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Rum Experiences in Puerto Rico You Shouldn’t Miss

You don’t have to be a rum connoisseur to appreciate the indelible mark this iconic spirit has made on Puerto Rico’s narrative 

Often called “The Rum Capital of the World,” Puerto Rico produces 70 percent of the rum sold in the U.S. The island’s rum production dates back to the early 16th century. Spaniards brought sugar cane crops from Hispaniola (today the Dominican Republic). The island’s first sugar cane mill was constructed in 1517. By the mid-19th century more than 700 sugar cane plantations had been established, as well as a good number of sugar refineries and rum distilleries. Although the sugar industry eventually diminished, rum-making endured. Today the rum industry adds over $300 million to Puerto Rico’s economy annually. It’s also responsible for more than 700 jobs in the island’s distilleries. 

Distillery tours

For a taste of Puerto Rico’s rich rum history, book a tour or mixology class at one of the distilleries. Some of them have produced rum for more than 100 years. Here are a few places to add to your rum discovery itinerary. 

Ron del Barrilito

Hacienda Santa Ana, Bayamón

Tour Cost: Heritage Tour, $25 per person; Mixology and Tasting tours, $80 per person

Crafted by hand in small batches, Ron del Barrilito rum is aged in vintage American white oak sherry barrels—a process that’s remained the same since 1880. A Heritage Tour showcases the family legacy behind Puerto Rico’s oldest distillery, including a look at Hacienda’s historical landmarks like the lovingly preserved family mansion. The interactive Mixology Tour teaches guests the art of creating classic bar-quality cocktails. The Tasting Tour allows guests the unique opportunity to taste the “angel’s share” of rum, the part of rum that naturally evaporates from the barrel during the aging process. The tasting experience includes Dos Estrellas, Tres Estrellas, Ron del Barrilito Cuatro Estrellas and Cinco Estrellas.

Casa Bacardí

PR-165, Cataño

Tour Cost: Mixology Class and Rum Tasting Tour, $75; Bar Visit, $20

When Don Facundo Bacardí Massó purchased a small distillery in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, it was the beginning of a rum revolution. Over the next several decades, Bacardí rum earned celebrity status and even helped fuel tourism to Cuba from the U.S. during the Prohibition era. In 1930, they built distilleries in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The facility located here is the world’s largest premium rum distillery. Hone your cocktail making skills with the Mixology Class, where you’ll craft the classic Mojito and shaken Piña Colada. During the class, you’ll learn more about Bacardí’s history, as well as pick up a few new bar skills.

The Rum Tasting Tour showcases Bacardí’s premium rums and includes a chocolate pairing. A trolley tour to the family museum and an overview of the company’s history are part of both experiences. If you aren’t able to secure a tour or have less time to enjoy the distillery, consider the Casa Bacardí Bar Visit. A ticket gets you a tasty cocktail, a locally-made empanada and the chance to chill at the waterfront Pavilion with a fantastic view of El Morro, an iconic fortification and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Juan Artisan Distillers

RD-690, KM 3.2 Sabana Hoyos, Vega Alta

Tour Cost: $80 per person

San Juan Artisan Distillers is located about 22 miles (34 km) west of San Juan. It’s Puerto Rico’s only working sugar cane plantation estate and distillery. Inspired by the use of sugar cane early rum makers in Puerto Rico used, owner Pepe Alvarez planted his first crop and started the process of creating his own rum distillery. However, before they were able to harvest it, Hurricane Maria destroyed the crop entirely.

That setback only fueled his imagination. The result: fruit-flavored rums made with fruits locally sourced from farms in San Sebastián, Santa Isabel, Manatí and other regions. Tour guides provide insight into their rum making process and showcase the company’s dedication to sustainability. The 1½-hour tour concludes with a sampling of rums crafted by San Juan Artisan Distillers. 

