wedding in Puerto Rico offers the excitement of overseas travel with the convenience and comfort of a domestic trip.

Whether you’re dreaming of spectacular surfing waves, a challenging golf course, or the perfect sunbathing beach, Puerto Rico offers the active traveler a tremendous array of opportunities. Surfing and golf compete with tennis, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, and horseback riding, not to mention windsurfing and parasailing, for your active time. Puerto Rico’s perpetual summer weather begs you to enjoy the sport of your choice! If nightlife is what you are looking for then be comforted by the fact that Puerto Ricans truly know how to party, and the nightlife in the island’s bigger cities and resort hotels rivals that of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities! San Juan is the Caribbean capital of nightlife and entertainment, where you can indulge in bar hopping, fine dining, Vegas-style gaming or anything in between.

Getting Married

Puerto Rico offers a wide variety of services for those wishing to get married in paradise.

Marriage License Information

Marriage license papers may be requested in writing from the Dept. of Health, Demographic Registry Office, Box 11854, Fernandez Juncos Station, Santurce, PR 00910 (allow 2 months)

Both parties must appear at the City Court office to purchase a marriage license. Persons 16-17 years of age must have the consent of their parents or legal guardians to marry. Blood tests are required.

If either party is a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S, a declaration certifying that he or she is not married must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer paths in that country. This declaration must accompany the application.

If applicable, divorce must be finalized in the state or country where it was granted. A divorced person must provide a ‘certified’ copy of his or her final divorce decree, and a person whose former spouse has died must provide a certified copy of death certificate with a raised seal prior to a marriage license being granted.

With the above hand you need to obtain a medical certificate from a physician in Puerto Rico (VDRL blood test required), such document will expire in 14 days. Lastly you visit the Marriage License Bureau to have all the documents authenticated. Once your documents are in order you may be married at the free weekly Judicial Center ceremony or at a $150-200 private ceremony (your hotel may set this up

Puerto Rico is romance. A moonlight walk along the beach. A swim in a phosphorescent bay. A stroll along a rain forest trail. A slow dance as the sun sets. A drink under a lavish crystal chandelier. A horseback ride through a coffee plantation. A carriage ride through the Pearl of the South.

From opulent hotels to delightful restaurants and sizzling clubs, from wind surfing to lazing in the sun, from gallery hopping to serious shopping, Puerto Rico has the perfect settings for weddings and honeymoons.

The variety of exotic travel experiences the island offers is what makes it so appropriate. Mix with the crowds in the city, see and be seen; for the most variety, stay in cosmopolitan San Juan, where you can explore the Old City in the morning, head for the rain forest in the afternoon, catch some sun and the sunset on the beach, and spend an electrifying night on the town. If you want to share your time with only one other person, for the utmost in privacy and tranquility spend a few days and nights on Puerto Rico’s own Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra.

Whether you tie the knot in Puerto Rico or spend the first days of your marriage here, you will cherish the experience forever. You and Puerto Rico: the perfect match.

Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino (San Juan; ): If you want Vegas-style shows, gambling, nightlife, great restaurants, and the most famous beach in Puerto Rico, El San Juan is at your disposal. It has the most glamorous lobby in the Caribbean and is set on 12 acres (4.8 hectares) of Isla Verde, a strip of beach connected to the Condado. Options include a suite in the main tower with a whirlpool or your own private casita with a sunken Roman bath. . A lot of freebies are thrown in including: champagne and tropical fruit, daily tennis, one dinner, continental breakfast, and two massages.

Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club (Dorado; ): You can book one of the elegantly furnished upper-level rooms in the Oceanview Houses and enjoy romantic vistas of two crescent-shaped beaches. There’s casino and disco action, plus a spa, health club, jogging trails, and 14 tennis courts. In low season packages range from $3,990 to $5,075 for two for the week, including one breakfast, champagne, T-shirts, $25 in casino chips, two massages, one dinner with wine, and transfers to and from the airport. In high season the tab rises $5,985 to $7,385 a week per honeymooning couple, but breakfast and dinner are included.

