// EASTERN CARIBBEAN

un rum distillery tours , serene mountain lookouts over sweeping bays , and snorkeling off iridescent Cays ; the only thing more ubiquitous than these must-see sights in the Eastern Caribbean are the obligatory pirate museums . This part of the world is the benchmark for any quintessential paradise island , where dense forests teem with birds and the seas brim with tropical marine life . Step inland from the pristine , palmspeckled sand however , and you ’ ll also find a glorious mix of cultures that blend to create unique and wonderful sights , sounds and tastes , which will linger long after returning home .

SAN JUAN , PUERTO RICO

San Juan offers the perfect initiation into the charms , culture and history of the Eastern Caribbean . It was among the first Spanish settlements in the Americas , when Ponce de León founded Caparra in 1508 , marking the start of a period of tumultuous change . Today , the legacy is visible in centuries-old stone walls and forts perched above the Caribbean . Among them is La Fortaleza , a majestic example of Spanish military architecture at the time . Because most of Old San Juan crowns an islet , one of the best ways to experience it is from the sea on a sunset sail .

Beyond the bustle of San Juan , Puerto Rico still retains vestiges of its lush , tropical interior , particularly in El Yunque National Forest , where hiking trails and tumbling cascades thread through the natural refuge . But no roundup of San Juan is complete without mention of the city ’ s beaches . Overlooked by high-rise hotels , Escambrón and Isla Verde West beaches are particularly popular for their excellent snorkeling , providing a gateway to the allure and mystique of the Eastern Caribbean .

Clockwise from top : Old San Juan , the City Walls by the water ; old San Juan streets ; piragua , a shaved ice dessert

images : getty

46 // pos t c a rds