Puerto Rico is undeniably one of the most intriguing islands in the world. Straddling the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea and offering a diversity of experiences, the island provides a never-ending wealth of choices for meeting groups and one of the most exotic settings imaginable.
History, arts and culture, adventure and cuisine are highlights of the island, and there’s no end to the possibilities that can be easily integrated into a group visit.
History
Showcasing five centuries of Spanish influence, Puerto Rico’s heritage can be relished all around the island, with the capital city of San Juan on the northeast coast a great starting point for group exploration.
“The blue cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, a city over 500 years old, reflects the island’s unique past combined with the vibrancy of today’s youth,” explains Marta Albanese, public relations and communications officer for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “Among its most recognizable landmarks is El Morro, which protected Old San Juan from invaders for hundreds of years. Travelers should also visit La Princesa building, which at one time served as a prison, and La Fortaleza, once a fortress and now one of the oldest functional executive mansions in the Americas.”
The iconic El Morro de San Felipe citadel dates back to the 16th century, and its rich history includes warding off an English navy attack in 1595 by firing a cannonball into the cabin of Sir Francis Drake. Today, groups can take guided tours, listen to stories about the fort’s legend and lore, and even witness some current-day cannon-firing.
Other options for delving into San Juan’s past include dropping by Plaza de Armas, the city’s original main square once used for military drills. Bordered by San Francisco, Rafael Cordero, San Jose and Cruz streets, the plaza is a busy bastion of activity and a popular meeting point.
Elsewhere on the island, the attractive city of Ponce is another portal to the past worth opening. Among its historical highlights are Plaza Las Delicias, boasting old fountains, well-manicured gardens and the 1835 Cathedral of Our Lady Guadalupe. Another important landmark is the Fountain of the Lions, a memorial to eight individuals who saved the city from fire in 1899.
Speaking of fire, island photo-ops don’t get much better than the Ponce Firehouse. The red-and-black-striped structure was originally built as an exhibit for Ponce’s Industrial Agricultural Exhibition in 1882 and then used by local firemen until 1989. Today it serves as a museum showcasing the history of firefighting in Ponce.
Arts & Culture
“The cultural heritage that makes Puerto Rico unique also serves as inspiration for the arts,” says the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s Albanese. “Spanish colonial structures serve as a stunning background for modern galleries and museums. From inspirational and educational art exhibits to vivacious music and dance festivals, the splendors of Puerto Rico’s culture are waiting to captivate visitors through the arts.”
Music and artwork are two superb ways to explore the island’s culture, according to Albanese.
“Five hundred years of history are told to the mix of rhythms brought by our ancestors and made our own in bomba, plena and especially salsa music,” she says. “And all throughout the island there are excellent museums, such as the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico [in San Juan], where visitors can witness the evolution of Puerto Rican art with collections of internationally recognized local masters and contemporary artists. Past exhibitions have also included international artists such as Picasso and Basquiat.”
Yet another can’t-miss choice is Museo de Arte de Ponce, the Caribbean’s largest museum. The newly renovated building houses an extensive art collection of more than 4,500 works dating from 900 B.C. to the present day.
Attendees traversing through Puerto Rico’s southwestern realms will want to plan a stop in San German, one of the island’s oldest communities. Showing off a unique two-plaza layout, the city is rich with time-tested temptations.
“It is an ideal place for an inspirational journey where mission, Victorian, Creole and Spanish Colonial-style architecture are all present,” Albanese says. “The Iglesia Porta Coeli [Heaven’s Gate Church] was built in 1606 originally as a chapel and convent and today serves as a small museum that houses religious art, colonial paintings and other treasures. The Antigua Casa Alcadia [Old Municipal Building] served as the city hall and municipal prison from 1844 to 1950, and the yellow and white neoclassical Iglesia San German de Auxerre, which dates back to 1739, is still open for mass today.”
Adventure
For thrill-seeking attendees on the lookout for unique adventures, Puerto Rico definitely delivers. From the only tropical rainforest on U.S. soil to one of the most bizarre water-bound experiences in the world, the island abounds with unique outdoor opportunities.
