A Fork On The Road’s top 6 things to do in Puerto Rico (plus podcast)

Every week, the Fork On the Road travel podcast takes you around the world on a quest for food, travel and fun. Join hosts Mark DeCarlo and Yeni Alvarez, aka the Traveling Diva, as they interview notable people who travel for a living—from musicians to chefs, comedians and more. For their latest adventure, created in partnership with Orbitz, the duo explores San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they broadcast live from the home of Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, who talks about her new series titled 50/50. Below are A Fork On The Road’s top picks for things to do in Puerto Rico, in no particular order. Be sure to click the podcast for even more info, and then scroll to the bottom to enter to win a trip!

The famous mofongo

1. Take a food tour.

Food is a huge part of Puerto Rican culture and you can immerse yourself in it by taking one of Spoon Food Tours’ culinary excursions. In this episode of A Fork on the Road, the tour company’s founder Caroline Johnson shares her top Old San Juan restaurant picks, as well as the best places to try the country’s signature dish, mofongo (think fried mashed plantains, garlic, olive oil and pork cracklings).

Yeni and scientists at Arecibo Observatory

2. Go stargazing.

Go see the world’s largest single-aperture telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in San Juan. You might recognize it from the Jody Foster film Contact. In this episode of AFOTR, Mark and Yeni chat with scientists and junior scientists from the observatory.

Jose Enrique, Old San Juan

3. Take in the art, music and nightlife of La Plaza del Mercado de Santurce.

This is the place to be at night. Amid the lively street scene, you’ll find one of San Juan’s top restaurants, Jose Enrique, housed inside an old pink house. Yeni still craves the delicious homemade ice cream flavors served there, from guava and dulce de leche to her all-time favorite—ginger-lime.

Pork on a spit

4. Stuff yourself silly on the Pork Highway.

El Guavate, or the Pork Highway, is a series of pig roast stands lining the road in the middle of the jungle about 45 minutes outside of San Juan. Mark describes it as “a big tailgate party with pigs on spits.” Yeni suggests trying the pork pasteles, pork sausage, blood sausage, and rice and beans.

If this fascinating spot isn’t already on your bucket list, add it now. Mark and Yeni recommend signing on with a tour company such as Kayaking Puerto Rico and paddling out at night to marvel at the glowing water.

San Juan Marriot Stellaris Resort and Casino

6. Relax in the sun.

With temperatures hovering between 77-82 degrees year-round, just about every day’s a beach day in Puerto Rico. If you’re more of a pool person, San Juan’s resorts don’t disappoint: Mark and Yeni stayed at the San Juan Marriot Stellaris Resort and Casino, which features a waterslide.

WIN A TRIP!

Got a funny travel video or photo on hand? Submit it and you could win a trip to the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland, Ohio, courtesy of Orbitz, A Fork On The Road and the Fabulous Food Show. Full details are available on A Fork On The Road’s website. Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram.

2. Tweet @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram your funny travel photo or video (max 30 seconds in length) both with #AFOTR to qualify to win. Photo or video with the most likes and retweets will win the trip!

3. Enter as many photos and videos as you like with #AFOTR. All contest entries are due by 11:59pm on Friday, November 6, 2015. Winner will be notified on November 7, 2015, for travel to Cleveland the following weekend.

Tagged: Caribbean, Destinations, Top 10 Lists