Puerto Rico is a beautiful and diverse island with much to offer its visitors. From quiet small towns to bustling cities filled with art galleries and museums, casinos, and nightlife, visitors will find activities to suit every whim in Puerto Rico. You can sunbathe on white-sand beaches, hike through dense forests, explore misty jungles, or scour red deserts. With all there is to do, you'll want to arm yourself with basic knowledge about the island and its people. The regional information below and the practical tips in the following articles will go far toward helping you get the best experience out of your trip to this exceptional island. Regions:
| Area |
Description
|
| Ponce, Mayag�ez & San Germán |
For those who want to see a less urban side of Puerto Rico, Ponce, on
the south shore, and Mayag�ez, on the west coast, make good centers for
sightseeing. From either Ponce or Mayag�ez you can take a side trip to
historic San Germán, Puerto Rico's second-oldest city and site of the
oldest church in the New World. Ponce, Puerto Rico's second-largest
city, has received much attention because of its inner-city restoration
and is home to the island's premier art gallery. Puerto Rico's
third-largest city, Mayag�ez, is a port city on the west coast.
Although it may not be as architecturally remarkable as Ponce, it's a
fine base for exploring and enjoying some very good beaches. San Germán
and Ponce are home to some of the finest Puerto Rican colonial
architecture in the Caribbean. Mayag�ez and Ponce also attract beach
lovers. Playa de Ponce, for example, is far less crowded than the
beaches along San Juan's coastal strip. The area also lures hikers to
Puerto Rico's government national forest reserves, the best of which
lie outside Ponce. One of the biggest adventure jaunts in Puerto Rico,
a trip to Mona Island, can also be explored from the coast near
Mayag�ez. |
| Western Puerto Rico |
The scenery of western Puerto Rico varies from red desert to dense
green forest. The interior has such attractions as the Taíno Indian
Ceremonial Park, Río Camuy Cave Park, Arecibo Observatory, and the
Karst Country. Along the west and south coasts are white sandy beaches
and world-class surfing conditions. The waters of the Atlantic on the
northwest coast tend to be rough, and while they are ideal for surfing,
the conditions are not always good for swimming, especially for
children. Stone monoliths, some decorated with petroglyphs, remain as
evidence of the Taíno Indians, who inhabited this western part of
Puerto Rico some eight centuries ago. Western Puerto Rico, particularly
its southwestern sector, is where the Puerto Ricans themselves go for
vacations by the sea, and with few exceptions, only locals and a few
adventurous visitors head for the southwestern sector of the island.
This is the real Puerto Rico; unmarred by high-rise resorts and posh
restaurants. |
| Eastern Puerto Rico |
The northeast corner of the island, about 45 minutes from San Juan,
contains the island's major attractions, El Yunque rainforest and
Luquillo Beach, as well as a variety of landscapes, ranging from miles
of forest to palm groves and beachside settlements. Here you will find
Wyndham El Conquistador Resort and Fajardo, a preeminent sailor's haven
where you can catch ferries to the islands of Vieques and Culebra. San
Juan itself is a bustling city with that is both modern and historic in
architecture and atmosphere. While it has always been renowned for its
rich culture and historic attractions, a transformation has occurred in
recent years that has made San Juan one of North America's hottest
urban destinations. |
| Vieques & Culebra |
The Islands of Vieques and Culebra are usually known as day trips and
short jaunts for vacationers but are also where many Puerto Ricans go
for their own vacations. Sandy beaches and low prices are powerful
attractions of both islands. Culebra still seems to lounge in the early
1950s while Vieques is fast becoming one of the hottest tropical
destinations in the Caribbean. The unspoiled beaches and stylish inns
have created quite a buzz. Vieques, which has more tourist facilities
than Culebra, lies 7 miles (11km) off the eastern coast of the Puerto
Rican"mainland." It is visited mainly for its white-sand beaches.
Culebra, 18 miles (29km) east of the Puerto Rican"mainland" and 14
miles (23km) west of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is
surrounded by coral reefs and edged with nearly deserted, powdery,
white-sand beaches. Much of the island has been designated a wildlife
refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
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