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Please find an extensive discussion of the culture, food and activities available on the island of Puerto Rico. The major hotels will provide you with maps and an overview of the activities available. Whether you take an excursion from a hotel or go it on your own Puerto Rico has many fantastic adventures. Most activities are within Uber, cab or driving range.
The main street of our region is called Isla Verde. The El San Juan, the Ritz and the Intercontinental are three major hotels within a 5 minutes walking on Isla Verde Ave, Each of these hotels has an assortment of dining options. If you’ve chosen to rent a car, Charlie’s is the closest rental location and open is 24 hours. Also, on Isla Verde Ave is a 24h CVS, Walgreen drug stores. Other major rental car agencies are at the airport. I choose Charlie’s because it’s open 24 hours and easily accessible (2 blocks away). The beach is about 20 feet from the front door of the condo.
The Isle Verde Beach is a succession of beaches stretching for miles in front of San Juan's luxury beachfront communities and resort areas. The condo is on the beach and hosts three small restaurants/ bars, each with a beach view. The beach is safe and cleaned daily. The water is blue-green and always warm. Use regular precautions when you’re on the beach. Leave valuables in the apartment and don’t leave your belongings unaccompanied. The beach hosts many of the hotels, condos and restaurants of Isla Verde. Isla Verde is a city in the county of Carolina.
Relax on the sandy shores on a quiet day, or party on the weekends when things get lively. There's plenty to do in Isla Verde. Parasail or jet ski on the beach, or if you'd rather stay on land, join a game of beach volleyball or pay a visit to one of the beachside bars or restaurants. The number of people on the beach is affected by several factors, including the day of the week and time of year. Puerto Rico's beaches may be crowded on the weekends when tourism is as its peak (November - March). The restaurants with a view of the beach are my favorite. Pui Bello is another or our favorite restaurants that has great gelato and breakfast (address, Rosa Street #2, ph 787 791-0091). Both are an easy 5 minute walk..
The closest full service grocery store is “Pueblo”, on Tartak Ave, the same street as the condo building, but opposite the ocean. It’s passed the Veranza Hotel. It might be good to take a taxi the first time, its 5 minutes away. Cabs are always available next to the condo, on Tartak Ave at the Water Club hotel next door. Reminders: No passport is required for US citizens traveling to Puerto Rico Isla Verde is located on the Atlantic Ocean and the northern coast of Puerto Rico.
Our condo is located on Isla Verde’s white sand beaches. Locals and visitors alike flock to this strip year round, taking advantage of the close proximity to hotels, restaurants, and hangout spots, as well as beach rental services for beach chairs, umbrellas, jet skis, banana boats and other water activities. It’s not uncommon to see people from around the world mingling about the beach, relaxing to the sounds of waves, and keeping up with their tans. Located in the municipality of Carolina but often associated with more tourist-centered San Juan, the beaches of Isla Verde stretch west beyond the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport (SJU). The Luis Muñoz Marín Airport is a 10 minute cab ride away from our condo. The beach’s centric location, right across from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, offers a convenient and accessible location for visitors to enjoy a myriad of activities. The beach attracts groups, couples, and even the lone traveler, eager to take a quick break from city life. The area is secure and agreeable for those looking forward to a relaxing dip in the ocean or an enjoyable beachside picnic. The beach is a proud member of the Foundation for Environmental Education’s international Blue Flag Program, and follows the organization’s strict standards for water quality, environmental management, and public safety. These conservation efforts have lead to the municipality’s erosion control program, an unobtrusive method of reversing coastal erosion without harming the ecosystem of various species, including the giant sea turtle known as the tinglar.
We invite you to take some time to explore the tropical island of Puerto Rico, where you can find local exotic hideaways, miles of white sandy beaches, mountains and valleys, and many other natural wonders. In addition to the natural splendors you will find yourself surrounded by warm and friendly people. Most places in Puerto Rico can be reached on a day trip from Isla Verde. However the southern portion of the island and western regions require several hours to reach.
Within an hour of Isla Verde is is Condado, Old San Juan, and Dorado to the west and Piniones, Luquillo, Fajardo to the east. Each of these destinations is accessible within an hour, but will require a full day to explore. Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, (known by some as the Spanish Virgin Islands) are smaller unspoiled islands that are accessible by ferries from Fajardo. Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita require an early morning departure. These locations can be accessed via tour companies. Fine restaurants In Isla Verde, are a 5 minute walk. In the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel KOCO, new modern Caribbean cuisine, featuring a rum bar. Yamato, considered San Juan's finest Oriental restaurant, featuring a sushi bar and an authentic teppan-yaki table The Verdanza Hotel on Tartak Ave past Isla Verde Ave Coladas is an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant Independent Resturants Metropol restaurant on Isla Verde Ave faces the Ritz Carlton and serves traditional Puerto Rican food. La Playita Restaurant for a salad or burger and a great view, (on the beach, to right at the end of the peninsula, address 6 Calle Isla Verde, Carolina 00979, Puerto Rico 787.791.1115). Pui Bello is another or our favorite restaurants that has great gelato and breakfast (at Rosa Street #2, Isla Verde, Carolina 00979, Puerto Rico 787 791- 0091).
Activities on the Isla Verde beach: Jets ski, Banana boats, Sail boats, Snorkeling, Volleyball, Beach chairs and umbrellas. World class restaurants, Night clubs and Casinos are walking distance. Traditional and Fast food are everywhere.
