Puerto Rico

What to do in Puerto Rico

All Around the Island.

Diving

While legislators debate statehood, divers have plunged ahead and claimed the island for themselves. This US Commonwealth has shallow patch reefs on an undersea plateau and sheer, dramatic walls that lead to the greatest depths in the Western Hemisphere - the 5-mile Puerto Rico Trench. Near-shore clarity can sometimes be less than ideal, but visibility around the Mona and Desecheo reefs is in the triple digits all the time. Ten striking dive sites dot the island, mostly along the east, south, and west coasts, and are easily accessible for even novice divers.

San Juan.

Discover Old San Juan

Take a guided exploration and travel back 500 years in time through the cobblestone streets of this charming city. The fortified walls hold within them the fascinating history, culture, and heritage of Puerto Rico. Some of the impressive sites are relics of Spanish colonization, such as the Fort of San Cristóbal, the legendary Christ Chapel, Casa Blanca ("White House" - the first Spanish governor's house, now a museum), and the San José Church, which is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere.

Catedral de San Juan

It was begun in 1540 but, nearly from its beginning, has spent its entire life being restored from the ravages of hurricanes, looters, and time itself. Originally a thatch-roofed building, it was slowly built into a Spanish cathedral with a circular staircase and two vaulted Gothic chambers. In the early 20th century, the body of Ponce de León was moved here and placed in a marble tomb. There is also the wax-covered body of a Roman martyr encased in a glass box. None of the silver and gold treasures survived centuries of looters, but there are beautiful stained-glass windows and, of course, a tremendous legacy of history and faith.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

This fort guards the bay on the northwestern tip of the Old City. It was originally built in 1540 on its rocky promontory and is today a favorite exploration spot for history buffs.

Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan

This was the city's main marketplace in the mid-19th century. Local artists display their works in this Spanish colonial building and multimedia shows reveal the city's history; the museum occasionally hosts cultural events in its courtyard.

Old Town Shopping

San Juan offers some of the best bargains in the Caribbean, and US citizens don't have to pay duties when returning to the States! Calle San Francisco and Calle del Cristo are the major venues with very good buys on native handcrafts including needle- and straw work, ceramics, and hammocks, as well as native Puerto Rican art. Puerto Rico is also the place to stock up on your rum, with many different types produced locally, ranging from light mixer rums to dark brandy-like rums. The hand-rolled cigars in Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra are an excellent alternative to the forbidden Cubans!.

Dorado.

Río Camuy Cave Park

The third largest underground river system in the world took millions of years to carve out this spectacular 300-acre network of subterranean chambers. These caves are part of a natural reserve that is recognized as one of the world's most impressive natural wonders. Ride a trolley down the spiraling sinkhole, into one of the largest caves.

Arecibo Observatory

Two hours west of San Juan, this is the largest radar/radio telescope in the world used to monitor radio emissions from distant galaxies, pulsars, quasars, and similar other-worldly sources. Film buffs will recognize this as the set of the Jodie Foster box-office hit "Contact" and home base for SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. A bilingual and interactive exhibit helps you understand how the radio telescope works.

Humacao.

Centro Ceremonial de Caguana

The most important Indian ceremonial grounds of the Taíno culture from the West Indies. Most of the 30-plus courts discovered thus far are located in this site, which has been restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. The center features a large main court and 10 smaller courts, monoliths, petroglyphs, a botanical garden, and a collection of Indian artifacts that will help you learn about their sacred rites and way of life.

Rio Grande.

El Yunque National Forest

This is the greatest natural attraction in Puerto Rico. Protected by the US Forest Service, it lies in the Luquillo Mountains of Rio Grande to the east of San Jan and is home to 4 types of forest and 240 species of tropical trees. Walk through the trails that wind casually past waterfalls and tufts of wildflowers while parrots fly around you and the island's mascot - a small frog called the coquí - calls out as you pass.

Las Croabas.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Preserve

Acquired by the Conservation Trust, the preserve is a stunning collection of lagoons, mangroves, dry forests, and coral reefs. This 316-acre point of land also includes a neoclassic lighthouse (in continuous operation since 1882), a nature center, an archaeological excavation, and a wilderness preserve easily explored along trails.