Greater San Juan
Stretching along the
Atlantic coast, the city of Greater San Juan encompasses the beaches
of Isla Verde and Condado where the bulk of hotels reside. Adjacent
to these beaches on a peninsula that wraps around San Juan Bay, the
historic walled city of Old San Juan is an alluring mix of the past
and future. The 70 square blocks that make up the old city are book
ended by two massive forts, El Morro and San Cristobal. In between,
narrow cobblestone streets are home to 400-year-old churches and
brightly painted Spanish Colonial buildings. Set within this
architectural wonder are restaurants, boutique museums and
galleries.
El Yunque & The Golden
Shore
About one hour east of
San Juan, El Yunque National Park rises more than 3,000 ft. over
the northeastern portion of the island. The 28,000-acre protected
zone offers more than 28 miles of trails designed for all levels of
eco-adventurers and avid naturalists. The U.S. Park Service oversees
a maze of walkways, rest stops and picnic facilities placed among
the mist-covered rivers and waterfalls cascading down through the
verdant landscape.
Around El Yunque, the
towns of Rio Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo and Humacao are welcoming a
growing collection of five-star resorts, resulting in the region’s
new designation as "The Golden Shore." In addition, top fairway
designers are practicing their craft here and no golfer enthusiast
will be able to play just one round of 18-holes: lush smooth greens
sidle up to the Caribbean Sea, while breezy trade winds take the
edge off the sun.
Spanish Virgins
The beachy paradises
of Culebra and Vieques are often referred to as the "Spanish Virgin
Islands." These rustic island outposts are a throwback to the
Caribbean of old. Ferry boats from Fajardo and commuter flights from
San Juan run daily and accommodations range from quaint eco-inns to
small luxury resorts.
Overnight visitors to
Vieques should visit the bioluminescent waters of Mosquito Bay,
where tiny micro-organisms light up at night in a neon cacophony of
purple, pink and blue hues when they’re exposed to any movement.
Local tour operators and hotels have package deals for couples to
row out for a moonlight tryst. During the day, good bets are Sun Bay
for swimming; the Museum of Art & History in Isabela Segunda; and
the beach town of Esperanza lined with seafood restaurants.
Culebra is even more
laid back than Vieques, although it’s receiving oodles of attention
as Puerto Rico’s most chic eco-tourism escape. Many visitors come to
explore the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge and Canal de Luis Peña
Nature Reserve, but it’s the collection of small inns surrounding
the parks that have become meeting spots for global citizens.
South and West Coasts
The western shores of
Puerto Rico are undergoing an image renewal with a new destination
marketing brand called Porta del Sol. The region running roughly
from Boqueron in the south to Aguadilla in the north is being
promoted as a destination within a destination, where Puerto Rican
culture is the main attraction. At the center of the initiative is
the varied collection of paradores, small inns with 75 rooms or less
that maintain standards drawn up by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
Direct flights from
the U.S. mainland service Aguadilla. A few reasons to explore the
area include the beaches, one of the largest aquatic theme parks in
the Caribbean and the tradition of mundillo lace-making. Like Rincon
just minutes to the south, Aguadilla offers a collection of exciting
surfing communities centered around the crystal clear waters of
Crash boat, Gas Chambers and Wilderness beaches.
The south coast of
Puerto Rico is anchored by Ponce, the island’s second largest city
and home to the world-renowned Ponce Museum of Art, housing over
1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures.
Destination Information
Official language:
Spanish and English
Government:
U.S. Commonwealth
Temperature:
Averages 73ºF
Rainfall:
52 inches annually
Official currency:
U.S. dollar
Entry requirements:
Photo I.D. or passport
Departure tax:
None
Marriage requirements:
Marriage license papers may be requested in writing from the
Demographic Registry Office. It is also necessary to have a medical
certificate from a physician in Puerto Rico. Wedding ceremonies can
take place at the free weekly Judicial Center.
Gaming:
Puerto Rico offers more casino square footage than anywhere else in
the Caribbean
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Contact:
One of our Dream Excursions Vacation Specialist at 1-888-898-3628 or
email us at
request@dreamexcursions.com for
fast, friendly assistance.
