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.

When to Visit Puerto Rico?

With Puerto Rico struggling to reclaim its tourist industry, visiting this exotic island is more economical than ever.

"When to visit?" is the next question that will come to mind. The weather is nice all year round and while you need to be cognizant of hurricane season (June through November), the mountainous coastline serves to protect much of the inland island from the fury of hurricanes.

Nearly every Puerto Rican town has a Saint's Day and those celebrations can go on for a single day, days in a row and in some cases for an entire week. The celebrations themselves are a melding of pagan and Catholic iconography and Indian, African and Spanish traditions all rolled into one celebration. Along with the long honored religious traditions there is also a lot of food, music, dancing and costumed processions through the towns.

One great fest to catch is the Fiesta de San Juan Bautista (Festival of St John the Baptist) in San Juan in late June, which wonderfully fuses the religious and the secular. The highlight of the parade is a communal luck-enhancing midnight walk backwards into the sea.

Early February brings Mayagúez's twinkling La Virgen de la Candelaria and Loíza's jubilant Fiesta de Santiago Apostal, which takes place late July and celebrates the town's African heritage with parades, drum ensembles and lots of music and dancing.

Old San Juan is the place to be the 3rd week of January and of course if you want to celebrate Carnival, schedule a visit to Ponce and feel the Madres Gras-like spirit that comes only with Carnival. Ponce, where revellers dress up in horned masks for dancing and parades, is the best place to celebrate Carnival in February. Love music? Check out San Juan's Casals Festival which honors Pablo Casals, the famous cellist who came to call Puerto Rico home. This fest draws classical musicians from all over the world and is a major cultural event.

And those are just a few more reasons to visit the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, grab your birth certificate, get your passport and come on!

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.

Bird Watching in Puerto Rico!

Love to bird watch? You can pick a more wonderful and close by locale than beautiful Puerto Rico for some excellent bird watching opportunities.

Here are some of the best places to view your favorite feathered friends:

El Yunque National Forest
	El Yunque National Forest with a total area is 28,000 acres has an estimated 240 types of tree, and many other plants, such as tiny wild orchids, bamboo trees, giant ferns, and trumpet trees. Hiking trails and rest areas available. El Portal Tropical Forest Center has film exhibits and interactive displays about the rain forest. Open daily 7:30am a 6:00pm.

Las Cabezas de San Juan State Park

	Las Cabezas de San Juan State Park located in Fajardo. Embraces a portion of the island's lush tropical rain forests. It also has a scientific research center, which serve as a home of many endangered species. Visitors can explore the reserve along a network of trails and board-walks. The Island's second oldest lighthouse, El Faro, is located here. Offers a magnificent view that, on a clear day, reaches distant Caribbean islands. The Nature Reserve is open for general and school group tours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning and open to the public Friday afternoon through Sunday. Special rates are available for groups of 20 or more. Reservations are required for all visitors. Tours lasting two and one half hours, are scheduled four times daily: 9:30am, 10am, 10:30am and 2pm. An english tour is available at 2pm.

If you want to see something truly off the beaten path, try Guanica Dry Forest Reserve. The Guanica Forest Reserve is a coastal mangrove forest and has been an UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve because of several endangered species found only in Puerto Rico. No camping allowed. Open Mon-Sun 8am - 5pm.

You will need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico, make sure that your traveling papers are up to date and that's all you'll need along with your favorite bird watching gear to have a fabulous time birdwatching in Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico Must See: Visit Mona Island

Seeing the sights and having an incredible time in Puerto Rico is easy to achieve, especially when you take into account all of the fun stops and natural wonders that you will encounter. As a traveler, you must take the time to stop off and take a look at some of the natural wonderment that Mona Island has to offer. If you bring your camera, pack a lunch and plan to spend a few hours to explore, then you surely will not be disappointed.

Basically, if you are into day trips, then this is going to be the adventure of your dreams. All along this remote island, you are going to find plenty of incredible plants and vegetation along with amazing animals and natural formations that are just perfect for picture taking. If by some chance you would like to camp out on the island, then you can simply have it arranged ahead of time for a nominal fee. Bring all of your supplies including bottled water and snacks and you will be all set for a day trip or beyond.

As far as the beautiful sights that you can take in at Mona Island, you will find everything from lush forests to honeycombed caves. With twenty-five miles to explore, there is surely going to be something different around every corner. If you would like, you can even take on an adventure where you can go snorkeling or even rafting around the island itself. All in all, this is one sight seeing area in Puerto Rico that you do not want to miss out on.

