Culebra’s beaches are perfect for late afternoon walks. Photo © Jirka Matousek, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
It’s no wonder Puerto Rico is such a popular destination for honeymooners. The beautiful beaches, balmy breezes, and lush tropical foliage provide a perfect backdrop to a romantic getaway. But there’s more to it than that. There is a palpable sensuality to life in Puerto Rico. The Spanish architecture, the salsa music, the Caribbean cuisine, the heat — all those elements and more come together to enliven the senses and set the stage for amorous pursuits. Couples can’t help but fall sway to Puerto Rico’s many aphrodisiacal charms.Book your stay at Hotel El Convento, a former Carmelite convent that dates back to 1651, and request the romantic getaway package including a bottle of champagne, rose petal turndown service, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Spend the day strolling through the historic town’s cobblestone streets, playing hide and seek in Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and sipping café au lait at Poetic Café. That night, dine on expertly prepared French cuisine beneath a crystal chandelier at Trois Cent Onze, where the service is attentive and the ambiance quiet enough to hear a whisper. Spice things up with a passionfruit martini at Tantra, followed by a puff or two from the hookah.
La Parguera is a romantic spot with an old-fashioned, rustic charm. Stay the night at Parador Villa Parguera, a quaint, weathered inn with pleasantly landscaped grounds right on the water. The next day go sailing to Los Cayos, where you can find your own private beach for swimming, sunning, and snorkeling. Dine at any number of excellent seafood restaurants in town, and take a private nighttime boat tour of glittery Bahía Fosforescente.
Nothing says romance like privacy and seclusion, and nothing says privacy and seclusion like Culebra. Skip the ferry and hop a flight to this small island off the coast of Fajardo. Stay at Club Seabourne, a lovely, small property on Fulladoza Bay featuring private villas with luxurious beds and glass showers. Explore the primitive beaches in the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, or go to famous Playa Flamenco and walk until you find a secluded spot. At night, dine at Juanita Bananas, specializing in fresh, seasonal seafood and produce. Stop by Mamacita’s for a Bushwhacker, a sensuous and potent blend of Bailey’s, Kahlua, Amaretto, coconut cream, rum, and ice cream.
Excerpted from the Third Edition of Moon Puerto Rico.
