Any Places Tourists Should Avoid When Visiting Puerto Rico?

Ready to go to Puerto Rico but heard traveling in the Caribbean isn't safe?
Puerto Rico is very safe, obviously use commonsense no matter where you travel and keep your valuables out of site and use hotel safes for anything you can't replace if you're worried about the honesty of the hotel or resort workers. Lock your doors when you're in your room and obviously when you leave.

We've traveled back and forth from the U.S. to P.R. numerous times over the years and have only found one area in San Juan that you should avoid. La Perla, a pretty name for a not-so-pretty, crime ridden area. San Juan has the same problems as any other urban metropolis and as long as you follow the same tourism tips you would follow anywhere else, you can easily avoid becoming a statistic. Puerto Rico has public housing areas called "caserios" and generally they are economically downtrodden areas off the tourist path. Avoid those areas and you should have a safe and fabulous vacation.

Overall, Puerto Rico is a very safe destination for tourists and you can't go wrong with a visit to the west side of the island where San German and Rincon are located - it's well worth the trip.

You can't go without a passport and you'll need a certified copy of your birth certificate to get that, call our offices today at 855-715-1062 or visit our order form to get started right now.

First Case of Swine Flu in San Juan Reported

A cruise ship that made a stop in the Port of San Juan had a female crew member diagnosed with swine flu. She was immediately isolated and treated with antiviral medication.

No other cases of the virus were reported and it's the first to be reported out of San Juan, which is still considered a "safe zone" for travelers as an alternative to visiting Mexico. Although tourism is picking up in Mexico once again as the cases of swine flu were on the decline.

It is believed the woman became exposed to the swine flu virus during a port call in Acapulco, Mexico.

Other passengers were tested and there were no other positive results so this is being considered an isolated incident.

Start Making Your June Puerto Rico Travel Plans!

Puerto Rico is a great escape in June.

More and more brides are planning destination weddings to some of the beautiful coastal towns in Puerto Rico and it's also a marvelous honeymoon destination where you can get an exotic locale without spending an arm and a leg.

Travel documentation to Puerto Rico is easy too. You will need a passport and in order to get that you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate, and don't worry - we can help you not only get a passport quickly - we can also obtain certified copies of your birth certificate to make getting your travel docs together fast and easy.

Puerto Rico is full of history, natural beauty and warm, friendly people - if you're considering making your summer vacation plans - forget Mexico this year and come explore the thrill of Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico Tourism Up as More Travel Agencies Re-Book Mexico Trips to Jamaica and Puerto Rico

The outbreak of swine flu across Mexico, the U.S. and many countries around the globe has had one positive twist - more and more travel agencies are canceling their Mexico travel arrangements for clients and re-booking them to Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

One travel agency, Apple Vacation, has nearly half of their tourism business booked to Mexico this year - however in light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory against non-essential travel to Mexico, the tour operator joins a long list of agencies that have responded to the precautionary measures. So, Apple, along with many other agencies, is canceling travel plans to Mexico and creating fun vacation jaunts in equally exotic locations of Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Several cruise lines, including Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival and Princess, have also pulled their ships from five Mexican ports, namely, Alcapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Ensenada and Mazatlan, a report from cruisecal.com said. Yesterday, some 14 calls were cancelled.

It said, however, the region was taking a proactive effort related to this virus, stating that member countries have already begun adopting measures for greater surveillance to prevent the virus from spreading to the regions where tourists are being diverted.

A few flu prevention measures that are being adopted globally:

• Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
  
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or appear ill.
  
• Cover coughs and sneezes, sneezing into the crook of your elbow will help lessen the spread of germs.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

You don't have to cancel your travel plans for this spring/summer vacation season - just do a little research on the areas in Puerto Rico you'd like to visit and take precautions against illness and you should have a marvelous time!

Puerto Rico - Wreck Diving

Most people get the diving bug simply from snorkeling. Then comes the lessons for SCUBA diving and then after the sport diving begins inevitably the truly adventurous begin looking for more diving challenges such as tri-mix air for deeper dives, cave diving or wreck diving.

Puerto Rico has a few cool wrecks to dive and every diver should make a mark on their diving dance card to check these out:

The reef life around Puerto Rico is amazingly diverse. With brightly colored fishes, eagle rays, morays, groupers, and the occasional nurse shark. There are numerous shipwrecks that are still hidden in the shallow water surrounding Puerto Rico waiting to be discovered and occasionally gold doubloons are still found.

