Beware of fear! He loves stealing new experiences. I almost did not let myself go down these stairs. Photo Courtesy of Eggie Ayala de Móntate #AventurasenFamilia #Inspiración

As I've gotten you used to, let me share a bit of the history of this place. I'm so excited to tell you about this theater. When I was little, my mom owned a fabric store right next to it. Back then, the theater was abandoned. After school, we used to play there, and I still remember peeking through the door just to get a glimpse of it inside. The theater was built in 1871 and inaugurated with the Héroe y Mártir by the illustrious poet and historian from Cabo Rojo, Salvador Brau y Asencio. It was later used as a movie theater, where my dad tells me he used to meet up with his friends. The structure sat abandoned for several decades until 2004, when it was renovated and reopened alongside the historic Curry School. Earlier this year, it was reopened once again as a cinema, screening Hollywood premieres, international films, and local Puerto Rican film productions. The Teatro Excélsior features 159 wooden-backed seats, 4K Sony Digital Cinema projection and sound technology, a concession stand, and an outdoor patio that connects to the theater's main entrance. Ticket prices are significantly lower than those of commercial theaters in the area. Let us know in the comments if you've already visited Teatro Excélsior! #CaboRojo #MiércolesdeTuristeo #AventuraenPuertoRico #PuertoRico

This week, with the popular theme of the Night of the Dead or Halloween, I will tell you about a very special dead box. Taking advantage of the holiday, I prepared an excursion to Caja de Muertos Island with my family and friends. Caja de Muertos is located 8 miles off the south coast of the town of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and its shape looks like an old coffin. The island has a territorial extension of 1½ miles (2.41 km) long and ½ mile wide at its widest point. Isla de Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico - This week, with the popular theme of the Night of the Dead or Halloween, I will tell you about a very special dead box. Taking advantage of the holiday, I prepared an excursion to Caja de Muertos Island with my family and friends. Caja de Muertos is located 8 miles off the south coast of the town of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and its shape looks like an old coffin. The island has a territorial extension of 1½ miles (2.41 km) long and ½ mile wide at its widest point. It has been a nature reserve since 1980, protecting the nesting areas of sea turtles (hawksbill and leatherback). To reach this tropical paradise, you have to take a roughly 45-minute boat ride. The boat to the island departs from the La Guancha boardwalk in Ponce. Lighthouse Visit Once on the island, we set off for the lighthouse, which was designed by Manuel Maese and began operating in August 1887. The boat crew recommended visiting the lighthouse early in the day, as it gets extremely hot in the afternoon for the hike. The day was windy and hazy, so our photos aren't quite as stunning as the ones you see on social media. Faro de Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico - Once on the island, we went to the lighthouse that was designed by Manuel Maese and began operating in August 1887. The boat staff recommended us to go early to the lighthouse because in the afternoon it is extremely hot to make the walk. The day was windy and foggy, so our photos are not as impressive as the ones you find on the web. The hike took about 35 minutes (at a brisk pace) to reach our destination. The path is rocky, especially as you approach the lighthouse, so make sure to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. You'll be able to spot various dry-forest plant and animal species and read about them on the educational signs along the way. Those of you who read us regularly know that we are absolute lighthouse lovers wherever we go. Puerto Rico is home to 15 lighthouses that you should definitely visit soon; each has its own special charm and breathtaking views. In previous posts, I talked about the following lighthouses: Guánica, Arecibo, Maunabo, and, of course, the lighthouse in my hometown, Cabo Rojo. In the Ponce area, there are two lighthouses: one on Caja de Muertos and another on Isla Cardona. The Caja de Muertos lighthouse is architecturally unique, as it is the only lighthouse in Puerto Rico with an H-shaped building. The building measures 81 feet (24.6 meters) long by 51 feet (15.5 meters) wide, with the tower standing in the center at 41 feet (12.5 meters) tall. In the Ponce area, there are two lighthouses: the Caja de Muertos and the Isla Cardona. The Caja de Muertos lighthouse is very special architecturally because it is the only lighthouse in Puerto Rico with an H-shaped building. The building is 81 feet (24.6 meters) long and 51 feet (15.5 meters) wide. The tower is located in the center with 41 feet (meters) high. You cannot enter the lighthouse for safety reasons. However, you can walk around the observation deck area, take in the extraordinary views, and imagine the lighthouse's unique architecture and majesty in its heyday. La puerta de entrada del faro. - The lighthouse cannot be entered for security reasons. You can walk through the area of ​​the observation tower, enjoy the extraordinary views, and imagine the majesty and unique architecture of the lighthouse in its best times. The hike is totally worth it! The view from the lighthouse is spectacular and breathtaking. It truly recharges your soul! La vista desde el Faro de Isla de Caja de Muertos- It is worth the walk! The view from the lighthouse is spectacular and impressive. Recharge your soul! Right on the edge of the trail, we ran into this little surprise. On the edge of the path, we find this surprise. Hiking Recommendations Prepare for the heat, dry environment, loose ground, and Caribbean sun: Visit the lighthouse early in the day. Wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, sunglasses, and a hat (or cap). Apply sunscreen. Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated at all times (there are no water sources at the lighthouse or along the trail). Bring snacks or energy bars. Recommendations for the Walk: Prepare for heat, dry environment, loose soil, and the Caribbean sun: Take the excursion to the lighthouse early. Wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, sunglasses, and a hat (hat or cap). Apply sunscreen. Bring lots of water and stay hydrated at all times (there is no water source in the lighthouse or on the path). Take snacks or bars. The building seen in the photos is a museum where you can learn about the history of the island and the sea turtle conservation project. The building seen in the photos is a museum where you can learn about the history of the island and the sea turtle conservation project. Pelícano Beach (Playa Pelícano) We spent the afternoon enjoying the crystal-clear waters of Pelícano Beach. It is the island's main beach and was the first in a nature reserve in the Caribbean to receive the Blue Flag award. This certification, granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), establishes that this beach meets its strict standards, which include water quality monitoring. Playa Pelicano, Isla Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico- We spent the afternoon enjoying the crystal-clear waters of Pelicano Beach. It is the main beach of the island that received the first Blue Flag award in a Natural Reserve in the Caribbean. This certification, granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), establishes that this beach meets its strict standards that include monitoring water quality. Playa Pelícano, Isla Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico There are other beaches on the eastern side of the island, but they are fenced off—especially during the nesting season of the sea turtles that visit the island every year. In that area, the surf is quite rough, so swimming there is not recommended. Isla Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico - There are other beaches on the east side of the island, but they are fenced. Especially during the nesting season of sea turtles that visit the island annually. In that area, the waves are quite strong, and it is not advised to use them. Vista desde el museo, Isla Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico -We would like to know if you have visited the island or if you are planning to visit it. Tell us in the comments! We’d love to know—have you ever visited Caja de Muertos Island, or is it on your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments below! #MiércolesdeTuristeo #Tinglar #AventuraenPuertoRico #PuertoRico #FarodePuertoRico #AventurasenFamilia #RoadTripPuertoRico

