Adventure Cycling Association

Today, we’ll meet up in San Juan, where we’ll get oriented and acquainted. We should have ample time to explore Distrito Histórico del Viejo San Juan, the Old San Juan Historic District which preserves the second oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

Today’s eastbound ride along the coast takes us through the exclusive residential and hotel areas of Miramar, Condado, Ocean Park, and Isla Verde. From there, we’ll depart from the metropolitan surroundings and roll onto a six-mile-long coastal bike trail through a mangrove forest. Later, we’ll visit the forests, small, secluded beaches, seafood kiosks, and overlooks of Paseo Piñones. In the town of Loiza Aldea, the island’s center of Afro-Hispanic culture, African influences abound. The day ends at the beach town of Luquillo, the “Puerto Rican Riviera.”

We’ll ride west for several miles to the entrance of El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo Forest Reserve, and later, the Caribbean National Forest. This rain forest region encompasses the headwaters of eight major rivers, four distinct types of forest, and an associated wealth of plant and animal life. Numerous options for good hikes are at hand. We’ll leave later in the afternoon to track down our dinner and overnight accommodations in Fajardo, a sleepy town that once served as a depot to the sugarcane industry as well as to the pirate “trade.”

Today, we’ll have the option to catch the early ferry to Culebra Island, a seven-by-four-mile miniature archipelago where it’s believed Christopher Columbus stopped during his second voyage in 1493. Other opportunities include visiting Vieques Island or bicycling to gorgeous Flamenco Beach. Evening highlights feature a seafood dinner back in Fajardo followed by an optional kayak trip to bioluminescent Laguna Grande where living organisms emit light in the water.

Today’s southbound coastal ride leads through the small town of Ceiba, home to the Ceiba State Forest Natural Reserve, then through the villages of Aguas Claras and Daguao. We’ll end the day at Maunabo, where the lovely and often-photographed Punta Tuna Lighthouse, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, has warned ships of Sargent Reef since the late 1800s. At the adjacent, primitive Punta Tuna Beach, strong currents forbid swimming but not long walks or simply meditating on your seascape surroundings.

On this day, we’ll ride westbound, passing through the small town of Patillas on the dryer and hotter side of the island. In Guayama, known as el pueblo de brujería, “the town of witches,” the Spanish colonial roots run deep as evidenced by numerous historical structures and sites. Our destination is Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second largest city, named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, a great-grandson of the notorious conquistador. It was the largest city, more populous even than San Juan, back in 1898, when the U.S. invaded and occupied Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War.

Similar to yesterday’s riding, today’s route is characterized by hot, arid conditions with little shade. Highlights include Yauco, a small hillside town featuring steep streets, colorful old houses, and great coffee. The area’s traditional sugarcane and cotton farming eventually gave way to coffee cultivation that produces a unique low-caffeine brew popular for its rich flavor and exceptional quality. Guánica, another pleasant coastal town, is where the Americans landed during the 1898 invasion. The nearby Reserva Forestal Guánica boasts a plethora of plant and animal species that can be searched for on any one of a dozen foot trails coursing through the reserve. An optional mile-long ferry ride can take us to tiny Gilligan’s Island — the official name is Cayo Aurora — featuring mangroves bordered by white coral sand and a blue-green lagoon ideal for swimming or snorkeling.

We’ll enjoy a well-deserved rest day on the beaches and seeing the sights around La Parguera. Perhaps you’ll choose to enjoy the day in a boat or go kayaking or diving.

Today, we’ll round the southwestern corner of the island by following backroads around the fishing village of El Combate. Spectacular views from jagged limestone cliffs capture the clashing of the Caribbean against rock walls below. Playa Santa, a “best-kept secret” beach, is located in the Bahia Sucia Bay just below the lighthouse known as El Faro de los Morillos de Cabo Rojo. Nearby Boquerón is known for its seafood, including raw oysters embellished with a squeeze of limón. Heading north up the western edge of the island, we’ll pass through the fishing village of Puerto Real before entering the coastal areas of Punta Arenas and Joyuda, the latter heralded for its string of seafood restaurants. Small boat excursions to the tiny paradise island of Piñeros, located less than a mile offshore, may also be taken from here.

In Aguada, the island’s second-oldest settlement, we’ll have the chance to visit El Museo de Aguada, a museum housed in a former train station that features native Taino Indian artifacts. Next up: Aguadilla, which resides on the island’s northwestern corner and boasts fine beaches and numerous historical sites. From there, we’ll curve east, beginning our return to San Juan. Our destination for the evening is the coastal town of Hatillo, situated in an area recognized for dairy farms dating back to 18th-century settlers who arrived from the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa.

Today, we’ll bicycle through Punta Maracayo, Arecibo, and Laguna Tortuguero, a natural reserve known for its caimans, a crocodile species native to Central and South America.

On our final day of riding on Borínquen — the native name for Puerto Rico — we’ll pass through the alluring town of Vega Baja and return to the shoreline to ride to Dorado, the island’s oldest destination resort. Soon thereafter, we’ll re-enter bustling San Juan by way of Levittown and Sabana Seca, finishing up with a ferry ride into Old San Juan itself. There, we’ll toast to an unforgettable Caribbean adventure full of sun, sand, and salty air.