Puerto Rico holidays

Unsurprisingly for the fun-loving, carefree Caribs, there is a party or festival nearly every week in Puerto Rico. The list is endless, but we can guarantee that wherever the party; colour, chaos (the good kind) and fried foods are sure to be about.

Celebrated for over a quarter of a century, the annual Carnaval de Ponce – or Ponce Carnival – is Puerto Rico’s pride and joy. This week-long revelry takes place in the city of Ponce, on the south side of the island - the island’s most colourful and celebrated carnival. Street parties, costumes and parades - you don’t want to miss it!

More annual festivals include Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, Festival de la Novilla and Fiesta de los Reyes Magos. Tied to traditions, these festivals can certainly be whacky – ever seen a cow in fancy dress? Or a sardine burial? No, we hadn’t either...

Music is a massive part of Puerto Rican culture, in which Spanish, African and Caribbean influences have united to create the most infectious beats. The most prevalent genres are boleros, trova, guaracha, cumbia, and Latin pop. Then, of course, the Caribbean’s favourite’s: salsa, merengue, bomba, plena, and reggaeton.

From the fruit of the native Higüero tree, the indigenous Taíno’s sculpted the musical instrument, güero - a hollowed-out baton carved with several notches. Across the Caribbean, and in Latin America, this instrument is played in festivals, dances and for traditional folk music.

A blend of Spanish, African and Indigenous elements, Puerto Rican food is unique, vibrant and bursting with flavour. The locals refer to their cuisine as 'cocina criolla' (creole cuisine), a term coined in reference to the island's ancestorial influence on their food. For savoury dishes, gorge on fresh seafood, Mofongo (garlic-y plantain), Lechón (pork) and Arroz y habichuelas (beans and rice). For pudding, tuck into tembleque (coconut custard) and arroz con dulce (rice pudding).

Deep-fried and double deep-fried; plantain dishes are some of our favourite Puerto Rican delicacies – healthy right? For the meat-eaters, Lechón is a slowly spit-roasted pork dish, where meat has never tasted so tender. A tribute to its deliciousness, Lechón Asado has recently been declared a Puerto Rican delicacy.

For a real feast of Puerto Rican flavours, spend an evening down the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, sampling the island's cuisine on a food tour around their oldest neighbourhood. It's not all local cuisine though, the island creates portals into countries across the globe through the taste of great food. Fill up those bellies with national and international dishes on a holiday in Puerto Rico.

If you like piña colada and getting caught in the... hot sunshine, come and sip a piña colada in its birthplace - it would be a crime not to. The greatest assets of Puerto Rico: pineapple, coconut and rum, poured into their fabulous national drink which is topped off with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Can you believe that this small, rectangular island is home to the largest rum distillery in the world? Old San Juan homes Bacardi’s main rum distillery, “The Cathedral of Rum”, contributing to over 85% of Bacardi's global production. Brewery tours are the best way to see behind the scenes and taste some of the finest rum out there!

For the Christmas holiday season, make sure you taste the Puerto Rican eggnog, Coquito. Thick, creamy and bursting with the authentic flavours of the Caribbean, the Coquito is mixed with the festive spices of nutmeg and cinnamon. Our favourite bit is the rum-soaked raisin surprises at the bottom of the glass.

As a US territory, the popularity of sports in Puerto Rico mirrors the North American favourites, such as baseball, basketball and boxing. Despite its links with the US, the island has competed as an independent country in the Olympic Games since 1948.

Being an archipelago, there is an abundance of water sports available from all corners of the mainland and surrounding islands – namely Vieques and Culebra. These crystal-clear waters are the perfect place for diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing; try a night dive if you’re feeling adventurous! Porta del Sol is the surfing capital of Puerto Rico and welcomes aspiring and experienced surfers.

Golfing fanatics this is your heaven! Exquisite golf courses cover the island from north to east, south to west. First hosted in 2008, The Puerto Rico Open forms part of the PGA Tour, welcoming the best golfers from around the world.

Whether you’re after those familiar favourites, or you want to peruse the work of local artisans; lose yourself in the malls, outlets and local shops across the island.

With over 300 stores, the Caribbean’s largest shopping centre, Plaza Las Américas in San Juan, delivers both quality and quantity. For luxury head over to The Mall of San Juan for high-end brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani. In the city of Ponce sits the Plaza del Caribe, a mall with over 130 shops.

For the outlets, head 30 minutes northeast of San Juan to find the Outlet Mall at Route 66. Discounts on a huge list of designer names as well as arcades, movie theatres, bowling, go-karting and so much more... An hour from San Juan, Barceloneta Premium Outlets is also worth a trip.

Now back to San Juan to peruse the artisan and souvenir shops - giving you a taste of authentic Puerto Rico. Make sure you head to Calle Loíza for the creative boutique shops owned by local, young women selling jewellery, dresses and bathing suits. You may also want to source a Guayabera – the perfect shirt for the sunny weather.