A Caribbean destination that requires no passport and is just a quick five-hour nonstop flight from many Texas cities, Puerto Rico offers crystal-clear waters, abundant sunshine, action-packed resort activities, and countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the island’s unique culture and rich heritage.

Where to Stay

The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve sits in a unique location within a 1,000-acre private peninsula on the northeast coast of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Bordering the El Yunque National Rainforest, this Hyatt property offers a calmer beach that’s secluded from big waves due to a large natural offshore reef that sits on a protected peninsula.

A variety of rooms are available including luxury suites and spacious and comfortable Villas that include a separate living area with a sleeper sofa, a kitchenette, jetted tub and private balcony with garden or ocean or pool views. Staying in the Villas also offers access to an exclusive pool that sits near the resort’s Sip & Sway Hammock Garden where you can relax in between the ocean and lush green tropical trees.

Kayak, Paddleboard, or Bike the Resort

Bicycles are available to bike around the 72-acre resort, along with kayaks and paddleboards. The resort’s tranquil waters make it one of the best places for standup paddle boards within Puerto Rico.

Championship Golf + Top Golf Swing Suites

Located directly next to Hyatt Regency, Grand Reserve Puerto Rico is a premier 27-hole golf course designed by Tom Kite. The facility opened in 2008 and is one of only two championship courses in the Caribbean.

Tennis

Two tennis courts and two pickleball courts sit on the property, along with options to rent rackets and paddles.

Rainforest Spa

If you visit the Rainforest Spa, you’ll want to take advantage of the private outdoor pool. Steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs are also available to use before treatments.  The 11,000 square foot facility has nine treatment areas, including an outdoor massage area with a rainforest-like atmosphere. Blending medicinal plants with expert touch is a standout element of the spa – sure to make any treatment unique as it’s also rooted in elements of air, water, fire, and earth.

Dining

The resort offers a multitude of dining options, including a contemporary American steakhouse with a Puerto Rican twist. Prime 787 includes dozens of options for steaks, seafood, and side dishes along with a full cocktail menu, including a notable signature Sangria that uses fresh watermelon juice as a base rather than wine.

The resort also has its own signature local lager beer called PRadise Bliss.

Next door to the steakhouse, consider a reservation at Nori Teppanyaki and experience a hibachi show like no other with expertly prepared dishes, including everything from lobster and scallops Teppanyaki and signature sushi, including the Rainforest roll – a delightful combination of steak tempura, avocado and cream cheese topped with plantain, spicy crab, and eel sauce.

El Yunque Nighttime Rainforest Hike

This is one of the most unique and newer experiences offered by Dragonfly DMC. The overpowering, yet somehow calming, sounds of the nighttime rainforest are something to experience. A knowledgeable guide leads this interactive hour-long hike with expertise and entertaining sites and facts, knowing just where to look to showcase the famous coqui – a Puerto Rican frog named for the coqui sound that it makes. Millipedes, baby coquis, a stick bug, and several native slugs are just some of the other creatures you’ll encounter on the nighttime tour. Nothing too intense or disturbing is present  (says the girl who isn’t into reptiles) and the tour is strictly on an easy-to-navigate and very safe path.

Tobacco Farm Tours

Another truly unique experience is to visit Finca Neo Jibairo farms and learn about the tobacco industry. Cristina Gonzalez Rodriguez and her husband Francisco have an interesting story. Francisco started growing food at his mom’s house and eventually installed a greenhouse on his mom’s roof, making his hobby a business, which became a problem because it was located in a residential area. He ended up getting a $1,000 fine and had to destroy everything he had.

“Sometimes in life we encounter these types of situations, maybe in a bigger spectrum or smaller,” said Cristina. “But Francisco could do two things – stay with his normal job as a car mechanic or wait – I think I like this, so I’m actually going to pursue this.”

Francisco decided to study agriculture and later found his own farm, which is now rented to the couple by the Puerto Rican government. The couple now grows an array of flowers, more than 26 different types of fruits and vegetables, and tobacco. To learn how to make cigars, they traveled to Cuba to learn from Cuban cigar makers. Today, they export cigars to more than 20 different areas. They are some of the first farmers to bring cigar making and tobacco farming back to Puerto Rico’s culture after a small hiatus when tobacco farming started to decline in the 1900s.

“It’s a challenge we take with a lot of pride, but without romanticizing, because it’s a lot of work,” said Cristina. “We are a small farm, so we are really proud that we were able to bring it back and demonstrate that, little by little, we can take our cultures back.”

As someone who has never smoked anything in her life (and still doesn’t plan to), I was surprised to learn what an art the cigar industry can be. Our guide explained the thought and flavor put into each cigar through a mix of different phases of production and different plants – similar to the way wine and beer are made. Tobacco even includes an aging process.

“It’s a sacred moment to decompress and take a pause,” said Cristina of the act of smoking a cigar.  “It’s still a ritual on our island.”

The farm also offers a unique cigar rolling workshop experience.

Day Trip to Loiza & Learn to Bomba

About 30 minutes from Rio Grande you can visit Loiza, a town known as the “Capital of Afro-Puerto Rican Culture.”  Taller de Bomba N’Zambi offers interactive group Bomba dancing classes. An energetic and lively guide will lead you through several steps and have you dancing to the beat of authentic Puerto Rican drums.

Rooted deeply in Puerto Rican history, the Bomba dates back to 16th and 17th centuries, developed by enslaved West Africans on coastal sugar plantations as a tool for emotional release, secret communication, and community building.

Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine

Try the local frituras at Pinones restaurant in Loiza. Cool off with a Pina Colada and try authentic local dishes including fried street food. Some standout items include pinchos (skewered chicken) and mofongo (crushed green plantains mixed with garlic and pork cracklings and fresh seafood and garlic sauce).

Puerto Rican Heritage via Authentic Masks

A visit to El Batey de los Hermanos Ayala allows for a unique presentation of Loiza’s handcrafted vejigante masks. A guide will walk you through the history of the masks, including an authentic representation of what the artwork means for her family – and how present-day Puerto Rico celebrates and honors this heritage, including a glimpse at a yearly festival held each July in Loiza, surrounding the masks.

Overall

Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico offers a great home-base destination for resort relaxation and authentic Puerto Rican adventure. Learn the authentic and unique elements of the island’s culture, talk with local residents – and also experience a touristy resort stay with delightful culinary experiences on property, while enjoying natural and scenic beauty both onsite at the property and just steps away via planned excursions at El Yunque rainforest.

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Cover Photo courtesy Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico.

Britni Rachal is a full-time marketer and a former television news producer with a life-long passion for written and visual storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys live country music, tennis, fitness, all things travel, and trying new restaurants with friends and family. In addition to journalism, she also has a love for shoes and coffee. Britni is a fifth generation Texan and a proud LSU Tiger. She currently lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.