.Puerto Rico’s capital city, San Juan, (pop. est. 500,000, 1.1 million in Metropolitan area) the Caribbean’s commercial hub is an intriguing mixture of old and new. Start in charming Old San Juan which is perched atop a hill facing the Atlantic Ocean. (Parking is limited so it’s best to tour the area on foot and travel by Uber.) This walled city—seven-square blocks of which are now a historic landmark—was founded in 1510. Today it is a showcase for four centuries of architectural treasures and the heart of the island’s unique cultural identity. Great efforts have gone into preserving this part of the city including millions of dollars that were spent prior to 1993 when the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage was celebrated. Take time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets and investigate the pastel-colored buildings restaurants boutiques museums mansions and nightclubs. The newly revamped promenade that follows the waterfront and the Paseo de la Muralla which winds along the city walls are particularly romantic. These two beautiful walks are even illuminated at night which is the best time for a relaxing stroll after the day’s heat subsides. Save some energy and time for the three fortifications that have resisted attacks by foreign invaders as well as city developers:
El Morro the largest which commands San Juan Bay with six levels of gun emplacements and walls that tower 140 ft/43 m above the Atlantic; San Cristobal which dates from the 18th century and has an intricate network of tunnels used for transportation and to ambush enemies; and San Jeronimo which is east of Old San Juan and has an interesting military museum. Another must-see is La Fortaleza which was built in 1540 and is the oldest governor’s mansion still in use in the Americas. You can also visit two places associated with Ponce de Leon: the San Juan Cathedral (where the explorer is entombed) and Casa Blanca— his family home a gift from King Charles I. The house is arranged to show how Spanish aristocrats lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. Along Calle del Cristo one of San Juan’s most interesting streets visit the Parque de las Palomas where thousands of pigeons have made their home alongside the city walls and the small Capilla del Cristo (Christ Chapel). Other sights include the Pablo Casals Museum (a collection of music and photographs of the famous cellist-conductor); Casa de los Contrafuertes (oldest house in San Juan) and the Dominican Convent (a white domed structure dominating the Plaza San Jose).
The multilevel Quincentennial Plaza is a park and cultural complex that overlooks the ocean and celebrates Puerto Rico’s rich history. Nearby the Ballajá barracks once home to the city’s Spanish troops now serve as the Museo de las Americas (exhibits include a permanent collection of Latin American folk art and changing exhibits highlighting artists from Latin America and the Caribbean). The city’s harbor which is the premier cruise port and container-ship terminal in the Caribbean has been extensively renovated and new shopping gallery now face the ship’s berths.
Many of the down-at-the-heel buildings nearby have had or are undergoing facelifts. While sightseeing in Old San Juan requires a lot of walking, several plazas invite rest stops. Look for the free tram/ bus system In the San Juan. The Museum of Anthropology and the University of Puerto Rico Botanical Gardens in the San Juan district of Río Piedras is also worth a visit.
Modern San Juan is spread out and you’ll want to hire taxis or use a rental car to get from place to place. There is also a bus system as well as a newly functioning mass transit rail system that travels from the Sacred Heart University in the Southern section of the San Juan borough of Santurce to the western suburb of Bayamón. (If you’re feeling energetic the walk between Old San Juan and the beach district of Condado is not out of the question but most tourists will find that there’s really little of interest between the areas.)
For an interesting view of the city and the harbor there are also bay cruises that last an hour and a half. There are also hosted half- and full-day tours of outlying areas that leave from San Juan. When you are tired of sightseeing head for the beaches right in San Juan. The best are in the district of Isla Verde and Ocean Park district of the suburb of Carolina where the airport is located. Isla Verde is lined with big chalk-white blocks of condos and luxury hotels. Though crowded on weekends it’s still one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Condado’s beachfront is a wall of restaurants and boutiques which can make beach access difficult for non-guests. (Don’t be intimidated—all beaches in Puerto Rico are public. You may have to pay to use the facilities however.).
San Juan’s pace never slows; if anything it picks up after dark. Most casinos in the larger hotels stay open until the wee hours (among them the hopping Marriott’s San Juan Resort Caribe Hilton Condado Plaza Ritz-Carlton Wyndham El San Juan and San Juan Grand). Keep in mind that liquor is not served in the gambling areas and jackets are required for men in some of the casinos. Many of San Juan’s best clubs and discos are also in the large hotels including the Babylon nightclub in the San Juan Grand and the dance floors at the Condado Plaza and Marriott. The Caribe Hilton’s orchestra is a local landmark and keeps the dance floor full. After hours in Old San Juan El Convento Hotel offers smooth jazz and piano music.
