Travel Like A Blue Water Girl: Utuado, Puerto Rico

Utuado is the kind of place that makes you question why anyone would choose city life over this—a stretch of Puerto Rico so lush and untamed it feels like a secret the island is keeping. The roads twist and turn through the mountains, each bend revealing a new postcard-perfect view: mist rolling over the peaks, rivers cutting through dense green, the occasional horse trotting along the roadside like it owns the place (and honestly, it probably does). It’s a place where the air is thick with the scent of rain and wild orchids, where life moves at a rhythm dictated by the sun, the breeze, and the sound of coquí frogs singing their nightly chorus.

We landed at Casa Grande, a hideaway tucked into the hills, where bungalows are scattered like a well-planned accident across the landscape. Wi-Fi was limited, but no one seemed to care—here, the only real agenda was waking up with the sun, tanning by the pool, and letting the fresh air work its magic. Afternoons were spent lounging with books we pretended to read, breaking only for dips in the pool to cool off. At night, we fell asleep to the hum of the mountains, with nothing but the soft rustling of leaves to remind us that the rest of the world still existed somewhere beyond us.

Of course, no trip to Utuado is complete without chasing waterfalls. Tucked away in the folds of the mountains, they felt like hidden treasures, their rushing waters cutting through the land like nature’s own infinity pools. We waded into the cool, clear pools, letting the mist kiss our sun-warmed skin, the sound of cascading water drowning out any lingering thoughts of the outside world. The surrounding cliffs were blanketed in vines, the kind of wild, effortless beauty that Puerto Rico wears so well. On the way back, we took our time, stopping to take in sweeping valley views, roadside fruit stands, and the occasional rooster reminding us who really runs this island.

Utuado is a gem that we recommend you all experience. As Blue Water Girls we always want to inspire you to explore and scratch that itch of wanderlust.