So you’re heading to the south west of Puerto Rico for the first time, and want to know some good spots to eat. I just did this trip myself and had never been to the area before. Usually when traveling, I do a mix of eating out and cooking to save money and successfully budget the trip. Plus, I just feel so at home when I can prepare a meal. The goal for this trip was no different. We spent four days exploring the south west corner of Puerto Rico, visiting several towns, including Boquerón, Cabo Rojo(Los Morrillos Lighthouse), El Combate & La Parguera. Here’s what I recommend you checkout:

The downtown scene of Boqueron is lovely, filled with color, shops and dining in close quarters to the beach and a small marina. We stopped at a place called Ahava Cafe for lunch and did a little work before going exploring the rest of the day. It looked like they had healthy options and I was excited to try it out. I walked in, a bit shy, and was immediately greeted by the owner and his wife. They took amazing care of us. The menu was exciting with a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes to choose from & a full drink menu including fresh pressed wellness juices. Tyler and I love ginger so we got the green juice that had ginger and cucumber, and also the turmeric ginger juice. Both super refreshing and delicious! 

We talked with the owners for a while not realizing they had only just opened their doors 3 months ago. I could really tell they were passionate about the service they are providing: a much needed access to healthier food options in the area. They keep their menu true to Puerto Rican cuisine and add variety which works for both locals and tourists alike! The ingredients used are meant to reduce inflammation, such as lowering sugar or using sugar substitutes. They offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes in addition to low sugar options.

We continued trying the menu ordering an omelette and protein pancakes(see photo). Both were super satisfying, and I felt good knowing what ingredients were going in to fuel my body. Before leaving we decided to get a latte too, which was delicious. What I really appreciated was that they gave us sugar on the side so you can decide just how sweet you want your coffee. This is so nice because in my opinion way too many places make coffee like a dessert. Dessert is not what we should be fueling our body with, first thing in the morning. I highly recommend visiting Ahava Cafe if you are near Boqueron, Puerto Rico. Ahava Cafe is a much needed food oasis.

Our next stop was La Parguera in the evening for the bioluminescent bay kayak tour. My impression of La Parguera is that it is a very beautiful town with a lively downtown area. We stopped to grab a snack beforehand at a restaurant called Brujula that was attached to a small hotel. It had a cozy, laidback, outdoor vibe with dance music playing next to the hotel pool, lit by underwater fluorescent rainbow colored lights. To grab a snack I just opted for two appetizers. My favorite Puerto Rican delicacy since I was a child: queso frito with guava sauce and also some cod bacalitos. The service was fast and the presentation very professional. You can’t go wrong with this beautiful restaurant. I was very satisfied with stopping there for a bite before the kayak tour (which I also HIGHLY recommend trying if you’re in the area!). 

The following day we headed to El Combate for two days. This area used to be a pretty big fishing town back in the day, and has a lot of vacation homes now. It has my favorite beach of the south west corner so far, which borders a wildlife reserve that has a lovely biking/walking trail as well. 

This was one of those nights we just saved some $ and went to the closest grocery store to get a couple ingredients. We made tacos at our place with the little we had, making rice with gandules for most of our meals to keep it simple. One night we tried Maria’s street food right by the beach to snack on, and you can’t go wrong with a queso empanada! If you are in the area I highly recommend checking out Maria’s, and sitting to watch the sunset, empanada in hand.

Here’s the recipe for the tacos, rice, and beans I made for several of our meals. (to keep it simple!)

Ingredients:

-2 cans green pigeon peas 

-2 cans black beans

-1 white onion

-a pack of many cloves of garlic

-olive oil

-1 pack of corn tortillas 

-1 pack of queso frito

-3-4 colorful peppers

-1 head of broccoli( or ur veggies of choice)

-1 pack of mixed greens

-parboiled rice 

-3-5 limes

-one small tub of sour cream 

Directions for tacos, rice & beans:

1. Heat up tortillas on a hot pan so they’re warm and won’t break as easily.
2. Sautée onion, pepper, and broccoli in a pan with olive oil, or butter & whatever seasonings you desire. (I just used whatever was in the pantry!)
3. Start the rice by following the directions on the package. Usually 1 cup of rice= 1&⅓ cup water. Turn water on low once it starts to boil and add a drop of olive oil, covering the pot.
4. Once the veggies are starting to brown, take them out of the pan and place in a bowl for serving. Use the same pan(less cleanup hello!) and sautee more onion, maybe just a quarter. Once fragrant add 3 cloves minced garlic for 30 seconds stirring. 
5. Open and rinse the can of beans under water. Add the cans of beans rinsed and drained and ¼ cup of water to the pan or small pot. Heat on low for 10-15 min. You can also add about ¼ cup salsa to this! Season with cumin, salt and pepper if you have it.
6. Line the inside of the tacos with sour cream, and a slice of the queso frito, and avocado along with the veggies, fresh greens and the beans. Squeeze a lime over top and it’s magic!