Puerto Rico is the gateway to the Caribbean and a wonderful introduction
to the island way of life. History comes alive in the centuries-old fortresses
of Old San Juan, while the city's nightclubs pulse with hip-swinging salsa music.
Championship golf courses ring with the crisp sound of a well-hit golf ball, while
the lush trails of El Yunque rain forest envelop hikers in pristine serenity.
The capital city of San Juan is an intriguing blend of old and new, with modern
businesses alongside colonial architecture and chic shops lining the historic
district's cobblestone streets. Every year, more than a million cruise passengers
wander through the city's trendy corners. The historic sector is packed with attractions
such as the Pablo Casals Museum, offering insights into the life of the famous
Puerto Rican cellist. Evenings, San Sebastian Street buzzes with the flow of people
gathering in the nightclubs and taverns.
The island is 110 miles long and 35 miles wide, with plenty of room to move freely
from urban life to resort areas edged by sandy beaches. Dotting the eastern coast
are luxurious spa sanctuaries, easygoing resort areas, and several of the island's
18-holf golf course, many deigned by such famous names as Greg Norman, Arthur
Hills, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Some fine dive sites garland Puerto Rico's west
coast, including the Black Wall, home to the Caribbean's rarely seen black coral.
Rincon, a haven for windsurfers is on the southwestern coast. Many Puerto Ricans
travel to the nearby islands of Vieques and Culebra when they want to take a sun-and-sand
vacation.
Bioluminescent Bays make for magical nighttime swimming, here, colonies of dinoflagellates light up like fireflies and make the water glow. Try the northeast's Mosquito Bay in Vieques or La Parguera in the south.
If there's a place you've stayed or something you've done, but we haven't listed, review it for us!
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