Anyone who has been to Puerto Rico has heard of Palomino Island, which is the El Conquistador Resort‘s private island, a stone’s throw from the main property and easily accessible via a ten minute ferry ride. The area is on the Eastern part of Puerto Rico, roughly an hour’s drive from the main airport. On the island itself, there’s an enclave of water sports, recreational activities and sheer serenity along white sandy beaches. And oh yes, large iguanas who are eager to eat off your plate if you dine at the island’s only restaurant, Iguana’s Cafe.
To get to Palomino Island, there’s a bit of a process but an easy one once you know the system. Cable cars leave regularly from the El Conquistador Resort and are a boat load of fun to take. Below is a shot I took while declining from the top part of the resort, which is set up on a 300 foot bluff overlooking the ocean below.
Once you get to the bottom, you’re faced with more resort goodies, such as a water park (tons of photos and details in our main El Conquistador write-up), an outside bar, restaurant, infinity pool with stunning views, and of course ferries to get across to the island.
Close to the dock is the main beach which has tons of lounge chairs but is fairly busy so it’s best to venture to the right and walk down the coast to where there’s less people.
The view as the ferry arrives at the dock….
The view looking out towards the ocean from the boat as we docked….
Happy feet that we have indeed….arrived!
The main drag has thatched umbrellas you can sit under and a swimming area — this is a great place to bring kids as it’s family friendly and there’s plenty of water activities.
If you want a little more privacy, go for a walk and while the island isn’t that big (a half an hour or so to the other side), you don’t need to travel far to get a whole lotta serenity and peace and quiet. We found areas where there were no people at all (by foot) and there were plenty of lounge chairs facing the ocean. Go on a beautiful stroll with me along the beach on a sunny afternoon in May!!
I also managed to have some fun inside the shallow waters as well as on the oh so stunning palm trees.
Ahhh yes, bliss!
And, after you’re done with the island’s serenity, if you want to follow one of the amusing iguanas around, there’s plenty to be found. Did I mention there’s chickens on the island as well?
Palomino in the region of Camuy is a town in Puerto Rico, some 50 miles west of San Juan, the country’s capital city and as I mentioned above, an hour’s drive from the airport and then a ten minute’s ferry ride from the resort to the island. Think of it as a 100-acre tropical island paradise where you can get jet ski, kayak, swim, snorkel, windsurf, go hiking, horseback riding and more.
Be sure to check out my other blog posts on Puerto Rico:
- Wellness Alert: Puerto Rico’s El Conquistador’s Spa Makes a Healthy Getaway
- Waldorf Astoria’s El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico
- Foodie Delights Along the Puerto Rican Coast
- Jockey, Great Stylish Activewear For Any Getaway Trip
- Hiking La Mina Trail in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque Rainforest
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
