Celebrating the Holiday Season in Puerto Rico
Known for the longest holiday season in the world, Puerto Rico is a perfect holiday escape.
By Jessica Montevago
The holiday season is a magical one, but there are some years when skipping all the planning, cooking, and cleaning in favor of a tropical getaway is too good to pass up.
When you have a client ready to be anywhere but home for the holidays, look no further than Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, la Navidad lasts around 45 days, kicking off right after Thanksgiving in November all the way through mid-January, culminating with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian. This leaves a wide window of travel dates for your client to not only enjoy the warmth of the island during the holiday season (daily high temperatures during the winter average around 84 degrees Fahrenheit), but experience Puerto Rican traditions.
Similar to Christmas caroling, family and friends get together during parrandas to surprise neighbors with singing traditional Christmas songs along with different instruments like maracas, tambourines, and guitars.
While music fills the ears, bellies fill up with traditional Christmas dishes, served on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) before families attend midnight mass. A typical Christmas meal includes arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), lechón asado (spit-roasted pork), and pasteles (tamale-like patties of green banana and meat). Side dishes might include potato salad, pasta salad, or morcilla (rice-stuffed blood sausages). The end of the night ends with a sweet tembleque, a coconut-based pudding topped with cinnamon. Instead of eggnog, sip on coquito, a coconut-based drink with rum.
Travelers can also take in the festive lights of Old San Juan at the Plaza de Armas, where they’ll find City Hall draped in lights and a twinkling Christmas tree. From there, walk down San Sebastián Street to Plaza de Colón, which is usually decked out for the holidays.
On January 6th, Puerto Rico celebrates el Día de Reyes or Epiphany, a commemoration of the visit the Three Wise Men made after Jesus was born. The eight days after Three Kings Day are known in Puerto Rico as las octavitas, a time when people pay homage to the kings with carnivals, parades, fairs, and feasts that tourists can join in, too.
The season comes to a close with las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián or la SanSe. Held in the third week of January, this music-filled jubilee is one enormous outdoor party, and one of the biggest celebrations in San Juan. Stalls, crowds, food, alcohol, and music fill San Sebastián Street turning it into one big celebration. During the day local artisans line up along the streets selling handmade crafts and jewelry. Food vendors serve up traditional Puerto Rican specialties like pinchos (chicken or pork kebabs) and empanadillas. In addition, musicians and dancers perform on various stages throughout Old San Juan.
Where to Stay
Located minutes from the festive celebrations in Old San Juan, the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel provides a luxe retreat. The resort has 388-guest rooms, including 84 suites, and poolside and oceanfront villas. The hotel puts on several holiday events. Guests can sip on coquito as the Christmas tree is lit or gather in the lobby to watch the Menorah lighting. After enjoying a special Christmas Eve dinner, kids can track Santa in the lobby on a giant monitor before putting out carrots and cookies for Santa and his reindeer.
After soaking in the beachfront views at the Caribe Hilton, the hotel will host their annual Christmas Tree lighting, complete with a musical presentation, photos with Santa, traditional parrandas, and coquito. Guests can also enjoy a homemade Gingerbread Village display throughout the holiday season. Guests can dine at Néctar del Caribe for a special Christmas Eve menu filled with local favorites, from lechon al la vara to locally-smoked longaniza sausage. For New Year’s, dance the night away with a DJ and live music.
If guests want an activity-packed stay, El Conquistador Resort is located near popular local attractions such as El Yunque National Rainforest (35 mins) and the Bioluminescent Bay (10 mins). There’s plenty to do on-property as well. The sprawling resort has an Arthur Hill golf course, Coqui Water Park—Puerto Rico’s only seaside waterpark featuring a water slide, a lazy river and a massive infinity pool—and a private island with white-sand beaches, beachfront dining and drinks.
Known for the longest holiday season in the world, Puerto Rico is a wonderful suggestion for clients looking to getaway for the holiday season.
Make sure to book the hotels above using the TSA rate code in the GDS or the TRAVELSAVERS rates in tripXpress.
