Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Bioluminescent Bay

The water in Mosquito Bay sparkles like stars when disturbed due to the hundreds of thousands of bioluminescent dinoflagellates resident there. Several tour companies offer kayaking and snorkeling in the magical water, often ranked as one of the most romantic places on earth. Of the bioluminescent bays all over the world, Vieques has been certified the brightest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Museo del Niño

San Germán

A historic town with a colorful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church, and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, San Germán is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Old San Juan

This area, encompassing about seven blocks, dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even repulsed Sir Francis Drake. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged, and were originally ballast on the Spanish ships. The ancient stones set off the more than 400 restored 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial buildings that fill Old San Juan and draw thousands of tourists to walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed in amazingly thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.

Fort San Felipe del Morro

The mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defense against invasion. The largest fortification in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. Also in Norzagaray Street, Old San Juan, is El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.

La Fortaleza

The Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbor, but later became the official Governor's residence. During succeeding centuries the original structure has been remodeled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to leave the building with its palatial aspect. The current governor of Puerto Rico is in residence - the 170th Governor to live in the Fortaleza.

Saint John the Baptist Cathedral

San Juan's Cathedral was originally built in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish bishop as a thatched wooden church, but was destroyed in a hurricane in 1526. The current medieval structure, built from the stone brought in from inland quarries by horsepower, dates from 1540, although extensive renovations and reconstruction was carried out in 1917. The cathedral features Doric columns and elliptical vaults, and contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor.

La Casa Blanca

The family of Puerto Rico's first governor, Ponce de Leon, whose descendants inhabited it for 250 years, built the historic homestead of Casa Blanca in 1523. It was subsequently taken over by the Spanish and then United States military. Today the mansion house contains two museums. A small section is dedicated to artifacts associated with the Taino Indians, while the rest of the house depicts the life of those who lived there through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Casa del Libro

The 18th century mansion known as Casa del Libro houses a vast collection of rare sketches, illustrations, ancient manuscripts and books, some dating from before the 16th century. The museum's most prized possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 regarding the provisioning of Christopher Columbus's fleet for his second voyage to the New World. This was the voyage during which Puerto Rico was discovered.

University of Puerto Rico Campus

The University of Puerto Rico campus in the Rio Piedras offers several attractions for visitors and non-students. Museum of History, Anthropology and Art contains archaeological and historical exhibits and holds monthly art exhibitions, and the Art Museum Dr. Pío López Martínez de Cayey has a large collection of Puerto Rican silkscreen posters. The Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University are a living laboratory displaying the native flora of Puerto Rico, containing more than 200 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, and many sculptures from artists such as Leopoldo Maler, Carlos Guzman and Rolando López Dirube.

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery opened just a few years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. The gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late 18th century Classical painter. The museum has been described as a 'living textbook of Puerto Rico', spanning the centuries through the medium of art.

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory

America's ears and eyes are focused on the stars from the island of Puerto Rico. In the northwest mountains of the island about 90 minutes drive west of San Juan, among the Karst Country hills, is one of the most important astronomical research facilities on earth, the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. Its massive dish is larger in area than a dozen football fields and is sited in a sinkhole, aimed at the heavens and tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted from the farthest stars. This is the home base for NASA's 'SETI' (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) project and as such holds great fascination for visitors. A Visitors Center is equipped with interactive exhibits to demonstrate how the huge structure works. Visitors can hike to the viewing platform to view the vast tiled dish.

Rio Camuy Cave Park

Well worth a day trip from San Juan is the incredible 268-acre Rio Camuy Cave Park, two hours south-west of the city. The park is the site of miles of subterranean caverns that were carved out of the limestone by the Camuy River more than a million years ago. Only seven miles (11km) of the caves have yet been fully explored, but 16 entrances have been discovered to what is believed to be the world's largest cave network. Well-maintained walking trails lead visitors down 200 feet (61m) into a fern-filled ravine to explore the cathedral-like caverns. Guided tours are available through one cave and two sinkholes, where you will see stalactites, stalagmites and plenty of bats. The caverns also contain a unique species of blindfish. The park has picnic areas, walking trails, food outlets, an exhibition hall and a souvenir shop. Rio Camuy tends to be overcrowded with long queues during peak season.

