Explore Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a popular vacation destination for families because U.S. citizens are not required to have passports for entry. There you'll feel the taste of the Caribbean with the flair of being in the U. S.

Just a 2-hour drive from San Juan,many Porta del Sol towns are ideal for day-trip destinations and all are perfect for longer stays too. The easiest towns to reach from the north are Isabella, Aguadilla, Aguada, Quebradillas, Rincon and Añasco. There you'll find great surfing, golf, horseback riding or even ice skating. 

The mountain towns of San Sebastian, Moca, Maricao and Las Marias merit an extended visit. Mayaguez, the largest city in the region, has a major University of Puerto Rico campus, casino hotels, and 45-acre Zoo. Cabo Rojo is much visited for its nature reserve, salt flats beaches, picturesque lighthouse, and seafood restaurants.

 On the South, you'll find Ponce, also called "Pearl of the South" and it's the region's largest city (about an hour from San Juan). One of its attractions is Hacienda Buena Vista, here you'll learn about the history of the island's 19th-century coffee and corn processing and hike two special trails along Canas River. Ponce's Historic Firehouse located in Plaza las Delicias. This bright red and black wooden structure houses antique fire equipment and exhibits.

For the Nature Lovers is El Yunque located on the eastern region. El Yunque National Forest towers above a string of fascinating beach towns that line the coast from Maunabo through Yabucoa.  El Yunque is a finalist for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, is one of the oldest nature reserves and the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest System. 

Puerto Rico is a place where you can not just enjoy beautiful beaches, it has so much to offer beyond it's capital, and it's an incredibly easy destination to drive around. And then there's the food. Local eateries can often be very rewarding, and if you're traveling along the coast, the local seafood is simple but tasty. Whether you prefer a vacation to relax, to have fun or even to taste local cuisine, you are going to have a great retreat. 

For more information about Puerto Rico or any of its municipalities, don't hesitate contact me. 

Leila Reyes

Family Travel Specialist

817-554-3346

lrtravel@live.com 

Eating Mofongo on my Family Vacation

Puerto Rico is an enchanting island in the Caribbean. Surprising to some, Puerto Rico is territory of the United States. This means that citizens of the United States do NOT need a passport to visit the island. Puerto Rico has become a very popular destination for tourists and cruise ships, perfect for a Family Vacation. Reasons leading to the popularity among tourists include the friendliness of the locals, beautiful beaches and delicious food.

Mofongo with Chicken

Mofongo with Shrimp

A trip to Puerto Rico is not complete if you do not sample some of the local cuisine. Try some fried plantains as an appetizer and the delicious mofongo with your entrée. Puerto Rican cuisine is very similar to Cuban, Spanish, and even Mexican cuisine, it is a unique tasty blend (Taino, Spanish, African and American influences) of ingredients like oregano, coriander, garlic, cacao, nispero, apio, plantains and yam.

 

Essentially, mofongo is a dish of mashed plantains stuffed with meat or vegetables. Generally, green plantains, yuca or breadfruit are used and then combined with a variety of other ingredients. Common ingredients include garlic, bits of bacon and olive oil. The mashed plantains are fried and shaped to almost create a bowl like appearance, which is then stuffed with cooked chicken, beef or seafood and vegetables. Do you know that locals call their cuisine "comida criolla".

In other parts of the Caribbean you will find similar dishes, like the Cuban fufu de platano. Several ingredients in the mofongo are consistent with these culinary influences. Yuca was a common part of the Taino cuisine and the use of bacon was introduced into Puerto Rican cooking after discovering its popularity in the United States.

Enjoy your Family Vacation in Puerto Rico!

Leila Reyes

Travel Agent

lrtravel@live.com