Puerto Rico is no ordinary destination. It’s perhaps the best that a trip to Caribbean can offer. From simple joy of walking down the cobblestone streets and feeling the tropical breeze against your skin to the exceptional experience of riding over legendary waves, Puerto Rico is always serving temptations in large portions. The land of beautiful damsels, rich coffee, and charming weather is an ideal escapade for you this Christmas. Spare yourself the snow and shiver and move to a happier world where sun, sand, and solace are no big deal!
#1. An Elaborate Christmas
In case you don’t know, this Caribbean Island has one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world. The merrymaking that begins with the Thanksgiving Day continues long after the Christmas is over. Puerto Ricans know how to prolong happiness. If you want to see the build-up before the Christmas, this is the place to be. From the parades, puppet shows and the performances of troubadours on the Three Kings Day to street parties and food festivals for months, the spirit of Christmas lives the longest in this island.
#2. Glorious Beaches
In between celebrations, you would be tempted to listen to the call of the beaches. Come to the resort town of Guanica and surrender yourself to the warm waters of Azul Beach and Cayo Aurora. Your hours at the beaches would be lot livelier when you try snorkeling at Playa Shacks and go for surfing at Punta Las Marias in San Juan. You won’t mind visiting Ballenas Bay and spotting sea turtles.
#3. A History that Excites
Forget the ruins and fossils. Here in Puerto Rico, you can experience history in flesh and blood. The historic district of San Juan is not the only place that’s teeming with colonial structures. The Spanish have lent their taste for architecture to this pristine island. That’s evident from the churches, forts, town halls and antiquated structures. The 16th-century El Morro (fort), which is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not to be missed.
#4. Caves and Rainforest
Come to Rio Camuy Cave Park and wear a historian’s hat to explore more than 200 caves. It’s bewitching to behold the natural limestone caves and underground waterways that have been carved out by the world’s third largest subterranean river. On a sun-washed morning, take a backpack and head to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System. Your day will be made, if you can spot a Puerto Rican Parrot.
#5. Bioluminescent Bays that Light Up the Dark
On a pleasant December night when the moon doesn’t dispel the darkness, take a trip to any of three Bioluminescent Bays in this small island. The one in La Parguera, perhaps, glows the best.
#6. Margarita and Midnight Merrymaking
One of the perks of visiting Puerto Rico is an unpretentious nightlife. For most Europeans and Americans who don’t come from the coast, it’s hard to imagine spending a December night on a rooftop pub and adding cubes of ice to their favorite poison. Nuyorican Café in San Juan is an iconic place to enjoy salsa and share a hearty laugh with the locals as they are known for their off-the-cuff humor. And even if the locals forget to recommend, do have your share of pleasure at The Mezzanine at St. Germain. Their tapas and cocktails are unforgettable.