No passport required, mixing business and pleasure in Puerto Rico

I’ve been to Puerto Rico twice in my life: once for but a single day as a tourist where San Juan was the first stop on a Caribbean Cruise and the second time as a trip that mixed business and pleasure over a longer period of time and oh-so-much more fun! For Julia this was her very first visit. We both vow to return again.

The “business” we had to attend to was Julia’s spring business meeting of the volunteer scouters supporting the Boy Scouts’ Northeast Region. Out of a gesture of solidarity, the NE Region had decided to hold their meeting in San Juan. There were two reasons for this: a) Puerto Rico’s council is affiliated with Scouts and Scouters in New York and b) there was a promise made to bring this meeting to the main island so that a few tourist dollars might flow into the local economy and help further the recovery from hurricane Maria.

With that as the backstory, Julia and I decided to arrive early and stay a few days later as a working vacation.

Here are photos taken at the hotel where Julia’s meeting took place. Interestingly, The main lobby bar at the Caribe Hilton claims to be where the famous Pina Colada was first served. Of course no adult beverages were enjoyed during any of the official business sessions and Julia — along with all the Scouts — would only partake in drinking pineapple juice. Of course there’s controversy in San Juan with regards to those Pina Coladas for the Barrachina Restaurant also claims that they “invented” this island beverage. Again, Julia ordered her virgin Pina Colada. I on the other hand had to authenticate both institutions’ claims on what rum makes for the most refreshing drink.

While Julia was busy attending this meeting or that. I on the other hand was able to tour San Juan — mainly by foot — and snap photos of the city. Julia would meet up with me whenever she could. And each evening during the annual meeting was an opportunity for the local Scouters to host a dinner or show us their city. Highlights from San Juan include Columbus Square, “El Morro,” as well as local parks and shops.

After the networking and BSA decision-making, Julia and I were able to visit other parts of the main island. Did you know that there’s a National Rain Forest in Puerto Rico? In this tropical forest are miles of hiking trails, several observation towers, and cute restaurants or food stands where fried treats or ice cream are sold and enjoyed. And of course many of the remote beaches are also where both tourist and the locals can go fishing, enjoy music that seems to drift over the dunes, visit the cantinas for an evening meal, or dance under a palm tree at sunset.

Where to Stay? … If your budget allows, drop into the Caribe Hilton. It’s a luxury hotel with an ideal location. Taxi and Uber drivers all know of this hotel and of its historic claim on creating the Pina Colada.

Otherwise consider finding a place near the historic part of the capital via AirBnB. That’s what Julia and I did and we enjoyed some of the best meals imaginable at smaller restaurants and pastry shops. Our little villa was 1/2-block away from Barbosa Park and a 7-minute walk from the Kasalta pastry shop & restaurant..