This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico, The All-Star Island. All opinions are 100% mine.
(photo by cogito ergo imago on flickr under license cc-by-sa-2.0.)
Puerto Rico is an amazing Caribbean island that US citizens don’t need a passport to go to. From the bioluminescent lakes, the only rainforest in the US national parks service, world renowned beaches, plus all the food, and music, it’s no wonder Puerto Rico is considered an All-Star Island.
So what are some things you must do when visiting Puerto Rico?
1. See the Bioluminescent Lakes.
Puerto Rico is famous for its glowimng lakes, and there are multiple places on the island to witness this. Laguna Grande in Cape San Juan Nature Preserve, is the easiest to get to from San Juan, but Moquito Bay, on Isla Vieques is said to be the brightest.
2. Stuff Your Face.
Puerto Rico is known for some amazing food. Chicken and rice, lechón asado (bbq pig marinated in sour orange), black bean soup, conch, meat-filled pastries, various fresh seafoods, and tropical fruits, are just a few of the examples of what makes Puerto Rico’s “cocina criolla” (creole ccoking) so popular. Puerto Rico mixes tradional food of the Arawaks and Tainos (the native peoples) with Spanish and African dishes to create amazingly flavourful and colorful dishes. Don’t expect to loose wieght while visiting here!
3. Get Your Blood Pumping.
Did you know Puerto Rico is home to El Yunque, the only rainforest under the protection of the US National Park Service? It is also home to one of the biggest subterrainean rivers in the world, the Camuy River (which is actually part of a huge undergound and interlinking system of sinkholes, rivers, and caves). YOu can also go rapeling down waterfalls, hiking through beautiful scenery, windsurfing, snorkeling, and so on on this amazing island. Which is good. Because you are going to need this to burn off all the calories you are stuffing in your oh-so-happy mouth!
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4. Dont Forget About The Rum.
You can’t go to Puerto Rico without trying some of their famous rums! 80% of the rum sold in the USA comes from Puerto Rico, so why not go tour the Bacardi distillery in Cataño, or just sit on Flamenco Beach in Culebra – named one of the Top 10 Beaches in the world by the Travel Channel – and do your own rum-taste testing.
5. See Old San Juan.
You can’t visit Puerto Rico without taking in the charm of this historic Spanish colonial neighbourhood of Old San Juan. Brightly colored houses line the narrow, blue-hued, cobblestone streets and this part of the city looks very much like it did in the 16th and 17th centuries. You should also visit the 16th century old Castillo San Felipe del Morro in the north-westernmost prt of Old San Juan.
(photo in the Public Domain under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105)
Puerto Rico is filled with beautful views, amazing food, and extremely friendly locals. US citizens don’t need a passport, or need to worry about exchanging money (US currency is the local currency). Although it is helpful to speak at least a few phrases in Spanish, English is commonly spoken and understood (more so in the higher-tourist areas), but the Puerto Rican people are welcoming and warm everywhere. It is no surprise why Puerto Rico is an All-Star Island.
If you want to see more of what Puerto Rico has to offer, check out the official tourism website and official social media sites below:
Follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter
Like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook
Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico.
About Dani Blanchette