Danny Williams, general manager of Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, about a half-hour drive east of San Juan on Puerto Rico’s northeast shore, says there are several intriguing outings available through the property.
For adventurous groups, he recommends an El Yunque National Forest Tour or Hacienda Carabali Low-Lands Horseback Ride.
El Yunque, truly a must-visit for groups coming to Puerto Rico, is the only tropical forest in the U.S. National Forest System, spanning 28,000 acres and reaching an elevation of 3,624 feet.
“The area receives over 100 billion gallons of rainfall each year, coming in very brief rainbow showers that end almost as soon as they begin,” Williams says. “Groups can discover a multitude of plant and animal life throughout the magnificent forest as they make their way to one of the stunning waterfalls for a refreshing swim.”
As for the horseback riding, a popular activity offered by numerous Puerto Rican resorts and outfitters, it’s a great way to take in some terrain that would be tough to tackle by foot.
“Whether experienced riders or beginners, groups can enjoy the two-hour trail ride through the lush tropical foothills of the El Yunque National Forest, along the banks of the Mameyes River, into the very heart of the legendary Puerto Rican countryside,” Williams says. “Tours are led by experienced bilingual guides on one of the finest Paso Fino horses the island has to offer.”
Other possibilities offered through the resort are an ATV Rainforest Low-Lands Adventure, providing some serious adrenaline rushes.
Elsewhere on the island are three bioluminescent bays that are among the most spectacular natural attractions imaginable. The two best are the northeast’s Mosquito Bay in Vieques and Laguna Grande at Las Croabas in Fajardo, where evening party boats can take groups out among millions of dinoflagellates, which light up like fireflies when stirred by motion. Swimming in “liquid light” and making the waterborne equivalent of a snow angel are experiences attendees will never forget.
Cuisine
While Puerto Rico’s unique flavors abound throughout the island, San Juan is without a doubt at the heart of the dining scene.
“The capital of Puerto Rico is also known as the ‘Dining Capital of the Caribbean’ and offers everything from authentic Puerto Rican flavors to traditional international cuisine options,” says Puerto Rico Tourism’s Albanese. “And Puerto Rican cuisine—a blend of Taino, Spanish and African traditions—gives diners the opportunity to experience the island through exotic and unique ingredients and flavors.”
Rice and plantains are staples of the island’s cuisine, though visitors will find a wealth of flavors and ingredients to tempt their taste buds. Seafood, particularly crab, lobster and shrimp, is extremely popular due to the seaside setting, with camarones en cerveza—shrimp cooked in beer—a real home-style favorite. Other traditional temptations include asopao, a hearty gumbo made with either chicken or shellfish; stews, which are usually cooked in heavy kettles called calderas; pastelon de carne, a meat pie filled with salt pork, ham and spices; and lechon asado (barbecued pig), a recipe that dates back to the Taino Indians and is usually cooked for a party of 12 to 15.
And while the island’s unique traditional flavors are all the rage, excitement is now building over the news surrounding the imminent arrival of one of the culinary world’s most acclaimed Spanish masters. Chef Jose Andres, the recent recipient of the 2011 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award, will be showcasing his skills at the newly announced ultra-deluxe Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, set to open in December 2012.
Renowned as a trailblazer of avant-garde and traditional Spanish cuisine, Andres will bring his expertise in haute cooking and regional flavors to the yet-to-be named dining spot, which will serve a mouthwatering mix of Puerto Rico’s classical “cocina Criolla” cuisine, the distinctive flavors of Andres’ native country and the rich flavors of Americana cooking.
When groups are ready to blow off some steam, Puerto Rico’s rum is as famous as its food, and the island is where the pina colada actually got its start. With production spurred from the large quantities of sugar cane found around the island, there are 24 different rums from Puerto Rico sold in the U.S. under 11 brand names: Bacardi, Don Q, Barrilito, Ron Bocoy and Ronrico, to name a few.
Interactive group tours and tastings at Casa Bacardi are among the many ways attendees can savor the trademark liquor.
