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Puerto Rico captivates visitors with its exotic fusion of Taíno, African and Spanish influences. Explore tropical rainforests, fabulous beaches, beautiful offshore islands and the colourful colonial capital, all in one fantastic holiday.

The island's pristine beaches are what first put Puerto Rico on the map. There are 300 of them stretching for miles, and they're long, white and sandy. But its beautiful coastline is only one of the reasons we love this charming laidback island. There are many other wonderful experiences to enjoy:

• Hike in the El Yungue national park
• Kayak through bioluminescent bay Laguna Grande
• Explore impressive plazas and forts in Old San Juan
• Watch (or join) the salsa dancers spinning around the city's dance floors
• Discover a deserted beach on one of the tiny offshore islands

San Juan
The largest capital in the Caribbean, San Juan blends modern city life with a rich cultural heritage. The enchanting old town is a walled city with cobbled streets, imposing fortresses and colourful colonial architecture.

But this is no sleepy suburb. The birthplace of salsa and the piña colada has, not suprisingly, a vibrant nightlife. Colourful bars and cafes come alive in the evening and their expert mixology is not to be missed. So sip on a cool cocktail in one of the salsa bars and soak up the atmosphere.

San Juan is a popular starting point for Caribbean cruises, so if you're joining one of our luxury Silversea ships here, we highly recommend that you take a few days to explore the city before or after your cruise.


Out and About
El Yunque rainforest
According to local legend, the good spirit 'Yuquiyu' looked over the Taíno people from his mountain home, high in the El Yunque rainforest. Often shrouded in mist, an aura of mystery still remains here, making it a truly magical place to visit. There are many guided hikes you can take, from the gentle to the more challenging, but the most frequented trail is La Mina, a relatively easy hike that leads to one of the forest’s many waterfalls. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes so you can take a dip under the cascading falls.

Camuy Caves
Located along Puerto Rico’s northern coast, The Camuy Caves should definitely not be missed. One of the largest cave systems in the world, the caverns are part of a large network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved out by the Río Camuy, the third largest underground river in the world.

Culebra Island
This special little island is only seven miles long by four miles wide and is a great place to come and escape the crowds. Largely undeveloped, it’s just 17 miles east of mainland Puerto Rico, but a million miles away from life there. Apart from the tiny town of Dewey and a small airport, Culebra offers visitors some sensational beaches, wonderful snorkelling and diving and an untouched natural setting. Birdwatching is popular here with more than 50,000 seabirds breeding and nurturing their young at the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

Food and Drink
There’s an incredible range of good quality restaurants in Puerto Rico, especially in San Juan. Do try Budatai, offering an oriental inspired menu combined with traditional Puerto Rican cookery. Marmalade is another hot favourite, with a cool vibe and an extensive wine list. If you visit Vieques Island, Duffy’s serves authentic Caribbean food with an amazing beachfront location.

Getting There
British Airways operates weekly flights from Gatwick to San Juan (via Antigua in both directions) until March 2013. Total flying time is approximately 11 hrs (including stop in Antigua). There are also daily flights from Heathrow to Madrid or New York with onward connecting flights.