El Morro Fortess is easily accessible from Norzagaray Street. Named in honor of King Phillip II of Spain, the fortress was built in San Juan’s northernmost rocky headland to prevent attacks from the Atlantic. It was designated a National Historic Site and part of a World Heritage Site in 1983 by the United Nations, one of only 12 sites in the United States to be recognized as such. El Morro is easily accessible from Norzagaray Street. Named in honor of King Phillip II of Spain, the fortress was built in San Juan’s northernmost rocky headland to prevent attacks from the Atlantic. It was designated a National Historic Site and part of a World Heritage Site in 1983 by the United Nations, one of only 12 sites in the United States to be recognized as such. Construction began on El Morro around 1540, making it the second oldest of San Juan’s defense system. The initial plan consisted of a two-level structure with an arched tower, a battery platform and four embrasures for cannons in close proximity to the sea. It did not acquire its present appearance until more than two centuries later, when its four upper levels were completed. El Morro’s majestic walls rise up to 140 feet above sea level and are up to 25 feet thick. They gave the fortress an extraordinary degree of protection and made it possible to safely house the city’s residents and its troops in times of attack. Enormous fresh water cisterns would aid in this purpose as well as the subterranean galleries that lead to the fort’s more vulnerable positions, making it easier to deflect attacks. El Morro’s main battery is named after Santa Barbara, patron saint of people in danger of fire and explosions. From here mortars and cannons were fired at invaders, each manned by six soldiers and averaging a mile in fire range. El Morro’s tremendous artillery was vital in defending the city against Sir Francis Drake in 1595, the Dutch invasion in 1625, and General Ralph Abercrombie’s British Armada in 1797. Within its walls, notorious Puerto Rican pirate, Roberto Cofresí, was jailed and executed in the early 19th century. The fields that surround San Felipe del Morro are a perfect site for flying kites and enjoying picnics. Recommended for: Sightseeing, Relaxation, Family, Explorers Hours of Operation: Monday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Admission Fees: Adults (16+) $3.00 Amenities:
El Arsenal, Year Established: 1791 is located at the southernmost tip of San Juan in La Puntilla Street. Facing British attacks on the city, the Spanish forces found themselves in need of a naval station, and began the construction of El Arsenal in 1791. A mixture of architectural styles that range from Romanesque to neoclassical, the building housed a small fleet used to patrol the shallow waters and mangrove swamps around the bay. El Arsenal subsequently became a citadel for the marina with storage space, offices, living quarters, workshops, a coast guard, kitchens, and even its own chapel. In 1898 it served as the last stronghold for Spanish rule, and was later defeated by the United States in the Spanish-American War. The building now houses three exhibition galleries as well as a large capacity activity hall where cultural events are celebrated. Recommended for: Sightseeing, Family, Explorers Hours of Operation: Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Children’s Museum, located in front of the San Juan Cathedral, opened its doors to the general public in 1993. Its three floors are filled with exhibits for children to interact with, including a giant replica of a human heart. This non-profit organization is involved in preserving the island’s cultural heritage and presenting subjects in a rich and interesting way for children. Recommended for: Sightseeing, Family, Children Hours of Operation: Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM Admission Fees: Children $7.00, Adults (16+) $5.00 Amenities: Bathrooms Multilingual Staff
San Cristóbal by 1638 was the second fortress dominated San Juan’s northeastern front, following the city wall from El Morro. El Fuerte, named after the hill it sits on, was built because of Spain’s need to expand its defenses following the Dutch invasion of 1625. As El Morro defended the city the from northern seaward attacks, San Cristóbal would protect the city from eastern attacks by land. Irish Field Marshall Alejandro O’Reilly and Royal Engineer Thomas O’Daly were hired by Spain to create the ingenious design for the fortress, recognized as the largest in the Americas. Through its structure we can admire the French style of fortification, which illustrates the principle known as “defense in depth.” The fortress was planned as a series of interconnected structures that formed various lines of defense independent of each other. If one were to be breached, it would not compromise the defense capabilities of soldiers situated elsewhere. From the highest level of San Cristóbal, known as the Caballero, one may observe the entire city and its bay. Recommended for: Sightseeing, Relaxation, Family, Explorers Hours of Operation: Monday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
El Museo de San Juan is located next to the Dominican Convent on Norzagaray Street. Once the center for a busy marketplace during the 19th century, the museum was established in 1978 to preserve the history of Puerto Rico’s capital and the cultural contributions of its citizens. Renovated at the turn of the century, it features artwork by local artists, including that of celebrated painters José Campeche and Francisco Oller. The museum’s ‘Sala Oller’ houses a permanent exhibit on the history and culture of San Juan told through panels that are eighteen-feet in height and interactive displays. Recomended for: Sightseeing, Family, Explorers Hours of Operation: Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Plaza Las Américas is a whopping 2.1 million square feet shopping center situated between Calaf Street, Roosevelt Avenue, and Las Americas Expressway in the heart of the San Juan metropolitan area. Billed as ‘the center of everything’, Plaza is the premiere shopping center in the Caribbean, boasting over 300 shops – from world-famous department stores and high-end clothing boutiques to specialty stores and everything else under the sun. During it’s 40-year existence the mall has undergone several expansions and renovations. The most recent was completed in 2000, and utilized Columbus’s discovery of The Americas as a theme, inspiring sculptures, fountains, and art installations that decorate the passageways and entrances to flagship stores. These public artworks serve as popular meeting points for friends and families. Besides shopping, the mall also provides a variety of services including a pharmacy, banking options, restaurants and a busy food court. A 13-screen multiplex is also the island’s most visited. Taxis to and from the shopping center are available day or night. Recomended for: Relaxation, Family, Shopping Hours of Operation: Monday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Amenities: Cafeteria Special Needs Services Wireless Internet Bathrooms Multilingual Staff Valet Parking Wheelchair Access Parking
Activities in Liquillo: (via car or tour 60 minutes away, east) Enjoy the best of both worlds - Luquillo Beach is a huge crescent of white sand lined with coconut palms with the mountains of El Yunque as the backdrop. Then explore the cool, mountainous and semi tropical El Yunque Rain Forest, home to unique plant and animal species. Perfect for families! Departing from San Juan, you can combine a visit to the rainforest with an afternoon at one of the world's most beautiful beaches. On the Northeast coast of Puerto Rico, Luquillo Beach is the island's best and most popular public stretch of tranquil waters and golden sand. Offshore are coral formations and spectacular sea life and tropical fish. The water is calm and comfortable - the perfect place for families!