Here are a few more wreck diving destinations in Puerto Rico:

AIRPLANE
The Airplane wreck is the remains of a six passenger Piper Cherokee monoplane. The Piper, which was built in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, is now resting in 50 feet of water. Much of the aircraft is covered by sponge and coral and the reef life is usually very active for both day and night dives.

DESTROYER
There is an old, decommissioned Navy destroyer sunk off the east end of Vieques Island. The ship was once used for target practice and is now very broken up and scattered in 35 to 40 feet of water. The Destroyer wreck is resting on a sandy bottom and holds a good amount of marine life.

TUG BOAT
This wreck is an 80 foot long, ocean going tug that ran aground on Culebrita Reef. The wreck is sitting upright and intact in very shallow water of only 40 feet and is ideal for divers just learning to explore wrecks because of it's shallow placement. Coral, sponge and a good assortment of marine creatures can be found all over this wreck.

BARGE
An old sugar cane barge of unknown origin lies about one mile off the shore of Cayo Santiago off Humacao. This wreck lies intact and upright in forty feet of water on a sand and grass bottom. The marine life is fairly sparse but there is almost no current and is easy for new divers to navigate.

If you are ready to visit Puerto Rico, get a copy of your birth certificate and get your passport ready and visit soon. The diving is good almost all year round and it's the best from May through October.

Blue Flag Beach Lover? Puerto Rico Has Them!

Blue Flag Beaches are among the best beaches in the world and definitely worth boasting about for any country and Puerto Rico has a large number of them.

The criteria that goes into giving the "Blue Flag" to a beach isn't a small undertaking. Many people aren't aware that there is actually a certain level of quality and criteria that must be met in order to deserve a Blue Flag Beach Rating.

The first criteria that has to be met is the ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION standard. This includes having information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural, sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed for visitors. Bathing water quality must be displayed. Information about the Blue Flag Program itself must be displayed. There must be an established Code of Conduct for the beach area that must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request. Another requirement is that a minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered.

WATER QUALITY is another standard that must be met for a Blue Flag Beach rating. Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality
No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area and monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach. Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment. Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach in a natural manner unless it constitutes a nuisance.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT includes creating a beach management committee that is in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conduct regular environmental audits of the beach facility.

SAFETY AND SERVICES must also be carefully crafted to included an adequate number of lifeguards at all times along with regular safety checks to maintain the safety standard.

The beach must comply with all regulations set forth above and the criteria must be maintained at the highest standards in order to obtain as well as maintain a Blue Flag Beach rating.

If you're ready to experience the Blue Flag Beaches that Puerto Rico has to offer, grab your passport and other travel docs and come see the Blue Flag Beach difference.

The Lesser Known Puerto Rico Beaches

So, you love the warm sun, beautiful ocean waters and sandy beaches, who doesn’t? And that in itself may present a problem, especially if everywhere you have gone for that relaxing vacation has turned out to be a little over-crowded for your tastes. And, quite possibly every place that you are considering and have talked with people about seems like it will be more of the same.

Have you considered Puerto Rico? Not the widely advertised tourist type of Puerto Rico, but the more secluded laid-back areas made just for you. It’s true there are many beautiful beaches where you can watch the sun rise and set over the ocean. However, there are some beaches that are not part of Puerto Rico’s mainland; instead they can be found on islands off the coast. Most often these will provide a scarcely populated beach that oozes with that traditional tropical paradise that you have always envisioned.

One such area is Mona Island, which has been compared to Galapagos Island and there are some very interesting species of animals that call it home and as a result it is closed to tourists during hunting season (January – April). To make it even more alluring tours are only offered from May through November and in order to even visit the island you will need a permit from the Natural Resources and Environmental Department.

You may also want to consider Shacks Beach, or Bajuras, of Isabela Island known for the best snorkeling water in the area. You will also notice the wonderful sleepy looking coconut palms that line the beach and they seem to call out to you to come for a little siesta under their fronds.

There are some really great, scarcely populated beaches that await you off the mainland of Puerto Rico so get your travel papers together and start planning your next vacation now.

Big Pussy Wreaks Havoc In Puerto Rico

Image by Oquendo via Flickr

Big cat stalks San Juan suburbs

The Associated Press

December 15, 2008

SAN JUAN, Puerto RicoReports of slaughtered farm animals and shadowy figures in darkened yards have Puerto Rican authorities hunting for what they think is an exotic jungle cat prowling the wooded fringes of the island.