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants from tiny wild orchids to giant ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Center where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays on the rainforest. Maps are available and you can choose from dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, with its soft white sand and coconut palms.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, about an hour's drive from San Juan. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkeling. The reserve contains seven different ecological systems including coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest. It is also home to several endangered species. Boardwalk trails provide easy access. A restored 19th century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information center and observation deck.

Parque de Bombas Fire Station

A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.

Ponce Art Museum

The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin. Puerto Rican art also features strongly.

Coffin Island

At weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkeling trail. Visitors can also explore the 19th century Caja de Muerto Lighthouse that has been restored and houses a museum.

Museum of Puerto Rico Music

This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danzamusic style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bombaand plenza. The museum features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, housed in the attractive former residence of the Serralles family, renowned rum producers.

Museo Castillo Serralles

Perched above the city on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's 1920/30s architecture. The house surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains and is renowned for its splendid carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens.

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance grounds, and standing stones believed to have been used as an ancient astronomical observatory. A popular tourist attraction, just two miles (3km) north of Ponce, the site has been equipped with a reconstructed Taino village, a museum, exhibition hall, café and souvenir shop. Visitors are taken on conducted tours.

Culebra and Vieques

Dubbed 'the enchanted isles' Vieques and her smaller sister Culebra lie off of Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and slowly, enriching rather than impacting on the natural beauty of their home. Vieques is 20-odd miles long and five wide and consists largely of the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean, protected by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Some of the world's most beautiful beaches, with azure clear waters and sugary white sand, are to be found in the sanctuary. If you plan to visit Vieques stay overnight to experience its premier attraction, Bio Bay. On a moonless night the bay glows with the bioluminescence radiated by a microscopic one-celled organism called a dinoflagellate, providing an unforgettable sight. Smaller Culebra, just seven miles long and three wide, is a few miles north of Vieques and is renowned for the clarity of the waters washing its shores. This is occasioned by the fact that the island has no rivers or streams causing run-off: the arid island has to have water piped from Puerto Rico via Vieques. This quiet, unspoiled island offers unrivalled snorkeling and scuba diving in its magnificent encircling reefs, kayak expeditions and hiking trails for bird-watchers through the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

Luis Muñoz Rivera Park

Named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, and featuring plenty of wide open space, picnic areas, walkways and even a small children's playground, the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is the perfect place to take the kids for a day of fun in the sun, especially those who have been cooped up on board a cruise ship. Pack a picnic or simply enjoy the fresh air and scenery along the tree-lined paths, decorated artistically with art and mosaics.

Camuy River Cave Park

Children will feel like they are in an Indiana Jones movie when they visit the magnificent Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy(Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and waterways which can be explored by trolley. The caverns and underground tunnels were created over a million years ago by the tropical Río Camuy(Camuy River) which is the third longest underground river in the world and is home to a unique species of fish that is totally blind. Only three crater-like sink holes and two caves are open to the public which are reached by a guided trolley that descends into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. Kids will love the spacious grounds of the park, which include a cafeteria, picnic area, gift shop, walking trails, exhibition hall, and theater.

Bioluminescent Bay

The water in Mosquito Bay sparkles like stars when disturbed due to the hundreds of thousands of bioluminescent dinoflagellates resident there. Several tour companies offer kayaking and snorkeling in the magical water, often ranked as one of the most romantic places on earth. Of the bioluminescent bays all over the world, Vieques has been certified the brightest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Museo del Niño

San Germán

A historic town with a colorful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church, and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, San Germán is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Old San Juan

This area, encompassing about seven blocks, dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even repulsed Sir Francis Drake. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged, and were originally ballast on the Spanish ships. The ancient stones set off the more than 400 restored 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial buildings that fill Old San Juan and draw thousands of tourists to walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed in amazingly thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.

Fort San Felipe del Morro

The mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defense against invasion. The largest fortification in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. Also in Norzagaray Street, Old San Juan, is El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.

La Fortaleza

The Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbor, but later became the official Governor's residence. During succeeding centuries the original structure has been remodeled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to leave the building with its palatial aspect. The current governor of Puerto Rico is in residence - the 170th Governor to live in the Fortaleza.

