Puerto Rico Is An Island Getaway With Something For Everyone!

Tunning beaches, uncompromising luxury, adventurous outdoor activities and flavourfull nightlife. Puerto Rico also boasts 23 golf courses, many championship-level, countless tennis courts, horseback riding outfitters, deep-sea fishing opportunities, watersports of all types, and 17 spas.

The beach at Isla Verde, which fronts the Atlantic Ocean, is just a five-minute cab ride from San Juan airport, and boasts a line of major hotels, a beautiful powder-white beach, crystal waters and easy access to Old San Juan and other cultural, dining, shopping and dancing attractions. Another popular destination is Condado Beach, with a natural rock barrier protecting Condado Lagoon.

The 21 x 4 mile island of Vieques is no longer a proving ground for the US military, and the underdeveloped islet now offers postcard-perfect strands of sand, winding roads through forests chock full of tropical birds – and wild horses, quaint inns, a major resort and a laidback pace.

San Juan, founded by the Spanish in 1521

Is the oldest city in the United States, but Old San Juan is even more ancient. The remains of Juan Ponce de León, who founded the original settlement, rest in the San Juan Cathedral, a 1540 structure of Gothic architecture.

Old San Juan comprises seven square blocks of cobbled streets and colonial architecture – ideal for walking. Highlights are El Morro and San Cristóbal, huge stone fortresses that guarded the city from attack by enemy nations and pirates. Some of the best museum can be found here; the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture; La Casa del Libro; and the Las Américas Museum.

San Juan offers a stylish shopping, dining and nightlife scene

While on the southwest coast is the city of Ponce and the seaside town of La Parguera, famous for its bioluminescent bay. Porta Del Sol, on the west coast, is known for its low-key ambience and Rincón is a charming city popular with windsurfers. A zoo enchants visitors of all ages in Mayagüez. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and combines three types of forests (rain, montane and dwarf). The area boasts two waterfalls and 50 varieties of ferns, 20 types of orchids, and dozens of species of birds and frogs.

AIRPORTS/FERRIES/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:
Airports: US: Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan (SJU). Rafael Hernandez, Aguadilla (BQN). Mercedita, Ponce (PSE). Others: Antonio Neri Juarbe, Arecibo (ARE). Antonio Rivera Rodriquez, Vieques (VQS). Benjamín Rivera Noriega, Culebra (CPX). Diego Jimenez Torres, Fajardo (FAJ). Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Mayagüez (MAZ). Isla Grande Airport, San Juan (SIG). Ferry Services: Public ferry: San Juan – Cataño; Fajardo – Culebra; Fajardo – Vieques. Hi-Speed Island Ferry: San Juan – Culebra – Vieques (In High Season). Ferries Del Caribe: Mayagüez – Santo Domingo. Gateways/Flying Times: New York - 3.5 hours. Atlanta - 3.5 hours. Dallas - 4.5 hours. Caracas - 2 hours. Newark - 3 hours. Miami - 2.5 hours. Madrid - 7.5 hours. Image courtesy Hector Nogales for Puerto Rico Tourism CompanyBoston - 4 hours. Philadelphia - 3 hours. Mexico City - 3 hours. Los Angeles -7.5 hours. Chicago - 4.5 hours. Gateways/Flying times: From Europe:7 ¾ hours from Madrid, 10 hours from Paris, 10 ¼ hours from Brussels, 12 hours from London.

There are no direct flights from the UK, however American Airlines fly from Heathrow via Miami, New York or Chicago. Continental and Delta Airlines fly from Gatwick via the US, US Airways via Philadelphia and Iberia from Heathrow via Madrid. The airport is Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU).

CLIMATE:
The average temperature in the winter is 73 F (22.7 degrees Celsius) and 85 F (29.4 Celsius) in the summer with year-round pleasant sea breezes. In the mountains, it is about 10 degrees cooler in both summer and winter. Average humidity is 55% during the day and 80% at night. Average rainfall is 52 inches and the rainy season is at its peak in August.

DINING:
Restaurants available-Spanish. American. Nuevo Criollo/Creative Latin Food. Continental. South American. Italian Oriental. Puerto Rican dishes. French. Japanese. Chinese. German. International. Delicatessen. Greek. Health and Light. Mexican and Sea Food. Recommended tipping is 15%. Informal evening wear is often required at particular establishments; this usually means jackets for men and equivalent for women.

LANGUAGE:
Spanish and English are the official languages.

NIGHTLIFE:
Entertainment available includes-Casinos. Nightclubs. Discos. Cabarets. Dinner/Dance. Cinemas. Theatres. Live Music. Folkloric Shows. A variety of bars in Old San Juan.

SIGHTSEEING:
Historic Old San Juan including El Morro Fortress; Casa Blanca, the ancestral home of the Ponce de Leon family; La Fortaleza, the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere; Plaza San Jose; Pablo Casals Museum; Quincentennial Plaza; San Juan Cathedral; Plaza de Armas; Paseo de la Princesa. In Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second city, Plaza Las Delicias, Parque de Bombas Firehouse, Casa Armstrong-Proventud, the Ponce Museum of Art, the Museum of Music, Serralles Castle (rum museum) and El Vigia. Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. Arecibo Observatory. Phosphorescent Bay in Parguera and the Guanica and Guajataca Forest Reserves. El Yunque Rain Forest. Rum distilleries. Rio Camuy Cave Park. Hacienda Buena Vista (restored coffee plantation) near Ponce. Tibes and Caguana Indian sites in Ponce and Utuado.

****** WEDDING REQUIREMENTS IN PUERTO RICO ******

• Marriage license papers mustbe requested in writing via the registry address below. Both the bride and groom must appear in person at the time of applying for the papers.
• The amount of time needed to complete the license requirements is around 2 months, so prepare in advance!

Documents Required:
• If either party is a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S, a declaration certifying that he or she is not married must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer paths in that country. This declaration must accompany the application.
• Original passports:
• If previously married, you need a certified copy of divorce or death decree with a raised seal prior to a marriage license being granted.
• Blood tests are required, although a test conducted on the U.S. mainland within 10 days of the ceremony will suffice. A doctor in Puerto Rico must sign the license after conducting an examination of the bride and groom.
• Written consent of parents is required where individuals are under 21, but over 16.
• There are no fees for the license and private ceremony or hotel fees average around U.S. $150 - $350.
• All documents must be authenticated at the Marriage License Bureau.

Officiants: Marriages may be performed by a judge in his chambers (at a fee, although the legality of what seems to be a prevailing custom has recently been questioned) or in open court at no fee. They may also be performed by any clergyman authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

Valid: License is good indefinitely.
The license can only be used within the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage can be obtained from the Demographic Registry (address below):

Central office has had records since July 22, 1931. Copies of earlier records may be obtained by writing to Local Registrar (Registrador Demografico) in municipality where event occurred or by writing to central office for information.

Money order should be made payable to Secretary of the Treasury. Personal checks are not accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is 787.728.7980.

Registrars Offices
The registrar's office should be contacted for specific rules regarding planning your destination or beach wedding in Puerto Rico. They will also provide information regarding marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

Demographic Registry
P.O. Box 11854
Fernandez Juncos Station
San Juan, PR 00910
Tel: 787 728 7980

Please Note: Wedding requirements above are for information purposes only and may be out of date as of this print. Only use this information on this page as a guideline, and for more current and up to date information, please contact the countries Consular Affairs, Embassy, or the countries Tourism Bureau.