| HOTEL EL CONVENTO |
| Enjoy the intimate charm of staying in a historical landmark within the heart of Old San Juan. El Convento offers the unique experience of a luxurious home like hotel, set in the exuberant character of a 16th century former convent. The features and amenities of all 58 rooms and suites are tailored for sophisticated modern travelers while carefully preserving the convents history. Attention to detail and high level of personal service are El Convento's hallmarks, where you can also experience two floors of restaurants, cafes, art galleries and shops. |
Old San Juan
Watch the sea crash around this enclave of
colourful Spanish colonial architecture.
La Ruta Panoramica
Stunning views of the jungle-like Puerto
Rican interior greet you at every turn along
this winding mountain road.
The Parrot Club, San Juan
Impeccable Nuevo Latino cuisine, live Latin
jazz and a chic crowd define this Old San
Juan restaurant.
Vieques and Culebra
These laid-back yet ravishing islands off
Puerto Rico's east coast hold the country's
best beaches.
El Convento, San Juan
Stay a night at this fifteenth-century
convent turned five-star hotel if you can
afford it, or just pop in to admire its style.
El Yunque
Hike, bird-watch, or orchid hunt amid 43
square miles of tropical rainforest.
Watch the sea crash around this enclave of
colourful Spanish colonial architecture.
La Ruta Panoramica
Stunning views of the jungle-like Puerto
Rican interior greet you at every turn along
this winding mountain road.
The Parrot Club, San Juan
Impeccable Nuevo Latino cuisine, live Latin
jazz and a chic crowd define this Old San
Juan restaurant.
Vieques and Culebra
These laid-back yet ravishing islands off
Puerto Rico's east coast hold the country's
best beaches.
El Convento, San Juan
Stay a night at this fifteenth-century
convent turned five-star hotel if you can
afford it, or just pop in to admire its style.
El Yunque
Hike, bird-watch, or orchid hunt amid 43
square miles of tropical rainforest.
| SAN JUAN MARRIOTT RESORT AND STELLARIS CASINO |
EL YUNQUE
The Caribbean National Forest, commonly known as
EL YUNQUE (daily 7.30am-6pm; free), looms,
shrouded in mist, over eastern Puerto Rico. The
28,000-acre forest is visible from San Juan rooftops,
25 miles away, rising 3500 feet above sea level on the
easternmost stretch of the Cordillera Central. The only
rainforest in the US Forest System, it is deluged with
more than 100 billion gallons of rainfall a year, and is
home to more than 240 tree species and a panoply of
rare flora and fauna, most notable of which is the
endangered cotorro , or Puerto Rican parrot, in the
oldest stand of the forest; only thirty are in existence,
all of them here.
Some of the trees in the palo colorado , the section of
forest that grows above 2000 feet, have stood for more
than a thousand years. In fact, the only remaining
virgin forest on the once tree-covered island is here.
Below 2000 feet is the driest section of El Yunque, with
tabonuco, palm , and ausubo trees, and more than fifty
types of orchids . The region above 2500 feet is
dominated by mountain palms, ferns and mosses. The
highest level of growth is cloud forest , also known as
dwarf forest, where trees, stunted by strong trade
winds, rarely grow higher than twelve feet tall.
To explore the forest, you can choose from among 23
miles of pathways, many of them paved. The trails with
the finest views depart from the Palo Colorado
Information Centre (daily 9.30am-5pm) at km 11.8,
about half a mile from the summit. The most popular, El
Yunque Trail , ascends through cloud forest to El
Yunque peak; for waterfalls , take the Coca or La Mina
trail. More experienced hikers may want to tackle the
almost four-mile Tradewinds Trail which climbs El Toro
, the highest peak in the forest, at 3522 feet. It's a
good idea to wear good walking shoes with rubber
soles, and light, loose clothing; also bring a poncho in
case of rain. There are no concession stands, only
vending machines; so bring snacks.
The Caribbean National Forest, commonly known as
EL YUNQUE (daily 7.30am-6pm; free), looms,
shrouded in mist, over eastern Puerto Rico. The
28,000-acre forest is visible from San Juan rooftops,
25 miles away, rising 3500 feet above sea level on the
easternmost stretch of the Cordillera Central. The only
rainforest in the US Forest System, it is deluged with
more than 100 billion gallons of rainfall a year, and is
home to more than 240 tree species and a panoply of
rare flora and fauna, most notable of which is the
endangered cotorro , or Puerto Rican parrot, in the
oldest stand of the forest; only thirty are in existence,
all of them here.
Some of the trees in the palo colorado , the section of
forest that grows above 2000 feet, have stood for more
than a thousand years. In fact, the only remaining
virgin forest on the once tree-covered island is here.
Below 2000 feet is the driest section of El Yunque, with
tabonuco, palm , and ausubo trees, and more than fifty
types of orchids . The region above 2500 feet is
dominated by mountain palms, ferns and mosses. The
highest level of growth is cloud forest , also known as
dwarf forest, where trees, stunted by strong trade
winds, rarely grow higher than twelve feet tall.