Ponce Hilton & Casino (Ponce;): A first-class act at Puerto Rico’s “second city� on the south coast, this sprawling resort is set in an 80-acre (28-hectare) garden. On-site amenities include a casino and disco, plus a whirlpool, tennis courts, and a fitness room. The two restaurants serve the best food on the south coast. Five suites are ideal for honeymoons. A $208-per-night package includes a bottle of champagne, truffles, chocolates, and fresh strawberries, as well as breakfast daily, plus $25 in casino chips. You also receive a coupon granting 50% off on your next visit.

Horned Dorset Primavera Hotel (Rincón;): The most romantic place for a honeymoon on the island (unless you stay in a private villa somewhere), this small, tranquil estate lies on the Mona Passage in western Puerto Rico, a pocket of posh where privacy is almost guaranteed. Accommodations are luxurious in the Spanish neocolonial style. The property opens onto a long, secluded beach of white sand. There are no phones, TVs, or radios in the rooms to interfere with the soft sounds of pillow talk. This is a retreat for adults only, with no facilities for children. Seven-night packages, with all meals included and round-trip transfers from the airport, range from $6,350 to $10,500 per couple, depending on the season.

Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa (Las Croabas; ): If you’re looking for good food and diversions rather than a tranquil retreat, El Conquistador is the best big-time resort on the island. Atop a 300-foot (90m) bluff in eastern Puerto Rico, it has virtually everything for outdoor play, including golf and tennis, but when you want seclusion, you can post the PRIVADO sign and the world is yours. Honeymoon packages, based on 3 nights and 4 days, cost $489 per couple in winter or $349 off season, and include a fruit basket and champagne, one dinner in the room, two massages, and all breakfasts.

1. Where is Puerto Rico located?

Puerto Rico is an island in the Greater Antilles chain located approximately 1000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida or 2100 miles from Chicago, Illinois.
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2. What is the best way to travel to Puerto Rico?

All of the major U.S. airlines fly into San Juan, Puerto Rico. American Airlines has the most flights and the biggest presence. Flight time from Chicago, Illinois is approximately 4 1/2 hours.

3. Are passports necessary?

If you are a U.S. citizen, passports are not necessary for travel to and from Puerto Rico. If you are traveling to another location from Puerto Rico, a passport or birth certificate may be needed. It is always a good idea (required when flying) to carry some sort of picture ID when one travels.

4. What is the weather like in Puerto Rico?

The weather in the winter (November-February) on the south (Caribbean) side of the island usually has daytime temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s F. Evenings are in the high 60s to low 70s. The north (Atlantic) side of the island (San Juan) can be 10 degrees cooler.

5. What language is spoken and what currency is used?

Puerto Rico is a Spanish-speaking island, but English is the second language and many people, especially in the service industry, are bilingual. Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. as a Commonwealth and U.S. currency is in use. All Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

6. What types of food are available in Puerto Rico?

Although the native food on the island is certainly worth trying, you will also find just about any type of food or restaurant that you would find stateside.

7. Is it safe to drive in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Ricans are very enthusiastic about their driving. It pays to be attentive. The road signs can be limiting in some areas and confusing in others; however, the route to our farm is well marked. All signage is in Spanish with mileage listed in kilometers and speed limits in miles per hour.

The action doesn’t stop when the sun goes down in Puerto Rico. In true Latin fashion, the city puts on its best clothes and gets ready to party during these cooler hours, starting with a late dinner. Evening are then followed with dancing in the many discos in San Juan or in the luxurious casino hotels.

Casino gambling is found at many Puerto Rico hotels. Most casinos open at noon and remain open until the early hours of the morning. Most have dress codes which require semi-formal attire; leave the shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops in the room for your night at the tables. This is your chance to dress up and party; with San Juan’s lively atmosphere the rule of thumb is the tighter, the shinier, the better.

You may be surprised to learn that alcohol cannot, by law, be served in Puerto Rico’s casinos. You will find bars in each hotel, but no drinks are served on the casino floor.