From here, you'll explore the cool, mountainous and semi tropical El Yunque rainforest. The abundant rainfall is shed through rocky rivers, creating many cascades of waterfalls and pools. El Yunque hosts a number of unique plant and animal species such as the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the tiny coquis, an indigenous tree frog. El Yunque National Forest is located in the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains, about 25 miles east of the San Juan area. A short ten-minute drive through the village of Palmer in Río Grande and up PR Road #191 will lead you to El Yunque. El Yunque National Forest is located in the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains, about 25 miles east of the San Juan area. A short ten-minute drive through the village of Palmer in Río Grande and up PR Road #191 will lead you to El Yunque. Covering over 28,000 acres of land, the forest derives its name from the Taíno word “Yuké” – meaning sacred or white lands. From its peaks, it offers visitors some of the most breathtaking vistas found in the Caribbean. Temperatures range from almost 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the lower parts of the forest to a cool 65 degrees in areas closer to 3,300 feet above sea level. El Yunque’s biodiversity makes it unique among other forests in the United States National Forest System. Frequent rain showers generate close to 100 billion gallons of rainwater a year and conspire with Puerto Rico’s warm tropical climate to accommodate over 240 species of native trees, 50 species of orchids, and 150 species of ferns. Almost a third of the tree species are native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and 10 percent of them are endemic to El Yunque and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The forest’s animal life is dominated by reptiles, amphibians, and birds, including the endangered ‘Higuaca’ or Puerto Rican Parrot. The forest attracts over a million visitors each year, who come to hike its more than 13 miles of trails while enjoying the lush scenery and fresh mountain air. Guided tours of these trails are available through the USDA Forest Service’s innovative “Forest Adventure Tours” and “Rent-A-Ranger” programs. The core of El Yunque National Forest remains largely untouched to this day and has proven to be an exceptional asset to the world’s scientific community. It not only serves as a leading research site for numerous studies, but also provides a unique window to the past, when the original forest covered Puerto Rico in its entirety. Recommended for:: Adventurers, Sightseeing, Relaxation, Family, Explorers Hours of Operation: Monday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Tuesday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Wednesday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Thursday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Friday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Amenities: Cafeteria Tours Offered Gift Shop Bathrooms Multilingual Staff Parking
Liquillo Beach is one of Puerto Rico's most famous and most visited tourist attractions. The view from the beach is spectacular. It features a long gold crescent of sand lined by innumerable coconut palms with the hazy mountains of the rainforest soaring in the distance is so beautiful that it has become a national and international place of favor - with good reason. Luquillo's offshore reefs keep the waters calm and tranquil so that families can enjoy the water knowing that the lifeguards are on duty and that rough waters are far away. Umbrella for the beach are just $10, and the lounge chairs were just $5 each. Kayaks are available for rent for just a few dollars per hour. Snorkeling and skin- diving through the living reefs were also available. Luquillo Beach also has plenty parking, changing and restrooms and has an abundance of souvenir and food stalls. Each stall seems to like its own unique style of tropical music which plays all day long. There are also many colorful kiosk-type shops, which sell everything from bathing costumes to ice-cream and ice-cold beer. Some of them have also transformed into small seaside restaurants where the feature local traditional seafood and gourmet delights
Farjardo (via car or tour 90 minutes away, east) Bioluminescent bays. There are three bioluminescent bays (bio-bays) in Puerto Rico. The one in Fajardo is very bright, and it is convenient from San Juan and the main island. A bio bay is a body of water that contains millions of micro-organisms, called “dinoflagellates”, that glow in the dark for a second when agitated. It is a rare, natural wonder that you can easily experience while visiting Puerto Rico. It is best seen on a dark night (no moon). It also is best on a warm night. But even on a less than ideal night, the bioluminescence will be visible. It is a fragile environment and the usual way most people visit the Fajardo BioBay is on a kayak. There are many kayak operators that guide tours into the bio-bay.
For trips to Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita I recommend that you make a reservation with a hotel and ask the concierge reserve the tickets for you at the terminal. Vieques island (about a 1 and a half hour ferry ride from Farjardo) The island of Vieques has some of the most sublime and delightful, rich ocean life, lush tropical flora in the world. Until recently, Viequenses only saw a few thousand visitors a year. The majority came from workers in the metro area on the main island of seeking for the escape that the more tranquil side of offers. Dining in Vieques Dining in Vieques will be a memorable experience all on it's own. Choose from dining at fine romantic restaurants by the ocean, an all-American hamburger at a pub in Esperanza, or go for an alcapurria and comida criolla (traditional Puerto Rican food) at some of the relaxed local restaurants around the island. Don't leave the island without tasting some of the typical Puerto Rican pastries accompanied by a good cup of coffee at one of the local Panaderias (bakeries).
Culebra island (about a 1 and a half hour ferry ride from Farjardo) Located about nineteen miles east of Puerto Rico and eight miles north of Vieques, Culebra is the smallest of the inhabited Spanish Virgin Islands. She is seven miles long and 3 miles wide. Culebra is an arid island, having no rivers or streams. She gets her water from Puerto Rico via Vieques. Because of the lack of run-off from streams and rivers, Culebra boasts crystal clear waters with sixty feet of visibility on a bad day. Culebra is an island municipality under the domain of Puerto Rico, which has been under the protection of the United States, since its annexation from Spain in 1898. In 1909 the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge was established. The refuge takes in over one thousand four hundred acres of land and is well known both as a nesting area for numerous seabirds, as well as the endangered leatherback turtle and Culebra giant anole. Culebrita island (about a 1 and a half hour ferry ride from Farjardo): This tiny island is part of a wildlife refuge and located just about one mile east of the island of Culebra. Because of its special status, the only permanent structure you'll find on the island is the abandoned lighthouse high on the hill; for the energetic, the trail hike up there is well worth the views over the surrounding area. The islands beaches are also nesting grounds for sea turtles so please avoid any nesting areas that are marked; but do keep your eyes open, you just might spot one of them in the water. When coming ashore, wear your swim suit, bring water and plenty of sun protection; then enjoy your day on this beautiful unspoiled and natural island, walk along the beaches, snorkel amongst the reefs or swim in the clear blue waters.
