Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.

Reading time: about 12 minutes. The 7-Day Puerto Rico Coffee Route Itinerary at a Glance Trip length 7 days / 6 nights. A 5-day version is built into the article. Best season January to March. Driest and coolest in the mountains, and it overlaps the end of the coffee harvest. Start day Start on a Tuesday. Else, plan to skip …

Reading time: about 9 minutes. TL;DR Puerto Rico was once the world’s seventh largest coffee producer, and the mountains that made it are still growing arabica at 2,400 to 2,800 feet. The catch worth knowing before you order: local consumption outruns local production, so a lot of coffee poured on this island is imported or blended. Look for 100% café …

Reading time: about 6 minutes. TL;DR Sending a post card from Puerto Rico costs 65 cents to a US address and $1.75 to anywhere else in the world, one flat international rate. Ask for postcard stamps rather than Forever stamps and you save 17 cents each. The cards themselves are the harder part: the racks in Old San Juan carry …

Reading time: about 8 minutes. This article contains affiliate links. If you book a lesson through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we use. TL;DR You can travel Puerto Rico with no Spanish at all, particularly in San Juan and the resort corridor. You will also have a smaller …

Reading time: about 8 minutes. TL;DR The fastest way to buy something real in Puerto Rico is to ask one question: who made this? Certified artisans here are registered under a 1995 law that defines Puerto Rican craft as handmade, locally sourced where possible, and original in design, and they do not charge you sales tax on their own work. …

Reading time: about 6 minutes. TL;DR Three quarters of non-Puerto Rican visitors never leave the San Juan metro area, and lodging absorbs the largest single share of what they spend. The regions they skip are the ones with the island’s highest poverty rates. You do not have to redesign your trip to change this. Eat one meal a day somewhere …

August in Puerto Rico opens with the loudest weekend of the summer and then goes quiet, which makes it one of the easier months to plan well if you know where the weight sits. Quick answer: what is happening in Puerto Rico in August 2026? The first weekend carries the month. Six town festivals and one major music festival overlap …

New to this event? This is the 2026 logistics page. For the history of the festival, the Héctor Lavoe connection and what La Guancha is like the rest of the year, see our complete guide: Ponce Cuna de la Salsa Fest: The Complete Guide. TL;DR: The second Cuna de la Salsa Fest runs Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August …

TL;DR: The cheapest flights to Puerto Rico are usually nonstops from a Northeast or Florida hub into San Juan (SJU), but the smartest booking depends on where you are truly headed. If your trip centers on the west coast or the south, flying into Aguadilla (BQN) or Ponce (PSE) can save you two to three hours of driving on arrival …

Quick verdict: FlixBus is the cheap, bright-green coach network that will move you between cities for the price of a couple of coffees, and most of the time it does exactly that. In Europe it is a reliable budget backbone. In the US, where FlixBus now runs Greyhound, the experience is rougher and more of a gamble. In Australia, it …

TL;DR: Puerto Rico’s drink culture runs from the piña colada (invented in San Juan in the 1950s and the official national cocktail since 1978) and holiday coquito to island-made rums like Don Q and Ron del Barrilito, the ubiquitous Medalla Light beer, and a whole shelf of non-alcoholic classics: coco frío, mavi, limber, and coconut soda Coco Rico. This guide …

Quick verdict: Wizz Air is a Hungarian ultra-low-cost airline that will fly you across Europe for the price of a nice lunch, and if you travel light and follow every rule to the letter, it usually gets you there. The problems start when something goes wrong. Customer service is hard to reach, refunds tend to arrive as Wizz credit rather …

Travel is often sold as a means for economic development; however far too often tourist dollars are spent in concentrated areas rather than small and locally owned businesses. Of course, we can say that some money trickles down to local populations, but not always as often as you think. As travelers, it is important for us to be good stewards …

New here? This is the 2027 preview. For the full history, the vejigantes, and what the carnival is about, see our complete guide: Carnaval Ponceño: The Complete Guide. Interested in previous years? Check out the 2026 event! Carnaval Ponceño 2027 has not had its official dates or lineup released yet. Based on the pre-Lenten calendar, we expect it to run …

New here? This is the 2027 logistics post. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. For last year’s full schedule, see our 2026 post. The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián return to Old San Juan on Thursday, January 21 through …

New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history, the story of Cacique Hayuya, and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Festival Nacional Indígena: The Complete Guide. For past programs, see our 2025, 2024, and 2023 recaps. Or learn about how this National Indigenous Festival fits into the Taíno route (ruta taína). The Festival …