When we travel, we learn new games. On our visit to the Middle of the World in Ecuador, we couldn’t leave without balancing an egg. It’s a tradition of this park. Apparently, the gravitational forces come together, making it easier to balance. It’s such a simple game, but it hooks you right away. The park gift shops have the game set up, and if you balance the egg, they give you free bracelets or other souvenirs. We ended up getting three free bracelets! I have to confess, though, I didn't earn a single one of them—my shaky hands didn't help me at all. Applying what we learned in Ecuador, my husband made one so we can play at home. Juego Equilibrando un Huevo Now we have something to challenge all our friends. So much fun!

We return with another tourist on Wednesday telling you about Fort Saint Louis in Martinique. The Fort is 600 meters long and 100 meters wide and rises 40 meters above the Française beach. The fort avoided numerous assaults, including several victories such as the Battle of Fort Royal on July 20, 1674. The fort avoided numerous assaults, including several victories such as the Battle of Fort Royal on July 20, 1674. It is open to the public daily with a cost of 8 euros for adults and half for children that includes a tour of approximately one hour. Now the fort is an active Naval Base. Le Jardin du Roi (The Garden of the King) La Savane was built in the 18th century and used for training by the French military stationed in Fort Saint Louis. In 1830, La Savane converts to Le Jardin du Roi (The Garden of the King). The redeveloped La Savane is an area for walks and to have a picnic. Française Beach Française Beach is located at the front of the Saint Louis Fort. It is perfect for the passengers of the cruises (short walking distance). Enjoy a peaceful day in the city! #Martinique #Travel #Carribbean #Fort Saint Louis

We arrived at Martinique on a cruise ship. Fort de France called "Paris of the Caribbean" is the capital of Martinique. Marché Couvert (Grand Marche) is a covered market not air-conditioned. An opportunity to see the local people get their products. It's a pleasing mixture of smells and Caribbean colors. You can buy fruits, vegetables, art, spices, baskets, flowers, wines, cloth, souvenirs and the variety is very good. The prices were reasonable. Everyone was extremely welcoming and sociable. Have several restaurants with all food types. I loved the place and my son enjoyed too. When you visit Martinique remember to put Marché Couvert on your list of things to discover, you won't regret it. #Martinique #Caribbean #Travel

