surfing

LOOKING for a winter holiday where you can surf, swim in the Caribbean Sea, sip on cheap beer and enjoy temperatures of 30C? I’ve got just the place.

Puerto Rico is in the northeastern Caribbean Sea and while it’s known mostly for its vibrant city of San Juan – there’s plenty more to see.

I visited the island earlier this year first landing in San Juan where there are vibrant bars and restaurants before exploring quieter corners of the island like Ciales.

Forty miles to the west of the island it has sweeping, unspoilt countryside with beautiful waterfalls and coffee plantations.

I ventured to FinCafe which serves up brews with a twist – like a ginger and cinnamon flat white – it even grows its own coffee across the road.

Puerto Rico is surrounded by two seas, the North Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

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So if you fancy the water a bit warmer, head to those on the side of the Caribbean Sea.

One of the most beautiful seaside spots I found was called Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla.

It was actually a former military site, but has been transformed into a beautiful stretch of white sand bordering clear blue seas.

It’s popular with the locals and one of the must-do activities is to jump off the old fishing pier.

For surfing, there’s Jobos Beach where there are lessons for beginners or huge waves further out for those more experienced.

One interesting thing about Puerto Rico is that as it’s an unincorporated territory of the United States and there are elements of the US on the island.

For example, on a drive, you’ll see restaurants like Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.

But when it comes to food, I’d suggest visiting some more authentic spots like La Alcapurria Quemá in Santurce for fresh seafood, mofongo and tasty plantain chips.

Medalla Light is a popular beer on the island, but my favourite was a bottle of Ocean Lab Mambo, which has a hint of passion fruit.

You can pick up a Medalla Light for $3.00 (£2.27).

Of course, the island rose in popularity following Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl half-time show.

If you’re lucky enough (and he’s not on tour) you might even spot him there.

During one of my tours, of Puerto Rico, the guide pointed out one of Bad Bunny‘s back-up dancers enjoying a coffee at a roadside stall.

As it’s a quick flight away from the States, it’s quite a popular escape for celebrities – the week before my visit, Joe Jonas was spotted at Habitante Cafe in San Juan.

It’s not just me that loves the island of Puerto Rico, National Geographic just named it one of the ‘Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027’.

The publication picked the top destinations from across all six continents and praised Puerto Rico for its “blend of cultures and community-led traditions” that “is sparking renewed global attention”.

So it’s definitely one to watch and it’s a great destination for Brits to visit during the winter months as the island sits at around 30C year-round.

However, if you’re looking for sunshine, avoid April through November as this is the rainy season.

The best months for visiting Puerto Rico are February and March which have the heat with low humidity and barely any rain.

Sadly for Brits, there are no direct flights from the UK to Puerto Rico.

Anyone heading over to the island will have to change in the US – I took a connecting flight from New York JFK.

JetBlue flies from London Heathrow to San Juan via New York from £390 each way – at it’s quickest, the journey is 14 hours.