Image courtesy of Gary Little (www.garylittle.

com)

To name a couple of other hotels within walking distance, you will find the
Embassy Suites, with an Outback steakhouse, as well as a Ritz Carlton,

Just at the entrance of the ESJ towers is Lupis bar and restaurant, a mexican-
style eatery.

Walk down Isla Verde Avenue and you will find more restaurants and stores, beach
entrances and beach entrances, and bars/restuarants and clubs. Also don't forget
the fast foods if you're really craving! Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza
Hut. Though I would really recommend the local restaurants above that. You have to
take advantage!

Isla Verde is a great mix of about 3/4 residential and 1/4 hotels, giving the area
the best of both worlds! Do you want to vacation like a tourist, or do you want to
live like a local? Its up to you evey minute of the way - its all here waiting for
you!.

A word of warning in regards to the beaches. They are beautiful. Take a bike ride
down Piñones, and eat some healthy deep fried cod fish batter (bacalaito) or beef
filled plantain batter (alcapurrias) - all while gazing at some of the most
spectacular ocean views you will see so close to convenience. Trust me, I've been
here forever, and I still look around once in a while and think "I can't believe I
live here!"

Seriously though, about the warning - there are no lifeguards, so swim at your own
risk and watch the young ones - just stay away from the rocks, and you're good to
go. Its not a dangerous beach, but you can never be too respectful of mother
nature.

Keep your eye on this page - we will be updating it to include a lot of great
information.

You may also visit visit here for general tourism information.

(Click on each listed item to jump to its respective section

Nature and Adventure

1. El Yunque Rain Forest

2. Old San Juan
3. Isla Verde Beach
4. Piñones Beach
5. Piñones Bike Trail
6. Luquillo Beach
7. Phospholuminescent bays
8. Cuevas de Camuy
9. Arecibo Observatory
10. Kayaking
11. Scubadiving
12. Golfing
13. Fishing
14. Indoor/Outdoor Rock climbing
15. Coffee

Shopping and Gambling

 1. Shopping malls (Plaza las Americas and Bellz)

Nature and Adventure

1. El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque Rainforest is the only national rainforest in the US National Park

system. The word "Yunque" comes from the Arawak word "Yuquiyú," the god spirit of
good for the Taino natives. Enjoy the rivers Icaco, Mameyes and La Mina, as you
hike the Big Tree Trail and others. With waterfalls, scenic walkways, barbecue
friendly huts, and even gift stores and tourism centers, El Yunque has something
to offer for everyone. Another Arawak word that you may find interesting is
"Huracán," or Hurricane. In the Pacific, these storm bodies are still known as
typhoons.

As the forest name classification implies, in the rainforest, it rains.

Ponchos are great for avoiding a hefty soak if you are caught off guard. You can
also take refuge in some of the huts along the main paths. A note about tropical
rain - it can come swiftly, and leave swiftly, so look at the sky once in a while
to make sure you stay dry (if you want to stay dry - some people like getting
soaked). For more information on the rain forest please visit
http://www.elyunque.com and http://www.fs.fed.us .

You can also look through http://www.gorp.com/... and

"http://www.rainforestsafari.com/ for more information.
2. Old San Juan

Old San Juan is the name by which the antique, capitol city of Puerto Rico
is known. Stone paved streets, and two thirds of the original fortified walls that
surround the Old San Juan still stand. Enjoy the colonial Spanish architecture as
you stroll through the stores, restaurants, forts and other historic sights that
fill the city. When you hear "San Juan" in Puerto Rico, most of the time it will
be a direct reference to "Old San Juan."

Visit the famous bay, and take a ferry over to the Bacardi factory , where
free tours and drinks are abound (You must be at least 18 years of age to legally
drink alcoholic beverages in Puerto Rico), or walk up to El Morro and look over
the fortified walls into the deep blue. Both the day and night have a lot to
offer! At night enjoy a wide range of clubs and bars sprinkled throughout the old
city. Please remember to drink responsibly.
3. Isla Verde Beach

Isla Verde beach is a mainstay for both tourists and locals alike. Made up
of two connecting beaches, Jobi, and Pine Grove, Isla Verde offers great variety
in beach experience, including grain type. Soak up the sun like the local
vegetation and look over the beautiful scenery (but don't forget the sunscreen!).
With a relaxed atmosphere, and miles of beach to walk along, Isla Verde Beach
quickly becomes a favorite amongst visitors (even after viting the breathtaking
beaches of Culebra, Viequez, and Luquillo).

