THE LURE:
A tropical island to the east of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, about 1000 miles southeast of Miami. Whether you're dreaming about spectacular surfing, a challenging golf course, trekking in rugged mountains or the perfect sunbathing beach, Puerto Rico offers the active traveller a tremendous array of opportunities.

THE SET UP:
The coast-line of Puerto Rico measures approximately 580 kilometres, so you'll not be short of riding opportunities. Ocean Park is situated on the north coast of the rectangular-shaped island and the easterly wind is perfectly cross shore. It's a social wind, too – kicking in around 10 or 11 in the morning and dying off late in the afternoon, around six pm, just in time for a sun-down cocktail or beer. The winter and summer seasons see the windiest and most consistent conditions with daily speeds of 20 knots. There are waves almost every day between October and April, from waist to double over-head high. May to September is usually pretty flat, but if there are any waves, they are only tiddlers.

WIND & WEATHER:
The climate is as close to perfect as you can get, averaging 23°C/83°F in winter and 30°C/85°F in the summer.

WATER:
The water is usually choppy but in the left corner of Ocean Park there is a very long offshore reef-break about a quarter of a mile off the beach. Relax in the 28°C/82°F waters.

INSTRUCTION CENTRES:
3.95 million people inhabit the island of Puerto Rico making it one of the most densely populated islands in the world. One third of its population is concentrated in the San Juan-Carolina-Bayamón metropolitan area. If you like you can stay in the city, but although there are no big hotels in Ocean Park, it's easy to find guest-houses or apartments with beach views if you want to be near your kite spot. At night, Old San Juan town is the place to go with its variety of bars and restaurants mixed with the charm of the old city. Other activities include: surfing, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, snorkelling, para-sailing, exploring caves and bioluminescent bays.

AIRPORT:
San Juan (SJU): 10 - 15 minutes to Ocean Park.

GETTING ABOUT:
Unless you don't plan on moving about, you will need to rent a car. Road signs are Spanish language versions of their U.S. counterparts, so you shouldn't have trouble figuring them out.

Riders who have included Puerto Rico as one of their Top Places to Ride are: Dimitri Maramenides

USEFUL LINKS:

Puerto Rico in Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico