Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in Puerto Rico
Do you want to add an exotic touch of Caribbean culture to your vacation this time? Take a trip to Puerto Rico to spice up your Christmas vacation. Christmas in Puerto Rico is not only about Santa on this island, but the place also offers home-grown traditions, flavors and customs to this special holiday, which makes it all the more special to visit in the entire U.S.
1) The Lights
Listing “Christmas Lights” as a reason to visit a new place for Christmas doesn’t hold much ground. But although your city or neighborhood towns might have absolutely glittering Christmas decor during the holidays, how many places in the U.S. can be compared with an ancient city that’s more than 500 years old?
That’s the true magic of the Christmas lights in Puerto Rico, the timeless colonial beauty of Old San Juan decorated with the colorful whimsy and brilliance of the holiday season. Not to mention that the weather in Puerto Rico is a lot warmer than other parts of the U.S. during this time of the years, so light viewing stroll becomes all the more pleasant in Puerto Rico.
2) The Food
When it comes to food, Puerto Rico can easily be termed as a culinary capital, as it offers a unique blend of cultures, recipes and flavors. Not to one’s surprise, the island’s culinary heritage is best experienced during the holidays, when the iconic foods and special treats of Puerto Rico is made available for the tourists. Traditional lip-smacking dishes include crispy plantain fritters with shrimp to peril (roast pork) and pasteles de hojas (vegetable root tamales). When you are in Puerto Rico you can’t leave the city without tasting ‘coquitos’ a holiday treat, very similar to eggnog, but prepared with coconut and rum instead of milk and bourbon.
3) The Shopping
Puerto Rico is well known as a shopper’s paradise and not just during the Christmas time but all year round. One can buy special Christmas gifts for loved ones from the city. Do not miss to purchase items like carved wooden saints (santos), a uniquely “Rican” souvenir, a beautiful necklace for that special someone, or a bottle of rum for the man or woman you love the most.
4) Three Kings Day
Puerto Rico is famous for its elaborative Three Kings Day event and the country’s incorporation of the day into their holiday season is one of the main reasons why Christmas time is so special on the island. El Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos or Three Kings Day is celebrated all throughout Latin America, and the day adds yet another spiritual element to the holiday season. The day expands the observance, and fun of the world’s most famous birthday celebration normally curbed in late December, well into the month of January and attracts hundreds of tourists every year.
5) Holiday Deals
Who doesn’t love to grab a travel deal? While travel deals change year after year and sometimes fluctuate even by the day, you can expect to grab some terrific end-of-year deals for holiday vacation packages to Puerto Rico. A stay at the beautiful beachfront resort on a striking deal is all the more pleasant for anybody. Always avoid hotel stays for the major holiday dates like Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, be a little flexible with your dates and you can strike a great stay deal for you and your family. Try to sign up for flight and vacation savings newsletters to keep a regular eye on upcoming saving deals.
