Since we booked this last minute, we didn't have much time to check reviews. Having done several…read moreexcursions across the Caribbean, this one felt the least hospitable. The crew was quiet, offering little to no information about the mangroves or surrounding islands, we had to keep asking questions just to learn anything. The boat itself was in need of maintenance, with exposed, cracked cushions showing wear from the sea and sun. To our surprise, snorkeling gear came at an extra charge upon check-in, despite the website advertising it as part of the price. To top it off, there was no music on the boat, making the experience feel dull and uninspired. As for the snorkeling, the spot we were dropped at had barely any coral reefs or fish. When we asked about it, we were told that if we swam further, we'd find artificial reefs, not exactly what we were looking for. Overall, it was a disappointing experience that didn't live up to expectations.

We booked with Hook'd on Adventure Parguera for the sunset and bioluminescence tour…read more The location is perfect with restaurants, music, public restrooms and convenient parking. We were warmly greeted and walked through the evening plans. Our captain was attentive and very knowledgeable of the area, sharing information about the fish and land around us. We were docked in a sand bar and allowed to get out and swim with tarpon fish! That was incredible. Our family snorkeled and swam and watched the sun set beautifully on the west coast. As we traveled to the bay after the darkness fell, we were offered life jackets and pool noodles to float in the dark bay. Our captain explained what we were seeing and why it happens there. Our best view was under the hull of the boat. Having adult children they were very impressed by this phenomenon. I highly recommend bringing extra towels and dry clothes, especially if you are eating post boat ride.

Island Venture is the one and only ferry that takes the public to and from Caja de Muertos. Only…read moreone ferry sets sail each day. The only other way to get there is by private boat. Launching from La Guancha, the dock was easy to get to and there was plenty of parking. For $28 roundtrip (as of 12/16), it was a value excursion! On this uninhabited island, there are no stores or vendors. Bring your own food, drinks, and beach comfort items. The ferry does sell drinks, some alcoholic beverages, snacks, and food (hot dogs and kebabs). You have to preorder the food in the morning and they'll cook it up fresh while you go play on the island, serving lunch at noon. For $60, you get roundtrip transportation and twelve meal and drink tickets (two tickets for food items, one ticket for snacks and drinks, including beer). The prices onboard are actually quite reasonable, so the meal tickets really aren't that much of a deal, in my opinion. You can also rent beach chairs and snorkeling gear from Island Ventures at very affordable prices. On this gorgeous island, we wanted to do it all! We wanted to hike to the lighthouse, explore the caves, play at the beach...everything! But we somehow couldn't get away from the water. We played at the beach, snorkeled, and then beached again. Snorkeling gear was only ten bucks to rent (as of 12/16), but because I can't swim and needed a life vest, I paid another two bucks for the whole shebang. While we were close to coral along the shore, it wasn't the best snorkeling environment. Not a lot of wildlife around all those human types that lined the shores. There were many fish under the dock, so we carefully explored that area. The water is a brilliant turquoise, but not very clear (it wasn't dirty, it just wasn't crystal clear), so it was often times difficult to see, even from a short distance away. Ferry leaves La Guancha at 8:30 AM on the dot, so get there early to check in and grab a seat. The forty-five minute ride each way is pretty smooth. Ferry leaves the island at 3:30 PM. That's almost six hours on the island! For us, it was just right. A perfect day on a gorgeous island with an attentive ferry staff.

We had an AMAZING day at Isla Caja de Muertos aka Coffin Island (which annoys me because it's not a…read moreword for word translation and Box of the Dead Island sounds way better). The Island itself is 5 + stars, but one of the only ways to get there (Island Ventures) knocks it down a star. Island Venture Ferry Basics -- $25 per person which includes two drink tickets (can be claimed for Medalla Light, Coors Light, or soda). You can also upgrade your ticket for $10 and get 15 drink tickets (!) --Boat leaves from La Guancha at 8:30am (but you must arrive by 7:40am) and from the island at 3:30 (boards at 3). Ride takes about 45 minutes and has a lower level with shade. --They also sell hot dogs and kebabs and rent umbrellas on the ship and the ship stays docked there so you can continue to purchase drinks/food while you're on the island. Caveats: --The company holds weird hours and are hard to get a hold of, especially if you don't speak Spanish. --Their online booking system can be glitchy, my friend's reservation got mixed up for the wrong day. --Spots book up fast, book early! --They charge a fee for coolers (although we had soft/bag style coolers and were not charged). --We shared the boat with a school trip...so yea, there's that. ISLAND --AWESOME. --Walk up (down? into?) the cave. --Walk up to the lighthouse for some AMAZING views (30 minutes, bring water, we did it in flip flops but prob shouldn't have). --Love life on the beach. Watch out for jellyfish though! --Snorkel! (Not the best I've seen, but still cool). --Admire cacti and wildlife (hermit crabs and lizards everywhere!) During some seasons there are apparently sea turtles nesting! --Pack a picnic and enjoy it on the picnic tables! They also have compost "bathrooms." They smell and don't have soap, but there's TP! --Avoid the small beach to the left of the dock (if you're facing the island)-loaded with bugs! --Perfect day trip and one of my favorite activities from our Puerto Rico trip! ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND. Must go!