New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history, the story of the mojo isleño sauce, and what the festival is all about, see our complete guide: Festival del Mojo Isleño: The Complete Guide. This post covers the 2026 dates, the daily music lineup, and the certified 10K. The 23rd Festival Internacional del Mojo Isleño runs Friday, …

New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history, the story of the Castillo Labadie venue, and what the festival is all about, see our complete guide: Volky Fest Mocano: The Complete Guide. This post covers the 2026 dates, the daily music lineup, camping rates, and how to follow along. Volky Fest Mocano returns Friday, July 24 …

New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history and what the fair is all about, see our complete guide: Feria Nacional de Artesanías de Barranquitas: The Complete Guide. This post covers the 2026 dates, the daily lineup, and how to follow along. The 65th edition of the Feria Nacional de Artesanías de Barranquitas runs Friday, July …

July is one of the busiest months on Puerto Rico’s cultural calendar, and this is the full run of festivals, patron-saint fiestas, and town celebrations happening across the island this month. Quick answer: what’s happening in Puerto Rico in July 2026? More than 20 festivals and town fiestas run across Puerto Rico in July 2026, from the Festival de las …

Quick answer: The bus from Copán Ruinas to San Pedro Sula takes roughly 4 to 5 hours and runs a handful of times a day, all in the morning. In most cases, there is no online booking. You show up at the terminal before departure and pay the driver or his assistant directly, in lempiras. Because departures are morning-only from …

When I think back to my first impressions with Puerto Rico, I recall thinking that Puerto Rican food was basic. At that time, I had very little exposure to the variety of options that exist on the island and was also only speaking from a limited set of experiences, which predominately stemmed from street food. I also happened to be …

When I was traveling through Tajikistan, we stopped at a roadside outhouse. I found this old toilet out in nature and I wonder if it is among the world’s worst toilets, or at least among the dirtiest. I’ve seen a wide range of toilets from squatty potties, even outhouses over the amazon river in Peru. Toilets are something that all …

New to the festival? This is the 2026 details page. For the full story of what the festival is and what it celebrates, the coconut masks, the bomba, the history and the debates around it, see our complete guide: Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol in Loíza: The Complete Guide. The Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol return to Loíza in July 2026 for …

New to the festival? This is the 2026 details page. For the full story of what the festival is and what it celebrates (including the güiro and the flamboyán), see our complete guide: Festival del Güiro y el Flamboyán: The Complete Guide. The Festival del Güiro y el Flamboyán returns to Peñuelas in 2026, running July 24 to 26 at …

New to the festival? This is the 2026 logistics page. For the full history and what the festival is all about, see our complete guide: Festival de las Flores de Aibonito: The Complete Guide. This page covers the 2026 dates, prices, and daily schedule. The 2026 Festival de las Flores de Aibonito, Edición 56, runs June 26 to July 5, …

New to the event? This is the 2026 logistics page. For the full history and what the congress is all about, see our complete guide: Puerto Rico Salsa Congress (Destino Salsa): The Complete Guide. This page covers the 2026 dates, the weekly dance route, and how to follow along. The 2026 edition of the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress marks a …

TLDR So you want to drive in Corfu? Well you are not alone. I wanted to as well, and did. Although along the way I learned some things. Quad (ATV), scooter and car rentals are all popular ways to explore the island of Corfu. The island of Corfu is beautiful and rewarding in so many ways. From the mountain villages …

I had almost no idea what to expect in Corfu. Arriving from a different part of Greece, I knew it was an island, but I didn’t look into it that much. As I drove around the island by scooter, I noticed something that surprised me: trash. There’s trash everywhere. The amount of trash is certainly not something that you see …

Every year in late June, there is a small festival in the quaint coastal village of Benitses (Μπενίτσες) on the island of Corfu, Greece. Honoring St. John the Lampatari, presumably ‘the light’, it is known locally as Αη Γιάννης του Λαμπατάρη. My trip to Corfu happened to coincide with the festival and I was fortunately staying nearby the event. After attending, …

How to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday While You’re Here for the World Cup If you’re in the United States for the 2026 World Cup, you’ve picked an extraordinary week to be here. The Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day, lands right in the middle of the group and knockout stages, and this year it isn’t just any Fourth. 2026 marks …

The first thing to understand about an International Driving Permit is that it is not actually a license. At least, not in the traditional license sense. It’s a translation of your existing driver’s license. That single fact clears up about half the confusion around these documents. To me, the IDP process is way more complicated then it needs to be. …

