Top 10 reasons why Puerto Rico is the destination of the moment. (Special Advertising Feature).

If you've got your heart set on a vacation to an exotic island vacation, Puerto Rico is the place to visit. It's "right next door," part of the United States, and you'll experience authentic Latin culture, diverse activities and 500 years of rich history. Here are 10 reasons why now is the time to escape to the enchanting island of Puerto Rico:

1. COMFORTS OF HOME

As a commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico offers all the conveniences of the mainland. A passport is not required, there is no need to go through customs, English is widely spoken and the dollar is the official currency. It doesn't get much easier.

2. PROXIMITY

As the closest U.S. tropical island, travelers don't have to go far from home to experience an exotic, relaxing beach vacation coupled with authentic Latin culture and cuisine. For example, direct flights from the U.S. mainland are three hours from New York and just over four hours from Dallas.

3. SECURITY

Security at Luis Munoz Mann International Airport in San Juan is under the same regulations as all U.S. airports and is covered under the new Transportation Safety Administration's regulations. Puerto Rico's ports are also covered by the TSA regulations. Visitors can also feel secure, as Tourist Police patrol popular areas of San Juan and many hotels maintain private security.

4. DIVERSE ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS

Puerto Rico offers the largest variety of activities in the Caribbean, including golf, nature, adventure, scuba, watersports, spas, arts, culture, dining, nightlife and shopping. With its diverse geography and wealth of attractions, travelers can discover inviting sites throughout Puerto Rico's vibrant cities, quaint towns, pristine beaches and mountain backdrops.

Puerto Rico also features a variety of accommodations ranging from luxury resorts to unique boutique hotels and Paradores. You can experience the excitement of chic and trendy San Juan or enjoy the authenticity of the island at a secluded hide-away.

5. HISTORY AND CULTURE

Puerto Rico offers an enriching experience, stemming from 500 years of history and an authentic Latin culture. A stroll through the cobble-stoned streets of historic Old San Juan reveals marvelous colonial buildings, centuries-old fortresses, including El Morro, and incredibly preserved architecture. To the south, the city of Ponce is home to. some of the island's finest colonial buildings, commissioned by wealthy merchants who established the city as a center of Puerto Rican culture. Plaza Las Delicias and the Ponce Museum of Art are among the finest examples of the island's rich culture.

6. NATURE AND ADVENTURE

Hiking to the top of Cerro Punta or diving off Cayo Diablo are just a few of the experiences that make Puerto Rico a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. One of the most memorable experiences is night swimming in Puerto Rico's Bioluminescent Bays in Vieques and La Parguera, where tiny microorganisms light up like fireflies as the water splashes and moves. Another popular natural attraction is Rio Camuy Cave Park, a massive cave system with an underground river flowing through it, which visitors can visit via tram, spelunking or body rafting. At El Yunque tropical rain forest, more than 100 billion gallons of annual rainfall account for lush flora and fauna, and the famous coqui frog can be heard singing its song. Guanica Biosphere Reserve, a dry forest where cacti and rugged hills contrast against the ocean shore, offers miles of trails perfect for mountain bikers and hikers. Visitors to the preserve have much to see, such as a tree that has been dated to be more than 1,000 years old. Birdwatcher s will delight in what is the densest population of birds on the island. Kayakers and snorkelers will find watery bliss on the beach and surrounding cays.

7. GOLF

A links-lover's paradise, Puerto Rico is home to 18 golf courses, including 14 championship-level courses, and several more are under development. Golf is such a challenge and a passion here that the island's 10,000 active golfers are anxiously awaiting the World Amateur Team Championship to be held in the island in the fall of 2004. The international event will be the crowning moment of the Puerto Rico Golf Association's 50th anniversary celebration. But you don't need to be a world champ to appreciate the beauty and variety of Puerto Rico's golf courses, offering breathtaking view of the ocean and El Vunque Rain Forest. Most have been designed by such luminaries as Robert Trent Jones, his son, Rees Jones, Greg Norman, George and Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills and Puerto Rico's own Chi Chi Rodriguez. Many golf courses are part of world-class resorts, though most courses allow you to use them even if you are not a hotel guest.

8. SCUBA AND WATERSPORTS

Scuba diving and snorkeling, for beginners and experts alike, are the reason why Puerto Rico is often called the Caribbean's best-kept underwater secret. Off the southwest coast, from the village of La Parguera to the city of Ponce, lie some of the island's most extraordinary dive sites, including the Parguera Wall, home of the Caribbeans rarely seen black coral. Another noteworthy spot is Mona Island, off the west coast of Puerto Rico, known as the Galapagos of the Caribbean. It is home to sea turtles, dolphins and a wide variety of species of rare marine life. For visitors looking to get close to the water, but not necessarily submerged in it, Puerto Rico offers various other water sports in many parts of the island, such as great snorkeling, world-class surfing, windsurfing, sailing, catamaran trips, sea kayaking and deep-sea fishing.

9. SPA

Puerto Rico has some of the best spas in the world. After a day of exploring the island or other activities, travelers can pamper themselves at Puerto Rico's luxurious day spas. Many of them are world-renowned, offering signature treatments. Others offer natural and organic products in treatment rooms, where an astonishing ocean view just adds to the experience. At some spas, massages are given right on the beach. Imagine hearing the ocean waves lap the shore, while you undergo a relaxing and reinvigorating treatment that leaves you fresh and ready for the night life.

10. CUISINE

Known as the "Dining Capital of the Caribbean," Puerto Rico offers everything from traditional criolla and Puerto Rican fusion to international cuisine. Criolla cuisine, a blend of Taino, Spanish and African influences, gives diners the opportunity to experience the island's authentic ingredients and flavors. An island favorite, tostones or fried green plantains, is enjoyed alone or as a side dish with nearly every meal. Mofongo is another ubiquitous delicacy of mashed plantains and meat or seafood in a delicious garlic and tomato-based sauce. To satisfy every palate, restaurants run the gamut of international options from pizza to Caribbean/Asian fusion to fine French cuisine, many with a tinge of Puerto Rican flavors.