EXPLORE EASTERN PUERTO RICO - THE 5 BEST ATTRACTIONS

Let me talk about the wonderful things there are to do in Puerto Rico. By far, the way to benefit the most from your stay in Puerto Rico is to rent a car and see some of this beautiful island outside of San Juan. If you prefer not to drive then you may wish to travel with a private tour guide. Puerto Rico is rich in panoramic scenery and cultural experiences, although the latter is harder to find.

With good information you can visit the highlights and skip the boring parts, that every country has. My website elyunque.com offers panoramic touring information. I favor the lodgings that are located around the el Yunque rainforest and in the Central mountains, as alternate days can be spent on the beach and in the mountains, where the 'real' Puerto Rico lies.

What I do best is help people plan their trip to their best advantage. They tell me their dates, how many people, what is already on their list of things to do and I, in turn, help them figure out how to go about getting it all in, what to add, what to leave out etc. You would be amazed at some of the totally impractical plans people come up with and I help them sort it out.

Many of the municipalities around the island have developed ( or are developing) walking tours around their plazas that include a few museums. Bayamon, Caguas, Guayama and Ponce are some of the more notable plazas with attractions all around the central plaza. Usual time would be about 2-3 hours ( max). best to combine a plaza with perhaps a light house, beach or mountain adventure.

In order of uniqueness to a Puerto Rico vacation the El Yunque rainforest is the most often visited and for good reason, as it is a lovely and gentle rainforest with excellent hiking trails.

Secondly, but even more memorable is the bioluminescent bay ( bio bay) experience as it is something that stands out as one of those 'once in a lifetime' experiences - on a good night. The biobay on Vieques Island can be the more spectacular of the two but one MUST spend the night in Vieques to see it ( as there is no transportation off the little island after dark).

Travel Advice? Ask Elena! Elena has created 2 websites with information about travel in Puerto Rico and Vieques. Have you browsed through them?

Elenas' Puerto Rico Travel and Elenas' Vieques Travel .

Elena has spent most of her life in Puerto Rico and Vieques. The intensive years of photo taking, driving around and operating a kayak ecotours company in the biobay in Vieques have given Elena the insight and experience to help you make the best of your vacation. The two websites above offer more than 250 pages of travel information!

Are you still undecided how to spend your vacation time?

STAY AT: VILLA PICO ESTE - ELENA'S' NEW PLACE!

• Elena can personally help you plan your itinerary in Puerto Rico. Whether you want to drive yourself or be driven, consulting Elena will enhance your vacation experience.

For the $100. consulting fee Elena will personally e-mail with you back and forth until you are happy with your trip. She is NOT a travel agent and does not make any of the reservations, you must make your own reservations, but she will provide you with all the information you need to do so and tell you where there is availability.

The consulting fee is for the planning and help with everything you need to know, you can even

• Call Elena while you are on the road, for help!

Sorry, I can not give you a total package quote! It is much too variable!

She can help you plan an itinerary to see:

• The El Yunque Rain forest extended hike. The cloud forest.

• The hot springs, Coamo and Ponce via a scenic route.

• See the very best of Caribbean beaches, most exciting reefs, most spectacular views!

• Botanical gardens, orchid growers, museums and artisans.

Few people know Puerto Rico like Elena and she is willing to share that experience and knowledge!

Elenas Consulting SERVICE charges a minimal fee:

Allthough I try to offer as much free help as possible, I cannot, simply can not answer all questions. MOST ESPECIALLY if you are asking a question that is extensively answered on one of my websites. If you want to pay me to help you plan your trip, my time is yours!

Contact Elena by e-mail: < consultelena@hotmail.com > or by telephone 787-426-0979 Please write " consult" in the e-mail subject line.

When e-mailing please give approximate arrival dates, number of nights, ideas for your trip and how many people are traveling together.

About Ecotourism: I strongly believe in the idea of eco tourism which, in its' true form, means helping local people learn to protect their own environment instead of exploiting it. Translation: The fishermen are learning to conserve their reefs instead of over fishing them, because they can profit from showing them to tourists. So, therefore, I ONLY use local fishermen for all the boat trips. These guys know these waters so much better. They are 5 th generation fishermen! and I have known some of them all of my life. Elena

Time and weather in San Juan