Wildlife officials patrolled streets and undeveloped lots on Sunday, searching for a nocturnal predator that has mauled a sheep, ripped apart chickens and dominated newspaper headlines since last week.

The beast, described by witnesses as a black panther, has dodged marksmen, motion-sensitive cameras and traps, including one baited with a live goat, according to Natural Resources Secretary Javier Velez Arocho.

Ten sightings were reported of a 4-foot-long cat stalking a stretch of Rio Piedras, a San Juan suburb that is home to a 21,000-student university campus, Velez said.

He urged residents to keep an eye on their children and look to defend themselves if they encountered a big cat.

"We would use guns to kill this animal only as a last resort," Velez said. It is illegal to own nonnative predators such as jungle cats in Puerto Rico.

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Travel to Puerto Rico for Many Reasons

Image by Andries3 via FlickrAs we head into winter traveling to San Juan Puerto Rico looks better and better. Whenever it gets cold people want to travel to warmer climates. There are many great reasons to think of traveling to Puerto Rico.

San Juan boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. With white sand and green water, you can't help but sit back and relax with your feet in the warm Caribbean sea. Another plus is that San Juan is just a short flight away from many other Caribbean islands, such as Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and also St. Thomas.

The Le Lo Lai festival goes on all year round and showcases the heritages of the local people, who are of Indian, African, and Spanish backgrounds. This festival is another great reason to travel to Puerto Rico.

Another wonderful reason to visit is Fort Cristobal. It is one of the oldest and largest fortresses built in the Americas. It has over 100 foot walls that look graceful and powerful when the ocean's waves crash into them. There are also guided tours in English and Spanish.

Travel to Puerto Rico offers quite a bit, there is more to do and experience than just the beautiful weather.

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Puerto Rico has a Lot to Offer

Image via WikipediaPuerto Rico that is officially known as commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an autonomously governed body of the United States of America situated in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. Puerto Rico is an archipelago consisted of main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands and Keys.

The island is rich in a number of beautiful locations around it. Its central mountain range goes as high as 1,338 meter at Cerro de Punta and it is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. El Yunque in Puerto Rico is quite popular for its beaches, turquoise waters and soft yellow sand. It is a great tourist center and a number of cultures get merges here and nightlife here is exceptional beyond the expectation of a person to enjoy it.

Puerto Rico features two main beaches - Puerto Rico Beach and Amadores Beach. Puerto Rico Beach lies between two harbors and is full of soft golden sand that kids love to make into huge sandcastles. The clear waters offer fantastic opportunities to go scuba diving and dolphin-watching on one of the many boats available. A path links the two beaches and the views along the way make the walk worthwile - plus, the waters at Amadores are perfect for cooling off!

Puerto Rico has three of the large commercial centres that are common to the tourist areas of Gran Canaria, the largest of these being the Centro Civico that offers everything from souvenir shops to supermarkets, restaurants to bars. The bars around Puerto Rico provide a lively nightlife for all which lasts until the early hours of the morning.

Close to the Centro Civico is the picturesque marina that exhibits luxurious yachts and is the main place where holiday makers have their choice of sedate or extreme water sports to try out depending on their level of daring!

Getting around Puerto Rico is extremely easy and the surrounding areas of Gran Canaria. Air-conditioned buses run frequently and taxis are both safe to use and extremely cheap. There is plenty of activites around the resort such as mini-golf, squash and tennis courts and of course there is always the mandatory trip to the Aqua Park which provides a fun and sun filled day for everyone, with thrills and spills on the hair raising waterslides!

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Christmas in Puerto Rico

Image by scaturchio via Flickr
If you are an individual that is really into the Christmas holidays, but you really do not want to spend them in the United States, you may want to seriously consider Puerto Rico. Not only would you get to enjoy all of the Puerto Rican Christmas traditions, but you could also do so while enjoying the warm weather and sandy beaches. A Puerto Rican Christmas doesn't traditionally last only twelve days, as many of the festivities begin in November and last far into the New Year. There are some beautiful island traditions that are included in the festivities and well known through out Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, beginning on December 15th and ending on December 24th, the local churches hold something called misas de aguinaldo. These are masses that begin at dawn and feature the singing of Christmas Carols, which are called aguinaldos. As far as festivities that include aguinaldos are concerned, Puerto Rican Christmas carolers are definitely not in short supply. Carolers, locally translated as parranada begin their neighborhood treks in late November and they continue into January. If you are someone that truly enjoys listening to Christmas Carlos and loves the thought of this Christmas tradition, spending a vacation being able to listen to these eager carolers may be just the treat you are looking for.

