**This is a fairly long review - but highly informative!**…read more I booked an El Yunque hike with Pandora a few months ago based on some reviews I had read - and my wife and I are glad that we did! Our driver (and owner of the company) was Eddie. I got a couple of follow up texts and emails from Eddie confirming our pick-up time and a text 20 mins before we were supposed to get picked up...gotta love that follow up! We started out for the hike about 10 mins earlier than expected. We were supplied with water, soda and fruit for the trip. Along the way, we were given a lot of information - current and historical - on the areas we were driving through and the island in general. Once we got there, we watched a video on the rainforest that really tied together the information we had received on the ride in. We then trekked it up the mountain in the van until we hit the trailhead. The hike from the La Mina trail was amazing! So many photo-ops, plus there's a waterfall (wear shoes good for hiking and water of you're going to swim). The trail was mostly down-hill and paved....but it was closed at the waterfall, so the walk back was uphill and a little rough. Don't let that deter you ....We wouldn't have traded the experience for anything! After the hike and more photos on the way down the mountain (which lasted about 90 mins total), Eddie took us over to a local eatery near the airport...the food was great and cheap (even if we got the world's worst waitress! LOL). After lunch, we headed back to the hotel. Eddie asked us what we were getting into the rest of the day, so we told him we were headed to Old San Juan for the afternoon. Eddie offered to give us a ride down there (which we gladly accepted). He allowed us time to go up to our room and change before we left. He picked it's up in his personal car and drive us over...still giving us great information about the island, and also life - advice we will surely cherish. He left us near the docks - and I must say, it was a little sad ending our time with him. It was like being with an Uncle you haven't seen in a while. He really takes care of people, and seems to genuinely enjoy what he does. He puts a lot of hard-work into perfecting his craft as an excursionist and it really shows. I know it has already been said in another review, but we honestly do feel like we have made a friend in Puerto Rico, and will definitely be calling WHEN we come back! Thank you very much for your time today, Eddie...We thoroughly enjoyed it - you made our vacation extremely memorable and special!

Eddie was an excellent tour guide! He did something not many (if any at all) would do, he took us…read moreto the top of El Yunque! It was an incredible experience! My wife and I researched various tours and decided that Eddie was the one because he was willing to do a private tour with just us two to the top of the rainforest and Bacardi Factory. He went out of his way to make sure we had a blast! Our morning started with him picking us up promptly at 8:00AM at our hotel. He had fresh fruits, cold water, great service, and very good conversations. The night before he made sure we had all we needed before booking with him so we were all set as soon as we jumped in the van. He told us all about El Yunque and what we would see, while taking his time driving the crazy streets of Puerto Rico. Once parked, he made sure we stretched and took a few pics of us before starting the hike. We went through the trails taking all the time we needed since it was very muddy and wet. We went all the way to the highest rock and spent a few minutes admiring the view; then we went back down to see Mt Britton. He took a bunch of great pictures of us as we went through the trails and shared them on dropbox when we were done. After El Yunque he took us to Bebo's BBQ in San Juan which was phenomenal (he said it would be)! He then took us to the Bacardi factory and patiently waited for us to take the tour, all this and it was his birthday! We had a full day with him. He showed us interesting areas of San Juan on the way back to the hotel and we couldn't be happier! Eddie is a trusted, funny, respecting, fun, and caring tour guide! So much so that I feel we must contact him next time just to say hi and have a drink even if we do not want to go on any tours. One of the best things about Eddie is that he is VERY flexible with his schedule and he will take you anywhere (that is reasonable of course). I feel he is an excellent guide and companion which is great because Puerto Rico has gotten pretty dangerous over the years and it is best to be with someone who knows the area and the history, even if you just want to be cabbed around the island. We recommend Eddie and Pandora Tours with our eyes closed! We loved our tour!

This was an unforgettable experience! Let me start by saying that this was in no way easy. The hike…read morehas challenging parts where you are also carrying the tube with you sometimes, so you must be fully capable to do that. The crew is incredible! They are very nice and make sure everyone is doing okay through the entire journey. They take you on a hike to where you will zip line. After the zip line is where you take your tube up river with you. Once you get to the top of the river is where you do the smaller, but mandatory, cliff jump. From there you grab a tube and enjoy floating down the river! At the end of the river there is an optional jump that is from very high up, definitely good for adrenaline junkies! From there was in my opinion the toughest part of the whole adventure: the hike back. It was rough but well worth it. The dogs that hike with you are also a nice bonus! I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for an adventure!