Mayaguez Zoo

Traveling throughout the beautiful countryside in Puerto Rico only gets better when you make the decision to stop by the Mayaguez Zoo. Here, at this incredible location, you will be able to enjoy everything from lush vegetation to amazing animals. Be sure to bring your camera and plan to spend some time because this may just be one of the best adventures that you embark on!

Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Mayaguez Zoo is actually home to well over three hundred different animals including interesting reptiles, amphibians, mammals and more. You and anyone in your traveling party will surely take great pleasure in the beautiful habitats surrounding the animals where the natural state is taken into consideration.

You don't speak the native language? No problem, because there are bilingual placards located all throughout the Mayaguez Zoo that explain each and every stop along the way. If you happen to have children with you, there is even a wonderful playground and resting area that you can take advantage of for lunch or a quick break. As a matter of fact, while you are waiting, you can even sit back and check out the map of the zoo to see if the Andean condors or the Bengal tigers will be next to view on your to do list.

Conveniently located right off of scenic Route 108 in Mayaguez, this zoo is reasonably priced at under ten dollars for both adults and children with those children ten and under getting in free of charge.

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.

Artesania Puertorriquena

long with stopping along the way during your travels in Puerto Rico to see some of the breathtaking sights, you are surely going to want to take in a decent amount of shopping. Whenever the mood strikes, you can make sure that you take some time for a shopping excursion all around the Artesania Puertorriquena area. The only thing you will want to do is make sure that you have plenty of time to browse and have some spending money and a camera on you so that you can enjoy the full experience.

It really does not matter if you are in the mood to shop for crafts or a variety of clothing accessories because this wonderful little shopping area seems to have something great for everyone. Located in the Plaza de la Darsena in the San Juan area, this nice shopping adventure can be found right across from Pier 1, which makes it very convenient for any cruise ship passengers who may be stopping by. Plenty of vendors and a number of small food stands will greet you and tempt you into browsing and shopping for a while.

For everything from hats and handbags to t-shirts and other crafts made by local vendors, the Artesania Puertorriquena is a marvelous experience that you simply have to behold while you are visiting in Puerto Rico. Before long on this shopping trip, you will find yourself engulfed by all of the wonders and beautiful crafts and goods supplied by local vendors from all over the island.

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.

Explore Beautiful Caja de Muertos - Coffin Island

Soaking up some of the amazing landscape will probably be on the top of your to do list when you are out and about on your vacation in Puerto Rico. If you are looking for a stunning bit of landscape that is not to be missed, then you should think about making plans to visit Caja de Muertos, which can be translated to Coffin Island.

Coffin Island is a lush, remote island in Puerto Rico that you can only get to by ferry. As a matter of fact, Island Adventures Ferry is the company that you will need to contact is you would like to visit here. Simply put in a phone call to them at (787) 842-8546 in order to secure your required reservation and you will be ready for a memorable adventure. Ferries run back and forth to Coffin Island for a fee of approximately $30 per person on Saturdays and Sundays all year long from 9:00am until 5:00pm.

While you are enjoying your visit at Coffin Island, you will be able to experience everything from soaking up the sun privately on the beach to snorkeling in the crystal waters surrounding the island. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, there is even an abandoned 19th century lighthouse that you can hike to for incredible picture taking opportunities. With no permanent inhabitants, this pristine island is one of the more special areas of Puerto Rico that you will be very pleased about visiting and taking in.

Bacardi Rum Distillery- Even Non-Drinkers Will Find This Stop Appealing!

Even if you are not a drinker by nature, you are sure to get great enjoyment out of visiting the Bacardi Rum Distillery while in Puerto Rico. A famous brand of rum and known as the absolute largest rum distillery in the world, this is the place to be if you want to have a memorable visit in the area.

To get yourself started on your Bacardi adventure, you should know that this rum distillery is located right in the Catano area on Route 165. Once you arrive at the Cathedral of Rum, you and your entire party will be able to embark on your very own guided tour of the whole facility, which generally takes approximately 45 minutes from start to finish. During your tour, you and your party will be able to learn all about the various stages of production and exactly what goes into the making of over one hundred thousand gallons of their award winning rum each and every day.

Before you leave the Bacardi Rum Distillery, do not forget to stop by the gift shop on the premises. Here, you will find plenty of exotic and rare rum drinks as well as plenty of souvenirs that you can take back home with you. The hours of operation are from 8:30am until 5:30pm Monday through Saturday and from 10:00am until 5:00pm on Sunday. If you happen to have any questions or if you would like further information, then you may call ahead at (787) 788-8400.