Hacienda Buena Vista Coffee Plantation: One for the coffee lovers! Back in the colonial days, Puerto Rico was famous for its coffee. Now, many of its coffee plantations have gone and only a handful of high-end growers exist — one of them is Hacienda Buena Vista. Located in the lush mountains above Ponce, the plantation offers tours and tastings as well as an opportunity to see what life was like during the days of Spanish rule and slavery.
Ponce: Ponce is Puerto Rico’s second city, and is hugely different to its bigger and more tourist-oriented sister. This fishing town is brimming with Moorish architecture, and has a number of museums. One not to miss is the Museo de Arte de Ponce, which has a large collection of Pre-Raphaelites and works by Delacroix and Rodin. Head three miles south of the city to La Guancha Paseo Tablado to enjoy a number of waterfront restaurants.
El Yunque National Forest: The El Yunque National Forest is a lush green tropical rainforest to the north-east of the island. The forest sits above Playa Luquillo (a high-end beach resort), and is popular with hikers. At the visitor centre, you can learn about the fragile eco system of the United States’ only tropical rainforest, and hire a guide to take you through the beautiful landscape.