St. Barthélemy
Puerto Rico
COMITÉ DU TOURISME DE SAINT BARTHÉLEMY PHOTOGRAPHE: GÉRALD TESSIER
Puerto Rico Tourism Company Puerto Rico
SIZE: 100 miles x 35 miles CURRENCY: US dollar POPULATION: 4.2 million LANGUAGE: Spanish and English MAIN CITY: San Juan LOCAL BEER: Medalla DISH OF THE DAY: Mofongo (mashed plantains with seafood, meat or vegetables)
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Third Floor, Colechurch House, 1 London Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SX T: 0207 367 0982 E:
puertorico@hillsbalfour.com W:
www.seepuertorico.com
What’s hot! The W Hotel Vieques Island is one of the best hotels in the world on Conde Nast Traveller’s 2011 Hot List ISLAND HIGHLIGHT
A truly once in a lifetime experience, Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world can be found in Vieques. Swim in the liquid light and experience one of nature’s most amazing gifts.
ocated in the heart of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is
made up of three main islands: Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques. Puerto Rico is home to 250
fl awless beaches, three of the world’s fi ve bioluminescent bays and El Yunque, the only rainforest in the US National Park System. Access to Puerto Rico (an unincorporated territory of the USA) is now so much easier following the introduction of British Airways’ new service which operates directly from Gatwick to Puerto Rico twice weekly. The place to see and be seen,
Puerto Rico combines the laid- back luxe of the Caribbean with all the cosmopolitan nightlife of a US city. Perhaps the most popular of all holiday drinks, the Pina Colada was invented right here, an irrefutable sign of Puerto Rico’s ability to provide the perfect ingredients for a good time. Sip on this fabulous beverage, watch the salsa dancers spin in Old San Juan and put it all
on black at one of the city’s state- of-the-art casinos. The country is a culturally fascinating one too with Puerto Ricans made up of a melting pot mix of Taino Indians, black Africans and Europeans. So for fantastic shopping, stunning nature, fascinating history or chilling out on a beach that make your perfect break, Puerto Rico has it
all...and more!
Caribbean Challenge: Listen out for the Coqui frog, Puerto Rico’s national animal. They’re the size of a thumb nail and make a distinctive call, ko-kee from which it gets its name, late into the night.
INSIDER TIP
“I’ve been telling people about Puerto Rico for
years...the fantastic golf courses and great shopping too. Personally I recommend the Plaza Las Americas Mall, my favourite place to shop.” Sir Bruce Forsyth, Puerto Rico resident
St. Barthélemy
ISLAND HIGHLIGHT St. Barthelémy is a haven for marine fl ora and fauna and has created a marine park to encourage the protection of this most valuable of assets. The island is a favourite haunt of deep-sea divers.
Caribbean Challenge: Challenge the waves at Anse des Cayes beach, a favourite among surfers because of its unusual and consistent onshore breezes.
INSIDER TIP “To reach the beach in Colombier with its crystal clear waters just perfect for snorkelling, follow the trail from the heights of Colombier or from the far end of Flamands. The hike reveals unspoiled landscapes and beautiful beaches.” Inès Choisy-Bouchaut, Director, Saint Barthélemy Tourism Association
Comité du Tourisme de l’île de St. Barthélemy (CTTSB) Quai du Général de Gaulle – 97133 Saint Barthélemy – F.W.I
T: 00 590 (0)590 27 87 27 E:
info@saintbarth-tourisme.com W:
www.saintbarth-tourisme.com What’s hot! The St Barth Summer Festival is held every July/August with a host of cultural activities
SIZE: 9.6 square miles CURRENCY: Euro POPULATION: 8,700 MAIN CITY: Gustavia LANGUAGE: French and English LOCAL BEER: Carib DISH OF THE DAY: Conch Fricassé
aint Barthélemy, in the Antilles archipelago, is one of the world’s well-kept secrets. A tiny tropical Caribbean isle which is now French but was once Swedish, and frequently graces the pages of glossy magazines, Saint Barthélemy is, for many celebrities, a favourite getaway, cherished for its authenticity, protected environment, gentle lifestyle, and for its naturally discreet inhabitants and ‘island regulars’. But Saint Barthélemy’s greatest
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virtue is its uniqueness. Its tiny 9.6 square miles could hardly accommodate hordes of tourists. At the high point of the ‘season’, island visitors never exceed the
44
number of inhabitants. Once called Carénage, the quays of the capital Gustavia now welcome some of the world’s most beautiful yachts. They are also a frequent sight moored off the island’s beaches, many accessible only by sea or on foot. The largest of the 20 or so
hotels offers only 85 rooms - many have only a few dozen at most - while the smallest, a
www.caribbean.co.uk
haven of calm, elegantly nestled beneath the swaying palm trees, boasts just eight rooms. Visitors can also stay in private homes and cottages.
Sailing events include the New
Year’s Eve regatta, the St. Barth’s Bucket in early April and the AG2R Transat race early in May, every other year. Other popular events include the St. Barth Music Festival in January.
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