Walking Distance to Everything!:
You can walk Old San Juan, the El Morro Fort, Paseo de la Princesa located in the southern tip of Old San Juan, this stylish promenade hosted a former Spanish prison, which now houses the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. It offers breathtaking views of the San Juan Bay and is bordered by a huge colonial wall. Several cultural activities are held here throughout the year. Walking the full promenade also offers views of Isla de Cabras , a beautiful small island located in the bay. The Paseo is the place for an afternoon 'Piragua', a traditional Puerto Rican sweet concoction made from ice and tropical fruit syrups. Enjoy the Heineken Jazz Fest--- This is one of the leading jazz events in the Caribbean and is held in various locations throughout San Juan. Latin Jazz, a musical genre garnering an increasingly large fan base, is at the heart of this week-long event that hosts both well-known local and international performers.
Visit the Rainforest, Cabo Rojo and Bacardi:
One of the oldest protected areas in the Western Hemisphere, this pristine expanse looks much as it did when Christopher Columbus visited Puerto Rico 500 years ago. Start at the Portal Tropical Forest Center, and then follow a hiking trail to explore the natural splendors of this ecosystem. I personally take photos in the rainforest. My wife takes me to the top of the mountains by car and I walk all the way down. Great waterfalls, wonderful birds, giant ferns, huge bamboo and more. Another area I like to visit is the lighthouse in Cabo Rojo---this place reminds me of Monterey and Big Sur---crashing surf and huge cliffs adorn the grounds of the light house. Large ponds of salt where they make table salt change colors with crimson reds and purples. If you have not been here you are missing out on a fantastic sight---only a short day trip from Villa Arte. Then take the Bacardi Tour of all their wonderful rums near San Juan--3 free drinks---can't beat that!
Visit the Local Markets for great food, go diving:
One of my favorite places in San Juan is the Market in Santurce---there you will find all kinds of fresh tropical fruits and veggies! Also there are great restaurants around the market with chairs outside to sit on---- and on the weekends they have live music---a great place to party---all within walking distance of Villa Arte. Also check out the Local Market in Rio Piedras if you are interested in the local foods and herbs. Take a catamaran tour of the islands for only $70 to $80 a person that will take you to great reefs for snorkeling or diving and includes a great lunch. Sing your way back to the dock as you drink wiki ticki drinks with rum and enjoy the sun as the girls walk down the beaches in those nice bikinis. On many of the beaches in Puerto Rico you will find the giant sea turtles nesting ---this is a great night adventure --- watching as they nest and lay their eggs, many people come to help protect these giants of the sea.
Ski:
I can also send you a list of references for me Dr. Paul Haider if you like.
Golf:
If you love golf, you're going to love Puerto Rico, the golf capital of the Caribbean. There are currently 23 spectacular golf courses on the island and six more are underway.
You don't need to be a world champ to appreciate the beauty and variety of our courses. Most have been designed by golf luminaries such as Robert Trent Jones, his son Rees Jones, Greg Norman, George and Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills, and Puerto Rico's own Chi Chi Rodriguez. The courses are feats of landscape architecture that impress golfers and non-players alike.
All of Puerto Rico's courses share the island's year-round summer weather, tempered by the cool, gentle breezes of the trade winds. You are almost guaranteed a brilliant tropical sky and glimpses of sparkling white sand beaches backed by the blue Atlantic or the turquoise Caribbean. The greens are truly green, planted with strains of Bermuda grass adapted for our climate, including Tiff Dwarf and GN1, a new hybrid, developed in Florida by Greg Norman.
Many of our golf courses are part of world-class resorts, so after you have played to your heart's content, you can relax in the pool and recharge your batteries in the spa before getting back to breaking par. You don't have to be a hotel guest, however. All courses - except those on military installations, which are limited to authorized personnel - are open to the general public.
