AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico — With Operation Stonegarden situational awareness and intelligence, the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Joint Forces for Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish acronym) on Tuesday seized 1,522 pounds (690 kilos) of cocaine, with an estimated value of $19.3 million.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The news broke unexpectedly on the morning of February 9. Social media was buzzing with rumors that Puerto Rico’s longest-serving political prisoner, Oscar López Rivera, would be landing in San Juan that very same day. Shortly thereafter, both El Nuevo Día and…

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Is it a mirage?

Are my eyes playing tricks on me after a long journey in Martinique?

There is rum as far as the eye can see, bottles from just about every island in the Caribbean.

I have reached Mecca, completing a rum journey toward a place I never new existed.

Because there is nothing like this anywhere in the Caribbean

You see, there’s a problem in far too many corners of the Caribbean — despite rum’s place as the Caribbean’s most famous export, there just aren’t many great places to buy rum in the region — places that raise rum to the level of fine wine — places that revere rum.

True “rum shops” are few and far between — stores where one can savor the diversity of the regional spirit and peruse bottles from across the Caribbean the way one would in a fine wine shop.

But then there is this: La Compagnie du Rhum, a rum boutique in Martinique that has the largest selection of rums of any store in the Caribbean, set on a small residential estate in the northeast of the island (just across the road from the Cap Est resort).

There are nearly 1,000 rums in this place, from a miraculous variety of local rums from Martinique and Guadeloupe to rare molasses-based rums from across the Antilles.

There are mini bottles, boxes of rum, myriad white rums, and even special cupboards of vintage rums.

There’s also a healthy offering of rums to taste, including some from the nearby A 1710 rum that is the newest rum on the island.

The store is actually the extension of what is a major global online retail operation for rum, but there’s nothing better than a physical storefront.

But if you are a lover of rum, a rum aficionado, or looking for the perfect souvenir for someone who is, this is a new pilgrimage destination. You might call it Santiago de Rumpostela. It’s that good.

And it’s not a mirage.

— Alexander Britell

The post The Caribbean’s Greatest Rum Shop appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Like many of the region’s greatest travel destinations, Puerto Vallarta was once just a tiny village built on fishing and, well, not much else.

After it became it became a destination for celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor in the late 1960s, though, the area took off. Indeed, if you ask a traveler about Puerto Vallarta today, odds are she’ll mention Liz.

Puerto Vallarta has become a chic getaway that hasn’t lost its authentic charm. And it’s full of hotels, from the heart of Puerto Vallarta to Punta Mita.

They all add up to what has become one of Mexico’s full-fledged tourism hotspots . Here are the five best Puerto Vallarta Hotels.

Four Seasons Punta Mita

It doesn’t get any better than Four Seasons’ luxury outpost on the white sands of the Riviera Nayarit, about an hour outside of central Puerto Vallarta. But it’s more than worth the trek, with gorgeous rooms, a world-class spa, top-level golf and an array of delightful eateries (including Bahia by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval).

Hotel Mousai

This hotel was the first AAA Five Diamond resort in Puerto Vallarta proper and remains one of the area’s greatest places to stay, both adults-only and a welcome all-inclusive option. There are four suite categories (along with a penthouse option), with even the basic Mousai Suite option including a whopping 1,069 square feet, gold-tiled jetted plunge pool and an en-suite bathroom, among other features.

Casa Velas

While the Velas brand is known for its larger, gourmet-focused resorts, Casa Velas is refreshingly small, covered in gardens and filled with the kind of spectacular food you expect from the company.

The suites are stellar, too: luxury amenities like local art, jacuzzis (and some plunge pools) and L’Occitane bath products.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

The larger of the company’s Puerto Vallarta hotels is a 267-unit, all-suite property with all of the accommodations including private terraces, ocean views, Balinese-style furniture and even amenities like indoor and outdoor hot tubs.

And then there’s the culinary offering, with an international collection of eateries ranging from the traditional Mexican “Frida” to the Italian-focused “Lucca,” all led by star chefs from Mexico and abroad.

St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

Another one of the area’s cluster of AAA Five Diamond resorts, this Riviera Nayarit hotel has 120 rooms (including 31 suites). It also boasts the St. Regis’ hallmark: a wide variety of things to do, from golfing at a pair of Jack Nicklaus courses, going scuba diving or taking one of the hotels’ excursions to discover the abundant local flora and fauna (or even go whale watching).

Garza Blanca Reserve Resort and Spa

You won’t find many resorts like this. Set between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific coast, this Banderas Bay retreat with massive suites (particularly the wonderful Ultra Suites) has a party piece: it’s all-inclusive.

And that’s a bit of a surprise when you encounter food like this — hip, fresh and creative (particularly at the new Bocados STK eatery). Our suggestion? Go for the Ultra Suites — they’re worth the splurge.

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa

Marriott’s sprawling beachfront Puerto Vallarta hotel is one of the best all-around Puerto Vallarta hotels, with all of the Marriott amenities and service you expect. That means private balconies, large flat-screens, a solid spa called Ohtli and almost 9,000 square feet of meeting space.

Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta

Hard Rock has some of the region’s most energy-filled resorts, and the company’s Puerto Vallarta outpost is no exception. There are 348 rooms and suites at this all-incluisve, along with excellent culinary options and the signature Hard Rock nightlife. The latter includes bars, lounges and what Hard Rock calls “endless” entertainment, from concerts to live shows.

Westin Resort and Spa, Puerto Vallarta

We’ll start with the 280 rooms, which live up to the Westin brand with its signature “Heavenly” beds, private balconies and large living areas. But the story here is really Westin’s increasing focus on developing a niche with active, health-conscious travelers. That means a terrific spa and a host of fitness offerings, from outdoor lighted tennis courts to a “Westinworkout” fitness studio including cardio, free weights and even fitness classes.  But don’t worry — it’s also a great hotel for doing nothing but lounging at the beach and sipping a margarita.

The post The Top 10 Puerto Vallarta Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A record-breaking number of tourists visited Anguilla in 2016.

The island welcomed 79,239 tourist arrivals, an increase of 8.2 percent over 2015 —among the highest growth rates of any destination in the Caribbean.

Arrivals from the island’s largest source market — the United States., which accounts for 64 percent of tourist arrivals to Anguilla — were up 6.9 percent to 50,508 visitors.

The Canadian market showed solid growth as well, as the 3,501 tourist arrivals in 2016 represented a 3.1 percent increase over 2015.

The U.K. market recorded 2,968 tourist arrivals, a 7.8 increase over 2015; Italy’s 1,106 tourist arrivals were down 12.3 percent; while Germany’s tourist arrivals of 626 were up by 50 percent.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor

The post Anguilla Tourism Is Growing Fast appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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