Why The Best Caribbean Vacation Doesn’t Even Require A Passport

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Last Updated 1 year ago

Did you know there’s an incredibly beautiful Caribbean island that Americans can go to without a passport?

Americans looking for the ultimate Caribbean destination have an amazing option that's highly accessible — Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to travel there.

But don't let the convenience of this destination fool you into thinking it is anything less than stunning.

Puerto Rico is surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters, is brimming with historical architecture, and offers a tropical paradise on land — it is perfect for every type of traveler.

Families, foodies, nightlife seekers, beach lovers, adventurers, you name it — Puerto Rico has it.

And when you aren't out exploring all the island has to offer, you can rest easy in one of the many amazing hotels in Puerto Rico, like Caribe Hilton.

Caribe Hilton offers just about everything you can think of, so you don’t even have to leave the resort.

@traveloffpath Head to where the Pina Colada was invented and stay in the beautiful Caribe Hilton the next time your are in San Juan. . #travel #puertorico #sanjuan #hilton #caribehilton #caribehiltonsanjuan ♬ Calma (Remix) – Pedro Capo X Farruko

Once you experience the stunning ocean views from your hotel room balcony, you may never want to leave again! But trust us — it's worth venturing out.

Old San Juan is just a short drive from Caribe Hilton, and you don’t want to miss this iconic part of Puerto Rico.

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The Best Way To Explore Old San Juan

On my recent trip to Puerto Rico, we took a food tour through Old San Juan called “Flavors of San Juan,” and it was absolutely amazing.

We tried all the local favorites, from cortadito (espresso and milk) at Café Cuatro Sombras to my personal favorite – mashing our own mofongo at La Mallorquina. For those that don't know, mofongo is fried and mashed plantains mixed with other ingredients, and it's so tasty!

@traveloffpath Puerto Rico is incredible, and Old San Juan is best explored with a food tour! . Check out Flavors Food Tours for an amazing day out 😋 . #travel #puertorico #sanjuan #foodtour #oldsanjuan ♬ Puerto Rico – Frankie Ruíz

There were so many delicious options in Old San Juan, and our guide told us the fascinating history of each of the restaurants and why the food we were trying was so important to Puerto Rican culture.

Our guide was so passionate about Puerto Rican history that you couldn’t help but get pulled into the stories and start to feel like you were part of the culture. It truly makes you feel like a local.

I highly recommend taking this tour because you get to experience the essence of Puerto Rican culture while exploring the incredible architecture around Old San Juan that makes this area so stunning and unique.

If you prefer exploring local drinks over local foods (or appreciate both of them equally), then you should definitely check out La Factoria in Old San Juan.

They have highly unique and delicious cocktails and multiple bars with different atmospheres so everyone can find the right vibe for them. They even have a hidden bar and secret passages! This is definitely the place to go for a fun night out in San Juan.

@tropiclifepr The #1 bar in Puerto Rico La Factoria in Old San Juan. You can't talk about nightlife in Puerto Rico without mentioning La Factoria. 4 great bars all in one place. With some of the best mixologists on the island, this is a great place to have an amazing drink and have fun. Which is your favorite bar in Puerto Rico? #puertorico #tropiclifepr #travelguide #lafactoria ♬ original sound – Tropic Life Puerto Rico🇵🇷

Taste A Bit Of History At The Caribe

Did you know that Pina Coladas were invented in Puerto Rico? The original Pina Colada was actually invented at Caribe Hilton!

The history of the Pina Colada is proudly displayed on the wall in the lobby near their Caribar. Before heading out to an enchanting Caribar Terrace dinner, we experienced the Pina Colada demo at the Caribar, where the bartender walked us through the fascinating history of the original invention while making us the most incredible Pina Coladas.

But Caribe Hilton has more to offer than Pina Coladas.

There are 9 different restaurants on the property with a variety of delicious options – or you could opt to stay in your room and just order room service! The restaurants vary from Morton’s The Steakhouse to the amazing Lola’s Puerto Rican Cuisine, which serves traditional Puerto Rican plates like mofongo and so much more.

Get Off Path

If you want to adventure away from Caribe Hilton for an amazing and fresh farm-to-table dinner, then you should absolutely go to Vianda. The food served at Vianda is made with local products and ingredients, and you can taste how fresh the food is in every bite.

Speaking of adventuring away from the property, make sure not to miss out on the incredibly beautiful El Yunque National Forest. The rainforest is exceptionally diverse, with plenty of hiking trails and activities to enjoy.

@traveloffpath Did you know El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S National Forest System? . #elyunque #travel #puertorico #adventure #nationalpark ♬ Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap

You can climb the stairs of a lookout tower for a stunning view of the rainforest and island, perfect for snagging the ultimate shot for the ‘gram.

Don’t forget to stop and admire La Coca Falls – a beautiful waterfall that's super easy to get to!

After your hike you can even find a section of the river in El Yunque to swim in. For anyone like me who’s constantly looking for a little more adventure, you can take the fun way into the river – cliff jumping and rope swinging!

If you’re looking for some ocean adventures, then head on back to Caribe Hilton. The property has rental equipment for scuba, snuba, paddle boarding, and even sea trekking! We went with the Caribe Hilton guides on a sea trek, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

@traveloffpath Nothing compares to walking on the ocean floor! . Sea Trekking at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico . #sanjuan #travel #puertorico #adventure #sanjuan #caribehilton #caribehiltonsanjuan #ocean #diving ♬ Take Me To The Ocean – The Movement

I absolutely fell in love with Puerto Rico, and I can’t wait to go back. There is so much to love about this beautiful island, and I’ve honestly been craving the food since I left (did I mention how delicious mofongo is?).

The people of Puerto Rico were so kind, and you could tell how much they loved showing us their culture and the history of their island. The beauty, culture, and kindness of this island will keep me coming back for years to come.

_{**Travel Off Path was a guest of Caribe Hilton, who helped with the creation of this itinerary by hosting some of our accommodations and attractions. Our opinions, recommendations, and suggestions remain our own.**}

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.