Most Southern Caribbean cruises set sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico, an exquisitely preserved 16th-century city that feels more like Spain than the Caribbean. Historic Spanish buildings, forts, and the oldest mansion in continuous use offer glimpses of a colorful past when its harbor teemed with merchant ships bound for Europe full of New World silver and gold.

The shopping is not duty-free but you won’t want to leave without some of the local specialties. You’ll find original art, hand-carved figures, carnival masks, reproductions of Taino Indian artifacts, and the national cuatro -- a 4-string guitar-like instrument carved from blocks of solid laurel wood and revered as the national instrument of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is home to numerous museums exhibiting classic and contemporary art. The Puerto Rico Arts Museum’s large collection features more than 1,100 pieces from near and far.

Beyond San Juan lies a mountainous landscape fringed by tropical white sand beaches and blessed with more than 50 rivers. You’ll find mountain trails, caves, coffee plantations, a rainforest, and a diverse array of people and cuisine in this inviting land.

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