How To Experience Puerto Rico As the Locals Do

I'd always wanted to visit islands in the Caribbean, but had usually stayed away from them in the past. My reason for this was because, many times, these islands are concentrated with American tourists who partake in the same few activities within the confines of a resort. And this has never been my idea of a fun, unforgettable trip.

So, when my Puerto Rican friend invited me to go to back to La Isla del Encanto with him, I jumped at the opportunity. This would finally be my chance to visit the beautiful island and truly have an authentic trip, experiencing Puerto Rican culture through the eyes of locals.

If you're planning a trip to Puerto Rico soon, and are looking for an authentic, distinctive experience, void of concentrated beach resorts and packaged tour buses, here are a few things you can do to make your trip a little more special:

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Plan Your Trip Around Sanse

For those you who don't know what Sanse is, it's basically a short nickname for Festival De Las Calles De San Sebastian, or the The Saint Sebastian Street Festival. While the festival technically has Catholic origins, and was traditionally meant to celebrate the Christian saint, it's really progressed to becoming far more than that.

When you go to Sanse today, its like going to a huge music festival. Throughout Old San Juan, there are various performance stages set up where famous Puerto Rican musicians and bands play throughout the night. If you're not wanting to stay around the performance stages, there are also tons of bars scattered throughout the area where you can drink in a more relaxed setting, as well as little food stalls where they sell empanaditas, pinchos, and other local fare. If you're looking for souvenirs, there is also a marketplace set up right by the docking area of Old San Juan where you can purchase snacks, jewelry and other goodies and memorabilia to take back home with you.

Sanse is truly a great way to immerse yourself in the vibrancy and livelihood of Puerto Rican culture. Locals of all ages come to enjoy live music, eat, drink, and dance all night long during this special weekend. I even met a woman celebrating her 90th birthday while I was there! So pick up a few merengue moves, learn the words to Voy Subiendo, Voy Bajando - because that's one song the locals will be singing throughout the streets during Sanse - and bask in your surroundings.☺️

Party At La Placita Over the Weekend

If you're looking to party like a local over the weekend, definitely check out La Placita in the Santurce District. La Placita is basically a line of bars and night clubs that are all lined up next to each other, almost like an open marketplace. What's really cool about these bars is that all of them have open doors, so you can get an idea of how the vibe is at each bar before committing to go inside.

When it comes to music, I'd venture to say that the mix of music at La Placita is very unique that you likely won't find in many other party districts, especially the United States. When I was at La Placita, I first went to a bar that played dembow reggaeton music from the early 2000's, and when I went next door, I was immediately in a completely different ambiance where the music was all EDM remixes of 90's merengue under strobe lights. You can always expect something different at each bar.

Most importantly, if you're a slow drinker and get frustrated about wasting alcohol or not finishing your drink, have no fear! Unlike American bars, there are no open container laws or restrictions at La Placita, so this means that you do not need to finish chugging your beer before heading to the next bar. So enjoy the variety of Latin music, take a shot of chichaito if you're feeling adventurous, and bar hop to your heart's content.

Drink Some Papa Jac

While piña coladas may be what typically comes to mind when one thinks about Puerto Rican cocktails, travelers looking to try something less known should definitely request a Papa Jac at the bar when visiting. Not only does this cocktail, made with equal parts passion fruit juice and rum, taste delicious, but it also has a special story behind it.

Papa Jac was created in 1991 as a passion project experiment by a local, and first debuted at Sanse. However, the drink soon gained popularity all over the island and is now available in most bars, although it's still mostly popular during Sanse and closely associated with the festival. This means that when you go to Puerto Rico around Sanse, you'll see heavy promotion of the drink at most bars.

Most importantly though, Papa Jac is one of those cocktail beverages you probably won't be able to find outside of the island. It's truly something that can only be enjoyed in Puerto Rico, so take advantage of the opportunity while you can.

Go To Paseo Tablado Guaynabo

Last but not least, visit Paseo Tablado Guaynabo, or more commonly referred to as El Tabaldo, at least once during your visit to Puerto Rico. Located in the Guaynabo District, El Tablado is basically a wooden ramp that's been set up on top of a river, where there are many food and beverage kiosks lined up next to each other.

Each of these kiosks serve different local cocktails and shots, and some of them even sell local street food, like pinchos, alcapurrias, etc. When I visited, one of the bartenders who realized I was visiting Puerto Rico for the first time, welcomed me with a free shot of chichaito.

This is a place where local college students, working professionals, and even older adults go to just hang out and have a drink. It's not a super hyped up party area like La Placita, so if you're looking for a laid back environment to chill and have a conversation with friends, El Tablado is a great place to go to.

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This list, by no means, covers the extent of amazing things to do in Puerto Rico. If you're visiting the island for the first time, you'll definitely want to check out some of the historical landmarks, tourist attractions, and other popular neighborhoods. However, if you're looking for a unique experience and something beyond what the typical tourist explores or is aware of, definitely consider some of these activities during your trip as well. Have fun!