Crab Island Rum

4FCF+PV, Vieques

Tour Cost: Call distillery for tour details

Opened in 2019, Crab Island Rum Distillery is the first distillery on Puerto Rico’s southeast island of Vieques, where owner Ivan Torres was born and raised. He returned to the island to pursue his dream of creating handcrafted artisanal rum after earning his college and master’s degrees in the states. Torres sought the guidance of renowned rum master Luis Planas, who mentored him through the early stages of developing the business. Ingredients for the coffee and orange infused brands are sourced from local growers on Puerto Rico’s main island. Free distillery tours and tastings are available.

More rum experiences

Situated in the heart of Old San Juan, La Casita de Rones opened its doors in 2016. Co-owned by Joel Vazquez Rivera and Ramon Díaz, it’s the flagship store of Rums of Puerto Rico, a marketing arm of the island’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce. This distinctive rum experience showcases authentic Puerto Rican tapas and entrees that pair well with one of their craft rum-based cocktails. A well-curated shop offers an ample selection of apparel, glassware, bar accessories and other rum-inspired souvenirs.

In addition to his work with La Casita de Rones, co-owner Joel Vazquez Rivera channeled his passion to share Puerto Rico’s rum culture by creating Puerto Rico Rum Journey . The program provides visitors an easy way to book rum tours, experiences, events and buy merchandise. You can either go to their website or book through the app which is available in iOS and Android via the App Store or Google Play. They offer a selection of rum distillery itineraries, as well as tips on additional places to explore in each destination. Available itineraries feature many of the above-mentioned distilleries, with Casa Bacardí being the most popular. The app also offers a “rum experts” experience where users can unlock collectible badges on their digital passport to win prizes and level up their rum expert status. 

“Hopefully, this program will make Puerto Rico a rum destination and spread the word that our rum heritage has not been discovered by all who visit the island,” shares Vazquez.

Address: Calle Comercio San Juan

Tel: 787-966-7042

Cost: Call program for details

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What They Says

“Las visitas a las destilerías de ron en suelo boricua ahora están al alcance de la mano de los turistas y locales a través de la aplicación móvil “Puerto Rico Rum Journey” , que permite a los usuarios reservar experiencias y hasta adentrarse en una comunidad de amantes de este licor.”

“Puerto Rico Rum Journey, a tool to generate traffic and facilitate visiting different rum distilleries located throughout the Island, was unveiled recently to allow users to interact with seven distilleries, create a route of visits, and make reservations for excursions, tastings, seminars, and mixology classes, among other experiences.”

“Lanzan la ruta del ron con Puerto Rico Rum Journey. Una nueva aplicación digital y página web que permite a los usuarios interaccionar con siete destilerías, para crear un itinerario o ruta de visitas, hacer reservaciones para eventos como excursiones, catados, seminarios, y clases de mixología, entre otras experiencias.”

DON Q RUM TOUR LIVE THE DON Q EXPERIENCE

The #1 rum of puerto rico invites you to celebrate our 156th anniversary with a unique and unforgettable experience., a blend of experiences, where & when.

(Tour in Spanish) 10:30am & 3:30pm (Tour in English) 1:00pm Duration: 1:30 Limited capacity of 15 people per group Parking: Parking Facilities are located by the main entrance of the museum in front of the security guard booth, on both sides of the road.

AFTER THE TOUR EXPERIENCE, ENJOY A COCKTAIL AT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

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Welcome to casa bacardÍ

Embark on an unforgettable journey at Casa BACARDÍ Puerto Rico. Don’t just hear the legacy, live it! Join us for immersive tours and experiences that unravel the magic behind the bottle and discover the heart and soul of BACARDÍ in ways you never imagined.

guided tour

Legacy tour.

Discover the BACARDÍ family legacy by getting to know the history of the World’s most-awarded rum. In our Legacy Tour, you will learn about our origins, understand the meaning behind our iconic bat, and become a part of our family! Swipe for more details -> PRICE: $40.00 + tax | Duration: 50 minutes

the details

The tour includes one welcome cocktail and a guided tour bus to the Visitor Center. This tour is offered in English 7 days a week. Spanish tours available daily at 12:15pm. Guests must be 18 years or older to participate. The Legacy Tour can be combined with one other experience. You can find additional details here . PRICE: $40.00 + tax | Duration: 50 minutes

rum tasting tour

Get inside the minds of our esteemed Maestros! On this guided tour, you will taste BACARDÍ’s rums and get a lesson in how to taste rum like a pro. Swipe for more details -> PRICE: $80.00 + tax | Duration: 75 minutes