Saint John the Baptist Cathedral

San Juan's Cathedral was originally built in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish bishop as a thatched wooden church, but was destroyed in a hurricane in 1526. The current medieval structure, built from the stone brought in from inland quarries by horsepower, dates from 1540, although extensive renovations and reconstruction was carried out in 1917. The cathedral features Doric columns and elliptical vaults, and contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor.

La Casa Blanca

The family of Puerto Rico's first governor, Ponce de Leon, whose descendants inhabited it for 250 years, built the historic homestead of Casa Blanca in 1523. It was subsequently taken over by the Spanish and then United States military. Today the mansion house contains two museums. A small section is dedicated to artifacts associated with the Taino Indians, while the rest of the house depicts the life of those who lived there through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Casa del Libro

The 18th century mansion known as Casa del Libro houses a vast collection of rare sketches, illustrations, ancient manuscripts and books, some dating from before the 16th century. The museum's most prized possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 regarding the provisioning of Christopher Columbus's fleet for his second voyage to the New World. This was the voyage during which Puerto Rico was discovered.

University of Puerto Rico Campus

The University of Puerto Rico campus in the Rio Piedras offers several attractions for visitors and non-students. Museum of History, Anthropology and Art contains archaeological and historical exhibits and holds monthly art exhibitions, and the Art Museum Dr. Pío López Martínez de Cayey has a large collection of Puerto Rican silkscreen posters. The Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University are a living laboratory displaying the native flora of Puerto Rico, containing more than 200 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, and many sculptures from artists such as Leopoldo Maler, Carlos Guzman and Rolando López Dirube.

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery opened just a few years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. The gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late 18th century Classical painter. The museum has been described as a 'living textbook of Puerto Rico', spanning the centuries through the medium of art.

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory

America's ears and eyes are focused on the stars from the island of Puerto Rico. In the northwest mountains of the island about 90 minutes drive west of San Juan, among the Karst Country hills, is one of the most important astronomical research facilities on earth, the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. Its massive dish is larger in area than a dozen football fields and is sited in a sinkhole, aimed at the heavens and tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted from the farthest stars. This is the home base for NASA's 'SETI' (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) project and as such holds great fascination for visitors. A Visitors Center is equipped with interactive exhibits to demonstrate how the huge structure works. Visitors can hike to the viewing platform to view the vast tiled dish.

Rio Camuy Cave Park

Well worth a day trip from San Juan is the incredible 268-acre Rio Camuy Cave Park, two hours south-west of the city. The park is the site of miles of subterranean caverns that were carved out of the limestone by the Camuy River more than a million years ago. Only seven miles (11km) of the caves have yet been fully explored, but 16 entrances have been discovered to what is believed to be the world's largest cave network. Well-maintained walking trails lead visitors down 200 feet (61m) into a fern-filled ravine to explore the cathedral-like caverns. Guided tours are available through one cave and two sinkholes, where you will see stalactites, stalagmites and plenty of bats. The caverns also contain a unique species of blindfish. The park has picnic areas, walking trails, food outlets, an exhibition hall and a souvenir shop. Rio Camuy tends to be overcrowded with long queues during peak season.

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants from tiny wild orchids to giant ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Center where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays on the rainforest. Maps are available and you can choose from dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, with its soft white sand and coconut palms.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, about an hour's drive from San Juan. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkeling. The reserve contains seven different ecological systems including coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest. It is also home to several endangered species. Boardwalk trails provide easy access. A restored 19th century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information center and observation deck.

Parque de Bombas Fire Station

A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.

Ponce Art Museum

The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin. Puerto Rican art also features strongly.

Coffin Island

At weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkeling trail. Visitors can also explore the 19th century Caja de Muerto Lighthouse that has been restored and houses a museum.

Museum of Puerto Rico Music

This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danzamusic style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bombaand plenza. The museum features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, housed in the attractive former residence of the Serralles family, renowned rum producers.

Museo Castillo Serralles

Perched above the city on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's 1920/30s architecture. The house surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains and is renowned for its splendid carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens.

