Wining and Dining
People in Puerto Rico love to party, and any reason is good enough to get out and do it. The partying in San Juan is pretty intense from Thursday through Saturday nights. It goes off around 11 p.m. and cools down just before sunrise. At Puntas las Marias, Mango's Cafi is the place, offering the best reasonably priced food until 11 p.m. and a great bar to hang out till 3 a.m.

Old San Juan has so many bars, restaurants and clubs that it needs a whole separate story. My advice is to take a cab and explore on foot. Solei, in Piqones, is the best beach bar on the island. Friday nights are a furious scene of people and music. It's very windsurfer-friendly and often has windsurfing videos playing.

There's nothing to buy in Puerto Rico that you couldn't get cheaper at home, so go ahead and leave home without your American Express. However, you will find a friendly and welcoming population, warm, clean water and nice trade winds. While the water action can be intense yet inconsistent, there is nothing inconsistent about the nightlife. Come check it out while you can still have it mostly to yourself.

Shops, Schools, and Where To Stay
Finally, Puerto Rico has good rental gear available. Velauno offers great wave and free-ride gear for about $225 per week. It doesn't have a beachfront location, so you need to rack it and go. If you have good gear and board bags and are planning to stay for more than a week, then it might be worth it to take your own. Car rentals are easy but should be booked in advance for the best deals. All the national brands are well represented, but try Charlie's Car Rental (787-791-1101) or LM Car Rental (787-791-1160) for a better deal.

Velauno in Punta las Marias
phone: 787-728-8716
fax: 787-726-0778
e-mail: jaime@velauno.com
Web: www.velauno.com

Velauno in Isla Verde
phone and fax: 787-791-7355
e-mail: jaime@velauno.com
Web: www.velauno.com

El Rincon Surfshop in Aguadilla
phone: 787-890-3108

Wavetech in Ponce
phone 787-848-6117

by Jaimie Torres