Want to try your hand at surfing, wind surfing, or kite surfing? Both Jobi
(the Western beach of Isla Verde) and Pine Grove (Eastern) offer great waves for
beginner surfers, as well as a beautiful breeze for other enthusiasts. As always,
proceed with caution, and know your limits. Rental services and lessons are also
available.
4. Piñones Beach

Just a short distance from Isla Verde you will find Piñones, a collection of
charming beaches dotted with kiosks selling all kinds of local fried food. Try the
"pinchos"(shish-kababs), "bacalaitos"(cod fritters), and alcapurrias(deep fried
stuffed plantain)!

Beach types in Piñones vary greatly, from rocky, coral beaches, to

sheltered, warm, bathing holes, to sandy slopes lined with palm trees. There's
something for everyone here, and while just minutes away from Isla Verde, you will
be able to find a secluded little section of beach all for yourself.
5. Piñones Bike Trail

The Piñones bike trail is a part boardwalk and part paved 8Km bike trail.
The trail is an ideal scenic route, letting you take in the through beach, pine
forest and mangrove forests of the area. There are several bike rental locations
along route 187 (Boca de Cangrejos), which the bike trail runs loosely parallel
to.

The path is not difficult to traverse, with only one or two short hills to
ascend. At a relaxed pace, it takes about two hours to complete the path.
6. Luquillo Beach

7. Phospholuminescent bays

8. Caves of Camuy

9. Arecibo Observatory

10. Kayaking

11. Scuba Diving

12. Golfing

13. Fishing

14. Rock Climbing

15. Coffee

History

Among the many legends regarding the origin of coffee, perhaps the most
reliable is the tale of Kaldhi the shepherd. Upon sampling the fruit, the shepherd
felt suddenly energized and quickly rode to transport both the fruit and branches
of this strange new plant to the local mosque. There, the Imam (Muslim spiritual
leader) befan to experiment with the beans: cooking them, boiling them, and
finally roasting them in order to prepare a sweet-smelling infusion that today is
the legendary drink we know as coffee.

Centuries later, in the year 1736, the first coffee plant was transported
from Africa to Puerto Rico. During the 19th Century, mountain-dwelling farmers,
mostly Corsican immigrants, helped found the basis of what would soon become a
lucrative and prestigious coffee aristocracy. Today Puerto Rico produces what many
connoisseurs consider to be the finest coffee in the world. Due to its distinctive
taste and incomparable aroma, Puerto Rican coffee has been lauded in Spain,
France, Italy, and Germany, becoming the favored beverage of kinds, popes, and the
literary elite.

An age-olf Arabian proverb instructs us that coffee must be 'as dark as the
devil, as hot as the underworld, as sweet as love itself, and as pure as an
angel.' One can only wonder if that same nameless scribe had tasted Puerto Rican
coffee before penning this verse.

Today the Puerto Rican coffee industry boasts over 50 million dollars in
annual sales. The industry employs over a quarter of a million inhabitants in 21
towns across the island.

Among the many varieties of coffee grown in Puerto Rico, here is a sampling
of some of the more popular:

Coffea arabica Type A is the most widely-grown coffee in the world and in
Puerto Rico, comprising approximately 80 percent of total production. When growing
wild, the plant reaches an average height of 18 to 25 feet. The blossoms are white
and fragrant. Coffea arabica beans are distinguished for their superior flavor.

Coffea canephora is native to the equatorial regions of Africa, stretching

from the western coastal regions all the way to the areas of Uganda and southern
Sudan. Its flowers are white and sometimes tinged with shades of pink.
Approximately 20% percent of global coffee production is Coffea canephora and 18%
of all Puerto Rican coffee belongs to this variety.

Typica is a traditional heirloom varietal derived from the Coffea arabica

plant growing wild along the Ethiopian plateaus of Africa. The plant is conical in
shape, straight-trunked, and its prolific branches offer an abundant production of
fruit. Both fruit and seed are large in size. The majority of Puerto Rico¹s
specialty coffees belong to the Typica variety.

Bourbon is a natural mutation of the Typica variety, first found on the

island of Reunion. The compactness of its branches allows the Bourbon to yield a
greater number of fruit, though somewhat smaller in size than those of the Typica
variety. During heavy rainfall, the Bourbon suffers the drawback of frequently
dropping fruit during harvest, thus reducing yields. Nevertheless, the flavor of
this bean is very highly regarded. The Bourbon varietals Caturra and Pacas are
also grown in Puerto Rico.

According to the Coffee Research Institute, Typica and Bourbon are

considered to be the first coffee varietals. Most latter varietals are considered
byproducts of these two cultivars.

Over the years, Puerto Rico has produced several local hybrids as well: the
Porto Rico Limani and Frontón varietals are among those most worthy of mention.

Made in the Shade

Specialty Coffee

From Branch to Cup

Shopping and Gambling

1. Shopping malls