Fajardo

18° 19' 59.45" N 65° 39' 41.11" W [18.3332, -65.6614] (KML)

Known as "the city that guards the sun of the Caribbean" (La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente), Fajardo [M] is on the east coast of Puerto Rico, north of Ceiba [S] and east of Luquillo [M].

One of the main attractions is the Bio-Luminescent Bay. A 1.5 hour tour, you will kayak in through a Mangrove forest at night to the bay, where luminescent plankton glow bright blue every time the water is disturbed. Most tours cost $45, and combo packages with tours of El Yunque Rainforest are available and quite a good full-day trip.

Depending on traffic, it's about a 45 minute drive from the airport in San Juan [M] to get to Fajardo [M].

• Faro de Fajardo [M], Route 987, 860-2560. Featuring a nature center and working 19th century lighthouse.
• Las Cabezas de San Juan [M] State Park, 722-5882, 860-2560, fax 722-5872. Trails and boardwalks traversing mangrove forests, rocky coast, and dry forest.

• Watch your step in the neighborhoods around the ferry terminal, there is an iguana infestation and many dead three foot long lizards litter the streets. The locals just step over them as if it's no big deal.
• Icaco, Culebra and other offshore islands of Puerto Rico.  

• El Conquistador Casino [S], El Conquistador Ave, 863-1000, fax 863-6500.
• El Conquistador Golf Course, 1000 Conquistador Ave, 863-6784, 860-1144. Open daily 6:30AM - 7:30PM. Green fees, $75 including cart.
• Yokahu Kayak Trips [1] [S], Route 987, 787-604-7375. Evening kayak tour to bioluminescent bay.
• Kayaking Puerto Rico [2], 787-435-1665. Evening kayak tour to bioluminescent bay for $45 per person.

• Tatiana Sepulveda (East Island Excursions), Marina Puerto Del Rey, ☎ 787-860-3434, [3]. Snorkling trips, sunset sail trips and Bio Bay excursions. starting at $69+.  

• Caribe Sailing Adventures, Fajardo [M] (Marina Puerto Del Rey), ☎ 954-822-3969, [4]. Whatever your sailing charter needs are, Caribe Sailing Adventures can make it happen! Please visit us at: [5] Don't forget to mention this ad  
• Enchanted Island Eco Tours (Nilsa Montanez), Laguna Grande Road 987 (Las Croabas, Fajardo P.R.), ☎ 787-888-2887, [6]. Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm. Sunset to Bioluminescent Bay kayak adventure. Fully guided eco tours with interpretation of natural the area. Tour includes, double ocuppancy kayaks, safety lights, lifejackets, botanical based insect repelent, safety orientation,pre ride instructions, the only outfitter supplying two full hours of tour, assorted snacks and cold bottled water. We can arrange your transportation! Trust the Experience, an eco tourism supplier since 1997!  

• A La Banda Waterfront Restaurant [S], Puerto del Ray Marina, Hwy 3, 860-9162. Seafood. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
• Anchor's Inn, Route 987, 863-7200. Seafood. Open W-M.
• Fontanella [S], Route 987, 860-4260. Italian.
• Pasión por el Fogón [7] [S], Route 987, Km 2.3. Seafood, steak, and Puerto Rican cuisine.
• Rosa's Seafood, 536 Tablado, Puerto Real, 863-0213.

• 52 Parcelas del Beltran Puerto Real, 860-6000. [8]. Offering affordable ocean view rooms. On site there are two restaurants, pools, basketball, tennis, a playground, and spa services.
  • Blue Iguana [S]. Mexican.
  • Breeze Restaurant [S]. Creole and continental.

• 1000 El Conquistador Avenue, 863-1000. [9]. As these are all on a difficult-to-leave campus they are very expensive. Expect to pay >$20 for lunch entree, >$30 for dinner entrees, and $6 for a can of Medalla Light which runs $0.50 at most grocery stores.
  • Bally Hoo Bar & Grill [S]. American.
  • Blossoms [S]. Chinese and Japanese.
  • Las Brisas Terrace [S], 863-6565. American breakfast.
  • Cantina de las Olas [S]. Mexican.
  • Ciao Mediterranean Cafe [S].
  • Isabella's Grill. Seafood and steak.
  • Sting Ray Cafe [S]. International.
  • Otello's. Italian.

mojitos

• Las Casitas Village & Golden Door Spa, The Waldorf Astoria Collection,[10]
• El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa [S],[11], highly over-priced (min $200/night after the added fees), this resort-style accommodation is so far removed from anything else that you are forced to eat on site or drive for a relatively far distance. The service from the staff can be bad at times, and a overwhelming aura of apathy exudes from many there, especially at the front desk. Check in/out is horrifically slow, especially if you feel the need to actually debate the random charges appearing on your bill that shouldn't be there. There are many other options in the area with equally nice views at a more realistic price.
• Anchor's Inn, Route 987, 863-7200, 860-6934, fax 863-1596. Quaint 13 room inn located on a bluff. $55 - $65 per night.
• Coqui Villa [S], 889-2098. 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom casita with full kitchen. $750 - $800 per week.
• Fajardo [M] Inn, 860-6000, fax 860-5063.[12] 107 rooms, many with great views. $90 - $250 per night.
• La Familia Hotel [S], 863-1193. 28 rooms. Around $73 per night.
• Las Delicias Hotel [S], 863-1818. 20 rooms, located on the waterfront. $40 - $60 per night.
• Scenic Inn [S], 863-5195, fax 860-5063. Around $60 per night.
• Passion Fruit Bed & Breakfast [S], [13], PO Box 1161 Fajardo 00738-1161, 1(800) 670-3196, fax (787) 801-1633. Around $100-$130 per night

Coqui Water Park- El Conquistador Water Park

Culebra [M] - Take the ferry and in less than an hour you will be in the small island of Culebra. Culebra was an island once used by the US Navy for military training and you can still see abandoned tanks and bombs in the beaches. Culebra is famous for having the best beach in the Caribbean, Playa Flamenco, called Puerto Rico's best attraction by the Travel Channel.

Text content was last edited at 06:12, on 12 October 2009 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Alex Douglas, Wikitravel user(s) Inas, Tatatabot, Shaund and Airin, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.