Puerto Rico attractions and other activities.

Please, be a compassionate traveler! Do NOT use the services of Shark and Dolphin Swims Programs. The capture and transportation process causes the death of thousands of these animals before they reach the aquariums and water parks. Also the average life span of a dolphin in the wild is 45 years; yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity. The survivors last an average of only 5 years in captivity Truth Behind The "Swim-With-Dolphins" Industry

Rich in history and legends the fortification of Castillo de San Felipe del Morro is now one of the finest Puerto Rico attractions. It was constructed by Spain in 1540 to protect the island from the English and Dutch, as well as pirates. The site has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. It has quickly became one of the symbols of Puerto Rico.

The walk then goes by El Morro and eventually reaches a scenic area known as Bastion de Santa Barbara. The trail passes El Morro's well-preserved walls, and ends at the entrance to the fortress. The trail is romantic at night, when the walls of the fortress are illuminated. You can pick up a map at any tourist office. Admission to each fort is $3 US.

Ponce is the second finest Puerto Rico attraction and the second oldest city in Puerto Rico; it celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1996. There are more than 1,000 historic buildings in Ponce, and the vast majority have been restored. Plaza Las Delicias (Plaza of Delights) has a lot of those architectural highlights. On calles Isabel, Reina, Pabellones, and Lolita Tizol, electrical and telephone wires have been buried, replica 19th-century gas lamps have been installed, and the sidewalks have been trimmed with the distinctive locally quarried pink marble. Paseo Atocha is a main shopping street that is now a delightful pedestrian mall with a lively street festival on the third Sunday of every month. Paseo Arias , or Callejon del Amor (Lover's Alley), is a charming pedestrian passage between two 1920s bank buildings, Banco Popular and Banco Santander, on Plaza Las Delicias, where outdoor cafe tables invite lingering. Make sure to stop by beautifull Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe at calles Concordia and Union.

El Yunque is one of the greatest natural attractions of Puerto Rico, the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System. The name means "Forest of Clouds". El Yunque Rainforest is being marketed as one of the “Seventh Wonder of the World”. It is a must do trip for nature lovers.

The forest hosts a number of unique plant and animal species such as the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot and the tiny coquis (indigenous tree frogs) that sing serenades in the evenings.

We recommend to just drive there yourself instead of doing a tour. It will save quite some money and you will have more time to explore. Visitors can walk one of the dozens of trails that wind past waterfalls, dwarf vegetation, and miniature flowers, while the island's colorful parrots fly overhead. You can swim under the waterfalls or climb up the observation towers to get a spectacular view. Serious hikers may attempt the more challenging but very scenic hike to the peak of El Junque. The entrance fee is $5.00 US per person. After a morning of hiking consider heading to Luquilla beach. Its a lovely stretch of beach with palm trees and food stands.

(bring your bathing suit, snorkelling gear and a pair of hiking shoes and make your reservation in advance)

Las Cabezas reserve is another beautiful and bio-diverse natural area in Puerto Rico. It is about 45 minutes driving from San Juan. It contains several different ecological systems, including forest, mangroves, lagoons, beaches, cliffs, and offshore coral reefs. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkelling and a nice boardwalk through mangroves forest. A restored 19th century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information centre and observation deck. One of the finest phosphorescent bays in the world is located here. You can take a night boat tour to experience the animals' glow at night.

The park is open Wednesday to Sunday. You must make a reservation to enter. The park staff conducts tours in Spanish and English from 9am through 2pm. Each tour lasts 2 1/2 hours and includes rides on trolleys and a walk along boardwalks through oceanfront mangrove forest. Tours end with a climb to the top of the lighthouse for views over Puerto Rico's eastern coast and nearby islands. Admission is $8 which includes the tour.

Unlike the lush and wet rainforest of El Yunque's, Guánica State Forest's climate is dry and arid, the Arizona-like landscape riddled with cacti. It is considered the best preserved, subtropical forest and the best example of a dry forest in the Caribbean. The forest has 36 miles (58km) of trails through four forest types. The trails are in good shape. There are a lot of butterflies in several of the areas. The forest is pleasant to walk through and has a lot of birds. In fact it is home to half of all the island's terrestrial bird species. That includes the rare Puerto Rican nightjar which was once thought to be extinct. There are no facilities so bring what you need. The beach at the reserve is phenomenal: white sand, fairly wide, several shaded spots and a large reef just off shore. The snorkelling is amazing so don‘t forget your snorkelling gear. The gates are close on Sundays, but a lot of cars park outside during those times.