Vieques Ferries: Schedule Ticket office opens one hour before ferry departure. They request that you be at the terminal one hour before departure. VIEQUES FERRY SCHEDULE IS NOW THE SAME 7 DAYS PER WEEK! Fajardo to Vieques Passenger Ferries (7 Days a week) 9:30 AM 1:00 PM 4:30 PM 8:00 PM Cargo Ferries (Monday to Friday) 4:00 AM 9:30 AM 4:30 PM * * Varies on Local Holidays * * Vieques to Fajardo Passenger Ferries (7 Days a week) 6:30 AM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM Cargo Ferries (Monday to Friday) 6:00 AM 1:30 PM 6:00 PM * * Varies on Local Holidays * * Fajardo Ferry Holiday Schedule: ** If the holiday falls on a Monday or Friday the weekend schedule is observed; if the holiday falls on a mid-week day the regular mid-week schedule will be observed. ** the same applies to Culebra * It is infinitely more advisable to rent a jeep/SUV once you are on Vieques. You need a jeep for the beautiful beaches, not a car. Vieques local ferry dock office T. 787-741- 4761. Below is the present Ferry Schedule to Culebra Island. The passenger ferry takes an hour and a half. The trip is rougher than the trip to Vieques. Culebra Ferries : Schedule last updated July 6 2005 Fajardo to Culebra Passenger Ferries (7 Days a week) 9:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM * * Varies on Local Holidays * * Culebra to Fajardo Passenger Ferries (7 Days a week) 6:30 AM 1:00 PM 5:00 PM * * Varies on Local Holidays
Caves near Arecibo Most caves in Puerto Rico are found associated with the karst zone (limestone rock). The largest extent of the zone runs across the northern part of the island from Loíza to Aguada. In the south, it occurs fragmentarily from Juana Díaz to Cabo Rojo. Other limestone formations are to be found in Aguas Buenas and Cayey, as well as on the islands of de Mona, Monito, and Caja de Muertos. The best known system of caves in Puerto Rico is the Cavernas del Río Camuy between the municipalities of Lares, Camuy, and Hatillo. One part of the system has been developed as a tourist attraction known as the Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy (Camuy River Caverns Park), which is administered by the Compañía de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico National Parks Company). According to speleologists, the Río Camuy system, when it is at its peak, may be one of the most voluminous underground rivers in the world.
Shopping Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth, U.S. citizens don't pay duty on items brought back to the mainland. And you can still find great bargains on Puerto Rico, where the competition among shopkeepers is fierce. Even though the U.S. Virgin Islands are duty-free, you can often find far lower prices on many items in San Juan than on St. Thomas.
Isla Verde has shopping for tourist goods as well as a many of the basis supplies that you'll need. The Walgreens drug store and Pueblo grocery stores are walking distance, open 24 hrs a day and have a wide variety of food to purchase. Restaurants of all kind are available in the hotels and along the beach. Condado (10 minute $20 cab or .75 bus ride) Just over the bridge from Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra, Condado is a fashionable place to call home. Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo are among the names you'll see on the storefronts here. Sophisticated bistros and restaurants draw lively crowds at night and the beach is always popular.
Plaza Las Américas ($20 cab ride) is a whopping 2.1 million square feet shopping center situated between Calaf Street, Roosevelt Avenue, and Las Americas Expressway i n the heart of the San Juan metropolitan area. Billed as ‘the center of everything’, Plaza is the premiere shopping center in the Caribbean, boasting over 300 shops – from world-famous department stores and high-end clothing boutiques to specialty stores and everything else under the sun. Old San Juan The streets of the Old City, such as Calle Fortaleza, Calle San Francisco, and Calle del Cristo, are the major venues for shopping.. Shops and stores are now free to open anytime except between 6am and 11am Sunday mornings.
In general, malls in San Juan are open Monday to Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 7pm. In such tourism districts as Old San Juan and Condado, most stores still close by 7pm, but Old City shops remain open late whenever cruise ships are at harbor. Geography Within these pages you can find a wide scope of information pertaining to the island, its culture and people, and every detail that makes Puerto Rico, a magnificent and unique island...
The island of Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. Its coasts measures approximately 580 km, and if the adjacent islands Vieques and Culebra are included the coast measures approximately 700 km. In addition to the principal island, the Commonwealth includes: Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino (known by some by the Spanish Virgin Islands), Mona, Monito and various others isolated islands. Deep oceans waters fringe Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage, which separates the island from Hispaniola to the west, is about 75 miles (120 km) wide and more that 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) deep. Off the northern coast is the 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) deep Puerto Rico Trench, and to the south the sea bottom descends to the 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) deep Venezuelan Basin of the Caribbean. The territory is very mountainous (cover 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area. The second main physiographic feature is the coastal lowlands, which extend 13 to 19 km (8 to 12 mi) inward in the north and 3 to 13 km (2 to 8 mi) in the south. A series of smaller valleys lie perpendicular near the west and east coast. This area was originally formed by the erosion of the interior mountains.
El Yunque Peak is the Caribbean National Forest. These 28,000 acres are all that remain of the rain forest that once covered much of the island (indeed, much of the entire northern Caribbean). More than 100 billion gallons (yes, billion) of rain fall here each year, creating a lush forest with plants of incredible proportions and variety. A hike or horseback ride take you past 240 species of trees, some thousands of years old, 50 species of ferns, 20 varieties of wild orchids and riotous multitude of flowers. Living in the forest (all over the island in fact but quite far to spot) is the tiny coquí frog. The name is derived from his cricket like ko-kee chirp, this tiny creature (a quarter to one inch in size) is considered to be the national mascot. Puerto Rico also has some of the most important caves in the west hemisphere. The Río Camuy runs underground for part of its course, forming the third largest subterranean river in the world.
