Barely the size of Connecticut, Puerto Rico more than compensates for its small stature with robust culture, a living colonial history and enough diversity of nature to be the envy of Caribbean islands twice its size.
Traversing its compact borders is the rugged La Cordillera Central mountain range, while its fringes are home to 270 miles of beaches, a clear indication why Puerto Rico is dubbed the “Isle of Enchantment.”
To the north, on the Atlantic side, the 100-mile-long island emits a true taste of the tropics, with its streams, karst formations and El Yunque rainforest. The island’s south side is highlighted by its vast birdlife and the inviting waters of the Caribbean. With most of the island’s attractions a quick drive apart, it’s entirely possible to kayak in the mangroves by day and head out to a salsa club the same night.
“We have plenty of beaches, beautiful weather, and no passport is required,” says Jean Baron, president of San Juan-based Caribbean Special Events. “Puerto Rico has the infrastructure for groups other islands don’t have. It’s also cosmopolitan, comparable to New York, Miami or Vegas.”
Vibrant Old San Juan wears its nearly 500-year-old history well. El Viejo San Juan evokes its Spanish roots with cobblestone streets, balconies, historic churches, and vast plazas and courtyards, as well as over 400 historic sites.
Much of the old city is bounded by walls of old fortresses, lending it the name La Ciudad Amurullada, or the walled city. San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, a fortification that sits on a promontory overlooking San Juan Bay, can now be used by groups for staging events.
El Morro’s sister fort, Castillo de San Cristobal, spans 27 acres connected by moats and tunnels, while its outside walls rise 150 feet above the sea. Guided tours point out where the first shots were fired marking Puerto Rico’s entrance into the Spanish-American War.
But Old San Juan refuses to only rely on its historic attractions. Today it’s a nexus for visual and performing arts, with a number of impressive facilities for groups. The Museo de Arte Puerto Rico houses artworks from the 17th century to the present in a grand 1920s-era neoclassical structure, and includes an atrium, garden and theater, all open to groups.
A visit to the Bacardi rum factory is another cultural experience, including tours and tastings.
“Dining is also a huge attraction,” Baron says.
The restaurant hub lies in the SoFo District (South of Fortaleza) of Old San Juan, blossoming with top dining spots like Parrot Club and Dragonfly.
“Something we’re tying to put together is a Vegas-style show,” Baron says. Ideally the show will be presented at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, which already impresses with its gardens and 580,000 square feet of space. A 10-year project is in the works to develop a Puerto Rico Convention Center District, a 113-acre multiuse urban center that, upon completion in 2012, will include hotels, retail shops, restaurants, and movie theaters.
Even without a Vegas act, nightlife flourishes all over the island. Nightlife centers include San Sebastian street in Old San Juan and nearby Isla Verde for its casinos and nightclubs.
Golf is also gaining in popularity. The sport gets a boost in 2008 when the country hosts its own PGA Tour for the first time, the Puerto Rico Open.