THE DETAILS

The tour includes one welcome cocktail and a guided tour bus to the Visitor Center. This tour is offered in English 7 days a week. Guests must be 18 years or older to participate. The Rum Tasting Tour can only be combined with the Legacy Tour. You can find additional details here . PRICE: $80.00 + tax | Duration: 75 minutes

MIXOLOGY CLASS

If you can’t tell by now, we love history! In this interactive class, you will learn the history behind our most popular cocktails. Take our Mixology Class if you want to master some cool bar tricks and skills. Swipe for more details -> PRICE: $80.00 + tax | Duration: 75 minutes

The tour includes one welcome cocktail and a guided tour bus to the Visitor Center. This tour is offered in English 7 days a week. Guests must be 18 years or older to participate. The Mixology Class can only be combined with the Legacy Tour. You can find additional details here . PRICE: $80.00 + tax | Duration: 75 minutes

FOUNDER'S EXPERIENCE

Explore legendary Don Facundo’s founders’ mentality with an in-depth, intimate, and behind the scenes journey into the unique tropical aging processes of the World’s most-celebrated rum. This exclusive multisensory experience is a private engagement guided by our brand aficionados; please join us and unlock the island spirit! Swipe for more details -> PRICE: $125.00 + tax | Duration: 120 minutes

FOUNDER'S EXPERIENCE

The tour includes one welcome cocktail and a VIP tour bus through the back of the house. The Founder’s Experience is only offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Guests must wear closed toe shoes and long pants. Guests must be 18 years or older to participate. You can find additional details here . PRICE: $125.00 + tax | Duration: 120 minutes

need more help

If you still have unanswered questions, check out our FAQs section . Visit: Carretera 165 KM 6.2, Cataño, Puerto Rico Email: [email protected] Call: Puerto Rico on 787-788-8400 For further questions, please fill out this contact form.

Cataño’s top-rated attraction

@casabacardipr

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• February 26, 2024 | Casa Bacardi Rum Tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Casa Bacardi Rum Tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Posted By: Julie Henning February 26, 2024

Touring a rum distillery is a popular, fun, and authentic experience for tourists visiting Puerto Rico. A key export with a rich cultural history dating back centuries to the time of colonial sugarcane plantations, if you consume rum in your cocktail, chances are it originated somewhere on the island. One of the largest producers of rum in terms of sales volume and brand recognition, Bacardí, is headquartered approximately 20 minutes from the historic La Perla district in downtown San Juan.

Open to the public for tours, we recently visited Casa Bacardí to learn more about the delicious liquor that inspired the creation of so many tropical drinks.

Bacardí, Rum Tasting Tour: What to Expect

Upon arriving at Casa Bacardí, guests check in at the outdoor Pavilion and are given a token to be redeemed for a welcome cocktail. Leave time to wander the grounds, take photos, enjoy your drink, order food from the cafe, and use the restrooms.

Check in at the Pavilion and enjoy a welcome cocktail.

At your designated tour time, your guide will direct you to board an open-air trolley. For the next thirty minutes (or so), you’ll learn about the history of rum across the Carribbean and the growth of the Bacardí empire in San Juan. On this tour, guests stay in the trolley as it passes by many of the buildings and structures on the campus.

Buildings on the Bacardí Tour

Up next, guests step off the trolley and into this building which houses both the Bacardí Store and tasting rooms. The second half of the tour involves guided instruction on tasting six different types of Bacardí rum paired with a gourmet chocolate. Exiting through the store presents you with the opportunity to purchase both rum and other branded souvenirs.

Bicardi store and tasting room building.

A 75-minute guided tour offered in English and available for adults 18* and older, the Bacardí rum tasting tour runs $80/person. Reservations are both recommended and required.

* The legal drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18.

