"anil chada" wrote in message
news:c28c5f81.0411040841.6d05b340@posting.google.com...
> Hi --
>
> I made flight and hotel reservations for puerto Rico in december. I am
> staying at "WESTIN RIO MAR BEACH" from 24 Dec 04 --> 01 Jan 05.
> I still need to plan my activities during this trip. I did some
> research and found following activities/places for my vacation:
>
> I would like your comments on my hotel and any of the
> activities/places listed
Westin Rio Mar is a very nice beach/golf resort about a half hour drive East
of San Juan (on a good traffic day; if it's a gridlock day, lotsa luck).
Anything not in the NE side of the island means you have to drive through at
least part of the San Juan metro area to get there. I'll asterisk (*) the
locations where you do NOT have to drive through San Juan
The dates involved also throw a bit of a monkey wrench into things --
obviously on the 25th there will be a limited choice of things and places
available.
> I am interested in scuba or snorkling to watch under water corel
> reefs. Any suggestions on this would be really helpful.
>
Your location is good with these interests -- definitely you should look
into dive/snorkel excursions out of Fajardo (20 min. E of RioMar on good
traffic) -- which Rio Mar should be able to hook you up with. And if really
serious about that, you may want to try Culebra (but warning: it's an
all-day up-before-dawn trip or an overnight).
Although Xmas is no longer hurricane season, doesn't mean it can't get
stormy, though.
OK: The following sites can be grouped, due to geographic proximity (though
time may get tight in the case of some of the locations with fixed
schedules:
A
In San Juan itself, the National Historic Site is a must. This includes
> Fort San Felipe Del Morro
> San Cristobal Fort
And the old San José Church (1520) is also very special. Give yourself some
time also to take in a walking tour of the Old City.
Plus into an Old San Juan day you may also squeeze in the
> Bacardi Tour
B
Off to the W. of San Juan, at least an hour after you make it thru the city,
these are close together but there's no way to do justice to more than 3 in
one day:
> Arecibo Radio Telescope
> Caguana Cerimonial Park
> Camuy Caverns
> Guajataca Forest
> Tanama River
In the North-Central part of the island. If you can do the next "C" set
with Tibes, then you may skip Caguana (takes you waayy off route) and do the
Camuy River Caverns State Park and the NAIC Observatory (impressive as all
get-out!) + either of the nature locations.
C
In and around City of Ponce (another 2 hours): These can definitely be fit
well together, though HBV is definitely a by-reservation tour
> Hacienda Buena Vista
> Tibes Ceremonial park
If you can get also a brief visit to the downtown Ponce historic zone then
that is one serious day for culture. If culture's your thing, this one's a
must.
D(*)
> El Yunque Rainforest
This is potentially at least half of a day but is also the closest to your
location, just minutes. If you're into nature/hiking this one's for you
> Yunque Canyoning Adventure
Don't know about this one, but potentially combinable with the Rainforest.
E
> Phosphorescent Bays
Obviously a phenomenon that is subject to vaguaries of such things as amount
of moonlight and whether storms have muddied up the waters.
From RioMar, the closest would be the ones at the Cabezas de San Juan nature
preserve in Fajardo(*) (20 min. E if no traffic), they are not exactly
mass-accessible (this Preserve is fo rpreservation, not commercialization)
but they are good. Obviously requires being out late into the evening, but
it means the day's available for other things. Potential to combine with
scuba/snorkel off Fajardo or with El Yunque activities (or even Old SJ
visit) for the daytime.
The other major bioluminescent harbors are at Parguera (120 miles
diametrically across the island) and at Vieques Island. The first almost,
and the second definitely, would require making it an overnight trip.
F(*)
> Culebra Wildlife Refuge
Culebra Island, 20 miles E of PR: As mentioned a whole-day trip, even better
overnight. From Fajardo, it's either a 10min. light plane flight or a 1.5hr
painful ferry ride. Ferry schedules are for the benefit of residents. The
plane's the way, but it only flies in daylight.
Outstanding diving and beaches, for someone with your interests.
G.
> Toro Negro Forest
Nice, also but if you only have 6 days you should seek to combine it with
some other trip...
H.
> Gilligan's Island
Far opposite end of island -- plus, damaged by Hurricane Jeanne; may not yet
be available. The nearby Guanica Dry Forest Biosphere Preserve is a good
site, though.
I.
> Mona Island
Never mind. You'd have to drive 3 hours to Mayagüez then sail halfway to
Hispaniola, a half-day boat ride. And you'd need to have permission from
the Dept. of Natural Resources to camp overnight. Mona's arid scrub has
great fauna/flora, but is a place for rugged outdoorsmen to rough it, the
operative word being "rough".
>
> Thanks for your time.
Y'r welcome! Enjoy!
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