To explore the forest, you can choose from among 23
miles of pathways, many of them paved. The trails with
the finest views depart from the Palo Colorado
Information Centre (daily 9.30am-5pm) at km 11.8,
about half a mile from the summit. The most popular, El
Yunque Trail , ascends through cloud forest to El
Yunque peak; for waterfalls , take the Coca or La Mina
trail. More experienced hikers may want to tackle the
almost four-mile Tradewinds Trail which climbs El Toro
, the highest peak in the forest, at 3522 feet. It's a
good idea to wear good walking shoes with rubber
soles, and light, loose clothing; also bring a poncho in
case of rain. There are no concession stands, only
vending machines; so bring snacks.
| PLAYA Luquillo Many day-trippers from San Juan round out a morning trip to El Yunque with an afternoon at PLAYA Luquillo 's balneario or public beach, 45 minutes from the capital on Highway 3. The crowds, especially on weekends, are no surprise, as the calm waters here are perfect for swimming. Kiosks sell fun beach fare, from piña coladas and beers to grilled meats and empanadillas . Visitors who prefer starry nights to city lights may camp here on the beach. If privacy is what you seek, walk along the rock jetty at the eastern end of the balneario until you reach Playa Azul , which is wild, equally pretty, and often devoid of people. Farther east still, La Pared is the local surfer beach, where waves pound the shore and numerous surfing competitions are held throughout the year. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fantastic International Travel
Worldwide Travel - Vacations that INTEREST you
| Puerto Rico |
| CARIBE HILTON SAN JUAN |
| HYATT DORADO BEACH RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB Dorado, Puerto Rico |
| Area Attractions -Rainforest on property -Old San Juan 45 minutes -Rio Camuy Cave 90 minutes -Arecibo Observatory 70 minutes -El Yunque 2 hours -Ponce 2 hours -La Parguera 3 hours |
| PARADISUS PUERTO RICO ALL INCLUSIVE San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Area Attractions -El Yunque Caribbean National Forest 10 minutes -Beltz Factory Outlet 10 minutes away -Luquillo Beach 10 minutes away -Colonial Town of Old San Juan and El Morro Fortress 50 minutes away -Plaza Las Americas Shopping Mall 40 minutes -Camuy Caves 75 minutes away |
An hour west of San Juan, on Route 129 at km
18.9, RIO CAMUY CAVE PARK is one of the largest
cave systems in the world, with some seventeen
entrances into its 268 acres of tunnels, sinkholes,
stalagmites, stalactites and underground rivers.
Known as "karst country", the strange landscape in
this region was formed as rivers originating from
the rainforest of the Cordillera Central carved their
way to the ocean through porous limestone,
creating vast networks of sinkholes and tunnels.
The standard tour of Rio Camuy, which lasts about
two hours, begins at the vis-itor centre. A trolley
from here runs through palm and banana trees
into Clear Cave Junction, a 200-foot-deep
sinkhole. You then proceed on foot past enormous
boulder-like stalagmites, rocks that fold like
drapery or drip like candles, and bats that flit
overhead, under ceilings as tall as 170 feet. In
places, the River Camuy is visible rushing past, far
below. The second part of the tour takes you by
trolley to the Tres Pueblos sinkhole, a vast chasm
that measures 650 feet wide and 400 feet deep -
large enough to accommodate El Morro.
Adventurous visitors can rappel down a rock wall
to view the newly opened Cathedral Cave featuring
42 Taíno petroglyphs, or descend hundreds of feet
into sinkholes and body-raft through an
underground river; contact Aventuras Tierra
Adentro in San Juan for details (tel 787/766-0470).
At US$85 to US$100 per person the trips aren't
cheap, but the experts who lead them have the
highest regard for safety. The park can be reached
easily by car, or on an organized tour from San
Juan; ask at your hotel
18.9, RIO CAMUY CAVE PARK is one of the largest
cave systems in the world, with some seventeen
entrances into its 268 acres of tunnels, sinkholes,
stalagmites, stalactites and underground rivers.
Known as "karst country", the strange landscape in
this region was formed as rivers originating from
the rainforest of the Cordillera Central carved their
way to the ocean through porous limestone,
creating vast networks of sinkholes and tunnels.
The standard tour of Rio Camuy, which lasts about
two hours, begins at the vis-itor centre. A trolley
from here runs through palm and banana trees
into Clear Cave Junction, a 200-foot-deep
sinkhole. You then proceed on foot past enormous
boulder-like stalagmites, rocks that fold like
drapery or drip like candles, and bats that flit
overhead, under ceilings as tall as 170 feet. In
places, the River Camuy is visible rushing past, far
below. The second part of the tour takes you by
trolley to the Tres Pueblos sinkhole, a vast chasm
that measures 650 feet wide and 400 feet deep -
large enough to accommodate El Morro.
Adventurous visitors can rappel down a rock wall
to view the newly opened Cathedral Cave featuring
42 Taíno petroglyphs, or descend hundreds of feet
into sinkholes and body-raft through an
underground river; contact Aventuras Tierra
Adentro in San Juan for details (tel 787/766-0470).
At US$85 to US$100 per person the trips aren't
cheap, but the experts who lead them have the
highest regard for safety. The park can be reached
easily by car, or on an organized tour from San
Juan; ask at your hotel
| RIO CAMUY CAVE PARK |
| welcomes the world |
| All Rights Reserved. 2005 Fantastic International Inc. |