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Historical Tour of Casa Bacardí

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Bacardi Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour

Old San Juan Segway Tour

Casa Bacardi and Old San Juan Tour

UNCHANGED SINCE 1880

Ron del Barrilito’s timeline is one of stability and consistency. More than 140 years ago, we found a way to craft world-class rum. Today, we’re still making rum in the same way.

BOOK A TOUR

You’re invited to our Hacienda Santa Ana, located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Come take a tour (and a taste) of our rich history.

Book a round trip ticket to our Hacienda Santa Ana to get all of our world-class rums.

We love it neat, but Ron del Barrilito also brings a unique flavor and character to your favorite cocktails. Here are just a couple to get you started.

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At Ron del Barrilito, sustainability is a piece of who we are. Click below to learn more about our brand-wide sustainability efforts.

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Don Q Rum Tour in Ponce

If you enjoy rum like we do, you should know that Puerto Rico is full of rum distilleries and rum tours. One of the newer rum tours available provides the opportunity to explore the oldest Puerto Rican rum, Don Q! Find out why rums produced by Don Q are the best selling rums in Puerto Rico. While the tour is not of the actual distillery, they have created an interesting tour, which takes you from the beginning of the Serrallés story to the newest Don Q rum offerings. And it is a mixology tour, so you get to make (and drink) a few delicious drinks.

The home of Don Q rum is in Ponce, on the south coast of Puerto Rico. They have developed the rum tour inside the Museo Castillo Serrallés (the Serrallés family mansion). So it is an added bonus that you get to see some of the home and gardens on this tour.

You are greeted by your tour guide, and the rum starts flowing right away with a welcome drink at the bar. The tour is a combination of live presentations, videos, photos and displays, and hands on activities. You learn the history of the Serrallés family, who moved from Spain to Ponce in order to open a sugar plantation and processing facility. They started their rum production in 1865, and have been making delicious rum ever since! They even have the original copper still they used on display inside the house.

On the tour, you learn about the sugar plantation, processing, and how sugar (and other a few additional items) is converted into rum. They had a nice display/discussion about the whole hacienda, plantation, factory, and the the distillation, aging, and blending processes. We had a taste test of a 7-year aged rum straight from the barrel (and you learn how and why high proof rum is diluted to the typical 40% alcohol by volume). There was a presentation on all of the Don Q products.

After all that learning, it was finally time to go to the mixology room, where our guide walked us through how to make two drinks. The first was an Old Fashioned, made with Don Q Reserva 7. That was a nice sipping drink. As you sipped on that, you made a Piña Colada, using Don Q Gold rum. That was delicious, too!

After our drinks, we checked out the (optional) virtual reality “Making of Rum” game. As it turns out, we are really bad at virtual reality games but that just added to the fun.

At the conclusion of the tour, we were free to walk around the house gardens and take photos. It is a beautiful place. If you have never been on the house tour before, I recommend you do that while you are there, because you see more of the house. In addition, there is a separate Japanese garden, a butterfly sanctuary, and the emblematic Cruceta del Vigía (the giant cross lookout), that offers a great view of Ponce.

The cost of the mixology tour was $60 per person when we went, but that is subject to change.

The mixology tours are offered Thursday through Monday at 10:30am and 3:30pm in Spanish, and 1:00pm in English. There is a limit of 15 people per session.

The tour lasts about 90 minutes. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour, and allow some additional time check out the gardens afterward.

You can call Museo Castillo Serrallés at 787-259-1774 for more information.

You can visit the Don Q website for more information or to book a tour.

Parking is roadside, in front of the museum on both sides of the street.

Click on a placename below to view the location on Google Maps ...

• Serralles Castle

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Rum taxes meant for Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands may not be working as intended

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

When you buy a bottle of rum in the United States, there's a federal tax. All told, it adds up to more than $700 million a year. Now, most of that money goes to a special program to support Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But Jeff Guo from NPR's Planet Money reports the program might not be working entirely as intended.

JEFF GUO, BYLINE: On the tiny Caribbean island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there is this massive rum distillery. It looms on the horizon. It's got towering chimneys and storage tanks the size of townhouses.

So it's literally giant tanks and pipes and catwalks for, like, all the eye can see.