The Rainforest Cave Tubing tour was a wonderful experience full of adventure. I went from trekking…read morethrough a beautiful rainforest to a cliff jump in to the river and on to tubing along some amazing river canyons. My tour happened to be rescheduled for a day after a heavy rain so the river had a muddy look, but it was just as beautiful. This tour was one of the highlights of my vacation. The guides were always very attentive to my needs hiking back up and I felt quite safe. I highly recommend this trip.

From the owner: The best adventure and nature tours in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico! From river tubing to…read morecaves and beaches. Follow us on social networks Caribe Adventures Puerto Rico!

I booked the zipline tour with Ecoquest Experiences & Tours via Carnival Cruise Lines while in San…read moreJuan. There was a lengthy but smooth bus ride over to the location. Once on site, we had a few minutes in the Margarita Bar to take a bathroom break, grab water or snack, etc. Then we went to another area to get our gear put on and then headed to the first line. Before getting started one of the guides gave instructions on what not to do with the gear, how to hold on and how to pull yourself in if you don't make it all of the way to the next platform. Next the adventure began. I don't recall the description saying that there were open-slated wooden bridges to cross or slightly steep and possibly slippery hills to climb. I can say that my nerves, glutes and hamstrings got an intense workout. lol. The last line ends back at the Margarita Bar, perfect for if you need a shot after. The guides help you get all of the gear off. The views were great, and I really did enjoy myself. I made it across successfully on all 5 lines. It was more work than I bargained for but I'm glad that I went and would consider doing it again. All of the tour guides assisting us were great and everyone in our tour survived the experience.

This was an excursion offered through Carnival Cruise Line while in San Juan…read more My fiancée and I did the ziplining thru ecoquest. The grounds were gorgeous - it was great walking / hiking thru the natural landscape to get to the 5 lines. The lines were shorter than I had hoped, but we still very much enjoyed ourselves. It was great learning more about the area - our guides were very informative!

Best Excursion Experience - Highly Recommend Castillo Tours!…read more Our day with Castillo Tours was absolutely incredible! Huge shoutout to Captain Tito, Eli, Adrian, Mathew, and Brian--this crew went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. From the moment we stepped on the boat, they made sure my family and I were well taken care of. I never had an empty cup, lunch was delicious and on point, and they even took the time to teach guests the basics of snorkeling. You could tell they genuinely cared about making sure everyone was comfortable, safe, and having a great time. The boat was super clean, and the whole vibe was fun, welcoming, and relaxing. I 100% recommend anyone on vacation to try this tour--you won't regret it! And if you can, request this exact crew. I'll definitely be coming back for another round.

Amazing experience! The highlight of our vacation in Puerto Rico. The catamaran was in great shape!…read moreHowever the captain and his crew made the difference, courteous, attentive, hospitable and fun! Every single passenger had a great time! They are great ambassadors of Puerto Rican Hospitality and Castillo Tours quality of service. I highly recommend this experience!

**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 is a review of the food tour. The company offers other tours like rum tour and history tour…read more Our guide Pablo was super nice and knowledgeable. You'd get a text message reminder a day before the tour and they would ask if you have food restrictions or allergies. You'd also get a reminder where the meeting spot is. We met at Banco Popular, introduced ourselves and went our merry way to the 5 different food spots. Pablo ordered the food before hand so that when the group arrived at the different restaurants/places, the food was ready and we did not have to wait that long. Our first stop was Cafe Cuatro Sombras where we had coffee and croissant ham/provolone cheese/guava butter. I liked this croissant with a hint of tanginess/sweetness from the guava. Noncoffee drinkers had options of lemonade and tea. Second stop was Señor Paleta. There's no indoor seating here so we had the delicious parcha (passion fruit) popsicle. Yum! Very refreshing, great for this warm weather! Third stop was Cafe El Punto. This place has a lot of artwork by local artists. We had ceviche de pescado and alcapurrias de la casa which were nice. Fourth stop was El Patio de Sam where we "made" our own mofongo. We had fried plantains and garlic butter, mashed them in a mortar and pestle, and added the chicken before turning the mortar upside down to get the mofongo. This was flavorful and had more moisture compared to another mofongo we had. Last stop for dessert was Vaca Brava. We had flan which was nice. We enjoyed the food, the tour, and the conversations. Great experience here.

The tour guides were friendly amd knowledgable, the food was delicious. We have been on over ten…read morefood tours around the world and this was up there with the best.

Best tour and experience. We did the Cave TUBBING tour. It was a great and unique experience. Edwin…read morewas an amazing tour guide. He took his time to explain so much about the fauna and history of the place. We had a 7yr old with us and he was so patience with her. And let the teenager explore. We had so much fun and freedom in this tour. We were the only tour in the river. Definitely the extra-drive to get in Utuado vs. other similar tours in Arecibo.

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!

Crash Boat Experience takes you on boats to experience the Pelicans, swim with tarpons, go in a…read morecave, and go to crash boat beach... all on the boats! The tour guides Roberto and Rafy are great explaining the history of the area and the natural sites. It was a wonderful experience! Fun for the whole family!

Phenomenal tour! Robert is a wealth of knowledge and a true nature enthusiast! He goes above and…read morebeyond to give you the absolute best experience from start to finish! Highly recommend. We got to snorkel, cliff dive, swim in and explore caves, feed pelicans and tarpon. It was amazing!