10 Unusual Things to Discover in Puerto Rico for a Unique Getaway

San Juan is Puerto Rico’s capital city and among the experiences that visitors can have, there are a handful which are rather out of the ordinary. Learn about the following things you can see and do, which fall under the label of unusual, in a positive way!

There are many attractions in San Juan including architectural treasures and restaurants with delicious dishes, but that’s not all. Visitors to San Juan can experience a variety of environments in one day by going to beautiful beaches, a natural reserve, and spending time in the historic Old San Juan district or stopping by more modern surroundings.
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The radar de Arecibo, in the town of Arecibo, has been open since 1963. The concept of the observatory was developed and supported by Cornell University professors Bill Gordon and Tommy Gold. The radio telescope is used for scientific research in atmospheric and planetary science. Supported by both local and federal organizations, “it’s the largest single dish radio telescope in the world,” per the Ana G. Mendez University System.

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Few bioluminescent bays exist in the world but Puerto Rico boasts three in separate locations on the island. The water glows due to living organisms in the water, and visitors can kayak or even swim in some of the bays. The bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico are located in La Parguera, Fajardo, and Vieques.

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The Narrow House, or La Casa Estrecha in Spanish, may be easy to miss but it has the distinction of being one of the narrowest houses on the globe. Located in the historic Old San Juan district beautiful doors, this five-foot-wide (1.5m) house is painted yellow.

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Located in the town of Jayuya in central Puerto Rico, the Museo Cemi contains exhibits dedicated to the indigenous Taino community. The small museum is shaped like a cemi, an artifact with religious significance. Learn about Puerto Rican history in this one-of-a-kind environment.

Cayo Santiago is known as Monkey Island for its popular inhabitants. There are about 1,000 monkeys on site now studied by the University of Puerto Rico‘s Caribbean Climate Research Center. They are descendants of about 400 rhesus macaque monkeys that have been on the island since 1938. Visitors can view Monkey Island and its furry residents from a boat.

Vieques is one of the smaller islands that make up the archipelago of Puerto Rico, and it is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. Less known about Vieques is that it was used by the US government for naval training and exercises starting in WWII. The bunkers are abandoned; there hasn’t been Navy presence in Vieques since protests in 2003.

The highest peak in Puerto Rico exists in the town of Jayuya. The rare plant species Elaphoglossum serpens is unique to Cerro de Punta and cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. For access to the peak, it’s necessary to drive partially up the mountain, park the vehicle, and hike the rest of the way.

An iconic coconut drink, the piña colada, was created in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are currently two creation stories, one featuring the Barrachina Restaurant in Old San Juan, which has a sign out front naming it the “house where the piña colada was created”, and the other alleging that the drink was created at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Condado. Luckily for visitors, both businesses are currently still open and they can sip on the popular drink at its two alleged birthplaces when in the capital city.

The San Juan Cathedral dates back to the early 1500s when Puerto Rico was under Spanish rule. A Gothic-style structure that features stained glass windows and ornately decorated ceilings, masses continue to be performed and so are weddings. Couples married at the cathedral have the distinction of marrying in one of the oldest churches in the Americas, which is currently home to the Archbishop of San Juan.