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance grounds, and standing stones believed to have been used as an ancient astronomical observatory. A popular tourist attraction, just two miles (3km) north of Ponce, the site has been equipped with a reconstructed Taino village, a museum, exhibition hall, café and souvenir shop. Visitors are taken on conducted tours.

Culebra and Vieques

Dubbed 'the enchanted isles' Vieques and her smaller sister Culebra lie off of Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and slowly, enriching rather than impacting on the natural beauty of their home. Vieques is 20-odd miles long and five wide and consists largely of the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean, protected by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Some of the world's most beautiful beaches, with azure clear waters and sugary white sand, are to be found in the sanctuary. If you plan to visit Vieques stay overnight to experience its premier attraction, Bio Bay. On a moonless night the bay glows with the bioluminescence radiated by a microscopic one-celled organism called a dinoflagellate, providing an unforgettable sight. Smaller Culebra, just seven miles long and three wide, is a few miles north of Vieques and is renowned for the clarity of the waters washing its shores. This is occasioned by the fact that the island has no rivers or streams causing run-off: the arid island has to have water piped from Puerto Rico via Vieques. This quiet, unspoiled island offers unrivalled snorkeling and scuba diving in its magnificent encircling reefs, kayak expeditions and hiking trails for bird-watchers through the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

Luis Muñoz Rivera Park

Named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, and featuring plenty of wide open space, picnic areas, walkways and even a small children's playground, the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is the perfect place to take the kids for a day of fun in the sun, especially those who have been cooped up on board a cruise ship. Pack a picnic or simply enjoy the fresh air and scenery along the tree-lined paths, decorated artistically with art and mosaics.

Camuy River Cave Park

Children will feel like they are in an Indiana Jones movie when they visit the magnificent Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy(Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and waterways which can be explored by trolley. The caverns and underground tunnels were created over a million years ago by the tropical Río Camuy(Camuy River) which is the third longest underground river in the world and is home to a unique species of fish that is totally blind. Only three crater-like sink holes and two caves are open to the public which are reached by a guided trolley that descends into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. Kids will love the spacious grounds of the park, which include a cafeteria, picnic area, gift shop, walking trails, exhibition hall, and theater.

Bioluminescent Bay

The water in Mosquito Bay sparkles like stars when disturbed due to the hundreds of thousands of bioluminescent dinoflagellates resident there. Several tour companies offer kayaking and snorkeling in the magical water, often ranked as one of the most romantic places on earth. Of the bioluminescent bays all over the world, Vieques has been certified the brightest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Museo del Niño

San Germán

A historic town with a colorful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church, and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, San Germán is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Old San Juan

This area, encompassing about seven blocks, dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even repulsed Sir Francis Drake. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged, and were originally ballast on the Spanish ships. The ancient stones set off the more than 400 restored 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial buildings that fill Old San Juan and draw thousands of tourists to walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed in amazingly thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.

Fort San Felipe del Morro

The mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defense against invasion. The largest fortification in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. Also in Norzagaray Street, Old San Juan, is El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.

La Fortaleza

The Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbor, but later became the official Governor's residence. During succeeding centuries the original structure has been remodeled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to leave the building with its palatial aspect. The current governor of Puerto Rico is in residence - the 170th Governor to live in the Fortaleza.

Saint John the Baptist Cathedral

San Juan's Cathedral was originally built in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish bishop as a thatched wooden church, but was destroyed in a hurricane in 1526. The current medieval structure, built from the stone brought in from inland quarries by horsepower, dates from 1540, although extensive renovations and reconstruction was carried out in 1917. The cathedral features Doric columns and elliptical vaults, and contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor.

La Casa Blanca

The family of Puerto Rico's first governor, Ponce de Leon, whose descendants inhabited it for 250 years, built the historic homestead of Casa Blanca in 1523. It was subsequently taken over by the Spanish and then United States military. Today the mansion house contains two museums. A small section is dedicated to artifacts associated with the Taino Indians, while the rest of the house depicts the life of those who lived there through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Casa del Libro

The 18th century mansion known as Casa del Libro houses a vast collection of rare sketches, illustrations, ancient manuscripts and books, some dating from before the 16th century. The museum's most prized possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 regarding the provisioning of Christopher Columbus's fleet for his second voyage to the New World. This was the voyage during which Puerto Rico was discovered.