I share my favorite garden in St. Kitts. Romney Manor belonged to Sam Jefferson, an ancestor of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. In the seventeenth century, it was sold to Earl Romney calling it Romney Manson. In 1834, the estate became the first plantation to free all its slaves. Botanical Gardens Part of the estate, some six acres have now been converted into splendid botanical gardens, with tropical plants, an old bell tower, and a 400-year-old Saman tree. Guides are available to help select the best trails and share information about the ecological diversity of St. Kitts. Caribelle Batik Romney Manor is home to one of St. Kitts' most famous local businesses. Using the traditional Indonesian method of treating the fabric with wax, the artisans of the Batik of Caribelle have been creating their clothes and tapestries for more than 30 years. Demonstration of the Craftsmen and Shop During the visit, artists can be seen demonstrating Batik's techniques and telling the history of art. Wax is applied to the fabric and dye to wax-free areas. This is done several times to create amazing designs with beautiful colors. Thirty-five employees are employed by the factory full-time. In the shop, you can find magnificent products of bright colors such as Caribbean fabrics, clothes, gifts, fans, and accessories of all kinds. Amazingly, no two pieces are exactly the same. I have visited this garden three times. It is my favorite place to buy fans. My first visit was in 2011 and I still have a fan that I bought like new. Tell us in the comments if you have visited this garden. #StKitts #Caribbean #Travel

The day woke up rainy, again on our trip to Ecuador. The most attractive thing about this visit to Pululahua was to see if it would be possible to live inside a volcano crater. Our hopes of being able to see the crater of the Pululahua (Water Cloud) volcano were disappearing. The whole way it was drizzling, it was raining, and the sun came out a little. But nature cooperated for a few minutes... This volcano, called potentially active since its last eruption was more than 2000 years ago, is located in the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve (3,383 hectares) less than 20 kilometers from the city of Quito, Ecuador, and 3 kilometers from the Middle of the World circle. Unlike the other volcanoes that we see in Ecuador, this one is not shaped like a mountain, it is made up of three hills (volcanic domes) called: Pondoña, El Chivo, and Pan de Azúcar. Inside the crater of the Pululahua volcano, which is one of the few inhabited in the world, is the San Isidro Community that you can see in the photos. The residents, who are approximately thirty families, are dedicated to agriculture and hospitality. Although for reasons of time, we observed from the Ventanillas Viewpoint (Volcano Viewpoint), during your visit you can be a little more adventurous by doing the “Sal si puede” Trail (1.8 kilometers). According to the sign, it is of medium difficulty and it takes 90 minutes to go down the stairs to the community. The day we visited there were students from the Eloy Alfaro Military Superior School and their suffering faces when they reached the top made me think that they were extremely conservative when classifying the difficulty of climbing all those stairs. In the crater, you can camp, cycle, or horseback ride. Have you ever been to a volcano? What did you like the most? Tell us your experience in the comments. #Travel #Ecuador #Aventure

Looking for a water adventure in San Juan? I recommend a paddle board ride in Condado Lagoon. Paddleboarding has become the number one growing sport in the world. With each visit to the beach, we see more children, families, and adults enjoying the water on their paddles. Last week we visited Condado Lagoon to eliminate this activity from our Bucket List. The paddle boards are rented by the hour and provide you with basic instructions. We made the reservation for the last service shift which is from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Last Friday the weather was cloudy and quite windy. I thought we wouldn't be able to run the paddle but we were lucky that it didn't rain. We had never practiced paddle boarding although we are a family that practices kayaking. The girl gave us the safety rules and all the necessary tricks to be able to stand on the paddle. La Laguna has a little swell and is perfect for every skill level of paddler. The wind made us exercise a lot. While we paddled we were able to see tarpon, starfish, and a pufferfish. We spent some time relaxing, admiring the stunning views of the city. Although an hour seems like a short amount of time, it will allow you to do the complete collection. After more than an hour of paddling, they allowed my son to use the inflatable at no additional cost. We were delighted with this experience. We will return soon to see if we encounter the manatees. Tell us, have you paddled, and what your experience was like? #RoadTripPuertoRico #AventuraenPuertoRico #PuertoRico #AventurasenFamilia #SanJuan #BucketList