One of the most sophisticated casinos in San Juan, and, indeed in the Caribbean, is found at El San Juan Hotel. With a tuxedoed staff and an elegant European air, it’s a favorite for couples looking for a fine casino. Wyndham El Conquistador offers a large casino with a view of the sea (yes–windows in a casino!) The entire casino is well-lit and bright, with pale paneling, beautiful views, and an airy atmosphere. The casino at Hyatt Cerromar sports a recent expansion with a bright carnival theme, nearly 300 slots, and plenty of table games to test your luck and skill.

In recent years, Puerto Rico - and San Juan in particular - has commanded a growing reputation as the culinary hot spot of the Caribbean. World-renowned chefs at vanguard restaurants prepare dynamic Nuevo Latino cuisine - a twist on traditional criollo cooking, with an emphasis on fish, fruits, tubers and dark rum sauces or marinades with tropical ingredients. You’ll also find every manner of ethnic food in the capital, including Indian, Thai, French and even Romanian.

Criollo fare, however, is still the staple of the Puerto Rican diet. Meats are mostly served with rice and red beans (habichuelas) or tostones - medallions of mashed, fried plantains. Sofrito - a sauce made from cilantro, onions, garlic and peppers - is used to season many dishes, as is adobo, a mixture of garlic, oregano, paprika, vinegar and oil. The food is typically tasty but much of it is starchy and fried in animal fat, and pork is far more popular than fish outside of the major cities.

The system of state-sanctioned restaurants, called mesones gastronómicos, presumably ensures a standard of decency among participating restaurants (most of which serve traditional criollo food), but the quality can vary widely. For a list of these establishments, contact the Country Inns Central Information Office (tel 800/866-7827) or pick up a copy of Que Pasa?.

Budget travellers can fill up at cheap rice-and-beans joints all over the island or seek out savory criollo staples like asopao de pollo (stewed chicken) and plátanos (plantains) or lechón asado (roast pork) and mofongo (a ball of crushed, fried plantains and seasonings), sold from trailers or the backs of pickup trucks. Reposterías are also a good bet. Found in San Juan and in strip malls islandwide, they have some of the island’s best coffee, along with breakfast postres - slightly sweet pastries filled with meat or cheese; they also sell soups, tortillas, seafood salads and fresh bread. Note that in all but the best restaurants, fresh vegetables are hard to come by, but supermarkets like Pueblo usually carry a good supply.

Coffee in Puerto Rico is strong, served black or with heated milk (café con leche), and very sweet. Look out for signs for refreshing coco
frío - chilled coconuts punctured with drinking straws. While not as common, fresh-fruit drinks made from mangos, papayas and oranges (known as jugo de china) are also available. Not surprisingly, rum (ron) is the national drink, as Puerto Rico is the world’s largest producer of this sugarcane-based liquor; more than twenty brands are distilled here. The locally brewed beer is Medalla; Presidente, from the Dominican Republic, is also popular.

For the most part, tap water is safe to drink. However, it’s wise to avoid it after storms and instead stick with bottled water, which is widely available. If in doubt, ask the locals.

Amadeus Calle San Sebastian 106 . Excellent nouvelle Caribbean cuisine served until 2am to a hip crowd in a handsome, eighteenth-century brick and stone building; try the dumplings with guava sauce and arrowroot fritters or the smoked salmon and caviar pizza. Entrees US$10-26.

Butterfly People Café Calle Fortaleza 152 . Inexpensive quiches, salads and sandwiches with a tropical twist, and fresh fruit juices; walls covered with framed butterflies.

Café Bohemio Hotel El Convento, Calle de Cristo 100. Cheap way to experience El Convento - seventeenth-century nunnery turned five-star hotel. Good spinach and ricotta crepes or ceviche in tequila sauce. Live music Tuesday through Friday after 9.30pm. Entrees US$9.50-14.50

Café Mallorca Calle San Francisco 400. People line up at this eatery for its famous pastries and hot chocolate; also on offer is good café con leche, fruit salads, pancakes and eggs for breakfast, and criollo staples for lunch and dinner. You can eat well for US$5-10. Closes at 7pm.

Café Zaguán Calle Tetuan 359 . Cosy, attractive expat hangout, with indoor and outdoor seating, offering tasty ceviche, soups and wraps, and excellent pulled pork quesadillas with papaya salsa. Open until midnight Tues-Sat. Entrees US$15-32.

