Puerto Rico Travel Highlights

Puerto Rico is an enchanting island lined with beautiful beaches. The island is very popular among tourists and cruise ships. One thing that assists in this popularity is the fact that American citizens do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. There are many amazing and wonderful things to do and see in Puerto Rico. Here is a guide to assist you as you plan your next trip to Puerto Rico.

One of the must see places in Puerto Rico is Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan). Old San Juan can be seen in one day, but there are so many sites to see that I recommend spacing it out over at least two days. Old San Juan is basically one giant hill. On the high side of the city you have the forts, El Morro and San Cristobal. The low side of the city is where the cruise ships dock. The low side is where I recommend beginning your sightseeing. Naturally, you will already be here if you took a cruise ship. If you are driving, park on the low side. There are several parking garages and parking spaces. Then, walk to the very top of Old San Juan. This way, through out the day you will be going down hill as you explore, instead of having to walk up as you get tired during the day.

On the high side of the city you definitely wan to visit the forts. El Morro is the more popular of the two, however San Cristobal is a very interesting fort to see and you would be missing out if you picked El Morro over it. As you work your way down from the fort make a stop at the city gate. Here you will see the city wall and will encounter several prime areas for picture taking. A must see in Old San Juan is pigeon park. You will be amazed at the number of pigeons you will see.

While in Old San Juan you should also check out San Juan Cathedral. Here you can see the resting place of Ponce de Leon. Across from the Cathedral you will see El Convento Hotel, which used to be a convent. There are several other churches in Old San Juan that are also worth the time of exploring. During you explorations make a stop for some piragua. Also make a stop in one of the many museums, including the one dedicated to Pablo Casals. Old San Juan has many delicious restaurants and great shops. You will also come across numerous tourist shops and several upscale shops. You will also see some American places like Hard Rock Café.

For another place to see great museums, make the drive south to Ponce. Ponce has several famous museums that are very informative and helpful in learning about Puerto Rico's history.

Another great place to visit in Puerto Rico is El Yunque (the Caribbean National Forest). This is the only rainforest in the United States! Getting to El Yunque from San Juan takes a couple of hours, but it is well worth it! When you arrive your first stop should be El Portal, the visitor's center. Here you will learn about the forest and get a map. After your educational stop, continue all the way to the top of the road and work your way down. Be prepared for a lot of walking! If you only take one trail, make sure it is one that leads to La Mina Falls. It is absolutely beautiful! You can also get in the water here, but it can be a little cold. At the end of the road that goes through El Yunque you will find a little souvenir stand and snack bar. From San Juan, if you drive in the other direction of El Yunque, you will eventually come across Arecibo. Arecibo is the home of the famous world's largest radio telescope. Here you can check out a hands-on exhibit to learn more.

While you are in Puerto Rico you have to stop by the beach at least once. No matter where you are on the island, you are not far from a beach. The water is a beautiful clear green and is so warm. Also take time to stop by a fruit market and sample some of the local fruit. If you're staying in San Juan the fruit market in Santurce is an excellent choice.

If you are looking for a shopping mall, make a trip to San Juan's Plaza Las Americas. Plaza Las Americas is the largest mall in the Caribbean. It is three stories high and home to the world's largest JC Penney, which is four stories high. Stores in the mall vary from highly expensive, to inexpensive, and everything in between. You can stop at stores that you can find in the United States or several stores unique to Puerto Rico. The mall also has a movie theater where you can catch first run movies. Most of them are in English with Spanish subtitles.

A final sight to see in Puerto Rico is a bioluminescent bay. Puerto Rico has three, La Paguera, Mosquito bay, and Laguna Grande. Bioluminescent bays are places where living organisms in the bay appear to make the bay glow at night. If you reach your hand into the water and bring it back up, your hand will sparkle as if you were holding a handful of diamonds. There are several companies that make nightly trips out to the bay where you can see this phenomenon.

Puerto Rico is an amazing place to visit. Visiting these places will ensure that you have a superb experience as you explore and discover Puerto Rico. Enjoy your trip!