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Puerto Rico

Feliz Año Nuevo! New Year’s and Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico

Program No. 22153RJ
Experience the traditions of Puerto Rico and discover the island’s incredible culture while celebrating New Year’s and Three Kings Day! Explore the city, villages, museums and more!
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HolidaysOn the Road
Length
9 days
Rating (4)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,499

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
22 meals ( 8B, 7L, 7D )
5 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in at the hotel and getting your room assignment, ask the front desk for the location of the Road Scholar meeting room where we will have our Orientation session. Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. As you register with the program staff, you will get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Meals will be at the hotel and local restaurants unless otherwise noted. Unless specified otherwise, transportation will be primarily by motorcoach and will require going up and down a few steps. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Bring baggage to lobby for loading on motorcoach. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 50 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles; paved road, uneven in places. The new year celebration will be at the Hotel in Ponce, loud music should be expected .
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board our motorcoach to Ponce. En route, we’ll stop in Casa BACARDI. Travel through time and Discover the Bacardi family heritage and become part of the legacy by getting to know the World’s most awarded premium rum.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Continuing our ride, we’ll reach Ponce on the south of the island and check in to our hotel with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At the hotel, we’ll attend a New Year’s Eve party with live music, food on the terrace, a glass of sparkling wine, and stew at midnight.
Activity Note
Walking up to 1.5 miles ; paved road, uneven in places.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll gather for a late morning presentation by our Group Leader, providing an overview of Puerto Rico.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Led by a local expert, we’ll take a field walking trip to explore Ponce, second-largest city in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1692 by the great-grandson of Juan Ponce de Léon who explored Puerto Rico and Florida, allegedly in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. Ponce today is notable for its impressive neo-Classical architecture in the old colonial center that has been declared a national treasure. We’ll see the historic, beautiful, and unique Ponce Firehouse, Ponce Cathedral, and Delicias Square.
Dinner:
At a popular restaurant, we will learn how to cook an authentic savory dish, Mofongo — made of mashed plantains and other tasty ingredients — as well as appetizers. We’ll then dine on our creations.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day; periods of standing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our first field trip today will be to the Coffee Hacienda , a 19th century coffee plantation turned museum. Restored to its former glory by a team of Smithsonian specialists and island artisans, its location is indeed a buena vista (beautiful view), with just under 500 acres in the Rio Canas Valley. We may be able to see hummingbirds as the Hacienda's trails take us past cascading waterfalls. With our local expert, we will explore some of the plantation’s grounds and visit the on-site museum while learning about the development of the coffee industry in the area.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy resort facilities
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 10 miles, approximately 30 minutes riding time. Hiking about 1 mile, approximately. 1 hour; some rubble and loose terrain. Bring walking shoes with good ankle support.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and depart for Castillo Serralles. This castle is the family home of the best selling rum brand in Puerto Rico, Don Q. This incredible castle and much of the entire city of Ponce, was build as part of the vast Serrallés family fortune. Built in 1930, this four story concrete castle sits on top of a hill overlooking downtown Ponce, Puerto Rico. The former family mansion turned museum is Spanish Revival or Spanish Moroccan architecture designed in
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our next field trip will take us to the town of San German and the Convento de Porto Coeli, notable as the second-oldest church in the New World (1609). After centuries of gradual decline, it was seriously damaged in 1949 and sold to the government of Puerto Rico. It has since been reinvented as a museum of religious art. After the field trip, we’ll return to our hotel with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to Manati tomorrow.
Activity Note
Bring baggage to lobby for loading. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 40 miles, aprox 2 hour riding time. Hiking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour; uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board our motorcoach to travel to Arecibo
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will board our motor coach to transfer to Hacienda La Esperanza in Manati City. Revive the history of sugar in Puerto Rico visiting one of the most important haciendas from the 19th century, visit a sugar cane plantation, explore the ruins of the historic site and visit the house of the Marquis of La Esperanza. we’ll board our motorcoach for a field trip to the Cave. "Cueva Ventana" , or Window Cave, is the premiere ecotourism attraction of Puerto Rico. A Trained biologist and environmental interpreter will provide guided exploration of the natural cave. After activity we will drive to our hotel in Manati
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Important : None slip close shoes required Level of difficulty: moderate to difficult Not recommended for people with asthmas or cardiac condition. Helmets and flashlights will be provided to participants, their use is mandatory. Hiking Distance 1 miles over rough terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach for a field trip to the Cave. "Cueva Ventana" , or Window Cave, is the premiere ecotourism attraction of Puerto Rico. A Trained biologist and environmental interpreter will provide guided exploration of the natural cave. After activity we will drive to our hotel in Manati
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer to San Juan tomorrow.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach.Walking about 3 mile, approximately 1.5 hour; uneven terrain, high humidity. Keeping the pace of the group will be extremely important when visiting the Old San Juan.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Three Kings Day is one of the most important holidays on the Puerto Rican holiday calendar. Known in other places as Epiphany, it venerates Los Reyes Magos — the Three Kings, Wise Men, or Magi — who came bearing gifts for the infant Jesus. This is traditionally the day of gift giving in Latin America. Along with our Group Leader, we’ll observe one of the most traditional activity in the town of Loiza. Note: This is a regionall activity organized by the Mayor of Loiza where you will have contact with local residents of this beautiful and humble town.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant a short walk from the hotel.
Afternoon:
Visit the Old San Juan self guided walking exploration of the city . Note: Due to the amount of people in Old San Juan the road will be restricted for our motorcoach. We will establish a meeting point to start and end the activity.
Dinner:
At a restaurant in San Juan. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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