While Christmas Day is huge in Puerto Rico, Christmas Eve is even more popular. This does not exclude the feasts that is prepared for this festive holiday. On Christmas Eve a traditional Puerto Rican dinner awaits the table of most all of Puerto Rico's inhabitants. It is typically a dinner that consists of roasted pork and rice and beans. If you are tired of the traditional Christmas turkey and dressing, this traditional Puerto Rican feast may be a very welcome part of your Puerto Rican holiday.

After the traditional Puerto Rico feast, individuals attend a midnight mass, which is known in the native language as Misa de Gallo or Rooster's Mass. This mass comes complete with Christmas music and possibly a live nativity scene.

If you can extend your Puerto Rico holiday trip into the New Year, you will have a chance to enjoy Ano Viejo, which is New Year's Eve. The natives enjoy fireworks and a tradition of eating twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight. Eating the grapes is supposed to bring good luck for the New Year. If you look closely, you can also witness some individuals sprinkling sugar in their front yards. This is also a traditional good luck practice. You can also take part in the annual party that is thrown by the Puerto Rico Tourism Co.

As you can see, Puerto Rico has much more to offer than just sandy beaches and warm calming waters. If you aren't sure that you want to spend Christmas at home this year, try looking into a Puerto Rican Christmas Vacation. Odds are you will be very pleased with all of the festivities that you can participate in and will have a Christmas you will never forget.

A Good Time to Visit Puerto Rico?

Image via WikipediaWith the economic crisis that is going on in the United States many people are hesitant about traveling. This makes perfect sense because whenever the economy takes a turn for the worse people hold off on things that they consider a luxury. However, if you are going to travel, then picking Puerto Rico as a vacation spot could be a wise choice financially.

Unfortunately, for Puerto Rico the country is going through an economic crisis even worse than what the United States is experiencing. What this means to any traveler is that the dollar will be stronger and will buy more than it did in the past. Consequently, if you are going to travel at all then Puerto Rico is a smart destination financially. Puerto Rico is also a smart destination just for the fact it is beautiful place to visit.

There is quite a lot to do there as well as the island being beautiful and relaxing. It will be even more relaxing when you're on vacation, and you know that you're getting the best quality for your money. So, start packing your bags and get ready for your tropical Puerto Rico vacation.

Things to do in Puerto Rico

Image via WikipediaJust about anyone knows that Puerto Rico is a beautiful country. When you think of Puerto Rico it evokes images of exotic drinks, warm balmy breezes, and clear blue water. Who wouldn't want to visit? In addition, who wouldn't be able to figure out what to do there? Most people think of going to Puert Rico on vacation, and only imagine laying on the beach taking in the sun, or doing some swimming.

However, that is not the case. There are a lot of fun things that are available for people that like action during their vacation. One thing a lot of people don't consider is bicycling. This is a great way to discover even more of beautiful Puerto Rico. Renting a bike is easy and there are plenty of places to get a bike in Puerto Rico. Of course dining goes without saying. Most people have already considered that they are going to eat at the various romantic restaurants and sample the exotic cuisine. How about driving around the island? If you don't have the ambition to bicycle around the island then you can rent a car and drive around, and see the beautiful local landscape.

Fishing is another good activity, that doesn't take that much effort, and can be good for less ambitious people. For the more athletic and adventurous travelers, there is hiking. Hiking can take you even deeper into the beauty of Puerto Rico. You can get an even closer look at nature. Many people don't consider horseback riding. Nevertheless, this is another consideration for something a little different. Scuba diving is wonderful in Puerto Rico. The water is beautiful and so is the underwater scenery.

So, aside from being a beautiful island, and a favorite vacation spot, Puert Rico can also offer a variety of activities. It's great that there is such a variety because there is sure to be something to fit the personal taste of everyone.

Breaking Travel News

Image via WikipediaGood News for all of the Regent Hotels and Resorts fans. The company has just broken ground for the building of its newest hotel and resort, The Regent Palmas del Mar Puerto Rico. The resort will be located 30 minutes southeast of San Juan.

The resort promises to be a wonderful luxurious addition to an already lush area. The Regent Palmas del Mar Puerto Rico will have 150 rooms and will offer beachfront accommodations. It is scheduled to open in December of 2011. So for any travelers to Puerto Rico, this will be a future bright spot to look forward to visiting.

Of course with everything that is already available in Puerto Rico there is no reason to wait until this resort is done. Travelers that are looking for a great vacation experience should definitely put Puerto Rico on their itinerary.

