Puerto Rico has the best pina coladas and there are over 300 beaches to enjoy

Do you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain? Then look no further than Puerto Rico.

This small American island in the Caribbean is home to the fruity rum cocktail.

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Restaurant Barrachina, in the colourful capital of San Juan, claims to have invented the drink when Spanish bartender Don Ramon Portas Mingot combined rum with pineapple juice and coconut cream in 1963.

So who was I to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a couple in the restaurant's leafy, cool courtyard?

And the table's umbrellas came in handy as, like the Rupert Holmes song, I was suddenly hit by a downpour.

Puerto Rico's tropical climate will mean the occasional shower but the sun does return and it's always warm.

The island's name translates as "rich port" and it is easy to get lost in the magic of the US territory — located on the edge of the Bermuda Triangle.

From the salsa pumping out of speakers in laid-back bars to the spicy fusion of Spanish, Latin American and Caribbean food on many menus, the city offers a lively mix.

It is compact too, so ideal for exploring on foot.

While there are plenty of museums and galleries, there is a wealth of art to enjoy in the Santurce neighbourhood, where street artists have transformed crumbling buildings by adorning them with bright paintings depicting the island's history.

The area is also home to one of the best restaurants in the city. La Casita Blanca is a family-run gem offering the ultimate in comfort food, Puerto Rican-style.

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Start with complimentary soup and cod fritters — but everything on the menu is excellent and don't miss the Mofungo, a garlicky mashed treat based on plantain.

Away from the city itself, you can ramp up the thrill factor with a zipwire at the Toro Verde Nature Adventure park. The Monster is a Guinness World Record-breaker — the longest in the world, with a stunning 1.6mile ride at 48mph through the rainforest.

The park also features a suspended maze with 35 different bridges, rope nets, monkey bars and obstacles to tackle while you wend through the forest.

It would be a crime, however, to head to the island and not go to its many beaches — there are more than 300 on Puerto Rico and its outlying islands.

One of the best is Flamenco Beach, on the tiny island of Culebra some 17 miles from the mainland.

It is one of TripAdvisor's top ten beaches in the world and its clear blue waters and white sands make you feel like you have found your own tiny piece of paradise.

Many of the ferries that bring you here from the mainland stop by the coral reef for you to swim with the fishes.

Back in San Juan, the American influence is obvious in the large developments that line the beaches offering top-end facilities including jet-skiing and surfing.

But for a laid-back beach loved by locals, try Balneario El Escambrón.

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As night falls there are more sparkling treats to enjoy, such as a night kayaking trip on the island of Vieques.

Mosquito Bay is the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, where you wind through waters that light up blue and green thanks to the millions of micro-organisms.

While there are plenty of good-value large resort-style hotels in San Juan, we loved our base at the Olive Boutique Hotel in the fashionable Condado neighbourhood.

The rooms have a luxury rustic design and all come with spacious balconies or terraces complete with shower and marble tub to soak away the strains of the day.

The rooftop bar also gives you a place to calm down after a hectic day and socialise without having to move too far to your bed.

And they serve a mean pina colada.

GO: PUERTO RICO

GETTING THERE: There are currently no direct flights to Puerto Rico but Norwegian flies year-round to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, with prices from £159 one-way in economy or £499 in Premium. See . You can then pick up a connecting flight with Spirit, jetBlue or Southwest airlines with prices from £80 one-way. See ; and .

STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Olive Boutique Hotel are from £189 per night. For more details see .

MORE INFO: See .