This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
The popular tropical cocktail means much more than just the combination of its three ingredients: pineapple juice, coconut cream and rum. It’s the crystal clear sea, a sunset, a gentle breeze, warm sand, topped with a maraschino cherry. It is also Puerto Rico, this unincorporated territory of the United States, a colorful and exciting island for its cultural diversity and history.
The piña colada is a bit like Caribbean poutine. Everyone claims their invention without it being possible beyond any doubt to formalize its provenance. Delving into its history is an ideal excuse to visit part of this magnificent island defined as the world capital of rum… and piña colada.
Drop off at Isla Verde
As with all flights to the United States, the customs step takes place at Montreal-Trudeau Airport. Traveling through the small and functional Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan is surprisingly fluid. Accordingly, between arrival at the disembarkation gate and exit from the airport, luggage in hand, no more than 25 minutes pass.
A first piña colada, served with a hint of peach schnapps, can be enjoyed on the comfortable seaside sofas of the Courtyard Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort. The 260-room resort includes four restaurants, an outdoor grill, three swimming pools, a stage that hosts local artists and a casino. The hotel, being located about ten minutes from Old San Juan and 3 km from the airport, families and honeymoon couples looking for affordable luxury will find what they are looking for.
The colors of Old San Juan
It is through a culinary tour with The Spoon Experience led by the inimitable and captivating Pablo, that we discover the history of this magnificent half-century-old fortified city. As we taste local dishes, coffees and piña coladas with or without alcohol, we listen attentively to our guide’s stories, as Taino, African and Spanish heritage intersect. The heart of San Juan is a place where we stroll, contemplate and abandon ourselves.
El Yunque, from the mountains to the sea
The exotic flora and fauna of the El Yunque National Rainforest can be appreciated on foot, following winding paths cut through dense, lush vegetation. It is at the top of the Yokahu Tower, 20 meters high, that we can appreciate the uniqueness of the place, considered one of the oldest forest reserves in the Western Hemisphere and the only tropical rainforest in the forest system. United States National.
After local specialties, including fish tacos and a cold salad of conch fish, lobster, shrimp and octopus served at The Waterfront restaurant, we try bomba. This traditional Puerto Rican dance dates back to colonial times and has its origins in the island’s African slave communities. A form of communication and cultural manifestation, it is distinguished by a dialogue of music and movements which takes place between the dancers and the musicians. In this region, occupied by Afro-descendants, many small restaurants, cafes and street kiosks offer dishes and cocktails that are both simple and tasty. Along the sea, several chic hotels in the Vieques district have elevated the preparation of the piña colada to the level of artistic expression.
Luquillo, capital of the sun
This small town, nicknamed the Capital del Sol, is incredibly endearing. Its small streets, cafes, restaurants and miles of beaches make it a perfect destination for travelers who want to experience the Caribbean, on American soil, safely and independently.
The most exotic and interesting experience is undoubtedly a visit to what is called Los Kioskos, where sixty restaurants, bars and souvenir shops line up along Luquillo beach. Here, locals and tourists share smiles and the pleasures of life under the sun, with a drink in hand and following the rhythm of Latin music that caresses the ears.
At the end of the day and in the evening, it is rather a much more eclectic local fauna that occupies the sidewalks and terraces until late at night. This is why we prefer to return to the center of the city and sit at Sama, located on the second floor of the Luquillo Sunrise Beach Inn hotel. The best piña coladas are enjoyed here, facing the sea, in an outdoor dining room fully exposed to a salty and delicate wind. The warm colors of the sunset transform the decor before our eyes as cocktails make their way to the tables where coastal cuisine made with local ingredients and catches of the day is revealed.
Throughout our encounters, we discover a people who are welcoming and proud of their indigenous and very un-American origins. It is with regret that we leave this fascinating Caribbean island, capable of pleasing adventurers, romantics and epicureans alike. When getting on the plane, you can only listen to your little inner voice, soft and convincing, which whispers: “I will come back. »
Bacardi’s legacy
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Dutyrelating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.