Sabana: Puerto Rico's lush interior
If vying for beach loungers isn't your thing, consider booking a Sabana vacation rental which lies in the heart of Puerto Rico's interior. It's lush and green, in part due to the year-round rains. Don't worry, they don't last long. With less development and far fewer vacationers, Sabana feels decidedly more authentic and places you perfectly for hiking adventures into the national parks. That's not to say you can't be a beach bum if you want. If you've got a rental car, you can be stretched out on the sand in under 30 minutes.
Sabana is a holy place
Admittedly you're not going to find a whole host of tourist attractions near your Sabana vacation rental. It's more about exploring the wildlife-rich forests and hitting up the nearby beaches. That said, you should swing by the Pozo de la Virgen Sabana Grande, a holy spot with a statue of the Virgin Mary, who reportedly made an appearance here some years ago. Culture vultures should try to spend at least a day exploring the museums and historical attractions in Mayaguez, the largest city along the West coast of Puerto Rico.
Over 10,000-acres of forest to explore at Sabana
If you're a hiker, you've done the right thing by booking up a Sabana vacation rental, as it sits just a little south of the 10,000-acre Maricao State Forest, the largest in Puerto Rico. The road leading to the park is spectacular enough, winding its way around the mountains, passing ridges and valleys. Be sure to stop en route at La Torre de Piedra, an observation tower with killer views. Just because you're not right next to the sea, doesn't mean you can't get there to spend your days playing with ocean toys like kayaks and jet skis if you want.
Nab a Sabana rental during winter
For the driest climate, your best bet is to bag a Sabana vacation rental between mid-December and March, when the long, sunny days provide ideal conditions for hiking and beach time. Bear in mind it's also the busiest time, though the pricing of rentals in Puerto Rico's interior doesn't suffer from the same price hikes that the beach accommodation does. The rest of the year can experience the odd tropical downpour, which has a lovely cooling effect on the island. If you can work around the rains, you can score some rock-bottom prices on vacation rentals.
Sabana: calling all twitchers
One of the biggest draws to staying in a Sabana vacation rental is the opportunity to spot birdlife in Puerto Rico's lush interior. If you take a wander along the winding trails, you could spot several of the 44 species that inhabit the treetop canopies nearby. Keep your eyes peeled for colorful cuckoos, warblers and tanagers among others. The surrounding waters of Puerto Rico teem with marine life and if you head out with the family on one of the snorkeling adventures you'll come face-to-face with all sorts of creatures of the deep.
How to get to and around Sabana
The nearest airport is in Luis Munoz Marin Intl. Airport (SJU), located 19.6 mi (31.5 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you might consider flying into Vieques (VQS-Antonio Rivera Rodriguez), which is 20.7 mi (33.3 km) away.