In this post, I tell you about a place that you cannot miss in my town. The Salinas de Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico is an area of ​​great historical and ecological value where you can enjoy lagoons, salt flats, dry forests, and mangroves. The salt extraction process is carried out in the salt flats. Las Salinas is considered one of the oldest industries under continuous use in the Western Hemisphere at about 507 years. The extraction process is quite simple. When the tide rises using channels and a system of gates, seawater is carried to the lagoon. The lagoon is filled to the level required to produce the salt and more water is allowed to evaporate than enters. This step allows the salinity to increase and we have been told that it takes about three months. When the desired salinity is obtained, they pump the water. In the photos, you see the foam that is produced when pumping the water. To remove the salt, they scrape it with a digger or excavator. They transport it in trucks whose bodies are made of wood since salt corrodes iron. The last stage of the process is to leave the salt uncovered to dry, placing it in the shape of a mountain. In Las Salinas there is a project that works with the conservation, protection, and restoration of the Cabo Rojo National Fish and Wildlife Refuge called the Efrén Pérez Rivera Interpretative Center. The Center offers interpretive tours through the dry forest, has an educational exhibition of birds, sales of crafts, books, and course salt. In my house that salt is what we use for cooking. List of “mandatory” activities in Las Salinas : Bird watching Buy salt Cycle through the Salinas towards the Camino Los Domínguez Pass the sand traps by bike Discover why you cannot climb the Salt Mountain on foot or by bike Finding the Las Salinas floodgate system Find the cotton bushes Finding a salt-stuffed crab Photo of trucks with wooden bodywork The classic photo in the hammock of the wooden ranch Go up to the viewpoint in front of the Interpretive Center Tell us in the comments about your experience visiting this place or if you would like to visit it one day. #CaboRojo #AventuraenPuertoRico #PuertoRico

On long weekends, my coastal town is packed with people so we like to go “pal monte”. This time we planned a “road trip” to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Adjuntas is known as The City of the Sleeping Giant. In Adjuntas you can enjoy several tourist attractions such as Lago Garzas, Bosque Guillarte, Casa Pueblo, and Haciendas, among others. Our family's favorite adventure when we visit Adjuntas is getting to the Hanging Bridge (Hammock). Not many Puerto Ricans know of its existence. When I uploaded the photos to social networks, people flooded asking where it was located, which motivated me to write this post. The Hanging Bridge is located on Highway 518 (Km 7.4) near the La Bellota restaurant and bar. The bridge was built in 1943. Access to the bridge is pedestrian. In the photo you can see the sign that identified the place in 2015 and now in 2018. Don't expect a tour guide because there isn't one. The walk can be a little difficult for people who are not used to doing physical activities since you have to go up and down a hill. I recommend wearing sports shoes and bringing water. They have to walk along the path for 15 to 20 minutes. The walk allows you to be in contact with the forest, relax, and feel peace. I left my sports shoes. You see why I recommended them to you... They had to put up with me the whole way. Maybe I broke a record by crossing the bridge in heels. Of course, if you go with children they will ask several times how long it takes to see the bridge. You begin to see the water of the Lake between the bamboos. The excitement of the children when they saw the bridge is indescribable. The experience of crossing the bridge is unique. You feel your adrenaline rising with the swaying of the bridge. This is what my eyes saw as I crossed. Spectacular! Catch of the day! As we crossed we met some residents of the area fishing. Garzas Lake Another Adjuntas attraction that we visited was the Garzas Lake or Reservoir. They told us that it was built between 1936 to 1943. The water is used for the production of hydroelectric energy and drinking water. The lake has a boat ramp. The day we visited they were giving a kayak excursion. Casa Pueblo It is a community self-management project with more than 35 years. At your facilities, you will receive a talk about the achievements of this project and a tour of the entire house, including the butterfly garden. In the artisanal store, you can get Madre Isla Coffee, which is artisanal and of high quality. You have to try it! Plaza de Recreo There are two obligatory things to do in the public square: have a coffee and look for the thermometer. I am not going to upload the photo of the thermometer so that they will be surprised when they see it. Walking around the town center we found a bicycle stand and we couldn't resist taking a photo. Venture to visit The City of the Sleeping Giant. You will be surprised by everything it has to offer. Tell us in the comments if you already have your photo on the Adjuntas Hanging Bridge or are planning to visit it soon. #PuertoRico #Adjuntas #AventurasenFamilia #RoadTripPuertoRico #MiércolesdeTuristeo

The sun slowly slides towards the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange, pink, and gold. In that magical moment, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico comes to life with incomparable beauty. This imposing fort, witness to centuries of history, becomes the perfect setting to watch the sunset. Strategically located at the entrance to San Juan Bay, the San Felipe del Morro Castle has witnessed battles, sieges, and the passing of time. But as evening falls, all the bustle of the day fades and the castle is immersed in a serene tranquility. Visitors gather to witness the spectacle that nature offers at every sunset. It is a time to reflect, to marvel at the greatness of this area and the beauty of the land where I was born. It is as if the past and present merge into an eternal moment, where the magic of the sunset becomes a bridge between yesterday and today. For those of us who have had the opportunity to witness a sunset at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the experience is unforgettable and a reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. At each sunset, the castle gives us a moment of amazement and admiration, inviting us to connect with the history of our island. Tell us in the comments if you already have your photo at Castillo San Felipe del Morro or are planning to visit it soon. #RoadTripPuertoRico #AventuraenPuertoRico #AventurasenFamilia #SanJuan #PuertoRico