Is it part of the U.S.? Sure. But there’s so much that separates Puerto Rico from your average vacation destination in the States. In fact, the biggest similarity between Puerto Rico and the United States is also another reason to go: you won’t need a passport to get there.




Within the capital city of San Juan, the most popular tourist attraction is also the most historic—Old San Juan. This walled section of the original colonial city is sprinkled with buildings dating back to colonial times. The San Juan Gate—dating to the 1630s—was the original point of entry to the city for sailors and others arriving by boat. Today, it’s a picturesque tourist attraction and a portal to a scenic walking path around the outer city walls, complete with sea views. The walls themselves are just as historic, formerly making up one of the most invulnerable fortresses in the Caribbean, and within them, you’ll find more history still. The Plaza de Colon, once called St. James Square, is today a bustling city square with a statue honoring Columbus at its center. The capital building—a recent construction relative to the centuries-old architecture throughout San Juan but making up for it with striking decor—is built almost entirely of marble, including its walls, floor and staircases. Here, a stunning ceiling mosaic depicts Puerto Rican history from the time of the Taino civilization up to the present day. And at Restaurant Barrachina, you can even sample a bit of the island’s culinary history. A plaque outside the dining room claims that it’s the very house where the pina colada was invented in 1963. San Juan is Puerto Rico’s biggest and most famous city, but the culture doesn’t stop at the city limits. Ponce, the island’s second biggest city, is an often overlooked, but culturally stunning destination in its own right. The largest collection of European fine art in the West Indies resides here at the Ponce Museum of Art, with the works of such notables as Velasquez, Goya and Rubens on display. And throughout the city, the streets are peppered with historic buildings, like the Ponce Cathedral, dating from the 1700s, to the Parque de Bombas, a former fire station that’s become a museum honoring Ponce’s firefighters for saving the city from a fire that threatened to ruin the city in 1883.


Undeniably among the top cosmopolitan cities in the Caribbean, San Juan’s swanky Condado and Isla Verde neighborhoods are luxury havens for travelers who like to surround themselves with high-end treats. In Condado, upscale hotels sit side-by-side with fine dining restaurants and luxury boutiques boasting names like Ferragamo, Dior and Louis Vuitton. East of Condado, Isla Verde is home to even more upscale beachfront properties, putting entertainment, fine dining, shopping and leisure activities all at guests’ fingertips. This is where you’ll find The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino, with its lagoon fed by stone fountains, a 12,000-sq.-ft. spa offering state-of-the-art relaxation therapies, and dining at a branch of the famous New York restaurant BLT Steak. Nearby, The Water Club offers a more intimate, boutique feel and appealing nightlife, with its open-air top floor bar, complete with a fi replace.


Set just a half-hour outside San Juan, the El Yunque Rainforest lets travelers easily spend a day exploring the only tropical rainforest in America. Largely accessible by car, it’s easy for naturists of all ages to see the sights here, whether it’s just a simple drive through its lush interior or on an intense hike up its mountains. Many trails, like the one to the La Mina waterfalls, are easily explored on one’s own. Take a tour with a guide, however, and you’ll learn about local plants and animals along the way, such as unique species of trees, snakes, the mongoose and the coqui—a noisy tree frog you’ll hear whistling throughout the forest. At La Mina falls, adventurous hikers can strip down to their bathing suits and take a dip in the chilly waters.


If you’re a watersports junkie seeking high winds and tall waves, look to west coast villages like Aguadilla, which are known for their impressive surfing conditions. Aguadilla and the neighboring town of Rincon attract kiteboarders, surfers and windsurfers of all levels, providing ideal learning conditions and hosting professional tournaments. What’s more, scuba diving and snorkeling is popular here, too, thanks to sites that haven’t been affected by visits from the massive numbers of tourists that you’ll find in San Juan. Even without the watersports, travelers here don’t often leave the water—from December to March, humpback whale sightings are common in the waters around Rincon, making whale watching excursions very popular among the few lucky visitors who make their way out west.