Condado flag at the beach; image by Austin Adkinson

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Nearly constant Atlantic Ocean trade winds that blow past San Juan keep a Puerto Rican flag flapping while also helping create conditions for impressive offshore rainbows in the city’s Condado district. Puerto Rico’s winter tourism season is in force, attracting vacationers who come to enjoy the attractions of this U.S. territory and to embark on a variety of Caribbean cruises from two cruise terminals.

Puerto Rico has made significant strides in tourism volume since Hurricane Maria hit the island in September 2017, according to Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, noting that 2019 saw double-digit growth in visitation. Despite some unsettling earthquakes in recent months, Dean said his organization is working toward another record year in 2020.

Rainbow at Condado Beach; image by Tom Adkinson.

“Tourism has never been more important to our island than it is today. Given the importance of tourism to our local economy, there’s no better way for (mainlanders) to help their fellow Americans than to vacation in Puerto Rico,” Dean said, observing that Puerto Rico provides a Caribbean experience with some built-in advantages – such as no passport requirement for U.S. citizens, use of American currency and cellphone service as soon as you step off the plane.

Trip-planning resources: DiscoverPuertoRico.com

(Travel writer Tom Adkinson’s new book, 100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die, is available at CornersOfTheCountry.com.)