Photographing a wedding in Puerto Rico was such a treat, but along with that Tim and I were able to use the trip to explore a new place together! Destination weddings are an area that I hope to soon specialize in because let’s be honest, shooting in new locations with creative couples is a total dream come true. Plus, we love to travel together. Adventuring through unbroken territory (at least for us) is unpredictable, exciting and so much fun. Fun fact, when we travel, the only camera I take on our daily outings is my phone and GoPro, unless I know we will just be out for a little bit or it is low key (which is rare). I don’t want to risk damaging my camera or leaving it in the car to be stolen. Especially when I am there to shoot a wedding!
While in Puerto Rico, Tim and I did a 6 mile hike through the rain forest one day, took super long walks on the beach that always ended with us finding Pina Coladas at a beach hut, and rented a car to drive until we got lost (or until Tim locked the keys in the car….). We ate calamari at almost every meal, drank way too many margaritas and took a ton of evening naps, just cuz we could! We are both in a time of total hustle in our businesses and taking a break to just spend time together was the best way to start the summer. While we would love to take a trip somewhere new every month, we are going to try and hold off for Turks and Caicos Islands for Christmas!
Now for all our recommendations! If you are thinking about going to Puerto Rico, DO IT! It was only $280 for a round trip ticket and while it does take a little longer to get there, you can’t even fly to Florida for that cheap! It took a full 6 hours of flying to get there, so we did have to schedule a full day to travel there, and back home, but again, totally worth it. We stayed in an AirBnB on Luquillo beach for our weeks long stay and I was so happy with the location as well as the condo. Only $90 for a beach front condo in a resort!!
If you are looking for a cheap day on the island, pick the least cloudy day and take a hike through the El Yunque National Forest. It is totally free to hike in the park and has so many different trails. Start in the morning and pack a lunch to eat once you reach the top. We took a couple of sandwiches and doritos and those were the bomb after hiking for a couple of hours.
The beaches near Luquillo were also a winner. Not too private where you felt like a wild animal may attack at any time, but definitely not a super public beach. Plus, the water was clear, cool, and a beautiful blue. If you couldn’t tell…. I’m already dreaming of our next trip to the beach!
Another one of our adventure days, we jumped in the rental car and just started driving around the island. That is until Tim locked the keys in the car. We wanted an adventure, and we sure got one. If you ever get the option to add the “$4 a day in case you lock your keys in your car”, DO IT. It is such a pain to be some where far away and not know how to properly handle the situation! Anyways, we had some drinks and all was well in the world (;
On one of our last days we went to Old San Juan (the capital of Puerto Rico) and walked around the historic district turned tourist area. The architecture was gorgeous and the cobblestone streets were picture perfect. This was one of the few times I didn’t bring my camera and wish I would have. Normally I am glad that I don’t have the stress of keeping up with my bulky camera, but Old San Juan had my photographer brain going crazy!
If you make it down to Old San Juan, or have a rainy day (it is a tropical island after all) with nothing to do, visit Pani Agua for delicious Indian food, hookah and AMAZING mojitos. I got a champagne mojito and my life will never be the same. Plus they have comfortable couches 🙂
One night we did a fancy-ish beach side dinner at Pamela’s Caribbean Cuisine in San Juan which was delightful. We normally eat lots of cheap, local food, and here we ordered fancy steaks and lamb chops that were out of this world. Definitely make this a nicer dinner on your trip!
Within walking distance from Luquillo beach is a strip of “kiosks” that are pretty much bars, restaurants and entertainment. This is more of a local spot so you could get a strong cocktail for about $5 and beer for $2. Lots of pool tables, outdoor seating, and a super fun atmosphere. If you are looking for these spots, google the Tattoo Tavern and start there!
