PUERTO RICO, A DESTINATION WEDDING AND HONEYMOON PARADISE
PUERTO RICO IS ROMANCE
A moonlight walk along the beach. A swim in a phosphorescent bay. A stroll along a rainforest trail. A slow dance as the sun sets. A drink under a lavish crystal chandelier. A horseback ride through a coffee plantation. A carriage ride through the Pearl of the South. From opulent hotels to delightful restaurants and sizzling clubs, from wind surfing to lazing in the sun, from gallery hopping to serious shopping, Puerto Rico has the perfect settings for weddings and honeymoons.
The variety of exotic travel experiences the island offers is what makes it so appropriate. Mix with the crowds in the city, see and be seen; for the most variety, stay in cosmopolitan San Juan, where you can explore the Old City in the morning, head for the rainforest in the afternoon, catch some sun and the sunset on the beach, and spend an electrifying night on the town. If you want to share your time with only one other person, for the utmost in privacy and tranquility spend a few days and nights on Puerto Rico's own Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra.
Whether you tie the knot in Puerto Rico or spend the first days of your marriage here, you will cherish the experience forever. You and Puerto Rico: the perfect match.
HOW DO YOU SAY "I LOVE YOU" IN SPANISH?
The island of Puerto Rico exudes romance. From the old-world cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to stunning sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the waters of the Atlantic, Puerto Rico has something special for every couple in need of a romantic escape.
For a lovers’ getaway, San Juan beckons with world-renowned restaurants, boutique hotels and spas. There’s plenty of sun to worship on the city’s beaches, but at night, San Juan comes alive with the pulsating sounds of bomba y plena, salsa and reggaeton. There’s music in every corner of this city, known as the Gateway to the Caribbean. Pack a swimsuit and your Saturday night best for a fab retreat that is the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums.
HONEYMOON IN PARADISE
After you’ve tied the knot, explore beyond the shore and dive into the island’s lush landscape and picturesque towns. Head east for a visit to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S. National Park Service. And while you’re exploring, be sure to add an evening layover to your visit so you can see the bioluminescent bay at Las Croabas in Fajardo. Out west, in Rincón, the surf is always up. The island’s mountainous interior is home to a thriving coffee industry and charming roadside establishments that serve up local cuisine with unparalleled flavor. Expect fresh seafood, roast pork and traditional plantain and yucca dishes paired with a cup of café con leche on your journey. Come discover new ways to say “I love you” in Puerto Rico, a place bursting with life, color and excitement.
ALL ABOUT PUERTO RICO
Adventure & Sports Puerto Rico offers 272 miles of coastline and hundreds of beaches. Water sport lovers will enjoy easily accessible activities such as surfing; snorkeling; scuba diving; sailing; deep-sea fishing and windsurfing. Sports enthusiasts also appreciate the more than 100 tennis courts and 18 championship golf courses located throughout the island.
Puerto Rico possesses a wealth of fascinating flora and fauna, and a great variety of ways to see them. From easy leisurely drives and walks to serious hiking, rock climbing, spelunking, kayaking and camping on deserted islands, the nature lover and adventure traveller can find it all in Puerto Rico.
Shopping From local craft stores to international designer boutiques, Puerto Rico offers shoppers a multitude of options. Calle del Cristo is the main shopping area in Old San Juan where visitors will find everything from art and jewelry to designer clothing. Shopping in Old San Juan is a mix of trendy and eclectic boutiques found on Cristo, Fortaleza and San Franciso streets, near the craft markets of Plaza de la Darsena and Paseo de la Princesa.
The Condado area is famous for its chic stores like Louis Vuitton and Cartier located on Ashford Avenue.
In the heart of San Juan, the most popular shopping attraction is Plaza Las Américas, currently the Caribbean’s largest shopping centre with more than 200 stores. Other large malls around the island are Plaza Carolina, located 20 minutes away from the International Airport; Plaza del Caribe in Ponce; Las Catalinas Mall in Caguas; and Montehiedra Town Center in Río Piedras.
Retail Outlets can also be found in Barceloneta and in Canóvanas.
Hours of operation around the island are usually Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Crafts Traditional and popular crafts include santos- small, wooden figures of saints and religious scenes; mundillo lace, intricate, handmade bobbin lace; and vejigantes, carnival masks made of papier mache or coconut. Dining The Island offers some of the finest authentic dining in the Caribbean. Visitors can feast on Puerto Rican specialties -- a mix of Spanish, Creole and Indian flavours -- or choose to sample cuisines from around the world. In April 2008, Puerto Rico hosted the island’s first Saborea at the world famous blue flag beach of Isla Verde from April 4-6, 2008. These three days brought together celebrities, master chefs and signature events organized by industry professionals with the best taste and attention to detail. The scheduled activities included demo kitchens, signature events, wine seminars, kids’ kitchens and a Tasting Pavilion. Nightlife Puerto Rico offers visitors a wide variety of nighttime and cultural activities including international casinos and nightclubs typically located in major hotels, and theatre, dance, opera and outdoor concerts.
Sightseeing There is so much to discover in this authentic Latin port from its natural beauty to its diverse attractions to its rich culture. Old San Juan the only walledcity in the Caribbean is also one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean and has been beautifully preserved through the city’s architecture. It boasts four fortresses from the Spanish Colonial Empire, cobblestone streets, and a myriad of historic sites and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the El Morro Wall. Outside San Juan, visitors can explore the unique El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system. The island's oldest natural wonder, the Camuy Caves is the site of one of the longest underground river systems in the world. The Arecibo Observatory, the largest radio/radar telescope in the world, has been featured in films such as James Bond thriller, Goldeneye and Jodie Foster’s Contact.
For more information about Puerto Rico and to book a wedding or honeymoon, visit the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s official website: GoToPuertoRico.com.
