PUERTO RICO
Land of Enchantment!
Puerto Rico is one of those islands that everyone knows is there, but very often it is not "investigated" to really find the essence of the people. There is a very strong European and African heritage that is evident on the faces of the citizens. Their close family associations, their diverse foods, and the totally different atmospheres located throughout the island makes Puerto Rico a place to go several times and learn about different parts of the island. News has just hit the "travel trade publications" that a new hotel is going to be built on the island of Vieques, off the
northeast coast of Puerto Rico. Vieques is a quiet island of very few permanent inhabitants. A moped is the idea way to investigate the various beaches and restaurants of this island. You can also go swimming in a bioluminescent bay in the evening - and "glow like a fire fly!"
Water sports and activities are abundant and varied. If you are a certified scuba diver, you can investigate the shelf that exists off the southern coast. The more shallow waters in other locations around Puerto Rico or Vieques allows great snorkeling - for those that want to see the beauty of mother nature in untouched waters. Kayaking can be done in various parts around the island and allows you to gently paddle near the mangrove islands that exist with fantastic bird-life as their main inhabitants. Horseback riding bareback through the ocean on beaches in the sunshine. Doesn’t this conjure up a great image that you have always wanted to do?
Want to do nothing? With the uninhabited beaches located throughout Puerto Rico, you can crawl out the front door of the parador or hotel, spread your towel and soak up sun for the entire duration of your vacation!
The Puerto Rico Travel Expert program was implemented by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. In order to obtain and maintain your "expert" designation in this program, week-long campus training is done on the island, and refresher courses are done each year in different areas of expertise.
In May, 1999, I attended a 4-day Specialty Campus on Paradors of Puerto Rico. This training allows me to effectively make travel plans around the island for clients who desire this type of accommodations.
If you want the nightlife, fancy hotels and casino’s, then staying in the San Juan area will keep you busy for an entire week. Traveling 10 to 15 miles in either direction of Old San Juan, allows you to stay in smaller, boutique hotels and beaches that you can walk miles on. If you travel to the southern coast of Puerto Rico, you will discover a dessert, with flora and fauna very different from anything else on the island.
When you stay in other parts of Puerto Rico, an alternative to the bigger hotels, is a network of government monitored paradors in various sizes and with a varying degree of amenities - some have pools, some have kitchen privileges, some can accommodate children, and some tell you to bring a good book!Did you know that Puerto Rico has the only rainforest within the confines of the United States? El Yunque is a diverse forest and mountain area that you can drive through, or better yet - walk through. The sounds, the smells and the beauty of this area will always be a part of
your memories!
The Serralles Castle Museum - located in Ponce