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History & Nature Come Alive in Puerto Rico


Photo by Jeremy Niester.

Balcony in San Juan, Puerto RicoHold on history buffs, Puerto Rico will knock your socks off

Today, Puerto Rico’s bustling capital of San Juan is equal parts South Beach and Old Havana. It’s easy to be swept away by the Spanish colonial architecture, but all the familiar brand names and comforts of home are readily available without Cuba’s rolling blackouts, drab army fatigues and high-end cigars.

Old San Juan’s blue cobblestone streets and pastel-coloured Spanish colonial buildings transport you back to a world of conquering Conquistadors and perilous privateers. Stroll down one of the old town’s main drags, Calle San Francisco to find the San Juan Bautista Cathedral. While not grandiose by European standards, it is the second oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere and houses the remains of Ponce de Leon himself.

Fort San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto RicoNo visitor dare miss the imposing stone walls of Fort San Felipe del Morro. “El Morro” is a 16th century Spanish bastion that sits strategically on a promontory high above the Caribbean Sea. The 6-meter-thick outer walls once withstood an attack by famous British pirate and naval hero Sir Francis Drake, but were ultimately no match for an American bombardment in 1898’s Spanish-American War. Today the site is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site.

El Yunque National Park is a haven for nature lovers

But an hour’s drive from San Juan lies El Yunque National Park. Famous for its waterfalls and lush, green hills shrouded in mist, the park is today the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System and home to vast array of flora and fauna.

Planning a trip? Check out the tripatlas.com/new Trip Builder where you can connect with travel professionals and tour operators across Canada & the U.S. to get tips, advice & pricing on your upcoming holiday plans.

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