 If you're thinking about traveling to Puerto Rico on vacation then you may have heard of the Zika virus that has been linked with Puerto Rico and some other Caribbean islands. Obviously we cannot decide whether or not YOU should travel to Puerto Rico, but we can add some perspective which may help you make a well informed decision.
The Zika virus is named after a well known wilderness area named "Zika Forest" and it is located in Uganda. This is the location of the first place that the Zika virus was discovered in 1947. The Zika virus, like Dengue, Chikengunya, etc, is transmitted by mosquitoes. Often times, people who contract the Zika virus do not even realize they have it because the symptoms are so mild and can resemble the flu. Some other common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. These symptoms can last several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. There has been only one death associated complications from Zika and the person who died was a 70 year old man with pre-existing health conditions. Zika has also been found in many states throughout the United States, but these instances are mostly cases where people have gotten Zika somewhere else and then traveled to another state. If you're solely listening to large media reports, it may seem as though Zika is only found in Puerto Rico. That is not the case. Instances of the virus have been reported from Mexico all the way down to Paraguay and throughout the Caribbean. As with any mosquito borne virus, the best defense is information and precautions. Educate yourself on the risks and make an informed decision. The primary times of day when mosquitoes are active is early in the morning and at dusk so be extra cautious during these times. Wear bug repellant and wear long sleeves when traveling in highly populated areas or in areas where mosquitoes are common. For more information, take a look at the information found on the CDC's website and get your information right from the source.
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Lots of people travel to Icacos Island to relax on the beach, bring a picnic, or just soak up the sun and enjoy the day. However, if you're the type of person who wants to do a bit of snorkeling and exploring we can help you! Here are some of our favorite snorkeling spots around Icacos Island. 
Exploring a place is always a process. Facts lead to more facts which lead to possibilities which lead to discoveries. All of this is fueled by curiosity. Without curiosity and desire for more, there is no willingness to search. I have found that Puerto Rico, like many places, is filled with amazing spots which make it easy to stop searching! For example, when you find an amazing beach….do you really need two?! Let’s say you find two amazing beaches….surely you don’t need a third! However, what I have found is that it’s hard to not keep looking and searching for that next amazing fishing spot or that next beautiful beach. I guess some of that is human nature, right? Nobody is ever satisfied with what they currently own. I suppose the goal is to be aware that you may be inclined to always want more, but because you are aware of this, you should take extra measures to appreciate what you have. Force yourself to stop looking sometimes. Be happy with your one fish. Do not strive to find a bigger one! With all that being said….I still search for more :) Have you ever seen Icacos Island from above? I hadn’t. Who knew there were little lagoons on the inner part of the island?! There is also an old building. Does anyone know what it used to be? $20 off your next water taxi ride for the first person who tells me the answer! 
If you're looking for a place to stay that's not crammed with people but not too remote either, the Ceiba Country Inn is a great spot for you. The quiet town of Ceiba has access to all of the ocean fun that the East side of Puerto Rico has to offer but none of the hustle and bustle of the big cities. Nestled on 12.5 acres in the foothills of the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico, perched on a ridge crossing a valley, the Ceiba Country Inn invites you to come experience the quiet beauty of the countryside. The Inn offers 9 comfortable well furnished rooms on the ground level with various sleeping accommodations available. All rooms have private entrance and feature air conditioning, ceiling fans, mini fridge, telephone, and private bath with shower. A full continental breakfast is included in your stay and served each morning 7am-9am Check out their website for more information and reservations! www.ceibacountryinn.com 
When I travel, I like to have an authentic experience. I like to eat what the locals eat, see what the locals see, and feel how the locals feel. The whole trip just feels more immersive and different from everyday life and after the vacation is over I come away with a new perspective that I can carry with me in my everyday life. That is….until I need to go back on vacation again!
The east side of Puerto Rico is full of authentic experiences and opportunities to do things which are unique to Puerto Rico. Obviously, we are partial to water activities and Icacos and Palomino island, but there are many other options for fun. El Yunque rainforest is one activity that is truly unique to Puerto Rico. There are many guided tours which will take you to the top of the over 3500 foot peak! To get more information about El Yunque tours check out this link. http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque There are also rainforest tours that are a little more relaxing. For example, you can take a tour of part of the rainforest called Charco Frio. There are rope swings here, beautiful water falls, and there is even a natural rock water slide! There is also a local family who will cook an authentic Puerto Rican meal for you. They raise their own chickens, grow their own vegetables, and everything is made fresh. makes me hungry just thinking about it…. Before you go there, I’d recommend picking up some authentic Puerto Rican hot sauce from The Caribbean Trading Company. There store is on the way from San Juan and they have some amazing hot sauces. They use all natural ingredients and their flavors are really good. You should pick up a few bottles on your way so you can use is on your meal after the rainforest and then take some home….and give me a bottle too! They also have a lot of other locally produced souvenirs if you’re looking to buy something and take it back with you for yourself as a gift. They have two store locations in Puerto Rico. Check ‘em out! http://caribbeantrading.com/stores/ Palomino Island is located a few miles off of the east coast of mainland Puerto Rico near Fajardo. The island is mostly uninhabited except for a few structures. According to rumor, Palomino Island is one of a couple private islands off of Puerto Rico's East Coast. The story goes that the island is owned by the descendants of Alberto Bachman Glauser....but I have no idea who that is! I've Googled around a bit but still....no idea. Tell me if you find out! Also on rumor, is the story that the El Conquistador pays the owners of the island $30,000 per month to rent a portion of beach on the island. Sounds like a good deal to me! Here is some more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_Palominos_(Puerto_Rico) Check the island out. It's awesome! Water Taxi to Palomino!   Ever heard of bioluminescence? Google it! The water literally glows. Really it's amazing. Unfortunately the tours book up quickly and unless you know somebody who can help, you may miss out. We can help! Contact us and we can help you book your trip with the best tour operator.
 We're always looking for fun things to do in the Caribbean and ways to get good deals. We recently discovered www.thingstodoinstcroix.com! Take a look. If you're doing some traveling from island to island this site may help you.
 Many of our water taxi guests combine activities to enjoy all that Puerto rico has to offer. We suggest you make a day of it!
Go to the beach, go spearfishing, have some ceviche on one of the beautiful islands with your fresh fish. It doesn't get any better!!! www.spearfishingpuertorico.com  There are so many islands around the east part of Puerto Rico...how do you choose the best one? Go to all of them! By booking a water taxi through us, you can see each island for a low price. And if you book other excursions through us you can save even more money!
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May 2016
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