Puerto Rico; the Diver’s Heaven

The archipelago of Puerto Rico is comprised of the main island of Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles Island, several smaller keys and islands such as Vieques, Culebra and Mona.

It has an amazing tropical climate, too many beaches to mention and is surrounded on three sides by a continental shelf; ensuring that there is an abundance of caves, trenches, sea walls and coral reefs. All of this, plus a great deal more make the entire area of Puerto Rico and surrounding areas perfect for scuba diving, attracting divers from all different levels of experience.

The Condado area holds the metropolitan area of San Juan and is probably the easiest location to reach. There are other areas that are more impressive, but it does have great laver reefs, tunnels, and caverns along with overhangs that provide the perfect habitat containing schools of snapper, copper sweepers, coral shrimp, jacks, butterfly fish and even octopus.

For the more experienced divers looking for a more impressive dive consider a visit to the Humacao Region, it offers over 24 great dive spots with caves, tunnels and overhangs. Divers here are likely to see Dolphins, Lobsters and goby stations. This area offers great visibility and gorgeous coral views where angelfish and nurse sharks make their home.

For perhaps the ultimate dive try visiting western Puerto Rico that contains Mona Island sometimes referred to as the “Caribbean version of the Galapagos Islands”. These waters are home to 270+ species of fish, that includes some 60 “reef dwellers” along with larger marine life such as dolphins, marlin, sea turtles and whales. The vertical walls are all around the island that also includes steep drop-offs and caverns. The solitary nature of the island, including the 5 hours that it can take to get there means that the number of visitors is usually kept to a small number.

Of course there are many other areas that hold the same kind of beauty and wonder, just get out there and explore.

Visit the Island of Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is one of those places that have a lot more to offer that you may think. Of course, there is the requisite blazing sun, beautiful beaches and fruit drinks with umbrellas in them, but there is more there than meets the eye.

The capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, is a mix of several different influences and cultures. What type of activities you can do is completely up to you and what type of holiday you are looking for when you're making your travel plans to Puerto Rico. If you are looking for luxury and a little pampering there are several nice hotels and many gorgeous spa resorts as well if that is something that may interest you.

Or if you are looking for a little more excitement there is more nightlife than you can enjoy in a week. No matter what your tastes, you will find it there. When the shops close a whole new San Juan opens up with unbridled energy as well. There are casinos and bars, or if you like the idea of nightlife, but don't really care for quite so much activity there are many restaurants on the beach that are open late and you can have your drinks outside on the patio that looks out over the gorgeous moonlit water. Perfect for that quiet special night that you are just not quite ready to let go of yet.

Puerto Rico is rich with history and you can take advantage of the many sightseeing tours available or strike out on your own to discover this island paradise.

Bosque Estatal de Guilarte

When it is nature that you are longing to experience while you are roaming around lovely Puerto Rico, then there may not be anything better than a trip to view Bosque Estatal de Guilarte. Located within the Adjuntas area at Route 131 and Route 518, this amazing spot is always a smart stop whenever you decide to undertake some sightseeing while on your Puerto Rico trip.

As you prepare for your Bosque Estatal de Guilarte outing, make sure that you are equipped with good hiking footwear and a camera with plenty of film. Filled with great hiking trails, this entire area is simply chock full of amazing wild plants including thriving impatiens and lots of lush greenery. As a portion of the Guilarte State Forest, you can even hike your way up to the breathtaking 3,900 foot peak at Pico Guilarte.

If it happens to be birds that you fancy, then you are not going to be disappointed! Bosque Estatal de Guilarte is the home to well over twenty different species of feathered friends for you to view, photograph and learn about. At the same time, you can even take in some information about all of the plants, trees and flowers that dot the entire landscape. There is even a resting and picnic area that is located near an incredible eucalyptus grove.

Always free of charge for guests and open seven days out of the week, Bosque Estatal de Guilarte is a stop in Puerto Rico that you and anyone else in your traveling party does not want to miss.

Al's Mar Azul

There is nothing like being able to unwind for a while whenever you are enjoying your vacation. Being in amazing Puerto Rico will mean having to stop by a local bar or two in order to sip on drinks and mingle with the locals as well as other tourists enjoying their stay. For this kind of an outing during your trip, there is really nothing like a stop at Al's Mar Azul.

