February 2000 Out in the Mountains 17

  

Waterfalls in El Yunque Ralnforest

a boulder nearby and contemplate the won-
der ofthis tropical paradise.

For some truly unusual nightlife, don’t
miss the Bioluminescent Bay, part of the Las
Cabesas Nature Preserve. This lagoon pro-
vides one of our planet’s only remaining

 

report. Sailing adventures range from
charters to captained trips on genuine
old-time, wooden fishing sailboats to
sleek, modern catamarans. r Prices
range from $55 and up, including
lunch, beverages, and snorkeling gear
for a full day’s trip.

Nightlife includes tropical breezes
and magnificent views at many fine
restaurants and clubs with a wide
range of prices, along with music,
music, music. Puerto Ricans have a
special affinity for music, and every-
where you go, you usually hear the
live sounds of salsa, meringue, or reg-
gae. For the GLBT crowd, the best
place to go for nightlife is Old San
Juan, where gay bars, drag shows, and
evening cruises just for gays can eas-
ily be found, all for very reasonable
prices. For you quieter folks, just sit-
ting on a mountain hillside, swinging
in a hammock, with a tropical breeze
wafting by, can be a wondrous experience.
The local tree frog, coqui, can sing you to
sleep with its famous lullaby.

Now that 51 have you dreaming, you
should think about the kind of place in

Youwill see philodendron leaves
the size of houses, and Impatiens
growing to the size of trees.

mango-lined bays, and it’s filled with micro-
scopic sea critters that light up so intensely
that a school of fish swimming under your
kayak will appear illuminated, as if Tinker
Bell just waved her magic stardust wand
under the water. It truly is an unforgettable,
once-in-a-lifetime marvel to experience the
natural beauty of this bioluminescent bay; it
costs about $30 for a four-hour easy guided
kayak trip. Guaranteed, your heart and soul
will soar like Peter Pan and Wendy’s!
Sailing, SCUBA diving, and snorkeling
are fabulous here. The best snorkeling is off-
shore, at one of the small, uninhabited
islands an hour’s sail off the coast. Waters
are clear turquoise, usually c , and you
will see an abundance of every variety of
tropical fish — without sharks, I am happy to

which you’d like to stay. You can find every-
thing from inexpensive B&Bs starting at
about $60/night to very fancy hotel rooms at
the Conquistador or Westin Resorts for $250
and up. Villas, houses, condos, and apart-
ments are also available for approximately
$100/night and up. V

Margarita Hutchison lived in Vermont for
nearly half a century before deciding to
move to Puerto Rico to enjoy its climate and
Latin culture. She currently teaches part-
time on Roosevelt Roads Navy Base at New
Hampshire College and Columbia College.
She and her daughter, Heather, moved to
their tropical paradise (2.5 acres) in 1998
and have been operating I/zllas Margarita
for less than a year:

Same
great
site-

Great
new
name---

Web: http://www.lslandwalkers.com
E-mall: Islandwke:-@cs.com
Telephone: (787) 887-4359

P.O. Box 1916, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745

 

Rl(l}ll\Rl) ti
J()Hl\l "RllBl()" l)Rlll'l'l‘

e an at
as

BE‘D8'BREAKFAST ‘C. ‘-

  

' The gr:uult\nr urn suullrcrn style plnnlutiuli.
' A tm\'t‘lcr‘s tll'l‘-‘IIII for nut-Junr :u‘ti\‘itics.

- (lmnplctely rormvattctl by gl':lt‘lUllsl}' curnlrining l\\r-nti-,-III century
cnnlfltrl \\llll lnxIu'_\'. clinrni uml ;I lricmll)' nriilvic1rn'.
Handout. Ilbwuampwn ’ Rzx(603) 752.0172
M. (00.9) 4410-5000 llsg. was-919-3500
 nm £Idr6Jan-ylnlwpcrs

 

Villas Margarita

a welcoming destination in the tropics

Privacy, seclusion and fabulous scenery in 
the rainforest near beaches, snorkeling, 

sailing, kayaking, hiking, nightlife, etc!  PMB 343» P0 30* 7 0005
5 Fajarda, Puerto Rico

TREE HOUSE VILLA: New, 2-bedroom,  ‘}f,?§f§',§‘?§,§,,

full kitchen, large pool, private veranda.  margarita@pinacolada.net
$700/wk per couple  www.villasmargarita.com

20 Charming Rooms
Peace & Privacy

T359
‘H1 Iandg ‘Inn

P.O. Box 118

Bethlehem. NH 0557-1'
605-86*)-5978
1-877-LES—B-INN (557-2166)

A LESBIA N I’ARADI.S'I:‘

100 Acres-Poul
Hot Tub-Trails

w\nv.l1ighlandsinn-nh.c0m
vacati(m@higl1l:u1dsinn-nl1.com

 

URBAN TRAVEL

Affiliated with 12ELL New England
edwardd@tne.tzeI|.com

IEST BUYS!!!

Start the new Year right with savings of 10-50% off
CAIIRIBEAN PACKAGES

     
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
 
  

Aruba from $649
St. Croix from $699
St. Lucia from $549
St. Martin from 5649
St. Thomas from $699
MEXICO & COS'l'A RICA PACKAGES
Cancun from $5 69
Cozumel from $699
Puerto Vallarta from $649
Costa Rica from $549

Call 1-800-504-9075 - 20 Melrose St., Boston MA

All packages include 7 nights air/hote/,
Boston departures. All rates based on
I\ availability and are subject to change.

  
  
 

flat &’ 45045 

New England's |00% Gay Owned & Operated Travel Agency

 

SAVE 17-30% OFF
ALL Airfares!
Call 1-800-842-4753

V‘ USA from $99m!
Europe from $228RT!
Mexico/Latin America from $288RT!

Caribbean/Bahamas from $208RT!

CALL for latest airfares we'll match or beat any price!
Example RT fares: Denver-$178, DC-$99, Atlanta-$124, San Fran-$l98,
Orlando~$l32, London-$228, Rome—$298, San Juan-$298, Nassau-$208

PACKAGES: (inc: air, hotel, taxes, transfers at more!) New England's

 
  

 
      
    
       
      
 

- Aspen Gay Ski Week- lI22-29 from $699 I 00% Gay
- European Gay Ski Week- 3/! I-I 8 from $899 Travel Agency!
- Alt’ d 2000IWh' tl , B.C. 2/6-2ll3f 999

Itu e IS er rom $ 

- All Gay Caribbean Cruise- I/30-2/6 from $999 , _ _ ,
- All Gay Bahamas Cruise- 3ll 2-I6 from $299 V151‘ 0'" 9XP3"d'"8 Web 5'“!
- Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras- 3I|-6 from $|875 www.outandaboutrave|.com
- Women's MexicanICaribbean Cruise- 4/29-5/6 from sm travlgrrl @ aolcom

- March on Washington- 4/28-5/I from $225 Never a service fee ° Free gay

v European Vacation Packages from $399 travel inlo° Donation to glbt community
. Caribbean packages from 5799 w/every tour - IGLTA G TAG members