Service and Sustainability in Puerto Rico – 10 Days

Once your flight arrives in San Juan, your Tour Manager will meet you outside of baggage claim at the airport.

You will board the bus and depart for Old San Juan.

You’ll take a walking tour of Old San Juan. Nestled in Old San Juan, the San Juan National Historic Site unfolds its 16th-century architectural wonders, showcasing landmarks like the San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal fortresses, along with the ancient city walls. The Bautista Cathedral houses the tomb of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. Vibrantly painted houses grace cobblestone streets and leafy plazas, intermingled with distinguished Caribbean fusion restaurants.

This evening you’ll have your first taste of Puerto Rican cuisine at a welcome dinner in a local restaurant!

After dinner you will visit a supermarket to buy food for breakfasts at the hostel and snacks (included).

You will depart for the hostel.

On your first morning in Puerto Rico, you’ll have breakfast at the hostel then depart for San Lorenzo.

You’ll visit a coffee farm, where you’ll tour the coffee hacienda, enjoy a coffee tasting, and get an opportunity for an agricultural service experience.

You will enjoy lunch as a group.

You will depart for Isla Verde, where you’ll enjoy some beach time at the the popular white sand Isla Verde Beach.

You will have dinner in San Juan.

You will return to the hostel for the evening.

This morning you’ll have breakfast at the hostel and then depart for town of Río Grande.

You will visit El Yunque Tropical Rainforest on a guided tour. You will hike on private restored trails, see beautiful waterfalls and unique scenary as well as Taino landmarks. You will learn about local vegetation, flora and fauna. You will have the opportunity to swim in friendly natural pools.

You will have lunch on a local farm. 

You will depart for Luquillo. When you arrive you’ll have time to relax at Luquillo Beach before dinner.

You have dinner in Luquillo.

You will return to the hostel for the evening.

You will have breakfast at the hostel and then check out.

You’ll depart for Río Piedras.

You will take a walking tour in Río Piedras where you will tour the famous farmers market and have free time to explore and buy snacks. Established in 1714, Rio Piedras stands as the largest district in San Juan. The University of Puerto Rico’s main campus found its roots in Rio Piedras in 1903, consequently earning the district the moniker “University City.”

You will have lunch in town.

After lunch you’ll depart for the town of Loíza.

You will visit the home and studio of Puerto Rican artist, Samuel Lind. You will learn about his painting process. 

You will enjoy beach time at Vacia Talega Beach.

You’ll head to a sustainable farm in the rainforest where you’ll be working and staying. When you arrive you’ll be shown around the homestead and have an orientation to familiarize you with the project on which you’ll be working.

You will have dinner on site and spend the evening enjoying the rustic nature.

This morning you’ll have breakfast at the sustainable farm and pack a lunch to take with you to the work site.

Morning work time!

Possible tasks: gardening, trailblazing and maintenance, digging and clearing drainage ditches, planting, pruning, and otherwise caring for trees, cleaning the living areas, raking, compost management, construction work (concrete mixing, block building, plastering, etc) data entry, plant and animal collection/identification, clean-up, etc.

You will take a break for lunch. 

Optional afternoon hike to a nearby river.

You will enjoy dinner as a group on site.

You’ll have breakfast, pack your bags and depart for Sant Isabel.

You’ll visit a family run farm in Sant Isabel. You will take a tour of their fruit farm where you will learn all about tropical fruits such as pineapples, plantains, papayas, and more. You will also see and learn more about their windmills. 

You will take a cooking class at the farm and learn how to make a Puerto Rican dish called mofongo.

You’ll take a guided walking tour of historic Ponce where you will see the main square, firehouse, plaza, etc. You will have some optional free time to shop/explore the town. 

You will take a salsa lesson at a local dance academy.

This evening you’ll go to a restaurant in Ponce where you will enjoy an authentic Spanish Paella dinner.

You will depart for the town of Guayanilla.

You will check into your hotel.

You will have breakfast. 

You will have beach time at Combate Beach in Cabo Rojo. You will have the opportunity to participate in an optional beach clean up. 

You will have lunch at a locals’ favorite pizzeria.

You will enjoy an afternoon/evening guided snorkeling bay tour. You will board a private boat for a guided tour of La Parguera’s mangrove cays.  After sunset, you’ll don scuba gear for a guided night swim with bioluminescent dinoflagellates to experience their unique glowing effect on the bay.

You will enjoy a dinner buffet in La Parguera.

You will return to the hotel for the evening.

You will have breakfast and check out of the hotel.

You will depart for the central mountain town of Utuado. 

Once you arrive in Utuado, you’ll go hiking and be able to tube on the famous Tanama River.

You will have a packed lunch from a locals’ favorite bakery (panadería).

You will depart for the town of Manatí. You will stop a local shop for snacks.

You will have dinner on your own at Pollo Tropical Manatí or another restaurant of your choosing. 

You will check into the hotel.

You will have breakfast. 

This morning you’ll board the bus and depart for the northwestern coast of the island. 

You’ll have a farm tour and agro-experience at Frutos del Guanabo Farm.

You will have lunch on the farm.  

You will have afternoon beach time at Playa Puerto Nuevo.

You will have dinner on your own near the hotel.

This morning you’ll bid farewell to Puerto Rico. You’ll have breakfast and then depart for the airport.

You will have lunch at or on the way to the airport.

Once you arrive at the airport you’ll check in and board your return flight.