University of Puerto Rico Campus

The University of Puerto Rico campus in the Rio Piedras offers several attractions for visitors and non-students. Museum of History, Anthropology and Art contains archaeological and historical exhibits and holds monthly art exhibitions, and the Art Museum Dr. Pío López Martínez de Cayey has a large collection of Puerto Rican silkscreen posters. The Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University are a living laboratory displaying the native flora of Puerto Rico, containing more than 200 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, and many sculptures from artists such as Leopoldo Maler, Carlos Guzman and Rolando López Dirube.

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery opened just a few years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. The gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late 18th century Classical painter. The museum has been described as a 'living textbook of Puerto Rico', spanning the centuries through the medium of art.

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory

America's ears and eyes are focused on the stars from the island of Puerto Rico. In the northwest mountains of the island about 90 minutes drive west of San Juan, among the Karst Country hills, is one of the most important astronomical research facilities on earth, the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. Its massive dish is larger in area than a dozen football fields and is sited in a sinkhole, aimed at the heavens and tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted from the farthest stars. This is the home base for NASA's 'SETI' (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) project and as such holds great fascination for visitors. A Visitors Center is equipped with interactive exhibits to demonstrate how the huge structure works. Visitors can hike to the viewing platform to view the vast tiled dish.

Rio Camuy Cave Park

Well worth a day trip from San Juan is the incredible 268-acre Rio Camuy Cave Park, two hours south-west of the city. The park is the site of miles of subterranean caverns that were carved out of the limestone by the Camuy River more than a million years ago. Only seven miles (11km) of the caves have yet been fully explored, but 16 entrances have been discovered to what is believed to be the world's largest cave network. Well-maintained walking trails lead visitors down 200 feet (61m) into a fern-filled ravine to explore the cathedral-like caverns. Guided tours are available through one cave and two sinkholes, where you will see stalactites, stalagmites and plenty of bats. The caverns also contain a unique species of blindfish. The park has picnic areas, walking trails, food outlets, an exhibition hall and a souvenir shop. Rio Camuy tends to be overcrowded with long queues during peak season.

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants from tiny wild orchids to giant ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Center where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays on the rainforest. Maps are available and you can choose from dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, with its soft white sand and coconut palms.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, about an hour's drive from San Juan. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkeling. The reserve contains seven different ecological systems including coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest. It is also home to several endangered species. Boardwalk trails provide easy access. A restored 19th century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information center and observation deck.

Parque de Bombas Fire Station

A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.

Ponce Art Museum

The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin. Puerto Rican art also features strongly.

Coffin Island

At weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkeling trail. Visitors can also explore the 19th century Caja de Muerto Lighthouse that has been restored and houses a museum.

Museum of Puerto Rico Music

This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danzamusic style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bombaand plenza. The museum features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, housed in the attractive former residence of the Serralles family, renowned rum producers.

Museo Castillo Serralles

Perched above the city on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's 1920/30s architecture. The house surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains and is renowned for its splendid carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens.

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance grounds, and standing stones believed to have been used as an ancient astronomical observatory. A popular tourist attraction, just two miles (3km) north of Ponce, the site has been equipped with a reconstructed Taino village, a museum, exhibition hall, café and souvenir shop. Visitors are taken on conducted tours.

Culebra and Vieques

Dubbed 'the enchanted isles' Vieques and her smaller sister Culebra lie off of Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and slowly, enriching rather than impacting on the natural beauty of their home. Vieques is 20-odd miles long and five wide and consists largely of the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean, protected by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Some of the world's most beautiful beaches, with azure clear waters and sugary white sand, are to be found in the sanctuary. If you plan to visit Vieques stay overnight to experience its premier attraction, Bio Bay. On a moonless night the bay glows with the bioluminescence radiated by a microscopic one-celled organism called a dinoflagellate, providing an unforgettable sight. Smaller Culebra, just seven miles long and three wide, is a few miles north of Vieques and is renowned for the clarity of the waters washing its shores. This is occasioned by the fact that the island has no rivers or streams causing run-off: the arid island has to have water piped from Puerto Rico via Vieques. This quiet, unspoiled island offers unrivalled snorkeling and scuba diving in its magnificent encircling reefs, kayak expeditions and hiking trails for bird-watchers through the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

Luis Muñoz Rivera Park

Named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, and featuring plenty of wide open space, picnic areas, walkways and even a small children's playground, the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is the perfect place to take the kids for a day of fun in the sun, especially those who have been cooped up on board a cruise ship. Pack a picnic or simply enjoy the fresh air and scenery along the tree-lined paths, decorated artistically with art and mosaics.

