Recently in San Juan, PR Category

A most curious scientific research center lies just an hour from San Juan. The Arecibo Observatory is one of the largest single-aperature telescopes ever constructed, and a team of researchers mans the facility at all hours as it gazes into the furthest reaches of outer space, scanning for signs of life beyond our own. But you don't have to be an astronomer to drop by and gaze at the 305-meter collection dish, which is so huge it was constructed inside a sinkhole. And a trip through the visitors center will help explain the work that gets done here, with 3,500 square feet of exhibits divided into astronomy, planetary, and atmospheric research, a 100-person auditorium, and an observation platform that provides an amazing view of the world's largest curved focusing dish. Don't worry if this enormous telescope seems eerily familiar to you, as movie buffs may have seen it in the 1997 Jodie Foster film Contact, or the 1995 Bond flick Goldeneye. It just has that star quality, I guess. Starwood has two properties in San Juan: the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel and the Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino.

This one's not for the claustrophobic: Angel's Cave and Camuy Cavern at Rio Camuy in Puerto Rico are just an hour's drive from San Juan, but with miles and miles of subterranean tunnels and even a tropical underground river, you'll feel like you're in another world. For those looking to take a leisurely approach to caving, a special trolley takes visitors into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. There they can witness the rushing water of the underground Camuy River, which carved these tunnels over thousands of years, and walk along ramps and bridges through Cueva Clara.

Another tram connects Cueva Clara to the Tres Pueblos sinkhole, where visitors can gaze down into the 400-foot abyss from the safety of two observation decks. For the more adventurous, outfitters such as Adventuras Tierra Adentro run guided spelunking tours of the cave, including equipment and expert instruction. It helps to be physically fit and a little bit fearless, as the tours involve a zip-line swoop through the forest canopy, a 250-foot rappel into the mouth of Angel's Cave, and plenty of exploring among the stalactites and stalagmites of the underground world. Don't be surprised if you find yourself mud-sliding, body-rafting, or making a free jump into the darkness. It's all part of the adventure. If you can handle a couple of tight squeezes, you'll have the underground time of your life. Tours meet at San Patricio Plaza, a quick jaunt from the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel.

Puerto Rico has something for everybody. As the Dallas Morning News points out, those who tire of the island's spectacular beaches and the delights of old San Juan have plenty of other options in this island paradise. Piñones Nature Reserve, for example, offers plenty of great walking and biking trails through mangrove and pine forests, as well as terrific views of the Atlantic Ocean and Torrecilla saltwater lagoon. Nature fans will see plenty of wildlife from the park's 40-foot observation tower (pictured), which overlooks the coastal forest. Birds of all kinds make a home in the trees, while big green iguanas walk around, looking for a bite to eat. (Don't worry, they're harmless if you leave them alone.) And the fishing is great at Vacia Talega beach. Even if you don't catch anything, the beauty of the place is bound to make you feel relaxed. Starwood has four luxurious properties in Puerto Rico: the Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino, the Four Points by Sheraton Palmas del Mar Resort, the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, and the Martineau Bay Resort & Spa.

[image via the Dallas Morning News]

Puerto Rico means many things to many people. Some enjoy its lovely beaches. Others appreciate its rain forest, El Yunque. For those who wish to experience Puerto Rico's earliest history, Old San Juan is the place to go. The San Antonio Express-News points out in an enjoyable story that the city really begins at El Morro, Puerto Rico's most well known fortress. Spanish King Carlos V ordered construction to begin on the fort in 1539, and in 1595 the fort successfully defended an attack by Sir Francis Drake's English forces, lobbing a cannonball through the cabin of Drake's main ship. Today, visitors can see for themselves the strategic position and heavy armaments of this ancient fortress. The 1863 Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is located nearby, in a beautiful spot between El Morro and the cliffs above the ocean. The Fortaleza, home of the governors for more than 500 years, is worth a visit to see the oldest continually operating executive mansion in the New World. Of course, one of the most enjoyable pastimes in old San Juan is simply wandering the blue-cobblestoned streets, enjoying impromptu music concerts, and dancing under the stars. Guests at the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel can enjoy fine Latin American food in the Fogata steakhouse, and then dance the night away in the Fogata Lounge (pictured). A perfect day followed by a perfect evening in Old San Juan.

El Morro is a fort in Puerto Rico that was completed over 400 years ago, making it one of the oldest structures in the US territory. The fort (well, actually more of a fortress) takes up the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico and is now full of exhibits documenting Puerto Rico's military history. And admission is just an impressively low three dollars. The Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel is practically next door to El Morro, as well as the Pablo Casals Museum and the start point for the walking tour of Old San Juan. And the hotel itself has a fantastic rooftop pool.