Things To Do in Puerto Rico

The marina, known as Puerto Escala, has a stellar line-up of restaurants that face out to sea, so you can tuck into a tuna steak or a sea bream while watching the fishing boats roll in. And if you’ve got a whale-sized appetite, order a seafood platter which will get you mussels, prawns, lobster, crab and razor clams. Need a wine to wash it down? Try a bottle of Malvasia – apparently William Shakespeare was a fan of this sweet grape.

Legend has it this festival was originally a chance for the young men of Puerto Rico to meet their brides-to-be – a boat full of unmarried girls would arrive from Arguineguin once a year on this religious day since there was no road between the 2 villages. These days, Puerto Rico isn’t quite so isolated, but the ceremony lives on, with a giant procession of boats around the bay followed by a big party back on dry land.

The main shopping centre at the top of the resort is a hotbed of nocturnal activity, with its family-friendly bars and late-night discos. The top-floor really packs in the punters – you’ve got Irish pubs next to musical karaoke bars and swanky cocktail lounges adjoining neon-lit discos. And on weekends, once the clubs shut their doors, the beach is the place to watch the sunrise.

The best craic in town is at the Shamrock Bar where, aside from a great choice of beers and cocktails, you get to hear the house band playing Irish folk songs mixed with a bit of Elvis. And when it’s their night off, there’s a hilarious hypnotist. The children love it here, too, thanks to the pool tables and popcorn machine.

The pick of Puerto Rico’s 3 shopping centres is Puerto Rico Shopping Centre on Avenida Tomas Roca Bosch. It’s a giant open-air complex with around 100 shops. You can snap up familiar labels like Mango, plus well-known perfumes, cosmetics and electronics at duty-free prices. When your feet begin to tire, grab a table at an ice-cream parlour and polish off a sundae.

The husband-and-wife team at this harbourfront restaurant really know their seafood. The paella is a steaming dish of mussels, razor clams and prawns served in a ceramic bowl. If you’re in a big group, order the mixed grill seafood for 4 people, which will land you lobster and scallops as well as all the usual suspects. Order some papas arrugadas on the side. These wrinkly Canarian potatoes, drizzled with spicy mojo sauce, are a local favourite.

If you watched Flipper as a child, you’ll be pleased to know this stretch of the Atlantic is teeming with bottlenose dolphins, and a few pilot whales, too. A boat trip will stake out the parts of the ocean where these creatures play. When you spot a dorsal fin bobbing over the waves, you’ll know you’re hot on their trail. And make sure you have your camera at the ready – you never know when a dolphin might leap out of the ocean.