I recently did the Cave Tubing adventure with West Side Adventures. Even though I used to live in…read morePuerto Rico, this experience made me feel like a tourist discovering my own island, which I truly appreciated. The adventure itself was a lot of fun, and the scenery was beautiful. That said, I do think the tour is overpriced compared to similar adventure experiences I've done in other countries. Since participants have to meet at the former Arecibo Observatory, which is quite remote, I was surprised that no bottled water or even a small protein bar or snack was provided after such a physically demanding activity. That would have been a thoughtful touch and would have enhanced the overall experience. I also felt the guides could have been more professional. While they were generally helpful, it didn't seem like there was much organization within the group. It would have been safer and more enjoyable to have guides positioned at the front, middle, and back of the group to better assist hikers with different fitness levels. In addition, the frequent use of profanity among the guides was disappointing and came across as unprofessional. Although most of us understood Spanish, the tour was conducted in English, and I expected a higher level of professionalism. For anyone considering this adventure, I recommend being in at least moderate physical condition. Some sections of the hike can be challenging, so this isn't the best choice for someone who isn't comfortable walking on uneven, rocky terrain. Also, wear shoes that you don't mind getting muddy, wet, and dirty--you'll definitely need them! Overall, I had a great time and I'm glad I experienced it. The cave tubing itself was memorable and a lot of fun. With a few improvements in customer service, organization, and professionalism, this could easily become a five-star experience.

Tour of the Tanama River, this was such a fun experience. I enjoyed this tour because they guided…read moreus and they warned us of safety precautions and waited for everyone no matter their pace. We all stuck together and we got to get in the clay brown water and not felt so good in the humid heat after hiking. You do hike through rocks with water and you walk through water! Wear proper hiking shoes! Only thing is make sure to invest in a good phone water protector bag. I got a cheap Walmart one and my phone got soaked! Thankfully my phone did work in the end but it would've been great to have a dry phone.

This tour is definitely an adventure! An amazing one at that! There's so many components to this…read moretour hiking, grappling, tubing, but nothing compares to the little things that weren't on the description when booking this tour. The views are spectacular and I have to say our tour guide Mariel was AMAZING. She made the tour so exciting for us and my two nieces. She went out of her way to show us things I KNOW she didn't have too but she did because she wanted us to have a great experience. I recommend this tour to anyone and everyone. Yes we do a lot of hiking so maybe not for everyone but if you want an adventure and see Puerto Rico trust me you will on this tour. Thank you to Mariel and the company for everything! Best day of our trip! The ONLY reason I would take out one star is because they have no clear directions to get to the tour on the website. We put the address in the GPS and it took us 20 mins away from the actual tour. We called them and the employee we talked too seemed really annoyed that we were lost and wasn't too helpful! I just wish he had more patience. Thank God we talked Spanish if not I don't see how we would've gotten there on time with the employees attitude. But at the end helped us a bit and we got there on time. By the way, The employee was not the same one we toured with.

My daughter found this place and we were so impressed! We came across a local art fair while we…read morewere there and walked on the trail full of medicinal trees and fruit trees. The museum there was full of interesting artifacts. No entrance fee.

Very interesting to learn about the history of the indigenous people of Puerto Rico and the rest of…read morethe Caribbean. If you are in Ponce, it is worth a stop.

We had Carlos take four of us on his suggested tour on Dec 5th 2019 and it ranks as…read more one of the best things we've ever done from a cruise ship excursion. Here is something that is outstanding and rare during any excursion. He took a lot of pictures for us and he sends you a link to download all of them for FREE! I have never had an excursion do that before. If you do a dolphin or stingray type of excursion you know you will have to pay to get the pictures they take. The insult is they often also don't allow you to bring your own camera so you are forced to buy their pictures. Not this guy. How do you not love him for the fact he not only doesn't charge you but he takes so many for you and with you that it basically is a recap of the day with him. We had over 120 pictures alone that he took for us. It's awesome not to be gouged on an excursion.This was an unexpected add on for us. The walking portion in Old San Juan is fascinating and colorful and thrilling all at the same time. I can't say enough how great a place Puerto Rico is. Such diversity on the island. Historic Old San Juan, forts, stunning beaches, rain forest, night life, luminescence tours etc. Puerto Rico offers so much and the people are so nice and accommodating. We've been there twice and will be back again and will insist on spending a day with Carlos again. He is that good. I asked to stop and have some pastelillos and rellenas and we got an authentic experience that was tasty for lunch. Of course he had the cooler stocked and a nice big tv screen at the front of the van so anyone in the back has a clear view of what's ahead while we are driving. A very nice touch that is really useful and was very much appreciated. The narrative Carlos provides is educational and delivered in such a nice friendly casual style. He had all of us at ease immediately when he greeted us right across the street from where the ship is in port. He had me at ease nearly a year ago when I booked our time with him. His email replies and phone calls for any questions are always helpful and he does respond to questions in a timely manner. Keep in mind he could be on tour and he can't reply immediately. Carlos is so warm and personable it's great for this gringo to now have an hombre in lovely Puerto Rico. Sincerely, Carlos, from the four of us, thank you for giving us a memory that will last a lifetime! Oh and one last thing for Carlos, you need to buy a new van so I know you will continue to do this for another ten years!! See you again friend!