This is the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery. It single-handedly produces almost a quarter of the rum that Americans drink. And the reason they built it here has to do with what people here call the Rum Wars. You see; there's this decades-old law that says that most of the money from the federal tax on rum has to go to either the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. So if the rum comes from Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico gets the tax money. If the rum comes from the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands gets the tax money. But also, if the rum comes from anywhere outside the U.S. - if it's imported from, like, Jamaica or something, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands still get that tax money. They split it.

NEVILLE JAMES: Only two islands got this sweetheart deal - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

GUO: Neville James was a longtime local senator in the Virgin Islands. He says the idea behind the program is to help these two U.S. territories by giving them a guaranteed stream of income.

JAMES: So we're not 100% dependent on the federal government for appropriations.

GUO: But in 2008, the Virgin Islands made a controversial move. It realized that it could get a bigger share of the federal rum tax if it could lure over a major rum maker from Puerto Rico. So the Virgin Islands cut a deal with Diageo, the company behind Captain Morgan - promised Diageo millions of dollars in subsidies. It even paid for that huge new Captain Morgan distillery on St. Croix, all using taxpayer money. Neville James says Diageo really played the two islands against each other.

JAMES: It's too much money. I don't care how you slice it. That's giving away public money, man.

GUO: And it ignited a textbook example of a race to the bottom because, in response, Puerto Rico raised its own rum subsidies for local producers like Bacardi, which forced the Virgin Islands to give out even more rum subsidies in turn.

JENNIFFER GONZALEZ-COLON: Those were the Rum Wars.

GUO: Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon is Puerto Rico's representative in Congress.

Was there a winner in the Rum Wars?

GONZALEZ-COLON: Diageo.

GUO: The rum company.

GONZALEZ-COLON: Definitely - big winner.

GUO: These days, some 40% of the rum tax money sent to Puerto Rico in the Virgin Islands gets handed over to the rum companies. It used to be less than 10%. Albert Bryan Jr. is the current governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ALBERT BRYAN JR: Sometimes I look at it, and I groan. But like my mom used to tell me all the time, half of something is better than all of nothing.

GUO: He says, still, this rum tax program is the largest single source of revenue for the Virgin Islands. But right now, the Virgin Islands is actually in a budget crisis because, a few years ago, Congress kind of forgot to renew part of the rum tax program. Governor Bryan says, in the territories, you sometimes feel like an afterthought.

BRYAN: To fix our problems, it's not a lot of money. I mean, our - worst - our problems are still in the millions. We're not in the billions yet.

GUO: For now, they're still waiting for Congress to do something. Jeff Guo, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF TITO PUENTE'S "TI MON BO") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Love Exploring

21 Reasons Why Puerto Rico Should Be Your Next Trip

Posted: December 27, 2023 | Last updated: December 27, 2023

The Caribbean’s hottest destination

Miles of sandy beaches, a lush forested interior, elegant upscale resorts, and an exciting blend of Spanish, African, and indigenous Taíno culture have seen Puerto Rico become one of the Caribbean’s go-to destinations. Lying 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, this unincorporated United States territory is a short hop from mainland America, but the archipelago’s incredible natural biodiversity and infectiously joyful vibe are uniquely its own.

Click or scroll through the gallery to discover 21 reasons to add Puerto Rico to your vacation wish list...

1. Step back in time in Old San Juan

Spend a couple of days wandering the blue-grey cobblestone streets, buzzing plazas, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortifications of Old San Juan: a unique Caribbean city shaped by five centuries of history. Old San Juan is the second oldest city established in the New World and from the well-preserved Spanish citadel of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, to its rows of rainbow-coloured townhouses and elegant Moorish-inspired facades, the city reveals snapshots of its past at every turn.

2. Bask on one of the world’s best beaches on Culebra

A perfect, horseshoe-shaped curve of white sand fringed by swaying coconut palms, sloping gently into a warm sea. Sound like paradise? Flamenco Beach on the island of Culebra consistently ranks as one of the best in the world, and you can explore this tropical idyll on a boat cruise with Sail Getaways from Fajardo, stopping at snorkeling spots along the way. Walk along the beach to see The Tank, left behind by the US Navy.

