BY MICHAEL SHAPIRO
With tropical beaches, vibrant nightlife, innovative chefs, and new
attractions, Puerto Rico continues to rebound after the devastating
hurricane that hit the island in 2017. In the capital of San Juan, hotels
and restaurants are back up and running, while the rest of the island
continues to rebuild. The resilient spirit of the Puerto Rican people and
their desire to share their island with visitors, regardless of the state of
recovery, makes the island worthy of a visit. Why head there now? “The
music is unbelievable. People are happy here,” says Juan Jose Cuevas,
executive chef at 1919 restaurant in the newly reopened Hotel Condado
Vanderbilt. “It’s a very good place to relax — we love and need tourists.”
Simply by visiting, travelers are helping the island get back on its feet.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so U.S. citizens and lawful permanent
residents don’t need a passport to visit, and cell phones with U.S.
domestic phone plans often work as they do at home, without
additional fees. Nonstop flights from Washington D.C. to San Juan take
less than four hours.
SIGHTS, EXPERIENCES, AND ATTRACTIONS
OLD SAN JUAN: If you’ve seen the video for the worldwide hit song
“Despacito” — the most watched YouTube video ever, with more than
5.8 billion views — you’ve caught a glimpse of Old San Juan. Founded
by Ponce de León in the early 1500s, Old San Juan still has cobblestone
streets. Some houses and shops remain from five centuries ago; others
have been rebuilt and are colorfully painted. Today Old San Juan is a
lively place to dine, dance, and shop.
CASTILLO SAN FELIPE DEL MORRO: Located at the northeast tip of
Old San Juan with sweeping views of the sea, this citadel guarded San
Juan Bay for centuries. It dates to the 1500s, and its imposing stone walls
and fortifications remain intact. Allow a couple of hours to explore the
fort, which is now part of the National Park Service and the surrounding
grounds. If you’re a history lover, a combination ticket includes
admission to the nearby Castillo San Cristobal fort as well.
MUSEO DE ARTE Y DISEÑO DE MIRAMAR: This recently opened
museum of art and design showcases interactive exhibits from some
of Puerto Rico’s foremost creative minds. Located in San Juan’s Miramar
district, it’s in a refurbished 1913 home that has been a hub
for artists for decades.
BACARDI’S MIXOLOGY CLASS: Crafting a mojito seems easy, but it’s
actually a complex mixture of flavors. Get behind the bar and learn from
Bacardi’s mixologists how to make a mojito, daiquiri, and a Cuba libre in
the rum producer’s mixology class, then taste what you’ve created ($60).
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
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