We began our day around 9:30 AM - Charlie was early which was great since we were ready to roll! We…read moremet with Carlos and hopped aboard the comfortable, climate controlled awesomely decked out luxury van "Charlie". Our customized tour began in Old San Juan. I knew my husband and I would not venture past the resort unless we had a tour guide - but we really dislike overcrowded hot buses and predetermined times of departure & locations. Sometimes you just want to walk around and stay a little longer etc. We loved touring old San Juan and traveling into the mountains. We ate at the popular Pork Highway in Guavate. Sampling a buffet of the local offerings was so much fun and of course delicious! The pork was seasoned to perfection and we really fell in love with the yucca. After eating we visited two very interesting art galleries. Jenny and Santos. Please check out our pics - Carlos took all the pictures and made sure we had wonderful memories of our excursion! Highly recommend and worth every penny!

The fiancé and I took the "Perfect Getaway (w/ snorkeling)" with PR4LESS TOURS. A few days before…read moreour trip, I contacted the owner Rafael personally via phone number provided by VIATOUR to confirm if he was able to accommodate us last minute during our short stay in Puerto Rico. Rafael was currently on a tour during our conversation but ultimately returned my phone call confirming that he was able to accommodate us on 12/31/16. We were picked up at 0800 hrs by Rafael and his life partner, Katiana, at our Hotel (Tryp by Wyndham). Also present was their son Danny who was a delight to have the entire day. We were offered water from their cooler. The tour started immediately and Rafael began teaching us the history of Puerto Rico during the drive to each location. Rafael also informed us that due to the tradition of "celebratory gun shots" on NEW YEARS EVE, he's decided to not put our lives in danger and avoid Aguadilla entirely during this tour (unfortunately, due to this anomaly, we missed out on snorkeling during this tour). Our first visit was to La Cueva del Indio caves near Arecibo where Rafael taught us about the Taino tribe and their values based on the elements surrounding the area. It was about an hour ride from where we were staying in Isla Verde. Katiana dropped us off on the side entrance of the roadway that lead into a short wooded pathway, out onto a beautiful, breathtaking beach. Unfortunately, we were unaware this was happening, and could not put on appropriate footwear in time for this attraction. We then climbed onto the cave's rocky terrain, to get down to the actual area where we were able to climb down onto a ladder into the caves (tennis/hiking shoes recommended). Rafael was very knowledgeable about the rich history of the Island and its surroundings. He taught us a lot of things that we did not know about Puerto Rico, and some controversial events between Puerto Rico, Spain, & The United States. He also guided us how to navigate the rocky terrain and climb-down into the caves. Unfortunately, we could not alternatively snorkel here due to the strong waves and riptide. After the caves, we took a scenic ride to the country side of San Sebastian. Along the way, Rafael & Katiana were very accommodating to our stop requests to purchase items alongside of the highway sold by the locals. Fiance and I are always in support of local business over the the Big Box stores, so it was a delight to be able to contribute to the local vendors. We stopped at a fruit stand and enjoyed one of the best Pineapples I've ever had (Rafael bought our first pineapple, and even cut it up for us into slices!). Rafael mentioned that Puerto Rico is known for its pineapples! We also saw raw gandules (compared to the ones in a can that the Fiance cooks with), homemade pineapple hot sauce, and honey. We bit into a tangerine peeled by Rafael and was blown away by its' organic taste. Next stop was a personal request by my fiancé who wanted to purchase an authentic Pilone for when she makes her food back at home. Katiana stopped us at a small shop on the side of the road. At this stop, I also purchased a straw hat and the shop owner gave us a great deal on both the Pilone and hat. Next stop was in San Sebastian, which was about 45 minutes away from Arecibo. We were able to witness and enjoy two cascada waterfalls of the Gozalandia. The first waterfall was a short hike (10 minutes) and included a swinging rope and decent size swimming space. We swam here for a bit and continued on to the second waterfall. The second waterfall was such a serenity and less crowded. The swim space was close to the size of an Olympic pool. There was a rope to assist your climb to the top of its' waterfall, however, required a lot of upper body strength and caution due to the slippery rocks. During these two waterfalls, we were never rushed by the tour guide, and were not given a time limit to how long we could stay. Rafael, Katiana, & Danny, joined us during the hike-through and taught us about different plants and their uses (mostly medicinal). Finally, we stopped at the on-site restaurant/bar (Sha's) to enjoy a meal together. It felt like I was sitting with family and not a formal tour guide company. PR4LESS is a family owned and operated tour company who made this tour very personable for the woman and I. Even with the last minute request, Rafael & Katiana still was able to accommodate just us two even if their were no one else who booked a tour with them on New Years Eve. I would definitely book again due to the tour being a crossover between formal and informal; which I prefer. They currently are working on their home, which they hope to provide bed and breakfast service to their future guests. I hope they stay in business because their tour offers a unique experience with alternative routes that are not congested by other tourists. I look forward to taking a tour with them on our next vacation to the island. Thanks again Torres fam!

