If you are planning to visit any of the NPS Forts on the island wait until April 22 and 23rd as the forts are offering free admission to all on those days.

Another great event occurring on April 23rd is the Rio Camuy raft fest. This event is family friendly and the locals pull out all the stops with decorating their canoes, kayaks and motor-less flotation vehicles for a festival and floating parade.  You will find this large gatheing on the river on the outskirts of the town of Rio Camuy. This event allows family and friends to gather together for a great day of entertainment and fun. A lot of emphasis is placed on outdoor activities, with visitors being able to participate in mountain biking and amateur diving contests. There is live music to liven up the atmosphere, while great food keeps your appetite wonderfully content. Much of the land-based action takes place along Joaquín Martínez Avenue. However, the water is where the most exciting parts of the event occur. That is where a massive rafting event takes place during the course of the festival. Many of the participants take advantage of the opportunity by getting very creative with their boats, often creating some really odd-looking and mind-boggling boats. Others stick to more normal buoyancy devices and make use of rafts, kayaks and tubes. All participants enter into a race which follows the river down-stream on a scenic voyage which lasts for around 45 minutes. In past years, up to 360 people have taken part in the voyage, with fans of the event lining the banks to cheer on the craziness. With that many people in the water, the traffic is obviously insane. However the number of participants also testifies to the popularity of the event.

If you like historical buildings with phenomenal architecture you can't miss La Fortaleza!

Also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina this is the only structure in the western hemisphere still in use since its construction in the 16th century. This was the first fortification built by the Spaniards in San Juan Harbor. Constructed between 1533 and 1540 the original fort consisted of a circular tower and four massive stone walls.

At the end of the 16th century  the Spaniards added the Austral, a second tower to defend against Carib raiders. Invaders only were able to capture the fort twice in the history. The first time the fort was taken was in 1598 by the English then again in 1625. In 1625 the Dutch were unsuccessful in their siege against San Felipe del Morro so they burned the city including the fort.

From 1640 onward it was customary for the island's Governor to utilize the fort as a personal residence. In 1846, La Fortaleza was enlarged and the street facade was altered. The original tower was named Torre del Homenaje (tower of Homage) still stands. The name reflects the tradition of the resident Governor climbing to the top of the tower to pledge an oath of loyalty and courage to the island during dangerous times,

While the island was under Spanish rule the fort was designated the Spanish Captain-General of Puerto Pico's official residence but after transition to being a US territory the building became the official residence and offices of Puerto Rico's Governor.

The fort was added to the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list in 1983 and has free guided tours of both the indoor and garden areas. . Call 787-721-7000, extension 2211 or 2323 for details on schedules and reservations.

   La Fortaleza, a National Historic Landmark, is located within the San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday-Friday. Call 787-729-6960 or visit the park's website for more information. La Fortaleza has also been documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey

It is the first Sunday of the month so head to the Humacao Culinary Fest!
This event is monthly and occurs at 11:00 am at Luis Munoz Rivera Square. Even if you miss the culinary festival the town square is beautiful and