Where to Take Your Incentive Group for an Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure

INSIGHTS

Sponsored by Destination Puerto Rico

The answer to been there, done that: if your group has already visited a destination’s main attractions, they may be ready for another kind of Island adventure.

As we have emerged from the pandemic, exposure to new cultural experiences and local people is a top driver for those choosing locations to explore. Much like its people and culture, Puerto Rico is inherently diverse, stemming from its unique blend of African, Spanish and Taino heritage and prime Caribbean location.

The Island boasts attractions for every type of traveler and meeting attendee: the one who wants to give back, the one seeking to explore or simply hoping to enjoy the sound of crashing waves or the magical rainforest. The Island has many exciting opportunities to immerse returning visitors in something unique and memorable that sparks bonding. Our latest campaign Live Boricua spotlights the elements that honor the unique attributes and heritage of Puerto Rico by inviting travelers to experience the destination authentically. Boricua is a word used to describe a person from Puerto Rico by birth or descent, but it’s so much more; it’s a way of life; the essence of the campaign is an invitation to “come alive with the experience in Puerto Rico.”

At Discover Puerto Rico, our team of in-the-know locals are readily available to offer group incentive travel planners insider information on off-the-beaten paths experiences that will allow the group to discover a whole new side to Puerto Rico.

Hit the water

Puerto Rico’s coastline offers more than pretty beaches to lounge on. For those who want to explore the deep, you can book a snorkeling and scuba diving tour.

Operators like Scuba Dogs in San Juan, Aquatica Dive and Surf in Aguadilla, Rincón Diving and Snorkeling, and Paradise Scuba and Snorkeling in La Parguera offer beginner and non-certified scuba diving tours to some of the best dive sites on the Island.

Other popular water sports are kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). If your group needs to stay near San Juan, companies like VIP Adventures Puerto Rico and Night Kayak have kayaks, paddleboard rentals, and guided kayak tours around the Condado Lagoon.

For an even more unique experience, your guests can do a night kayak or SUP tour that uses special boards and kayaks with LED lights and glass bottoms.

If your group wants to venture further, they can kayak the bioluminescent bays in Fajardo or Vieques.

Puerto Rico from above

For a group of thrill-seekers, offer them the opportunity to do tandem jumping at Skydive Puerto Rico or Xtreme Divers, both in Arecibo. This style of skydiving is ideal for beginners since it uses a tandem harness with a certified instructor. Your guests will be able to fly through the air over the Island in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Another way to take flight is parasailing in Isla Verde, near San Juan, with Watersport4U. They also offer flyboarding and banana boat rides for those who would rather stay closer to the ground (or, in this case, the ocean).

Island hopping

Many visitors don’t know that Puerto Rico is actually an archipelago. The most popular islands to visit are Culebra and Vieques, which offer spectacular beaches, quaint towns, horseback riding tours, snorkeling with sea turtles, and the brightest bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico. A visit to one of these islands can be as short as a day trip or extend to a long weekend getaway.

There are also smaller islands like Cayo Icacos and Palomino Island, off the coast of Fajardo, or Caja de Muertos, near Ponce, that you can visit by chartering a boat for the day or booking a catamaran tour. These are great for beach bumming and snorkeling, and the catamarans usually include lunch and drinks for guests.

Chinchorreo

Does your group love to eat, drink, and party like locals? Then send them into the mountains for a day of chinchorreo. This popular weekend activity involves restaurant and bar hopping along a predetermined route.

The food can range from delicious fried fritters like alcapurrias and empanadillas to more upscale dining and sit-down restaurants with impressive views.

The most famous route is La Ruta del Lechon in the Guavate neighborhood of Cayey, which features some of the best roast pork on the Island. Other popular routes include Piñones along the coast of Loíza and the Longaniza Trail in Orocovis (near Toro Verde Adventure Park).

Charter a bus or book a tour with Chinchorreo Bus or Bespoke Lifestyle Management.

Mountain Excursions

Book an ecotour in the Central Mountain Range if your group is up for a challenge and wants to push the adventure even further. Through a combination of rappelling and hiking, your group can descend into Cañón San Cristóbal in Barranquitas, a deep canyon with a natural pool at the bottom, assisted by professional guides from Montana Explora Eco Tours or Go Hiking PR.

Or they can follow the Tanamá River in Utuado, hiking, river tubing, and rappelling along a challenging route with Tanamá River Adventures.

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