After hours of research, I decided to reserve Rafael for 3 days of private excursions for my family…read moreof 5 and I couldn't be happier with my decision. Thanks to Rafael and his wonderful family I have fallen in love with Puerto Rico again. Rafael's vast knowledge of the history of Puerto Rico, religion, and the hot spots across the entire island provided an amazing tour of approximately 75% of the island in our 3 days. Not only did we get to experience the most beautiful areas of the island but also got to enjoy the best of Puerto Rico's culture and food. We felt safe at all times due to Rafael's professional security and previous experience in the US Army. Prior to our arrival, Rafael worked with me to determine a customized travel plan that not only included excursion specifics but also airport transportation, travel assistants, and concierge services. He also reviewed a detailed list of items, such as, age of family members, medical conditions, activity and food restrictions, etc. Rafael is extremely professional, always on time and has great communication skills in both Spanish and English. You can trust his 7 year old son Daniel when he says, "Your wish is his[Rafael] command." Our excursions were 8-12 hours each day and throughout our trip Rafael and his family made us feel like a part of their family. I have traveled to over 8 countries and 35 states and can declare that Rafael is the best tour guide I've ever met.

Drove over an hour and half to get here--wasn't able to enter or even purchase coffee to-go. Since…read morethen they have updated their website with specific information on visiting hours and their tours. Wish they would have done so before our travel guide made our itinerary but onward.... Roads are beyond narrow here--be sure to rent a smaller vehicle or over the side you go!

Great history of coffee plantations in Puerto Rico. Tasted their delicious coffee and toured this…read moreplantation. Beautiful. Highly recommend.

We typically find routes and take adventures on our own, but it appears this tour is the only way…read moreto get to rivers and caves that no one can get into. We were told that they have closed this area to the public now as it was disrespected after a viral tik tok video, people were trashing it, parking anywhere, and destroying the land. So now the owner has closed it and has this tour company to take people in to crowd control and make sure the land isn't trashed. I'm glad we went because it was only 4 of us and the tour guide! We took our time walking through the rivers, looking in caves, kayaking, and hiking. It was a quiet and calm adventure. So beautiful! The tour guide was also awesome! He found unique plants, flowers, bugs, and birds to highlight. The offered a ride to the location, life vests, and helmets. Everything else is up to you to bring- water, snacks. If we come back for vacay we may do this again!

Wow, what an absolutely incredible day! The hike and cave tubing were beautiful, but our guides,…read moreEdwin and Luis, completely stole the show and made the trip unforgettable. They were both so incredibly friendly, welcoming, and genuine. From start to finish, they kept the energy high, made us laugh, and turned a great tour into an absolute highlight of our trip! Their knowledge of the surrounding area, plants, and history was mind-blowing, we learned so much along the way. Edwin and Luis went above and beyond to make sure everyone was safe, comfortable, and having a blast. If you're on the fence about booking this, just do it. Huge thanks to Edwin and Luis for being such fantastic guides and making the day so much fun! You won't regret it!

This is so great! If you're visiting Puerto Rico and searching for a great roadtrip and a view (not…read moreminding the small roads, abrupt and unexpected turns, mountains, and cliffs) this is the place for you. They opened to the public recently and has been a hit! Even though I couldn't get in the balloon due to the rain, I give this 5 stars (what a bummer! It started to rain just when we were about to get in). The staff and everyone here were so friendly, welcoming, and willing to answer any questions from the moment you parked until the moment you leave. They explained the concept, how it operates, and how the owner came up with the idea. The concept is similar to the balloon that operates at Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney. However, the view you get to enjoy from this one (the Adjuntas Aerostatic Ballon) cannot be compared!! There's a platform and if you get there the view is simply amazing! The mountains, the breeze, the nature sounds... is a great experience. Oh yeah! Did I mention that you can either climb to get to the platform or wait for a minivan that will take you there. If you want to get the exercise of the day, I recommend you walk. I did!! They have an open mini cafe and mini restaurant where you can order food and have a good time while you wait for those who decided to get on the balloon. I can't wait to go back on a sunny day!!

Beautiful park with nice paved walking trails. The trails are lined with small pavilions. The ocean…read moreview is good.