Further from Guanica is La Parguera's phosphorescent bays. This is a unique wonder of the world and the largerst bay of its kind in Puerto Rico. Here you have a chance to see the glowing waters during the night which is caused by millions of micro-organisms called dinoflagellates. It is definitely a must-see attraction in Puerto Rico.

Río Camuy Caves are about 2 1/2 hours west of San Juan. It is a 200 cave system with some large enough to make skyscrapers disappear.

Try to get there before 9 a.m. or you will end up waiting in line for a couple of hours. The stalactites and stalagmites formations are massive and impressive. At the Pueblos sinkhole, a platform overlooks the Camuy River, passing through a network of cave tunnels. The tour guide does a great job of explaining the history of the cave and ecological facts about the cave. The admission is $12 US. Be sure to call before you go, they close when it rains.

The best snorkelling in Puerto Rico is along the shores of the remote islands of Vieques and Culebra. On the main island the best snorkelling is along the tranquil eastern coast. In Ponce you can snorkel off the coast without having to go on a boat trip. One good place is at Playa La Parguera, where you can rent snorkeling equipment from kiosks along the beach This beach lies east of the town of Guánica, to the east of Ponce. Here tropical fish add to the brightness of the water, which is generally turquoise. The mangrove cays in the area also makes La Parguera more alluring for snorkelers. Another good spot for snorkelers is Caja de Muertos off the coast of Ponce. Here a lagoon coral reef boasts a large number of fish species. Cayos De La Cordillera Nature Reserve located just offshore from the eastern part of the main island offers marvelous snorkelling. (The first photo in the section)

As for the north shore, many of the best surfing beaches like Rincón and Aguadilla beaches, in winter; turn into a snorkeler's paradise in summer when the waves calm down. If you are planning to stay in San Juan go to El Convento Beach at the town of Fajardo, to the east of San Juan. The coral reef there will give you a real Caribbean snorkelling experience.

Open-water reefs off the south-eastern coast near Humacao are visited by migrating whales and manatees. Many caves are located near Isabela on the west coast. A large canyon, off the island's south coast, is ideal for experienced open-water divers. Caves and the sea wall at La Parguera are also favourites. Vieques and Culebra islands have coral formations. Mona Island offers unspoiled reefs at depths averaging 80 feet (24m), with an amazing array of sealife. The dive shops are located in San Juan as well as in Rincon and Guánica at any major hotel. The largest scuba shop is at Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort in San Juan.

Salsa dancing is the Puerto Rico‘s cultural signatures across the globe. Do not miss this opportunity. Salsa dancing will make your vacation interesting, spicy and unforgettable. If you want to meet locals and get to know the local culture there is no better way than to go dance salsa, in the evening. From gilded casinos to packed nightclubs, the irresistible rhythm of salsa will make you shake your hips and shoulders until the sunrise. Dance lessons are available at places throughout the San Juan city. Most clubs have free salsa classes before 9 p.m. Private lessons start at $25. In San Juan bands play until 4 a.m. on weekend nights. If that's past your bedtime, swing by the Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino where live orchestras start at 5 p.m. and wind things up a little after midnight. Another nice place to go is the Oyster Bar at 6000 Avenida Isla Verde. The salsa classes are free and dancing starts at 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Take a hike in Puerto Rico. There are many amazing mountain and coastal trails around the island. On top of the already mentioned El Yunque, Guánica State Forest and Las Cabezas Nature Reserve hiking opportunities, there are so much more. Maricao State Forest, near the coffee town of Maricao and Toro Negro Forest Reserve near Ponce have some great hiking. Depending on how much time you have you can also consider going to fascinating Mona Island. The island is called the "Galápagos of Puerto Rico" because of its unique wildlife. Hike among Mona's mangrove forests, cliffs, and complex caves systems. The diversity of both flora and fauna as well as the terrain makes it one of the best hiking in Puerto Rico.

The surfing season in Puerto Rico is from August to April. But the best surfing is October through February. This is when surfers from around the world come and surfing championships take over. Called the "Hawaii of the East", Puerto Rico has hosted a number of international competitions.

The surfing beaches are all around the northwest of Puerto Rico. The most popular areas are from the town of Isabela to Rincón. San Juan itself has some great surfing spots, including La 8, just outside of Old San Juan in Puerta de Tierra, near Escambrón Beach, which has some of the largest waves. Pine Grove in Isla Verde is a great spot to learn, because of the small, steady, well formed waves.