What Exactly are Puerto Rican Passports?

Image by stuart.mundy via FlickrIf you ever came across the phrase 'Puerto Rico passports', you would have definitely wondered whether Puerto Rico is an independent country. Well, it is not. Puerto Rico is an integral part of the United States of America and its residents are US citizens. If this is so, how and why has this phrase been used?

Many people are not aware that the USA has two major commonwealths: (1) Puerto Rico, which was always considered a highly advantageous military location in the Caribbean for America, and (2) Northern Marianas. Besides these, there are 12 unincorporated territories or possessions out of which only four are inhabited: US Virgin Islands, Guam, Midway Islands, and American Samoa. The residents of these US Commonwealths and possessions, except for those of American Samoa, are all US citizens. The latter are only US nationals, but not US citizens.

Puerto Rico has always been one of the most wanted destinations for tourists from all over the world. During the 1930s however, this amazing island was far from popular. The reason was that a large group of terrorists was caught during that period, where the majority was found in possession of ids and travel documents issued in Puerto Rico.

The false documents, particularly the Puerto Rico passports and Puerto Rico birth certificates, which permitted these terrorists to travel as US citizens throughout the world, caused immense embarrassment and pain to the citizens of Puerto Rico as they unexpectedly became synonymous with nefarious activities. The phrase 'Puerto Rico passports' had been coined at that time. Many people, even travel agencies, still harbor the misconception that such documents, which are supposedly issued in Puerto Rico, were and are outside the jurisdiction of the United States.

The truth was that in the past, no American required a passport for traveling back and forth to the Caribbean. There are no such documents known as Puerto Rico passports. However, with effect from 23 January 2007, US citizens were required to present a valid US passport or any equivalent travel document such as Air Nexus Card, passport card or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document when they re-entered the United States by air.

Under the directives of WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) from 1 June 2009 onwards, these rules would be extended to all US citizens who travel to Bermuda, Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America regardless of whether they travel by air, land, or sea. Such travel would require that all US citizens carry a valid passport, WHTI approved document or passport card when they return to the USA.

Forget The Bailout Plan, Explore The Shore In Puerto Rico!

Image by Andries3 via FlickrLet’s face it. You have a million things on your plate every single day. All that you really want is to be able to take a vacation and help relieve some of the stresses of everyday life. However, it may be hard to think about treating yourself to a vacation when there is constant talk about a billion-dollar bailout plan and a possible recession. The news keeps telling you that things could get worse before they get any better. What you should know is that you can make yourself feel better and ready for whatever comes your way in the near future with the help of a wonderful escape in the form of a Puerto Rican vacation.

Puerto Rico vacation rentals and gorgeous Puerto Rico villas are just waiting for you amidst gorgeous sun and sand to help wash all of your cares and worries away. Before you know it, with the simple and easy planning of a Puerto Rico vacation, you can be well on the way to de-stressing and relaxing in the sun. This way, when you get back from your vacation, you can head back into your daily routine with a fresh outlook and an upbeat attitude.

With hundreds of miles of some of the most stunning beaches that you have ever laid your eyes on, you will be glad that you took the time to book your Puerto Rican vacation. While you are in Puerto Rico, you can step out of your Puerto Rico vacation rental or Puerto Rico villa and take part in some of the incredible adventures that await you. Whether it is sightseeing, shopping or thrilling excursions that you are after, this gorgeous portion of the globe seems to have something memorable for everyone to enjoy! All you have to do is bailout of your humdrum routine and take the time to see just what a Puerto Rican vacation has to offer.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24672193/ --Tips for recession proof travel…

Puerto Rico is Fast Becoming a Travel Hot Spot

Image via WikipediaThe country of Puerto Rico is approximately 100 miles long by 35 miles wide and is considered one of the most beautiful Islands in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico used to be thought of as just a stop on the way to one of the many other islands in the Caribbean but times are changing for this country.

Puerto Rico is promoting itself to travelers as an exciting adventure hot spot. For the more adventurous and excitement loving wanderer this might be just the spot for them to visit. For anyone up to it they can sign up for a backpacking adventure trip. These are serious excursions though and are really only for the experienced. They come with guides as well to make sure that no one gets lost or hurt, or at least to try and alleviate that prospect as much as is possible.

However, for the traveler that is NOT looking for an adventure this strenuous or exciting there is still the social challenges of the beautiful city of San Juan. They can go and drink and dance to their hearts content and get their excitement groove on that way.