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Puerto Rico (The Island of Enchantment) awaits

• by Srinivas Rao
• on November 15th, 2010
• 6 Comments

Editors Note: This is a guest post by Mark Lawrence at LifestyleIgnition. You can follow him on twitter @ignitedadventure

Puerto Rico known as “La Isla Del Encanto” (The Island of Enchantment) awaits.  Puerto Rico is a destination that offers much more than the typical Caribbean getaway.  Puerto Rico, rich in culture and natural beauty, offers an experience like nowhere else on Earth packed conveniently into this Caribbean Island.

I had the luxury of dating a Puerto Rican which definitely helps with getting to know the Island.  Still, if you’ve never dated, or don’t know any Puerto Ricans, the Island is so incredible it’s impossible not to become romantically involved with the place.

Bioluminescence

There are 3 bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.  There’s Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Laguna Grande in Fajardo, and La Parguera in the Southwest of the Island.  If you go to Puerto Rico, going to a bioluminescent bay is a must.  What is bioluminescence?  The water glows at night with movement!  That means each time you make a ripple with your hands, or touch your kayak paddle to the seemingly regular lagoon water, it glows blue.  There are millions of dinoflagellates which are tiny micro-organisms concentrated in the water that glow in the dark when agitated by movement.  I’ve been to La Laguna Grande, and Bahia Mosquito.  At La Laguna Grande you have to kayak through a mangrove forest (an amazing experience in itself) before reaching the lagoon.  Both places were incredible!  The experience is like nothing else.  In Puerto Rico, you can experience this rare natural wonder!

Natural Beauty

Rainforest, mountains, beaches, caves, deserts, mangrove forests, and more caress the landscape.  If you like scenery, Puerto Rico has it.  El Yunque is another must.  Incredibly close to San Juan, the lush Rainforests of El Yunque are a world away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city.  El Yunque offers beautiful hiking routes.   Some are well maintained paths, and others are pretty much unmarked where you “find your own way” through.  There are many waterfalls and streams strewn with giant boulders, ferns, and trees.  You’ll hear the song of the infamous Coqui, a small type of frog that inhabits the island.  Its ubiquitous and melodic “co-qui”, “co-qui” sound permeates throughout the entire Island.

Enjoy the sun:

Enjoy scuba diving, waterskiing or surf your heart away.  Lounge around on beautiful beaches.  My favorite beach was Pinones.  A short ride from San Juan and you’re in another world.  Lounge around on picture perfect beaches and experience a more relaxed side of the Island.  Pinones is rustic, laid back and beautiful.  You can also grab Puerto Rican food from a sea side shack like alcapurrias, bacalaítos, pasteles, and empanadillas.  Pure awesome.  The beaches on the Island of Culebra including Playa Flamenco and Playa Zoni are also some of my favorites.  A jaunt to Islands Culebra or Vieques accessible by daily flights or ferry will leave you feeling stunned at the natural beauty and relaxed from the laid back beaches.

Culture, food, architecture, and nightlife

Puerto Rican food is delicious.  You cannot leave the Island without eating mofongo.  My mouth still waters at the thought of those chunks of garlic chicken and onions mashed into those delectable plantains.  The culture is alive and proud.  For such a small Island, the sheer number of accomplishments is staggering.  From Miss Universe winners, boxing champions, musicians, and dancers Puerto Rican culture has had a profound impact on the world.  Experience this firsthand as people dance Salsa to tunes pouring onto the street from a live band.  Enjoy the incredibly intact Spanish Colonial architecture in the vibrant neighborhood of Old San Juan.  The bright colors of the buildings, the historical Spanish Fortress El Morro, and narrow cobblestone streets make for perfect splendor.

What are you waiting for?

Puerto Rico not only offers a wide range of things to do and see, but the proximity makes everything convenient.  You can hike to a beautiful waterfall in a Rainforest in the morning.  Eat lunch and relax on a picturesque beach in the afternoon, then head experience the natural wonders of bioluminescence at night.  A flight from the US to Puerto Rico is treated as a domestic flight.   You don’t need a visa if you’re a US citizen or are traveling in the US.  So if that’s you, head on over.  There’s so much to do, I couldn’t possibly write about it all.  For every type of personality Puerto Rico has something you’ll like.  Come and enjoy it!  You can pack everything in, or take things slow.

Srinivas Rao

Srinivas is an avid surfer and personal development blogger at The Skool of Life. He's also the host and co-founder of BlogcastFM, a podcast for bloggers.