Conveniently located very close to a bustling ferry terminal, you will find Al's Mar Azul at Calle Plinio Peterson at Isabela Segunda, Vieques in Puerto Rico. On any given evening at this local watering hole, you will find a great number of visitors who will gather to enjoy the simply amazing sunset over a few drinks. Just when you think this sounds incredible, it gets even better once you are there and you see that you can catch this afternoon view right from their open-air bar, which also happens to be a deck that looks over the clear waters of the ocean below.

While you are at Al's Mar Azul, you are sure to take great joy in the amount of activities that you can enjoy. Along with your cold drinks and great company, this little slice of nightlife in Puerto Rico is home to a number of pool tables, dart boards and even a juke box if you want to listen to some tunes. Before you know it, this fun bar stop will become one of your favorite portions of your vacation!

San Juan Fun

A day trip in San Juan is guaranteed to be one of the best adventures that you can have while you are visiting Puerto Rico. Filled with plenty of places to shop and browse as well as terrific eateries, this is a place that will be burned in your memory long after your visit is over with.

Make sure that you have plenty of time to explore and take in all of the wonderful historical sites that dot the entire area of San Juan. Along with various sites, you can take pictures of a stroll throughout cobblestone streets that Juan Ponce de Leon once traveled on. If sightseeing is simply not enough and you are ready for more, there several restaurants and small eateries that you can take advantage of whenever you are ready for a delicious bite to eat. Authentic food from local chefs will be the icing on the cake for a long day of shopping and sightseeing.

For outdoor recreation, San Juan has everything from beautiful beaches to great places to hike along the outside of the region. One of the best beaches in the area, popular to both tourists and locals alike is Balneario de Carolina. While you are there, you may want to stay long enough so that you can take in the amazing sunset. Picture taking opportunities will be plenty, so make sure that you have access to plenty of extra film in order to snap away effortlessly. After all, this is the kind of San Juan vacation that you will want to remember for quite some time in the future.

Cozy Comfortable Fun - Dom Pepe

While the mood strikes you in the Mayaguez area of Puerto Rico, you might find it necessary to hit one of the local night spots in order to cut loose and get your groove on. When it is a friendly, lively atmosphere that you crave, then there is none other that a little place at 56 Calle Mendez Vigo called Dom Pepe.

A favorite hangout of both locals and tourists alike, Dom Pepe is one of those places that will quickly make you feel as though you are at home. Comfortable, cozy and always clean, this is the smartest stop to make when you want to have a couple of cold beers with friends. During your visit, your are sure to get great enjoyment from being able to take in the amazing atmosphere, which is generally filled with the sounds of piano music or songs from local musicians. Depending on the evening that you stop by, there may even be a series of local bands that will be hitting the stage to play for a bit.

Casual attire is acceptable and reservations are never necessary at this wonderful little corner of Mayaguez. Located close to Puerto Rico University, you are sure to even see a decent number of young people at Dom Pepe that you can mingle with. Open Monday through Saturday from 6:00pm until closing time, this is the place to go to unwind for a while. Call ahead at (787) 834-4941 if you happen to have any questions about the current bands that are listed to play.

Visit Intriguing Aguaviva

Taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the San Juan region of Puerto Rico will more than likely include a stop at a couple of different restaurants. After all, if you are going to try and experience all that this area has to offer, then you simply must try some of the local eats. When it comes to delicious seafood and unforgettable local fare, then Aguaviva is the place that you need to visit.

Located right on 364 Calle La Fortaleza, Aguaviva is a magnificent restaurant with some of the coolest, modern d残or that you could ever imagine. With a name that means jellyfish, this stop along your way in Puerto Rico will find you sipping on cocktails and noshing on all sorts of delectable foods. Patrons always take great joy in the menu, which is usually filled with amazing items such as ceviche, paella, shrimp salsa, seafood enchiladas, oysters, lobster mashed potatoes and so on.

Ask your server if they can recommend a wonderful bottle of wine to go along with your meal or simply order up a local favorite with one of the cocktails. No matter what, you are going to have a mouthwatering selection to choose from on both the beverage and meal menus. Tie this in with the decor and you may almost feel as though you are at a five star resort without the hassle of all of the tourists and the high prices. Whether you stop by to enjoy the ambiance or if you have a love for food, this will be one stop in Puerto Rico that will leave you satisfied in many ways.