world. Strap into a secure harness and soar over the emerald forest canopy for nearly a mile at speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. Ok, so you conquered the Beast. Get ready to tangle with the Monster, which Toro Verde proudly calls the “scariest attraction” on the island. Buckle up and brace for speeds of up to 90 mph along a 1.57-mile zipline flight. 

The mountain park also boasts seven other “tamer” adventure, each with arrival and departure platforms and small walks across multiple platforms. There are also multiple climbing towers of varying height and difficulties. Try the Toro Roller, which blends zipline and rollercoaster thrills. Add in golf-carts, bikes, play areas and some mighty fine food. In short, there is no shortage of fun to be had for the whole family. Toro Verde Urban Park at the T-Mobile District provides a truly unique experience winding up and down and in and out of the heart of the San Juan Convention Center District. With a myriad of dining options, a movie theater and regular live music, the district serves as a great scene to see and be seen.

Hacienda Carabali

Saddle up at Hacienda Carabali Rainforest Rainforest Adventure Park, a sprawling 600-acre ranch serving up high-energy fun in the northeast coastal town of Luquillo a roughly 40-minute drive from San Juan. The well-trained staff provide safety orientation and have an eye for pairing riders with horses that are right for them.

Horseback tours include rides through foothills along the flanks of the towering El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system. Take a dip in the cooling waters of the Mameyes River during a scheduled swimming and refreshment break in the two-hour tour. Another tour follows the river to an undeveloped stretch of beach for a ride in the sand along the Atlantic Ocean.

Feeling the need for a little more speed? Hacienda Carabali also offers ATV and UTV rides through rugged terrain across streams, over hills, along the coast and under the rainforest canopy. Or slow things down a bit with a tractor-pulled tropical hayride.

Back at the ranch house homebase there is a twisty and turny go-kart track and a restaurant serving up steaks and other hearty fare that is sure to please.

We Take You Tours

Want a sure-fire way for a day of exploration without having to worry about logistics? Leave it to the professional tour operators from We Take You http://www.wetakeyou.com, which offers signature guided trips that put a premium on comfort and cultural emersion. 

Most tours depart from the Convention Center District but free pick-up and drop-off is available in the Condado and Isla Verde areas. Getting on board with We Take You allows you to really soak in the sights and flavors at some of the island’s most celebrated attractions with zero hassles. The only hard part is picking where to go. Why not Ponce? Known as “La Perla del Sur” or the “Pearl of the South,” the island’s second-largest city boasts its own unique charm. The ride alone is worth the trip as you climb up the verdant north flanks of the Cordillera Central and then descend toward Ponce along a drier and craggier coastal plain. Upon arrival, set out on a walking tour from Plaza las Delicias, the epicenter of Ponce’s historic downtown area and home to the iconic Parque de Bombas, before heading up to the majestic Castillo Serrallés Museum. 

Don’t have all day? Do not worry. We Take You is ready to take you on half-day guided outings that include a jaunt through Old San Juan, its Spanish-colonial forts and nearby Condado or exploration of El Yunque National Forest and the nearby Luquillo kiosks. For a truly unique experience, tap into the rich history and cultural traditions of Loiza, a coastal town not far from the international airport where Puerto Rico’s Afro-Caribbean and Taino roots are intertwined. Highlights include a visit to a sacred cave, a working art studio and a workshop where coconuts are transformed into colorful vejigante folkloric masks. This cultural dive is capped off by a participatory step into Loiza’s thriving bomba tradition. Bomba can be characterized as the beating heart of an Afro-Caribbean culture that has survived myriad challenges and continues to thrive in the shadow of San Juan and beyond.

Kayak Tours

Kayaking provides a great platform to explore Puerto Rico’s varied coastlines and waterways.

Rentals and day trips are readily accessible around the island. From the Condado Lagoon and Piñones in the metropolitan area to more far-flung areas including Cabo Rojo and the offshore island towns of Vieques and Culebra, there are kayak tour operators well-equipped to get you in touch with a dizzying array of watery wonders.

High on the to-do list for most visitors should be a guided kayaking session on one of the island’s unrivaled bioluminescent bays. Bioluminescence, caused by microscopic organisms in water that light up when disturbed, is not unique to Puerto Rico but the island has three lagoons — Mosquito Bay in Vieques, La Parguera in Lajas and Laguna Grande in Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve in Fajardo — with concentrations of the dinoflagellates that are not seen elsewhere.

Laguna Grande is off-limits to powerboats in order to protect the unique and pristine waters, meaning that kayaks are the only way to experience the glowing waters of the mangrove-lined lagoon at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Kayaks are also the craft of choice at Mosquito Bay, where powerboats and large vessel tours are prohibited. Opt for a clear-bottom kayak and prepare to be mesmerized.

What should now be clear is that Puerto Rico packs a punch for adventure-minded travelers looking to plug into this special place. Get online, book your excursion, and get out there!