Search for vacation rental homes in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: So Many Choices, So Little Time!
Puerto Rico, sometimes referred to as the "51st American State", is located between the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic in the southern Caribbean. Known for its incredible beaches, Puerto Rico is also a great spot to enjoy activities like hiking, fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing, parasailing, spelunking, shopping, and many other pastimes that take full advantage of the magnificent history and scenery of this beautiful island.
Visitors to Puerto Rico, especially those interested in historical architecture, almost always find themselves visiting Old San Juan. Simply put, there is no place like it in the Caribbean. This part of San Juan was designated as a U.S. National Historic Zone in 1950. More than 400 beautifully restored buildings fill the area, which is overflowing with tree-lined squares, open-air cafes, monuments, museums, restaurants, and night clubs. The city walls that surround the city average 20 feet in width and climb some 40 feet in the air. They are a marvel of engineering even by today's standards. A walking tour of the area will take approximately 2 hours, not including stops. You can take your pick of attractions, but some of the most popular are the Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan, the Museo de la Americas, and the Museo del Indio. The most famous stronghold in San Juan is El Morro, which was built between 1540 and 1589. The fort is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and ramps. It is studded with small, circular sentry boxes called "garitas" that are unique to the forts of Puerto Rico and have become a national symbol. Kids especially will appreciate Plaza Aquatica, a smallish water park with slides, "rapids", and miniature golf.
For something completely different, you might want to give "the Cathedral of Rum" a peak at the Bacardi Distillery. The plant churns out more than 100,000 gallons of rum per day, and is the largest of its kind in the world. A guided tour includes the history of rum in the Caribbean and of course offers free samples of the product. A gift shop at the end of the tour has hard to find bottles that may make excellent keepsakes and gifts.
Everywhere you turn, beautiful beaches dot the Puerto Rican coast. Condado Beach, close to San Juan, put Puerto Rico on the map as a tourist attraction back in the 1920s. This is where folks like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers came to play. The 2-mile long beach is great for sun bathing, and all sorts of water sports equipment can be rented nearby. Luquillo Public Beach sits 30 miles east of San Juan. The beach rests on a half-moon shaped bay surrounded by coconut palms. Windsurfing and parasailing are favorite pastimes in the area.
On the west coast of Puerto Rico rests the surfing mecca of Rincon. This small fishing village played host to the World Surfing Championships at the beach near Punta Higuero. More white sand waits at nearby Maria's Beach, which is also a great spot for watching the humpback whales that frequent the area in the winter.
Down south on the west coast lies a string of "secret" beaches. They are relatively hard to find, but if you can manage it, you will be rewarded with un-crowded, well-shaded beaches that look like they jumped out of a postcard. One of the most accessible is Cana Gorda, located near the town of Guanica. The un-traveled sand is lined with palm fronds and is also a great spot to see some of the native waterfowl.
Off of the west coast, Mona Island has been called the "Caribbean Galapagos." The island is only accessible by boat, and is a great place for adventurous travelers, scuba divers, and eco-tourists that want to leave the madding crowd far behind. These waters are home to more than 270 species of fish, 60 of them on the reef alone. Other mammals like sea turtles, barracuda, whales, dolphins, and marlins are common visitors. The island has miles of white sand beaches that make for a great picnic spot. Spelunkers will go bonkers in the series of honeycombed caves, the larges marine-originated caves in the world.
More beautiful beaches can be found on the rustic islands of Vieques and Culebra, located off the eastern shore of Puerto Rico. Vieques itself has more than 50 unspoiled beaches. Blue Beach is known for its excellent snorkeling. The island is also the home of phosphorescent Mosquito Bay. This rare phenomenon is caused by millions of luminescent dinoflagellates (organisms with both animal and plantlike properties) "lighting up" when disturbed by movement. Families will want to seek out Playa Media Luna, a gorgeous little beach that is popular for the calm waters that seem to stay shallow forever as you wade out.
Nearby Culebra is even less developed than Vieques. People who make the islet their home know each other by name, and a small town feel permeates the area. Rocks form natural tidal pools off of Playa Culebrita Beach. Great snorkeling can be enjoyed just by walking into the surf and sticking your face in the water. Ask a local to point you to Playa Flamenco, located on the north coast of Culebra. This beach has an incredibly long stretch of white sand and rivals any beach in the Caribbean.
Some of the best hiking in all of the Caribbean can be found at El Yunque, located in the Caribbean National Forest about 35 miles from San Juan. The El Yunque trail leads to some panoramic views atop the Luquillo Mountains, and is part of the only rain forest on U.S. soil.
Puerto Rico is a harmonious blend of Spanish and North American cultures. It has grown from an agricultural based country dependent on sugar cane to a rich tourist based economy set in a highly industrialized society. Baseball rivals soccer as pastimes for Puerto Rican youths. The pace, however, is unflinchingly Caribbean. The island's breezes seem to calm the spirit and nourish the soul. A vacation in Puerto Rico will leave you haunted with dreams of the sea, and stirring memories of Mother Nature's bounty.
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Oceanfront Penthouse w/spectacular views in Isabela, Coast of Porta Del — Property 310105
- Condo
- 3 bedrooms , sleeps 9
- 3 bathrooms
- beach, mountain
- accept credit card
Book 1 Week and Stay 2 xtra Nights FREES P E C I A L O F F E R- Rates (shown in USD)
- $1200 per property per week
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Ocean city, Relaxing Modern New, Pools,Gym, Beach & Golf — Property 157335
- Apartment
- 3 bedrooms , sleeps 7
- 2 bathrooms
- downtown, near the ocean
- swimming pool
$1000 week for Special DatesS P E C I A L O F F E R- Rates (shown in USD)
- $1300 per property per week
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One of the Finest - Cacimar House - Privacy and Pool — Property 131224
- House
- 3 bedrooms , sleeps 8
- 3 bathrooms
- mountain, near the ocean
- swimming pool
7 Days in Vieques for $2,100!S P E C I A L O F F E R- Rates (shown in USD)
- $1900 - $3500 per property per week
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