This tour begins in Old San Juan, a city paved in Blue cobblestone, with a tradition steeped in history, transitioning to what is known as ”new” San Juan and crossing to Loiza with its lush coastal forests.

From Loiza we will ride to El Yunque Rain Forest, which covers 28,000 acres – up to 3,533 ft. – in the Sierra de Luquillo. Here we will have the first swim of the trip, in water that is beautiful beyond words.

On to the Northeast Ecological Corridor, which lies between the towns of Luquillo and Fajardo on Puerto Rico’s northeastern shoreline. Forests, wetlands, beaches and coral communities abound. We’ll stop to lunch at a fantastic virgin beach to cool off.

We’ll camp in Fajardo. Here we will visit the Bioluminescent Bay at night. Known as Laguna Grande, it is part of Las Cabezas de San Juan nature reserve. Then another amazing local dinner, and well deserved sleep, dreaming of tomorrow.

This morning we will ride to Roosevelt Roads, the old regional headquarters of the US military. Our ride takes us along the coast and up to the center of the island to Guavate in Cayey and its 6,000 acres mountain reserve. After a swim in Charca Azul we head straight to lunch, sampling Puerto Rico’s ultimate culinary delicacy – lechón asado (whole roast pig).

Next up is Barranquitas. One of Puerto Rico’s finest examples of a mountain town, Barranquitas is a small, charming settlement clinging to the slopes of the Cordillera Central, lying on the north side of the San Cristóbal Canyon. In this town we will settle for the day after dinner and talk of things to come.

After breakfast, we will circumvent The San Cristobal Canyon. A Natural Protected Area at an elevation ending at 2,140 feet (652.2 m) and extending 5.6 miles (9 km) the Canyon is a unique geomorphological phenomenon.

We’ll then ride up to Toro Negro; Bisected by some of the steepest, windiest parts of the Panoramic Route, the area is often shrouded in mist and blanketed by dense jungle foliage. Followed by Cerro Punta – at 4,389ft. – the tallest point in the Toro Negro reserve and Puerto Rico’s highest peak.

Then, down to Adjuntas, to one of our favorite watering holes, “El Ataud” where we’ll end our third day with a splash, calling it a night in Ponce.

We will take break from the wilderness for the first part of today’s ride, dropping into the “True Capital” of Puerto Rico, Ponce. The sparkling fountains in the central square and narrow streets of the city’s historic center evoke the stately spirit of Puerto Rico’s past, including Castillo Serralles, home to one of the top rum families in the island.

On our way to Guanica there is the Lucchetti Lake and eventually San German, Puerto Rico’s second oldest – and also one of its best preserved – city (after San Juan), established in 1573. For those interested in colonial Creole architecture, this little town can only be bested by Ponce and Old San Juan.

Beautiful bays and cays, and the stunning Bosque Estatal de Guánica, perched in hills above the sea, the immense 10,000-acre expanse of the Guánica Biosphere Reserve is one of the island’s great natural treasures. We will also visit Parguera. This lazy seaside town is a favorite for its pristine mangrove cays, picturesque floating houses and seafood treats. We’ll take a boat ride to the mangroves where swimming in paradise awaits.

In the morning, we find ourselves at the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse. There’s not much further we can go-we are the southernmost part of Puerto Rico. The lighthouse stands sentinel on the headland, with some dramatic cliff formations right beyond the outer walls. After the lighthouse visit the gear goes off for a swim in yet another surreal water spot.

This is a remote region of coastal mangroves, wildfowl-packed lagoons, dry forest – and further south – extensive saltpans. There’s an extensive patchwork of wildlife refuges here, along with trails to hike, some unusual birds and mammals to spot and a quiet network of country roads that make for excellent riding.

You can never get too much of the forest, so our final day will be spent touring the amazing roads between Rincon and home, San Juan. We’ll pass through the spectacular Camuy Cave Park. This incredible 268-acre park is the site of the great subterranean caverns carved out by the Camuy River over one million years ago. It is, literally, another world.

Then, sadly-but full of a lifetime of incredible memories-we will ride on to San Juan, concluding our trip, and talk of your imminent return for more.