There are fine examples of stalactites, stalagmites and, of course, plenty of bats. Located near to Lares, on Route 129, Km 9.8, guided tours available, open Wed to Sun, US$10 for adults, US$S7 for children. Close by you can find the Cueva del Inferno, on which 2,000 caves have been discovered; in them live 13 species of bat, the coquí, crickets, an arachnid called the "guavá", and other species. Guide tours available, for details contact (787) 898-2723. The climate is Tropical Marine with regular temperature of 80°F (26°C). Puerto Rico enjoys warm and sunny days most of the year. Lightweight clothing is appropriate year-round. The winds, which blow from the East, moderate temperatures and rainfall. In the interior, the temperature fluctuates between 73°F and 78°F (22°C and 25°C). Rainfall tends to be evenly distributed throughout the year, but doubles during the months from May to October, which, unfortunately, coincides with hurricane season, as falls from November to April, with a driest period from January to April. The north coast gets twice as much rain as the south coast. Annual precipitation in the north is 1,550mm (61.02 inches); in the south is 910mm (36 inches), in coastal regions 101-381 cm (40-150 inches) and in the mountains 508 cm (200 inches). Puerto Rican culture is somewhat complex, - others will call it colorful.
Culture is a series of visual manifestations and interactions with the environment that make a region and/or a group of people different from the rest of the world. Puerto Rico, without a doubt has several unique characteristics that distinguish their culture from any other. Lets consider that the people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and racial mix. During the early 18-century, the Spaniard in order to populate the country took Taino Indian women as brides. Later on as labor was needed to maintain crops and build roads, African slaves were imported, followed by the importation of Chinese immigrants, then continued with the arrival of Italians, French, German, and even Lebanese people. American expatriates came to the island after 1898. Long after Spain had lost control of Puerto Rico, Spanish immigrants continued to arrive on the island. The most significant new immigrant population arrived in the 1960s, when thousands of Cubans fled from Fidel Castro's Communist state. The latest arrivals to Puerto Rico have come from the economically depressed Dominican Republic.
The Columbus Quincentennial in 1992 sparked a major refurbishing of the colonial architecture of Puerto Rico. The island's architectural heritage is Spanish, of course, as seen in the narrow, winding cobblestone streets and the pastel-colored, tile-roofed buildings with ornate balconies and heavy wooden doors that open onto inner courtyards in the style of Andalusia in southern Spain. Current restoration and renewal projects focus on Old San Juan and the city of Ponce. It is estimated that there are at least 400 structures of historic value in Old San Juan, including some of the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the New World. Old San Juan was Spain's major center of commerce and military power in the West Indies for nearly four centuries. Spain ordered that the city be protected by sandstone walls and massive fortresses, since the island was the first port of call for galleons entering the West Indies and the last safe harbor for ships, laden with treasures, making the return trip to Cadíz or Seville. Because Old San Juan had no space for expansion, new buildings had to be erected to the east of the old town, in what is known today as the modern city of San Juan. Thus, most of the old structures have survived more or less since the 16th-century. The most notable of these include El Morro Fortress, the San Juan Cathedral, and the Dominican Convent. Casa Blanca, a mansion built for the island's first governor, Ponce de León, still stands.
On a walking tour of Old San Juan, you will see an architectural melange of buildings that range from the style popular during the Spanish Conquest to the neoclassical style of the 19th century. The most significant of all is El Morro Fortress, largest in the Caribbean, which has stood guard over San Juan Bay for more than four centuries. In 1973 it was declared a "World Heritage Site," putting it in the same class as Versalles, the Taj Mahal, and the Egyptian pyramids.
Other outstanding examples of Spanish colonial military architecture and engineering in San Juan include the old city walls and the nearby San Cristóbal fortress. La Fortaleza, dating from 1533, is another World Heritage Site. Built to protect Spanish settlers from attack by the cannibalistic Carib tribes, it was at first a small medieval-style fortress with two round towers. In time, it became the residence of the island's governors. Still in use today, it is the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico and the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the New World. Built around its 16th-century core is a 19thcentury facade with neoclassical motifs and a richly furnished interior. Those who restored La Fortaleza and other landmarks in Old San Juan tried whenever possible to use original materials such as native-grown ausubo (ironwood) beams, which had to be salvaged from elsewhere on the island. The Puerto Rican General Archives and the Archives of the Indies in Seville (Spain) were able to provide the original plans of many late 18th-century and 19th-century buildings; they were used in the restoration of many of the island's structures. The greatest challenge was to restore 16th-century buildings, for which there were no original plans. One example of this is San José Church, the only true Gothic building under the U.S. flag. The walls of this church had to be scraped to uncover the original 16th-century features. Buried under layers of concrete, the restores found one of the earliest murals painted in the Americas - the work of a friar whose identity will probably never be known.
The facade of San Juan Cathedral, added in the early 19th century, is baroque, but it shelters a vaulted tower and four rooms dating from 1540, which are rare examples of medieval architecture in the New World. In 1913 the body of Ponce de León was moved here and is now in a marble tomb near the cathedral's transept. The Dominican Convent - another Old San Juan 16th-century structure- now houses the Institute of Culture. Friars began its construction in 1523; there are tall arcaded galleries set into its two stories, a large interior patio, and a chapel that now serves as a museum. The waterfront area of San Juan, known as the "Paseo de La Princesa", is also being restored to its original 19th-century splendor as a broad esplanade graced with fountains and towering royal palms. The promenade sweeps from the cruise piers to "La Princesa", a restored 19th-century prison, now the headquarters of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. "La Princesa" sets a good example for future architectural restorations, with its huge mahogany doors, impressive arcades, polished floors, and elegant appointments. A second architectural renaissance and renovation is taking place in Ponce.