Camuy River Cave Park

Children will feel like they are in an Indiana Jones movie when they visit the magnificent Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy(Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and waterways which can be explored by trolley. The caverns and underground tunnels were created over a million years ago by the tropical Río Camuy(Camuy River) which is the third longest underground river in the world and is home to a unique species of fish that is totally blind. Only three crater-like sink holes and two caves are open to the public which are reached by a guided trolley that descends into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. Kids will love the spacious grounds of the park, which include a cafeteria, picnic area, gift shop, walking trails, exhibition hall, and theater.

Bioluminescent Bay

The water in Mosquito Bay sparkles like stars when disturbed due to the hundreds of thousands of bioluminescent dinoflagellates resident there. Several tour companies offer kayaking and snorkeling in the magical water, often ranked as one of the most romantic places on earth. Of the bioluminescent bays all over the world, Vieques has been certified the brightest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Museo del Niño

San Germán

A historic town with a colorful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church, and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, San Germán is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.

Old San Juan

This area, encompassing about seven blocks, dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even repulsed Sir Francis Drake. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged, and were originally ballast on the Spanish ships. The ancient stones set off the more than 400 restored 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial buildings that fill Old San Juan and draw thousands of tourists to walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed in amazingly thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.

Fort San Felipe del Morro

The mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defense against invasion. The largest fortification in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. Also in Norzagaray Street, Old San Juan, is El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.

La Fortaleza

The Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbor, but later became the official Governor's residence. During succeeding centuries the original structure has been remodeled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to leave the building with its palatial aspect. The current governor of Puerto Rico is in residence - the 170th Governor to live in the Fortaleza.

Saint John the Baptist Cathedral

San Juan's Cathedral was originally built in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish bishop as a thatched wooden church, but was destroyed in a hurricane in 1526. The current medieval structure, built from the stone brought in from inland quarries by horsepower, dates from 1540, although extensive renovations and reconstruction was carried out in 1917. The cathedral features Doric columns and elliptical vaults, and contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor.

La Casa Blanca

The family of Puerto Rico's first governor, Ponce de Leon, whose descendants inhabited it for 250 years, built the historic homestead of Casa Blanca in 1523. It was subsequently taken over by the Spanish and then United States military. Today the mansion house contains two museums. A small section is dedicated to artifacts associated with the Taino Indians, while the rest of the house depicts the life of those who lived there through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Casa del Libro

The 18th century mansion known as Casa del Libro houses a vast collection of rare sketches, illustrations, ancient manuscripts and books, some dating from before the 16th century. The museum's most prized possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 regarding the provisioning of Christopher Columbus's fleet for his second voyage to the New World. This was the voyage during which Puerto Rico was discovered.

University of Puerto Rico Campus

The University of Puerto Rico campus in the Rio Piedras offers several attractions for visitors and non-students. Museum of History, Anthropology and Art contains archaeological and historical exhibits and holds monthly art exhibitions, and the Art Museum Dr. Pío López Martínez de Cayey has a large collection of Puerto Rican silkscreen posters. The Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University are a living laboratory displaying the native flora of Puerto Rico, containing more than 200 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, and many sculptures from artists such as Leopoldo Maler, Carlos Guzman and Rolando López Dirube.

Museo de Arte

Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery opened just a few years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. The gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late 18th century Classical painter. The museum has been described as a 'living textbook of Puerto Rico', spanning the centuries through the medium of art.

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory

America's ears and eyes are focused on the stars from the island of Puerto Rico. In the northwest mountains of the island about 90 minutes drive west of San Juan, among the Karst Country hills, is one of the most important astronomical research facilities on earth, the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. Its massive dish is larger in area than a dozen football fields and is sited in a sinkhole, aimed at the heavens and tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted from the farthest stars. This is the home base for NASA's 'SETI' (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) project and as such holds great fascination for visitors. A Visitors Center is equipped with interactive exhibits to demonstrate how the huge structure works. Visitors can hike to the viewing platform to view the vast tiled dish.