Down the Amazon: Iquitos to Manaus by River There are trips you plan and trips that plan you. Floating down the Amazon is the second kind. You can trace the route on a map ahead of time, but the river runs on its own clock, and somewhere past the first bend you stop fighting it and just let the current …

TLDR — Is Aegean Airlines Worth It? Aegean Airlines is Greece’s largest airline and flag carrier, a full-service Star Alliance member that’s the backbone of travel to and around Greece. Unlike the budget carriers, Aegean still includes the things that make flying pleasant: a real cabin experience, a strong loyalty program (Miles+Bonus), free onboard Wi-Fi for members, and a genuine …

The Quick Take: Midsummer (midsommar) is Sweden’s biggest summer holiday and arguably its most beloved, a celebration of the summer solstice built on flower crowns, a leaf-covered pole, pickled herring, cold schnapps, and a sun that barely sets. In 2026 it lands on Friday, June 19 (Midsummer’s Eve), with the public holiday following on Saturday, June 20. Cities empty out …

Noche de San Juan at a Glance Noche de San Juan (Saint John’s Eve) is one of Puerto Rico’s most beloved traditions, celebrated every year on the night of June 23, the eve of the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint the capital city of San Juan is named for. As midnight strikes, Puerto Ricans crowd the …

What to expect A complete guide to the dishes, regions, ethnic traditions, and table customs of one of the Silk Road’s great food cultures. From the national plov to Bukharian green rice and Korean-Uzbek carrot salad, what to eat, how it changes by region, the ethnic traditions behind it. Further, get my tips on how to navigate Uzbek food as …

Overview — Is Eurowings a good airline? Eurowings is the Lufthansa Group’s low-cost airline, a German budget carrier flying short and medium hops across Europe to city, beach, and other holiday destinations. It runs on the familiar European airline budget model: a cheap BASIC headline fare that’s a seat and a small personal item only, with everything else (cabin trolley, …

Overview: The Culebra and Vieques Ferry The ferry is the most affordable and scenic way to reach Puerto Rico’s island municipalities of Culebra and Vieques. Both routes are run by a single operator, Puerto Rico Ferry (operated by HMS Ferries, anchored by Hornblower), and, this trips up a lot of visitors, they now depart from Ceiba, on Puerto Rico’s east …

TLDR — Is Air Flamenco Good? Air Flamenco is one of Puerto Rico’s oldest island airlines, flying small Britten-Norman Islander aircraft between San Juan, Ceiba, Culebra, and Vieques, with charter service across the wider Caribbean. Founded out of Flamenco Airways in 1976, it’s a long-established local operator and reportedly the largest Britten-Norman Islander operator anywhere. For travelers heading to Culebra …

TLDR — Is Cape Air Worth It? Cape Air is a regional U.S. airline that, for Puerto Rico travelers, is one of the most useful ways to reach the islands of Vieques and Culebra and the west-coast city of Mayagüez from San Juan, plus a web of connections across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It flies small propeller planes …

TLDR — Is Vieques Air Link Worth It? Vieques Air Link (VAL) is Puerto Rico’s homegrown island airline, built specifically to connect the main island with Vieques and Culebra, plus a route to St. Thomas. It flies small Islander, Trislander, and Piper Cherokee aircraft on short hops between San Juan Isla Grande (SIG), Ceiba (NRR), Vieques (VQS), and Culebra (CPX), …

Boquerón Pride 2026 at a Glance What: Orgullo Boquerón, one of the Caribbean’s largest LGBTQ+ pride festivals Where: El Poblado de Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico (West region) When: June 12 to June 14, 2026 Parade: Sunday, June 14, starting at 12:00 p.m. from Boquerón Beach Cost: Free to attend This is the 2026 event page. For the full story …

TLDR — Boquerón Pride at a Glance Orgullo Boquerón (Boquerón Pride) is an annual LGBTQ+ pride parade and street festival held each June in the beach village of Boquerón in Cabo Rojo, on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast. Founded in 2003, it draws up to 40,000 attendees and ranks, alongside San Juan Pride, as one of the two largest pride events …

TLDR — Is easyJet Worth It? easyJet is one of Europe’s biggest budget airlines, flying to over 150 destinations across the continent. I’ve flown with them multiple times and my overall verdict is positive. Value-wise is hard to beat for short-haul travel. That said, the hidden costs around baggage, seat selection, and food can catch you off guard if you …