3. Kayak on a bioluminescent bay

There are very few places around the world where natural bioluminescence lights up the ocean at night, and Puerto Rico is home to three of them: Laguna Grande in Fajardo, La Parguera in Lajas and Mosquito Bay on the island of Vieques; the brightest bio bay in the world.

Join a kayak tour with Taino Aqua Adventures or Kayaking Puerto Rico to experience the neon-blue aquatic displays, created by microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates, which illuminate these magical marine realms, which are particularly visible on moonless nights.

4. Relax and recharge at an upscale resort

Set on a coconut plantation between two of Puerto Rico’s stunning natural attractions, El Yunque National Forest and Espíritu Santo River State Preserve, the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is the perfect base for some hiking adventures, but equally as inviting if you’re here to relax and recharge. With two miles of sandy beach overlooking the Atlantic, guests can enjoy water sports, a round of golf on the 18-hole course, and pampering in the sanctuary of the Iridium Spa.

5. Follow the call of the coquí frog

When night falls in Puerto Rico, the territory's mountains and forests ring with the mating calls of thousands of coquí tree frogs. Named after their distinctive, uplifting song, which sounds like “Co-Kee! Co-Kee!”, the amphibians inhabited the archipelago long before the indigenous Taíno people immortalized their image in petroglyphs thousands of years ago. The coquí remains a much-loved cultural symbol for Puerto Ricans today, with the little frogs’ image found on everything from pottery to postcards.

6. Catch some waves in Rincón

A laidback town in northwestern Puerto Rico, with over a dozen beaches and some of the best waves in the Caribbean, Rincón has been a surfing mecca since the late 1960s. Experienced surfers can catch a variety of big breaks around the coast, but there are also plenty of surf schools if it’s your first time on a board and you need some tips. At night, the restaurants and bars around the plaza offer plenty of fun for visitors too.

7. Try the mouthwatering mofongo

Drawing on the territory’s Spanish, African, and Taíno history, the favorite Puerto Rican dish of mofongo features a tight mound of mashed green plantains, traditionally served with meat, seafood, or vegetables. Join an adrenaline-fuelled jet ski tour of the coast, then head to Vittata Gastropub at Rompeolas Beach to replenish with a Cachita Daiquiri, made from rum blended with passion fruit, lime, and coconut foam; alongside their excellent El Mofongo Vittata (fried mashed plantain), served with an earthy porcini broth.

8. Explore the only rainforest in the US

A biodiversity hotspot, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system and is home to sparkling waterfalls and pools, more than 830 native plant species, wildlife including bats, geckos, and anole lizards, and 97 species of bird including hummingbirds and the endangered Puerto Rican parrot.

You’ll also find 13 of the 17 species of coqui frogs here, and plenty of hiking trails through the soaring tabonuco trees, bromeliads, and ferns.

9. Go on a jet ski adventure in Aguadilla

Get a different view of Puerto Rico’s legendary beaches on a jet ski tour along the coastline with Aguadilla Water Sports . The family-run business has a ‘Top Gun’ fleet of yellow Sea Doo jet skis, and fun guides leading the exploration of the northwest coast’s coves and bays. Ride solo or with a buddy on the back, and don’t forget to pair your phone with the on-board Bluetooth speakers, so you can listen to tunes along the way.

10. Catch a coffee tour in San Lorenzo

With a restaurant, café, and resident peacocks nonchalantly strutting their stuff, Hacienda Muñoz is a serene place to spend a couple of hours learning about Puerto Rico’s coffee-producing past. Surrounded by slopes covered with palms and coffee plants, the family-run hacienda is just 30 minutes from San Juan, and a tour takes visitors through the cultivation process to harvesting, sorting, and roasting, ending with a tasting of some of their award-winning specialty blends in the coffee shop.

11. Search for the endangered Puerto Rican parrot

It’s estimated around one million Puerto Rican parrots inhabited the archipelago at the beginning of the sixteenth century, but the arrival of Spanish colonists took its toll and by 1975, just 13 remained. The Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Plan has helped bring them back from the brink, and despite the devastation caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, there are now an estimated 250 of these endangered endemic parrots in the forests of Maricao, El Yunque, and Río Abajo.

