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With
endless sand, swashbuckling history and wildly diverse tropical
terrain, locals fittingly call this sun-washed medley of Spanish and
American influences the 'Island of Enchantment.'Rainforest Playground
The limestone caves
in the misty central mountains resound with the chirp of coquí frogs
hidden among giant tree ferns. Hiking Puerto Rico's unique collection
of forests – some of the wettest in the Caribbean – is an explorers
dream, and few ever forget time spent on the dripping trails of El
Yunque.
Tropical Beaches
Puerto Rico is the fodder of many a Caribbean
daydream for good reason: it can satisfy both the lethargic beach bum
or the budding big-wave surfer – all in a long weekend. Its coral reefs
host a riot of tropical fish and the sands shimmer like crushed
pearls. On some beaches you'll have plenty of company, but in other
places like Vieques you might have some of the best stretches of sand
in the world all to yourself.Cultural Vibrancy
Those curious enough to
look beyond San Juan's condo towers and congested roads reap big
rewards from the vibrant culture of this island. You'll get a whiff of
it in the tempting smoke that rises from roadside lechoneras (eateries specializing in suckling pig). You'll hear it in the distorted thump of a rowdy, beer-soaked weekend in Boquerón
or the intoxicating patter of a salsa beat. You'll see it down the
quiet hallways of museums celebrating everything from failed revolution
to classical European painting. Puerto Rican traditions have been
shaped by generations of cultural synthesis, celebration and setback,
and it emerges today as distinct, spirited and indomitable.
History
Puerto Rico's history lessons –
told through cannon fire and colonization, repression and revolt –
offer a palpable sense of the island's dynamic past. There's a bit of
legend in every direction: from the fortress walls pocked by cannon
fire to the crumbling towers of the sugar refineries that once fired
the island's economy. Free-trading colonialists built sparkling
European plazas in the harbor cities, while political revolutionaries
plotted revolt in tiny villages in the central mountains. Those with a
passion for history can wander precolonial Taíno ball courts or steamy
coffee plantations, and even if your interest is scant, it's hard not
to get caught up in Puerto Rico's fascinating story in the stunning
confines of Old San Juan. The most amazing thing about this island's
past is the beguiling weave it creates with the present.
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