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Luquillo, also known as the Sun Capital, is located just 23 miles east of the San Juan Airport on the northeast coast of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Even though Spanish is the native tongue you will find that most of the locals speak very good English. In fact Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the U.S. back in 1959 so unlike some tropical vacation destinations; no passport is required.

One of the biggest attractions that set Luquillo apart from the rest of the island is the La Monserrate or Luquillo Beach. One of only 5 blue flag beaches in Puerto Rico; it is also the most photographic beach in the world. You will find 400 meters of cream colored sand that is protected from strong currents and waves by a reef; which makes it perfect for younger children. Although this beach is rather crowded on the weekends during the summer the breathtaking scenery is well worth putting up with a few extra people.

Another unique attraction in Luquillo is the Bahia Beach Plantation Public Golf Course. Bahia Beach is the only 18-hole course on the entire island that is open to the public. Now you don't have to pay a small fortune to stay at a resort just to enjoy a few rounds of golf on your vacation.

No trip to Luquillo would be complete without a visit to the Sierra de Luquillo mountain range. The wooded Sierra de Luquillo has an elevation of 3523 feet and is rich with wild pineapples, palm trees and ferns. There are recreation areas on the mountain where you and your family can stop for a picnic lunch and really enjoy the extraordinary views.

Puerto Rico has gotten a bad reputation of high crime; statically you are just as safe here as you are in any major city in the U.S. Most of the crime is limited to the drug trafficking element and very rarely involves individuals outside that community. The per capita income for Luquillo is less than $8,000.00 per year and the economy revolves almost completely around the tourist trade; so visitors to the island are treated with respect.

Luquillo is just a short 2 hour flight from the mainland. It is close enough to home to make getting there easy, but far enough away to help you leave your worries behind during your stay in this tropical paradise.

Learn more about this author, Kendall Smith.
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