For the uninformed, that means’The Conquerors’ in Spanish. And that is exactly what we felt like when we stepped off the plane at San Juan airport in Puerto Rico. One look at the swaying palms, the clear blue skies and the huge mountains in the distance and we were ready to go forth and conquer this beautiful land!
Puerto Rico is a stunningly beautiful tropical island, which also has the pleasure of being a self-governing territory of the US. Which in simple words means that the US gives it money, builds roads, sets up industries and in return, Puerto Rico lets in US tourists without a visa. A very fair exchange in my opinion:).
For such a small place(160 kms by 60 kms) Puerto Rico packs in a lot of excitement and adventure. Let us start with the beaches. Prior to this, the only beach town that I had been to was Goa. Honestly, Puerto Rico made me forget that Goa even existed. The beach closest to our hotel, the San Juan Playa(Playa= beach), was probably the most crowded and urbanized beach that we visited. But even so, the waters were a clear turquoise, the sands were white and there were no hawkers, masseurs, tattoo artists, et al shoving their services in your face. It was so refreshing to be able to stroll on the beach or even take a dip in the cool waters without being ogled at. It only got better with Loquillo Playa which is about a 20 minute ride from San Juan. This public beach has facilities like changing rooms, restrooms, showers and lifeguards. It has the calmest waters that I have ever seen and is perfect for families and kids. When in Puerto Rico, you can choose to avoid public beaches(if you are the kind that dreams of owning a private island some day). On your travels to and fro on the island, you are bound to come across a stretch of deserted sand that you can claim as your own. Be sure to carry along a lot of sunscreen, a blanket to sit down on, towels and of course your swim wear. As you go south, the waters get clearer and greener, a sure sign that the Carribean is approaching.
As much as I love beaches, it is almost unbearable to be out in the sweltering heat at noon. The temperatures usually top 30 Celsius and unless you are a true sun-worshipper, it is better to escape to one of the rainforests in the region. The El Yunque rainforest located towards the northwest of the country is very well-preserved, and feels like a calm oasis. Surprisingly, it is navigable by car(maybe the trees are really good at absorbing the emissions), so you don’t have to rough it out. Again, don’t forget to pack the same essentials as you would when you hit the beach. El Yunque has wonderful waterfalls, some of which are a short trek away. The locals love jumping into the water without a thought, but you can see the tourists looking on with disbelief. Yes, the rocks are slippery and the force of the water could wash away an elephant but it takes a brave heart to truly enjoy nature.:) . Puerto Rico also has a central rainforest, passing through many small towns and villages. If you love road trips, be sure to drive through this stretch.
For the truly adventurous there are many activities like diving, snorkeling, para sailing, zip lining(that is where you zip along a wire tied between 2 trees, usually with a river running below). There is also a chance to see a bioluminescent bay, where millions of marine micro-organisms light up when disturbed by movement. For the ones who wonder why tropical islands and alcohol have such a strong correlation, there is a trip to the Bacardi rum museum. And yes, you do get a free drink at the end!
If you are a history buff, do visit old San Juan, where 2 of the most beautiful and magnificent forts - The San Cristobal and El Morro stand guard over the city. The views from both are breath-taking and you can visualize the Spanish soldiers keeping a watch on approaching enemies. These days, all you can see approaching are huge cruise liners, that have San Juan as their port of call. The cobbled streets of Old San Juan are very quaint and pretty. Dotted with cafes, restaurants and stores, you can spend a whole day just walking up and down and marveling at the beautiful balconies that overlook the streets.
All this walking, swimming and trekking is bound to leave you starving. If you love seafood, this is the right place. There are tons of stalls(or tapris as we fondly call them) that serve a wide array of snacks and meals. Snacks are usually deep-fried, oily and incredibly delicious. Plantain chips(kela wafers) are the staple accompaniment to every meal. Of course, as we all know, calories don’t count when you are on vacation, so eat away! Rice and beans are available for vegetarians and for others, chicken on skewers, fried chicken(not the KFC kind, thankfully) is delicious. Fish, shrimp, octopus, conch(yes, its edible and very tasty), crabs and lobsters are available almost everywhere and at very reasonable prices.
The locals are incredibly friendly. In fact, they are so friendly that they think that you are one of their own and rapidly fire off in Spanish! It takes a while before you can interrupt and say’No Espanol’! They are kind enough to switch to English then, although it is as difficult for them as Spanish is for us. Puerto Ricans seem to be very family-oriented people. Beaches are full of parents and kids looking happy and relaxed. People here smile a lot, who wouldn’t if you lived in a place like this!
No matter how much time you spend in Puerto Rico, you will come away feeling that it was not enough. In fact you might even have thoughts of quitting your job, learning Spanish and moving there forever. I guess the’conquerors’ ended up being conquered:).