12. Swim with turtles in Culebra and San Juan

The warm waters around the islands of Puerto Rico are a haven for marine life, including dolphins, manatees, and whales, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to swim with turtles on the surrounding reefs. On the island of Culebra, guides lead snorkeling tours of the Luis Peña Nature Reserve, where green turtles graze on the seagrass, while Scuba Dogs at Escambrón Marine Park offers snorkeling and diving a stone’s throw from San Juan, with a good chance of seeing turtles.

13. Explore an underground cave system

Beneath Puerto Rico’s lush mountain peaks and forests lies an equally impressive limestone labyrinth. The Río Camuy Cave Park is the third-largest underground river cavern system in the world. Over 10 miles of caverns and 220 caves have been explored and mapped, but experts believe there could be at least 800 caves waiting to be discovered. There are 18 known entrances and visitors can join tours to see stalagmites and stalactites in the 170-feet-high main cave, Clara.

14. Embrace Barbiecore at Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge

Enter a real-life Barbie Land with a visit to the candy-pink salt lakes of the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Puerto Rico. The rosy hue of the pools comes from a combination of algae, salt, bacteria, and water, offering an other-worldly location for an Instagram shoot, before exploring the hiking and biking trails of the 1,800-acre refuge. Nearby, the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse sits high on rugged limestone cliffs, offering epic views of the Caribbean Sea.

15. Live the highlife at classy Condado Beach

Close to the airport, San Juan’s upscale oceanfront district has all you’ll need for a luxe stay, with elegant hotels, beachside restaurants, and big-brand boutiques, plus a long stretch of sand. VIP Adventures  offers water sports rentals, so travelers can explore the lagoon by paddleboard or kayak. Stay at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel for the best views of the coastline, a buzzy cocktail bar, and infinity pool, plus a spa offering the only hammam experience in Puerto Rico.

16. Fly the longest zipline in America

With the longest zipline in America, ToroVerde Adventure Park is not for the fainthearted. The Monster is over 1.5 miles long and hits speeds of up to 95mph, as you fly horizontally above the forested mountain peaks, 1,247 feet up. Meanwhile, The Beast has you soaring like a bird along one of the world ’ s longest single-run ziplines at 4,745 feet, while the Toro Bikes cycle along a cable high in the sky, against a breathtaking backdrop of coastal views.

17. Enjoy a tropical escape in Vieques

Home to a wildlife refuge, the laidback, beautiful isle of Vieques is easily reached by tour boat or ferry from Puerto Rico’s main island. With the world’s brightest body of bioluminescent water at Mosquito Bay, a herd of Spanish Paso Fino horses roaming free, secluded sandy beaches and some of the best snorkeling spots in the territory, Vieques can also be accessed by plane from San Juan and offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury villas to guesthouses.

18. Ride a horse along the beach in Isabela

The dream of horse riding along a windswept beach is a reality in Puerto Rico. Join a two-hour tour with Tropical Trail Rides and you’ll weave through a shady almond-tree forest, before riding along the sweeping sands of Survival Beach on the northwest coast, near Isabela. Owners Craig and Michelle Barker hail from California, came to Puerto Rico for a visit and never went home. As the sun sinks over the ocean, you’ll be tempted to stay too. 

19. See ancient indigenous rock art in Arecibo

When Christopher Columbus sailed into Puerto Rico in 1493 on his second voyage to the Indies, the islands were home to the indigenous Taíno people, and some of their ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) can still be seen around the island today. One of the most famous spots to view them is the dramatic Cueva del Indio in Arecibo on the Atlantic coast, an hour west of San Juan, which has one of the highest numbers of these culturally significant artworks.

20. Enjoy an extreme adventure in San Cristóbal Canyon

The deepest canyon in the Antilles, San Cristóbal Canyon is Puerto Rico’s adventure playground, offering excellent hiking, rappelling, and swimming amidst its waterfalls, caves, and pools in the central mountains. Go Hiking Puerto Rico keeps thrill-seekers safe and pumped on rock climbing and canyoning day tours, while hikers can enjoy spectacular views of the forests, cliffs, and Usabón River rumbling through the six-mile-long ravine: a protected habitat for a variety of native flora and fauna.