Rio Camuy Cave Park

Well worth a day trip from San Juan is the incredible 268-acre Rio Camuy Cave Park, two hours south-west of the city. The park is the site of miles of subterranean caverns that were carved out of the limestone by the Camuy River more than a million years ago. Only seven miles (11km) of the caves have yet been fully explored, but 16 entrances have been discovered to what is believed to be the world's largest cave network. Well-maintained walking trails lead visitors down 200 feet (61m) into a fern-filled ravine to explore the cathedral-like caverns. Guided tours are available through one cave and two sinkholes, where you will see stalactites, stalagmites and plenty of bats. The caverns also contain a unique species of blindfish. The park has picnic areas, walking trails, food outlets, an exhibition hall and a souvenir shop. Rio Camuy tends to be overcrowded with long queues during peak season.

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)

The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants from tiny wild orchids to giant ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Center where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays on the rainforest. Maps are available and you can choose from dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, with its soft white sand and coconut palms.

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve

Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, about an hour's drive from San Juan. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkeling. The reserve contains seven different ecological systems including coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest. It is also home to several endangered species. Boardwalk trails provide easy access. A restored 19th century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information center and observation deck.

Parque de Bombas Fire Station

A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.

Ponce Art Museum

The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin. Puerto Rican art also features strongly.

Coffin Island

At weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkeling trail. Visitors can also explore the 19th century Caja de Muerto Lighthouse that has been restored and houses a museum.

Museum of Puerto Rico Music

This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danzamusic style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bombaand plenza. The museum features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, housed in the attractive former residence of the Serralles family, renowned rum producers.

Museo Castillo Serralles

Perched above the city on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's 1920/30s architecture. The house surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains and is renowned for its splendid carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens.

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance grounds, and standing stones believed to have been used as an ancient astronomical observatory. A popular tourist attraction, just two miles (3km) north of Ponce, the site has been equipped with a reconstructed Taino village, a museum, exhibition hall, café and souvenir shop. Visitors are taken on conducted tours.

Culebra and Vieques

Dubbed 'the enchanted isles' Vieques and her smaller sister Culebra lie off of Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and slowly, enriching rather than impacting on the natural beauty of their home. Vieques is 20-odd miles long and five wide and consists largely of the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean, protected by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Some of the world's most beautiful beaches, with azure clear waters and sugary white sand, are to be found in the sanctuary. If you plan to visit Vieques stay overnight to experience its premier attraction, Bio Bay. On a moonless night the bay glows with the bioluminescence radiated by a microscopic one-celled organism called a dinoflagellate, providing an unforgettable sight. Smaller Culebra, just seven miles long and three wide, is a few miles north of Vieques and is renowned for the clarity of the waters washing its shores. This is occasioned by the fact that the island has no rivers or streams causing run-off: the arid island has to have water piped from Puerto Rico via Vieques. This quiet, unspoiled island offers unrivalled snorkeling and scuba diving in its magnificent encircling reefs, kayak expeditions and hiking trails for bird-watchers through the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

Luis Muñoz Rivera Park

Named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, and featuring plenty of wide open space, picnic areas, walkways and even a small children's playground, the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is the perfect place to take the kids for a day of fun in the sun, especially those who have been cooped up on board a cruise ship. Pack a picnic or simply enjoy the fresh air and scenery along the tree-lined paths, decorated artistically with art and mosaics.

Camuy River Cave Park

Children will feel like they are in an Indiana Jones movie when they visit the magnificent Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy(Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and waterways which can be explored by trolley. The caverns and underground tunnels were created over a million years ago by the tropical Río Camuy(Camuy River) which is the third longest underground river in the world and is home to a unique species of fish that is totally blind. Only three crater-like sink holes and two caves are open to the public which are reached by a guided trolley that descends into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. Kids will love the spacious grounds of the park, which include a cafeteria, picnic area, gift shop, walking trails, exhibition hall, and theater.