Dragonfly Calle Fortaleza 364. Spinoff of the Parrot Club (same owner), offering Nuevo Latino with an Asian twist. Wonderful halibut ceviche with ginger, coconut milk and scallions, and Moo-shoo Mongolian beef wraps. Live music Tues, Thurs & Sat until midnight. Entrees US$12-25.

La Bombonera Calle San Francisco 259 . Century-old institution for morning pastries, excellent coffee, sandwiches and criollo classics like rice with squid or marinated roast pork and fried plantains. Open daily 7.30am-8pm.

La Fonda del Jibarito Calle Sol 280 . This reasonable bistro-style restaurant is as popular with local bohemians as with tourists, and the lamb stew and goat fricassee are excellent.

La Mallorquina Calle San Justo 207. Expensive for criollo fare, but the atmosphere fits the bill. Established in 1848 and run by the Rojos family for about a hundred years, it is reputedly San Juan’s oldest restaurant. Try the garlic soup and lobster asopao.

Parrot Club Calle Fortaleza 363. This requisite Old San Juan experience is pure Nuevo Latino, and the inspiration for many other restaurants. A chic crowd dines on impeccable dishes, while listening to mellow live Latin jazz. The house special: rare tuna broiled with dark rum and orange essence with yucca and cassava mash. Entrees US$18-29.

Yukiyú Calle Recinto Sur 311 . Chef Igarashi’s sushi is reputed to be Puerto Rico’s best. Pricey cooked dishes - seared on a teppanyaki grill - are also plentiful and very good.

Shoppers from the Caribbean and beyond are drawn to metropolitan San Juan, Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, containing 190 stores, including J.C. Penney’s, Sears, Macy’s, and dozens of smaller stores for clothing, gifts, electronics, cosmetics, etc. (787) 767-1525. Other commercial centers: Plaza Carolina in Carolina, Río Hondo in Levittown, Plaza del Carmen in Caguas and Mayagüez Mall in Mayagüez, Plaza de Aguadilla in Aguadilla, and Plaza del Caribe in Ponce.

In almost all cities there are regional commercial centers. Retail stores like: Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and JCPenny anchor shopping centers and malls alongside locally owned shops and island chain stores.

Do not forget that Puerto Rico is a large producer of rum, with many different types ranging from light rums for mixing with soft drinks to dark brandy-type rums. Hand made cigars can still be found in Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra. A wide variety of imported goods from all over the world are available. Local artesanías include wooden carvings, musical instruments, lace, ceramics, hammocks, masks and basket-work.

Cathedral Cavern

Part of a cave system carved by the world’s second longest underground river, this cave contains ancient petroglyphs left behind by the Taíno Indians, with stylized drawings of everything from spaceships and stars to plants and animals. Dramatic shafts of sunlight illuminate a cathedral-like collection of stalactites and flowstone, and a bat colony inhabits the upper layers of the cave. Adventurous visitors can also make arrangements to go rappelling to depths of 80 to 125 feet.

Old San Juan

Narrow cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, centuries-old fortresses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, fascinating museums and art galleries, handcrafts on the corners-and everything bathed by a tropical breeze… these are some of the characteristics of legendary Old San Juan. Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing, grab your camera, and get ready to marvel at the perfect marriage of the past and the present via a walking tour or the free trolley.

San Felipe Fort “El Morro”

El Morro, officially known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, sits atop a high promontory overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay, and during the past two centuries has survived countless attached from English, Dutch and American ships. Visit dungeons and hidden passages, stroll through the lawns where soldiers once marched, and gaze over the fort’s 60-foot walls.

Gaming

Those who love to try their luck at casinos will find plenty of them in Puerto Rico. Every day, at almost any hour, the floors are bursting with the energy and hectic movement of tourists and residents alike. The excitement is almost palpable, as players pull for another, whether at the blackjack table or the roulette wheel. Glittering lights, tall ceilings, the inimitable sounds and sights, and the suspense and anticipation make a trip to a casino well worth a visit.