21. Sail to a remote desert island

The coral reefs around Puerto Rico ’ s islands and cays offer some magical snorkeling and diving experiences, and the chance to swim with a huge diversity of tropical fish and larger marine life, including manta rays. Join a catamaran tour or take a water taxi from Fajardo to the deserted island of Cayo Icacos – the largest in a remote collection of sandy cays in La Cordillera Nature Reserve – and you’ll soon be snorkeling in some of the east coast’s clearest waters.

Now check out these incredible private islands you can actually afford to rent

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Rum taxes meant for Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands may not be working as intended

Most federal taxes on rum are handed to the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — a crucial way they fund their local governments. Recently, the program isn't working as intended.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

When you buy a bottle of rum in the United States, there's a federal tax. All told, it adds up to more than $700 million a year. Now, most of that money goes to a special program to support Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But Jeff Guo from NPR's Planet Money reports the program might not be working entirely as intended.

JEFF GUO, BYLINE: On the tiny Caribbean island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there is this massive rum distillery. It looms on the horizon. It's got towering chimneys and storage tanks the size of townhouses.

So it's literally giant tanks and pipes and catwalks for, like, all the eye can see.

This is the Captain Morgan Rum Distillery. It single-handedly produces almost a quarter of the rum that Americans drink. And the reason they built it here has to do with what people here call the Rum Wars. You see; there's this decades-old law that says that most of the money from the federal tax on rum has to go to either the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. So if the rum comes from Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico gets the tax money. If the rum comes from the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands gets the tax money. But also, if the rum comes from anywhere outside the U.S. - if it's imported from, like, Jamaica or something, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands still get that tax money. They split it.

NEVILLE JAMES: Only two islands got this sweetheart deal - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

GUO: Neville James was a longtime local senator in the Virgin Islands. He says the idea behind the program is to help these two U.S. territories by giving them a guaranteed stream of income.

JAMES: So we're not 100% dependent on the federal government for appropriations.

GUO: But in 2008, the Virgin Islands made a controversial move. It realized that it could get a bigger share of the federal rum tax if it could lure over a major rum maker from Puerto Rico. So the Virgin Islands cut a deal with Diageo, the company behind Captain Morgan - promised Diageo millions of dollars in subsidies. It even paid for that huge new Captain Morgan distillery on St. Croix, all using taxpayer money. Neville James says Diageo really played the two islands against each other.

JAMES: It's too much money. I don't care how you slice it. That's giving away public money, man.

GUO: And it ignited a textbook example of a race to the bottom because, in response, Puerto Rico raised its own rum subsidies for local producers like Bacardi, which forced the Virgin Islands to give out even more rum subsidies in turn.

JENNIFFER GONZALEZ-COLON: Those were the Rum Wars.

GUO: Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon is Puerto Rico's representative in Congress.

Was there a winner in the Rum Wars?

GONZALEZ-COLON: Diageo.

GUO: The rum company.

GONZALEZ-COLON: Definitely - big winner.

GUO: These days, some 40% of the rum tax money sent to Puerto Rico in the Virgin Islands gets handed over to the rum companies. It used to be less than 10%. Albert Bryan Jr. is the current governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ALBERT BRYAN JR: Sometimes I look at it, and I groan. But like my mom used to tell me all the time, half of something is better than all of nothing.

GUO: He says, still, this rum tax program is the largest single source of revenue for the Virgin Islands. But right now, the Virgin Islands is actually in a budget crisis because, a few years ago, Congress kind of forgot to renew part of the rum tax program. Governor Bryan says, in the territories, you sometimes feel like an afterthought.

BRYAN: To fix our problems, it's not a lot of money. I mean, our - worst - our problems are still in the millions. We're not in the billions yet.

GUO: For now, they're still waiting for Congress to do something. Jeff Guo, NPR News.

(SOUNDBITE OF TITO PUENTE'S "TI MON BO")

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