Escape the Cold to Fajardo, Puerto Rico
When it's 20 degrees in Boston, there's slush on the sidewalks in New York and the wind off Lake Michigan cuts right through your coat in Chicago...
Meanwhile, in Fajardo, it's around 80°F, the sea is warm and someone is frying alcapurrias by the side of the road.
From November to March, Fajardo, on the northeast corner of Puerto Rico, is the easiest warm-weather escape you can plan. Here's why, and how.
Why Fajardo this winter
Warm days, warm water. Daytime highs are around 80°F all winter, and the sea stays in the high 70s to low 80s.
No passport needed for U.S. citizens. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so it's a domestic flight.
U.S. dollars. No currency exchange, and your cards work as usual.
Your phone just works. U.S. cell phone plans work in Puerto Rico with no roaming.
Easy to reach. San Juan's airport has flights from many East Coast cities and Chicago, and Fajardo is about an hour's drive from there.
Everything in one place. Beaches, islands, a bioluminescent bay and a rainforest, all within a short drive or sail.
Hurricane season is over. It ends November 30, so winter is the calm season for planning.
Your winter escape, day by day
Here's a long weekend that covers the best of Fajardo. Mix and match.
Day 1: Arrive and slow down
Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive east. Check in, walk to the water and have your first dinner of fresh seafood in Las Croabas, the fishing village. Take your postcard selfie at the Enjoy Fajardo mural at Parque Pasivo Las Croabas.
Day 2: Catamaran to Icacos Cay
The top-selling tour in Fajardo. Sail from one of Fajardo's marinas to Icacos, a small uninhabited island in the La Cordillera Nature Reserve, with white sand and clear water for snorkeling. Most trips include snorkel gear, drinks and lunch. Want a longer sail? Some catamarans go all the way to Culebra. See catamaran tours
Heads up: the public ferry to Culebra and Vieques no longer leaves from Fajardo (it leaves from Ceiba). The catamaran tours leave from Fajardo's marinas.
Day 2, night: Kayak the bioluminescent bay
After dark, paddle through the mangroves into Laguna Grande, where the water glows with every stroke. Pick a night close to the new moon for the brightest glow. Swimming isn't allowed, to protect the organisms that make the light. See bio bay tours
Day 3: El Yunque and chocolate
Drive to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, for trails, waterfalls and cool mountain air. Then visit Hacienda Chocolat, a cacao farm nearby, to see how chocolate is made. See El Yunque
Day 4: Beach day and a farewell lunch
Spend the morning at Seven Seas, the calm public beach run by the Municipality of Fajardo, and the only beach in Fajardo with lifeguards. Feeling adventurous? Walk the trail from its far end to Playa Escondida (no lifeguards there). Before your flight, have one last plate at a roadside chinchorro like Margis Pincho.
Eat like you live here
Breakfast at Las Vistas Café, TripAdvisor's #1 in Fajardo.
Alcapurrias and pinchos at the roadside chinchorros.
Fresh fish and seafood in Las Croabas.
Swim safe
Seven Seas is the only beach in Fajardo with lifeguards. Follow the flags and ask the lifeguards about conditions.
Check the sea before you go on Swim Safe PR (swimsafepr.com). Winter can bring bigger swells and rip currents on some beaches.
On beaches without lifeguards, like Playa Escondida, stay near shore and never swim alone.
On tours, book licensed operators, wear the life jacket they give you and use reef-safe sunscreen. Look at the coral and the turtles, but don't touch.
Getting around
Fajardo is about an hour from San Juan's airport. Uber is easy inside Fajardo, but a ride from San Juan or Carolina costs around $120 to $140 each way. For a stay of a few days, a rental car pays for itself and gets you to El Yunque and the beaches on your own schedule. See car rental
Where to stay
From ocean-view apartments to hotels near the marinas, Fajardo has a place for every budget. Winter is high season, so book early. Find your winter stay
Booking through our links supports Enjoy Fajardo, a non-profit that promotes the town, at no extra cost to you.
Ready to escape the cold?
Warm water, no passport, an hour from the airport and a glowing bay waiting for you after dark. Leave the snow shovel at home. Fajardo is ready for you.
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