Arecibo Radio Telescope

In the northwest mountains of Puerto Rico, you’ll fine the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, the largest of its kind and one of the most important research facilities on earth. In its modern Visitors’ Center you will see how this colossal structure is used to study radio emissions from distant galaxies, quasars, pulsars and many other cosmic sources. The exhibits are interactive and contain valuable information on astronomy and atmospheric science.

Land Activities

Golf

The beauty and variety of Puerto Rico’s golf courses has many considering the island the golf capital of the Caribbean. There are currently more than a dozen world-class courses, with more on the way. All of the courses share the island’s year-round summer weather, tempered by the cool, gentle breezes of the trade winds. The brilliant tropical sky above your head provides a contrast to glimpses of sparkling white sand beaches backed by the blue Atlantic Ocean or the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

Surfing

Surfers travel the world in search for the perfect wave - and many consider western Puerto Rico in the winter as the place and season that they are most likely to find it. The Atlantic coastline from the tip of the island in Rincón north to Punta Borinquen is the place to find some of the best surf east of the Hawaiian Islands. There are plenty of surf shops where you can rent equipment and get advice on the best beach for you.

Horseback Riding

Puerto Ricans have always had a special love of horses. The gentle tradition of breeding and showing Paso Fino horses has been maintained for generations and important horse shows are held each year. You can go horseback riding along a beautiful beach, follow a trail through a tropical rain forest or amble through a coffee plantation high in the mountains. A half dozen ranches offer rentals and guided tours for beginners.

Water Activities

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

The waters off Puerto Rico’s shores offer great diving. The underwater visibility averages 60 to 75 feet, and offshore it is easily 100 feet or more! While experienced divers might prefer boat diving, there are countless sites - especially on the northeast coast near Aguadilla and Isabela - for world class shore diving. And the shallow reefs near San Juan, Dorado, Mayagüez and Humacao are perfect for snorkeling.

Tanama River Tours

The Tanama River offers a journey like no other. It begins along a beautiful trail that borders the largest radar/radio telescope in the world, nestled in a primeval forest. Next, slide-descend for 800 feet to the cool waters of the Tanamá River, then body raft down the river through caves and canyon. And finally, emerge from Ventana (Window) Cave, to be dazzled by the beauty of some of the most striking valleys in Puerto Rico. Not an adventure for the faint or heart!

The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), east of downtown San Juan, is one of the easiest and cheapest destinations to reach in the Caribbean.

The flight from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico, takes 3.5 hours; from Miami to San Juan it’s 1.5 hours. Nonstop flights from London to Antigua and Barbados and from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Martin are about 7 hours. Once you’ve arrived in the Caribbean, hops between the islands range from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

Our Airline Partners Serving Puerto Rico:

US Airlines

Delta Airlines

American Airlines

Because Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth, U.S. citizens coming from mainland destinations do not need any documents to enter Puerto Rico. It is the same as crossing from Georgia into Florida. They do not need to carry proof of citizenship or to produce documents. However, because of new airport security measures, it is necessary to produce a government-issued photo ID (federal, state, or local) to board a plane; this is most often a driver’s license.Be sure to carry plenty of documentation. You might need to show a government-issued photo ID (federal, state, or local) at various airport checkpoints. Be sure that your ID is up-to-date: an expired driver’s license or passport, for example, might keep you from boarding a plane.

For Canadians, proof of citizenship is required to land in Puerto Rico. This could be in the form of a province-issued birth certificate or a Canadian identification card. A valid passport is preferred but not required. In addition, some form of photo ID, usually a driver’s license, is also required.

Visitors from other countries need a valid passport to land in Puerto Rico. For those from countries requiring a visa to enter the U.S., the same visa is necessary to enter Puerto Rico, unless these nationals are coming directly from the U.S. mainland and have already cleared U.S. Immigration and Customs there.

Traveling with Pets

Before taking a flight with your animal, have your veterinarian examine your pet to ensure that it is healthy enough to make the trip. Airlines and State health officials generally require health certificates for all animals transported by air. You will be required to: 1) Outfit your pet with a sturdy collar and two identification tags. The tags should have both your permanent address and telephone number and an address and telephone number where you can be reached while traveling. 2) Rabies quarantine certificate from veterinary doctor stating that pet has had a rabies shot.