At the turn of the century, Ponce rivaled San Juan as an affluent business and cultural center. when the Ponce revitalization plan -arguably the most extensive ever undertaken in the West Indies- is completed, visitors will be able to stroll along gas-lit streets lined with period structures, as old-fashioned horse-drawn carriages clop by Strollers will enjoy sidewalks edged with pink marble. The commonwealth has allocated $440 million to restore a 66-block downtown area of 1,046 buildings ranging in style from old Spanish colonial to neoclassical, from "Ponce Créole" to art deco. Many of Ponce's central buildings were erected between the late 1890s and the 1930s, when the city was the hub of the island's rum, sugar cane and shipping industries and was known as La Perla del Sur, the "Pearl of the South." It was home to many artists, politicians, and poets. With funds provided by the Spanish government, the Institute of Ibero-American Cooperation designated which structures were worthy of preservation. Many of the buildings radiate outward from the stately main square, Plaza Las Delicias (Plaza of Delights). Other streets with buildings of architectural interest include Cristina, Isabel, Luna, Reina, and Pabellones.
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture restored the neoclassical Casa Armstrong. Poventud, a mansion with caryatid columns gracing its facade. Today, the restored building houses the Ponce Tourism Information Center, the regional office of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, and a museum. Another major 19th-century building, El Castillo, originally served as the Ponce Village Infantry Quarter. It later became the Ponce Jail, but is now the Ponce School of Fine Arts.
Yet another notable building, the Museum of Puerto Rican Music, was restored in 1990 by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. It pays tribute to the works of Puerto Rican musicians. The museum is housed in the old Museum of Art on Cristina Street, built in the 1850s as the home of a wealthy industrialist. The institute is also responsible for restoring Casa Serrallés, the former home of the oldest rum-producing family on the island, the makers of Don Q rum. It also restored Casa Villaronga, the former home of Alfredo Wiechersm a famous Ponce architect. Casa Villaronga exemplifies the characteristic elegance and whimsy of Ponce architecture with its trellised roof garden, stucco garlands, colored glass, and Spanish tiles. Overlooking Ponce from its perch on El Vigia Hill is one more recently restored landmark, the Castillo Serrallés, another home of the rum-producing Serrallés family. This is a multilevel Spanish-style hacienda, featuring an elegant open courtyard with fountains and a splendid carved wooden ceiling in the dining room. Plaza del Mercado, the old marketplace, has been converted to an artisans' market, replete with typical foods, fruits, and flowers. Converted from an art deco movie theater, it probably draws more sightseers and consumers that any other complex in the old town.
At Plaza de Las Delicias, Ponce has revived its traditional horse-drawn carriage service. Four carriages offer free rides to visitors. Standing on the square is the boldly painted, century-old Parque de Bombas (Firehouse), which reopened as a museum after a $140,000 restoration. Traditional Puerto Rican foods Although Puerto Rican cooking is somewhat similar to both Spanish, Cuban and Mexican cuisine, it is a unique tasty blend of Spanish, African, Taíno, and American influences, using such indigenous seasonings and ingredients as coriander, papaya, cacao, nispero, apio, plantains, and yampee. Locals call their cuisine "cocina criolla". Cocina criolla (Créole cooking) can be traced back to the Arawaks and Tainos, the original inhabitants of the island, who thrived on a diet of corn, tropical fruit, and seafood. When Ponce de León arrived with Columbus in 1493, the Spanish added beef, pork, rice, wheat, and olive oil to the island's foodstuffs. Soon after, the Spanish began planting sugarcane and importing slaves from Africa, who brought with them okra and taro (known in Puerto Rico as yautia). The mingling of flavors and ingredients passed from generation to generation among the different ethnic groups that settled on the island, resulting in the exotic blend of today's Puerto Rican cuisine. Appetizers & Soups Lunch and dinner generally begin with sizzling-hot appetizers such as bacalaitos, crunchy cod fritters; surullitos, sweet plump cornmeal fingers; and empanadillas, crescent-shaped turnovers filled with lobster, crab, conch, or beef.
Soups are a popular beginning for meals on Puerto Rico. There is a debate about whether one of the best-known soups, frijoles negros (black-bean soup), is Cuban or Puerto Rican in origin. Nevertheless, it is still a savory, if filling, opening to a meal. Another classic soup is sopón de pollo con arroz -chicken soup with rice- which manages to taste somewhat different in every restaurant. One traditional method of preparing this soup calls for large pieces of pumpkin and diced potatoes or yautias (the starchy root of a large-leaved tropical plant whose flesh is usually yellow or creamy white). The third classic soup is sopón de pescado (fish soup), prepared with the head and tail intact. Again, this soup varies from restaurant to restaurant and may depend on the catch of the day. Traditionally, it is made with garlic and spices plus onions and tomatoes, the flavor enhanced by a tiny dash of vinegar and a half cup of sherry. Galician broth is a dish imported from Spain's northwestern province of Galicia. It is prepared with salt pork, white beans, ham, and berzas (collard greens) or grelos (turnip greens), and the whole kettle is flavored with spicy chorizos (Spanish sausages). Garbanzos (chickpeas), are often added to give flavor, body, and texture to Puerto Rican soups. One of the most authentic versions of this is sopón de garbanzos con patas de cerdo (chickpea soup with pig's feet). Into this kettle is added a variety of ingredients, including pumpkin, chorizos, salt pork, chile peppers, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro leaves. Not really a soup, the most traditional Puerto Rican dish is asopao, a hearty gumbo made with either