Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico – the Star of the Caribbean

Article and photography by Michael Morcos

Puerto Rico has been on my bucket list for many years. Funny how things work out as this past year I would finally visit this beautiful paradise not once but twice. I had scheduled a weeklong tour of the island before we went on a Caribbean cruise with a port-of-call in San Juan. The one-day stop would whet my appetite and what followed a few weeks later would satisfy my hunger.

That one-day stop would be a great introduction. It would include a half day of horseback riding through the magnificent and lush rainforest. But what struck me most was the richness of the island, after all the Spanish word ‘Rico’ meaning ‘rich’ in English was applicable to how clean and developed the island was. Having traveled to many other nearby islands, Puerto Rico looked like an opulent heaven. Yes, other island nations had natural beauty, great resorts and some a well-developed infrastructure, but none had all of these in abundance like this ‘Star in the Caribbean’.

La Concha Renaissance

A destination on its own, La Concha Renaissance has what it takes to make any Puerto Rican visit complete. Situated close to old San Juan, this would be our hub for many day trips to the other parts of the island. I could only say this hotel was hip and happening, with a fresh, vibrant, and young feel to it. Our accommodation was nothing short of breathtaking. From the upper floors of the high-rise, I would have magnificent views of the ocean, beautiful beach, and surrounding district. Spacious and modern looking rooms were clean, comfortable, and relaxing. Notable to mention, the hotel s meals were delicious, well presented and world class with seating by the ocean that made it even more memorable.

So big and complete was the resort that on the national holiday – Noche de San Juan – the hotel held a spectacular fashion show, followed by DJs, dancing, and a nighttime beach party where both locals and guests partied to the early morning.

Boat ride to Culebra

Life could not be better on this beautiful hot and sunny Puerto Rican day. We would eagerly drive to a port and embark on a small boat to the magnificent Culebria Island. There we would find one of the most amazing sandy beaches I have ever been on. Crystal blue waters and lush tropical greenery dominated the scenery. Due to its distance from the mainland, there were very few tourists and we felt we found an earthly paradise, something out of a postcard.

El Yunque

Another day and another outdoor adventure. This time we would head inland and upwards to the hills of the El Yunque forest which is considered the only tropical forest in the US National Forest system. Highlights here would bring us to the top of a tall manmade stone tower to view the magnificent greenery of the surroundings. Another wonderful experience was following a trail downwards to a river and enjoy swimming in mountain fed waters. On this Sunday, we would enjoy refreshing dips in beautiful clear waters with the locals who would make a day of it by having family BBQs by the shores. The sights of the river and forest, sounds of Latino music in the background and the smells of grilled meats and vegetables made for another unique and amazing Puerto Rican experience.

Culinary Tour at Old San Juan

Gastronomy galore is the best way to describe our walking tour of old San Juan, which is what I would find out in a very short time as we would visit something different in just about every location. All would add up to be a cross section of what has made the Puerto Rican food scene what it is today. From delicious pork dishes in small family run restaurants, to locally caught seafood in historic buildings, rum cocktails in tabernas, the islands famous coffee in quaint cafes and even candy shops and street side ice cream parlours. So much unique variety and fresh flavors within minutes of each other that I would only say, Puerto Rico is a foodie’s paradise.

Caribe Hilton

Midway through our Puerto Rican tour, we would change hotels to find a different vibe and rhythm. In stark contrast to the Concha, the Caribe Hilton is a stately historic hotel. Well known by locals and longtime guests, the beautiful seaside property is renowned for the creation of the now world-famous Piña Colada. Having a tasting of this refreshing drink showed why it became so popular. Even though it is close to it all, the Caribe is like staying in paradise with seaside activities, palm trees and manicured lawns, all the while being served by a dedicated staff. This again is a resort that can be a destination on its own.

Casa Bacardi

Puerto Rico and rum have gone hand-in-hand for centuries, and there is no rum more popular than Bacardi. We would sample the best this island has to offer by visiting Casa Bacardi. Here we would tour the extensive facilities right after our delicious rum cocktail and find that there are many different styles and tastes of rum. Among them are decades old finely aged rums that rival famous whiskeys and wines from around the world. The best and funniest part of our tour was where we went to mixology class to create delicious Mojito’s. Hilarious and well done by Bacardi, I am proud to say that I am now a graduate and somewhat expert of this tasty tropical refreshment.

Nightlife a la Puerto Rican style

No trip to Puerto Rico would be complete without a nightlife experience. La Placita de Santurce district is the perfect choice for fun with something for all ages and desires. Packed streets with cars and pedestrian gave for a festival like atmosphere and besides lively bars, dance halls with DJs and bands, there is also a wide variety of restaurants, from the simple to full-service establishments serving a wide host of cuisines.

Bio Bay experience

Now for something completely different, a once in a lifetime experience was no less found in the dark. At sunset, we would mount two person kayaks and find our way through dense mangroves to a quiet lake-like estuary. There we would wait it out for the lightshow. As our guide would explain and we would soon find out, the show was below us and not in the skies. Soon enough, we would join all the many kayaks and cover ourselves with a dense tarp. Excited and bewildered, we would look down to the waters and witness one of nature’s incredible wonders, that is microorganisms shining like the stars in the sky. This truly memorable show was followed by another bizarre experience where we would kayak back to our starting point in total darkness through the mangrove with nothing more than the small flashlight our guide.

Puerto Rico, the Star of the Caribbean is an exceptional destination! It has it all in abundance, from opulent hotels to gastronomical delights, to first world service and cleanliness, beautiful natural scenery, adventure on its shores, waters and forests and best of all, the warm and laid-back feeling that can be found throughout this earthly paradise.

www.discoverpuertorico.com