The Caribbean Cultural Center Offers Fun, Relaxation, and Enlightenment in One Beautiful Tropical Setting
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Did you know that Puerto Rico is 994 miles from Miami or that it is the most easterly of the greater Antilles? But at the Caribbean Cultural Center, distance and location do not matter. All the island villages are close to one another so that you spend more time enjoying them than traveling to them. One simply has to walk or ride a short distance to another village in order to experience another island culture.  Isn't it great, no jet lag, no boarding, no disembarking, no passport, no airsickness nor seasickness. All the hassles of travel disappear so that one is left to experience island life. Here you will see the Puerto Ricans dance to their salsa music, you will visit a coffee plantation, and you will meet some of the earliest settlers of the Caribbean islands, the Tibes Indians.

Columbus discovered Puerto Rico on his second voyage but its most famous explorer and first governor is Juan Ponce de Leon. His famous quest for the fountain of youth led to his untimely death on the island of Cuba. He defeated here the native Borequinos Indians just like many other European settlers eliminated the native inhabitants either by force or communicable disease. Our Tibes Indians will also mention another instance of colonial domination by retelling the story of how Diego Velazquez wiped out the Tainos Indians on Cuba over a period of three years. Like all the Caribbean islands, today's island life is shaped by what happened centuries ago.

At this village, Arawak Indians capture the everyday life by demonstrating what they eat, how they dress, where they live, and how they practice ceremonial rituals. Even the tools and how they use them are of much interest. For example, while cutting trees, they would cut a special hole so that the tree spirits could escape. They also live a simple island life unlike the hustle and bustle of today' city living. So we hope you can learn from them to take it easy so that you can fully enjoy your visit at the Caribbean Cultural Center. And like all the island folk here, you will find the Arawaks are a friendly people with a welcoming attitude.

We also invite you to learn about Carib Indians at the Windward village. And for a more complete explanation of Native Caribbean history, visit the Island Exhibit Hall (it's also air-conditioned). There you'll receive an all inclusive history of the Arawak Indians, the formidable Caribs, and their enemy the Conquistadors. But now that is enough history (unless you care to ask our knowledgeable Puerto Rican docents) and let's follow the aroma of coffee beans.

The other half of the village is a working coffee plantation as you can smell from aromatic coffee brewing. From the different varieties of Caribbean coffee, for example, the Blue Mountain coffee of Jamaica, to the roasting, grinding and packaging of some of the finest coffee in the world, you will enjoy your  first cup of delicious coffee in the morning. And if that is not enough to wake you, let them bring on the Puerto Rican salsa in the hacienda's courtyard. Salsa music is a racing beat led by brass and African drums. Both the salsa and the coffee will awaken you to journey to another adventure a stone's throw away and invigorate you to learn about a new Caribbean culture. Lastly, don't forget to visit charming Old San Juan at the Ports of Call Marketplace.

Click Puerto Rico to learn more.

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