Puerto Rico is a Caribbean Island measuring 100 miles long by 35 miles wide and contains incredible geographic diversity, ranging from glistening white sandy beaches, lush mountain ranges, tropical rain forests, and luscious green parks. You can cross the Island in a couple of hours.
Some of the popular locations in Puerto Rico include San Juan, Vieques, Culebra, or Carolina Beach.
The Island has 78 municipalities in six regions. Each region has a unique identity through the local cuisine, diverse cultural activities, tourist attractions, adventure tours, and other unique attributes. Traveling around the Island, you will discover delicious food, beautiful off-the-beaten-path beaches, exciting festivals, and more.
With the Atlantic Ocean on the Northern Coast and the Caribbean Sea on the Southern Coast, there is no shortage of stunning locations which can be used as an event backdrop. Whether you host a beach party, a formal dinner, or a casual reception, your attendees will enjoy ocean breezes, incredible sunsets, and turquoise waters.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS IN PUERTO RICO
| Puerto Rico’s climate is hot, usually humid, and summerlike all year long. Late spring to early summer (mid-April to June) is the best time to visit Puerto Rico. It follows the busy winter season and before the rainy summer. Spring weather is also enjoyable, barely escaping the mid-80s on most days.
Visitors should be aware that the hurricane season typically runs from June 1 to November 30. In December through April, the influx of visitors to Puerto Rico means the Island is crowded (especially in the walled city of Old San Juan), and prices are high. |
Average Temperature 86℉ Seasonal Temperatures
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Fear of hurricanes shouldn’t make you reluctant to visit Puerto Rico since highly destructive storms are not common. You should at least be aware that some risk exists if you’re thinking about having a meeting in Puerto Rico in late summer or early fall.
MORE TO LEARN AND EXPLORE
Some of the things that make Puerto Rico a favorite destination are the ancient history, rich culture, beautiful colonial architecture, perfect weather, fun attractions, delicious food, and warm people.
Golf On the Island
Puerto Rico has 30 golf courses, which include some of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments. Known among golfers as the “golf capital” of the Caribbean, the year-round warm weather makes the golf season 365 days of tee time.
Outdoor Activities
If you want to experience the outdoors, you’ll find plenty to do in Puerto Rico. There is fun in the sun with fishing, swimming, surfing, scuba diving, sailing, running, hiking, rappelling, canyoning, caving, cliff diving, zip-lining, and hang gliding.
Museums
There is a variety of art waiting to be enjoyed as you move throughout the Island. The art ranges from murals to art galleries. There are history museums where visitors can learn about the 500-year history of the Island.
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
History Museums – The 500-year history of Puerto Rico blends the different cultures, art styles, military strategy, pirates, sugar plantations, and more to make the Island a perfect getaway for history lovers. Museums across the Island bring to life a variety of historical events.
Places to See
Old San Juan – Spanning 500 years of history, Old San Juan is treasured as one of the most iconic places in Puerto Rico. You can wander the cobblestone streets, enjoy the unique architecture and colorful streets, and find unique local shops and lively restaurants and bars scattered throughout the old city.
El Yunque Rainforest – Located in the Río Grande, the El Yunque Rainforest is the one tropical rainforest part of the U.S. National Forest System. It is home to more than 240 species of trees, unique birds, native species, and gorgeous views. The rainforest spans 28,000 acres of land and includes 25 waterfalls, several rivers, and ancient petroglyphs of Taíno deities.
Piñones – The Afro-Caribbean coastal neighborhood of Piñones is within minutes from San Juan and the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). It is full of delicious authentic street food. You can also buy cold coconut water, drink it from the coconut itself, or try the crabmeat alcapurrias and bacalaítos (codfish fritters). The weekend is jam-packed if you want to find a bustling local scene. You can swim before you eat, be sure to bring your swimsuit, and dive in at a nearby beach.
Unique Activities
Rum Tasting – As the Rum Capital of the World, Puerto Rico has legendary distilleries. After a busy day, you can take a tasting and tour of Casa BACARDÍ, the world’s largest premium rum distillery. You’ll see how they make the famous spirit. The Castillo Serrallés mansion is a popular spot for parties and networking events. Attendees can admire Spanish revivalist architecture, lush gardens, and lavish guest rooms and enjoy a glass of Don Q Rum in hand. Don Juan Serrallés first brewed the rum in 1865, and its profits helped build the luxurious mansion.
Coffee Tours – Since the 1700s, coffee has been part of Puerto Rico’s culture. The volcanic soil combined with the high altitude brings out the best of the coffee bean, which results in a rich chocolate brew that pairs perfectly with local sweets. It’s easy to arrange a group excursion to a locally run plantation. As you tour the wooden buildings where the coffee beans are stored and roasted, you’ll feel like you’ve gone back to the 1800s, when coffee was one of the Island’s top exports.
Salsa Lessons – A visit to Puerto Rico is not complete without at least one night of salsa dancing. Host a teambuilding dance lesson from the Island’s most talented instructors. After learning how to master the dance’s signature forward-backward step, the attendees can strut their stuff as a live band plays classic hits
Reggaeton Rhythms – Reggaetón, a music style that combines the best of rap, reggae, and hip-hop, was born in Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. The music spread from the dance halls of San Juan to the radio stations around the world and is still played all over the Island.
WHY IS PUERTO RICO APPEALING FOR A MEETING?
Puerto Rico’s international airport, Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), offers an average of 110 daily flights, including direct service to major cities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Since Puerto Rico is an American Territory, there is no passport required for U.S. citizens. English is used throughout the Island, and the dollar is the Island’s currency.
The Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan has over 600,000 square feet of meeting space options. It is in the heart of San Juan’s blossoming Convention District, which is also home to many hotels, restaurants, a casino, and other entertainment options. Spaces are abundant for groups of all sizes, along with high-speed T1 Broadband and top-of-the-line audio-visual capabilities.
If less conventional is your idea for a meeting location, there are several unique options, such as the historic forts of San Cristobal and El Morro, Casa Bacardí (the world’s largest premium rum distillery), Antiguo Casino, and Vivo Beach Club.
Some things to consider when planning your meeting in Puerto Rico:
What is the objective? Some examples:
- Many company retreats are designed to improve productivity and to “refocus” the efforts of their employees. Puerto Rico provides an ideal destination to break away from the confines of an office and allow employees to socialize with people beyond their department and relax. This can be very helpful for meetings where fresh ideas, new perspectives, or/and networking is essential for high-priority initiatives.
- Executive retreats are also popular in Puerto Rico as this destination offers exclusive luxury where leaders can recharge as well as connect with each other.
- Incentive travel combined with meetings can be valuable for companies, key stakeholders, and top performers. Puerto Rico provides unique, memorable experiences and an outstanding destination for exchanging information that improves growth, solves problems and engages change-makers.
Puerto Rico offers stunning beauty, unique venues, exciting music, and memorable cuisines. It also provides plenty of opportunities to inspire innovation, networking, and communication outside of office environments.
Do you need help planning a corporate meeting or incentive travel reward to Puerto Rico? Contact Gavel International for more information.
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