chicken or shellfish. One well-known version, consumed when the food budget runs low, is asopao de gandules (pigeon peas). Every Puerto Rican chef has his or her own recipe for asopao. Asopao de pollo (chicken asopao) takes a whole chicken, which is then flavored with spices such as oregano, garlic, and paprika, along with salt pork, cured ham, green peppers, chile peppers, onions, cilantro, olives, tomatoes, chorizos, and pimientos. For a final touch, green peas or asparagus might be added. Main Dishes The aroma that wafts from kitchens throughout Puerto Rico comes from adobo and sofrito -blends of herbs and spices that give many of the native foods their distinctive taste and color. Adobo, made by crushing together peppercorns, oregano, garlic, salt, olive oil, and lime juice or vinegar, is rubbed into meats before they are roasted. Sofrito, a potpourri of onions, garlic, coriander, and peppers browned in either olive oil or land and colored with achiote (annatoo seeds), imparts the bright-yellow color to the island's rice, soups, and stews. Stews loom large in the Puerto Rican diet. They are usually cooked in a caldero or heavy kettle. A popular one is carne guisada puertorriqueña; (Puerto Rican beef stew). The ingredients that flavor the chunks of beef vary according to the cook's whims or whatever happens to be in the larder. These might include green peppers, sweet chile peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro, potatoes, olives stuffed with pimientos, or capers. Seeded raisins may be added on occasion. Meat pies (pastelón de carne) are the staple of many Puerto Rican dinners. Salt pork and ham are often used for the filling and are cooked in a caldero. This medley of meats and spices is covered with a pastry top and baked. Other typical main dishes include fried beefsteak with onions (carne frita con cebolla), veal (ternera) a la parmesana, and roast leg of pork, fresh ham, lamb, or veal, a la criolla. These roasted meats are cooked in the Créole style, flavored with adobo. Puerto Ricans also like such dishes as breaded calfs brains (sesos empanados), calfs kidney (riñones guisados), and stuffed beef tongue (lengua rellena). A festive island dish is lechón asado, or barbecued pig, which is usually cooked for a party of 12 or 15. It is traditional for picnics and al fresco parties; one can sometimes catch the aroma of this dish wafting through the palm trees, a smell that must have been familiar to the Taino peoples. The pig is basted with jugo de naranjas agría (sour orange juice) and achiote coloring. Green plantains are peeled and roasted over hot stones, then served with the barbecued pig as a side dish. The traditional dressing served with the pig is ali-li-monjili, a sour garlic sauce. The sauce combines garlic, whole black peppercorns, and sweet seeded chile peppers, flavored further with vinegar, lime juice, and olive oil. Puerto Ricans adore chicken, which they flower various spices and seasoning. Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) is the most popular chicken dish on the island, and it was brought long ago to the U.S mainland. Other favorite preparations include chicken in sherry (pollo al jerez), pollo agridulce (sweet and sour chicken), and pollitos asados a la parrilla (broiled chickens). Most visitors to the island seem to like the fish and shellfish. A popular fried fish with Puerto Rican sauce (mojo isleño). The sauce is made with olives and olive oil, onions, pimientos, capers, tomato sauce, vinegar, and a flavoring of garlic and bay leaves. Fresh fish is often grilled, and perhaps flavored with garlic and an overlay of freshly squeezed lime juice -a very tasty dinner indeed. Caribbean lobster is usually the most expensive item on any menu, followed by shrimp. Puerto Ricans often cook shrimp in beer (camarones en cerveza). Another delectable shellfish dish is boiled crab (jueyes hervidos).
Enjoy! Isla Verde & Condado Forts (Old San Juan) -San Felipe del Morro (Old SanJuan) -San Cristóbal (Old SanJuan) BioBays (Vieques, Fajardo, Lajas) Camuy River Cave Park near Arecibo & Observatory El Yunque National Forest (Fajardo) Casa Bacardi Rum Distillery Hacienda Buena Vista Gilligan’s Island Luquillo Beach Toro negro Forest & Lookout Tower (West area of the Island) Plaza Las Americas (Biggest shopping center of the Caribbean)
The Island of Culebra (Culebrita) (you can take the ferry or via a small airplane) Ferry leaves from Fajardo Ponce - The Pearl City (Parque de Bombas, La Guancha) NIGHTLIFE & GREAT RESTAURANTS: NIGHTLIFE:
1 -Basiliko, San Juan - Housed in a colonial Old San Juan
2- Lobby Bar at La Concha, San Juan -The recently renovated La Concha hotel.
3- Nightlife at the El San Juan Hotel & Casino
4- Nuyorican Café, Old San Juan
5- Rumba, San Juan
6- Wet Bar San Juan -rooftop of the San Juan Water & Beach Club.
RESTAURANTS
1- Metropol Restaurant - Cuisine: Cuban Restaurant Address: Isla Verde Ave. Carolina,
2- Ceviche House - Peruvian & Seafood - Isla Verde
3- Mi Casita - Puertorican food - Isla Verde
4- Alfredo -italian food - Inside of the Intecontinental Hotel - Isla Verde
5- Steak & Co. - Main strip of Isla Verde
6- La Playita Rest. - besides my condo (drinks, lunch & dinner)
7- Budatai - Condado (in front of La Ventana del Mar)
8- The Parrot Club, Dragon Fly, Toro Salao & Agua Viva - Fortaleza street in Old San Juan
9- Yamato Japanese Restaurant- Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi & Asian Flavors Address:El San Juan Hotel & Casino.
10- La Piccola Fontana - Cuisine: Italian & Seafood Specialities Address:El San Juan Hotel & Casino,
11- Pescaderia Atlantica- Cuisine: Tapas, Sea Food & Paella Address: Isla Verde Ave
12- Chili's Restaurant Address: Isla Verde Ave.
13- Ruth's Chris - Cuisine: Renowned Steakhouse Address: Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino
14- Steak and Company - Cuisine: Continental & Steak House Address: Isla Verde Ave.
15- Che's -Cuisine: Argentinian Address:35 Caoba St., Punta Las Marias Emergency numbers
Emergency Numbers
Department of Health - 787-766-1616
Medical emergency - 787-754-2550
Dental emergency - 787-795-0320
Fire department - 787-725-3444
Police - 787-343-2020 Tourist Zone Police in Conado - 787-726-7020
Tourist Zone in Isla Verde - 787-728-4770
Weather - 787-253-4586