My name is Kristian Vazquez and I'm a fellow MTG player, originally from Puerto Rico, and with a definite penchant for introducing people to everything our 'Island of Enchantment' has to offer. As you may imagine, I was pretty excited when I heard that San Juan would be a Pro Tour destination for 2010.

A brief about me: I'm part of the surprisingly large crowd of players who played MTG early on but somehow went on hiatus only to come back to the game with the Zendikar block. The most competitive thing I had done before coming back to the game was probably participating in a couple of pre-releases here and there. The San Juan PTQ season really got my engine going and now I can't get enough of the competitive scene. While I came close to a blue envelope (Top 4 at a PTQ in Richmond), unfortunately I'll be watching PT San Juan from a distance.

So I won't be able to compete in my hometown Pro Tour, but I can certainly do the next best thing – give you all some info on how to best enjoy your time in San Juan!

Before telling you what to do in Puerto Rico when you're not busy tapping your mana, I guess a bit of background is in order.

The basics: Puerto Rico is an Island in the Caribbean with a population of close to 4 million people. Puerto Ricans are US citizens and the Island is a US territory. For those of you coming from abroad that means we use the US dollar and you need a US Visa to fly into San Juan. It must also be noted, that while our passports are from the US – the culture is definitely different from the 'states.' Puerto Rico is a mixture of cultures; Spanish, African, Native – and for the last 100 plus years you also have the American influence.

So what should you expect if you've never been to Puerto Rico before? Well, for starters – a lot of Spanish. While a lot of people in Puerto Rico speak some English, you should probably pack a Spanish travel dictionary if you're planning on staying for a few days. Other than that, you should be ready for the 'strenuous' task of enjoying beautiful beaches and great historic locales.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that the San Juan metro area is heavily populated (around 2.5 million) but is also pretty spread out. It might resemble Orlando more than Boston or New York. Logistically, this means that it's a challenge to get around without a car unless you stick to the main tourist areas. The Pro Tour will be taking place in the new convention center, which is close to the most frequented tourist areas of Old San Juan, Condado, and Isla Verde; which means it should be easy to get to and from the convention center. Still, if you're looking to do see more of the Island, you will certainly need to rent a car.

Now onto the activity planning. What should you do with your free time around San Juan? No one can play-test all day while being so close to the beach right?

A list of some of my recommendations for your free time in Puerto Rico:

Old San Juan – Usually the first stop for tourists for a reason, great restaurants, beautiful views of the ocean, historic buildings, and decent nightlife. Even if you don't have much time for touring around, you should at least go to Old San Juan and walk around the cobblestoned streets. Make sure to visit El Morro, an old Spanish fort that used to be the main pillar of defense of San Juan harbor in colonial times. Old San Juan is also full of restaurants (usually on the pricey side) and bars to peruse.

Old Harbor Brewery – Local microbrewery with some nice beers

Raices Restaurant – a great place for tourists to experience some local Puerto Rican food

Mofongo! – Speaking of food, you haven't been in Puerto Rico if you haven't had some Mofongo. Mofongo is one the most traditional and delicious Puerto Rican dishes you could have, and a big favorite of international foodies that pass through town. Essentially it's fried mashed plantain that you can have filled with seafood, chicken, pork, etc. You will find Mofongo in most 'Criollo' (Puerto Rican local food) restaurants.

Condado and Isla Verde – Isla Verde and Condado are very popular touristy areas full of fancy hotels and restaurants that are open until late. Chances are that you're staying in or near these areas. Most of the hotels in these two areas (which also happen to be near the convention center) have access to the beach – so you don't even need to go far to get some sun.

You might like:

Club Brava – Located in El San Juan hotel, it's one of the fanciest clubs in town and caters to tourists.

El Yunque – Puerto Rico's rainforest is definitely a must see if you have the time. It's located about 45 minutes outside of San Juan so you'll need a car but most hotels have tours and services that will get you there and back. While at the rain forest, you can hike around the various trails or take a dip underneath the waterfalls. There are short and easy trails as well as longer trails for the more adventurous – but regardless you should remember to bring adequate clothing and shoes.

Bioluminescent Bays – There are a few fantastic bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico that I would suggest you visit if you have the time. The bays are full of microscopic organisms that light up the water as they dart around. I often take my friends from abroad to the one in Fajardo (a town close to El Yunque rain forest) where you can take nighttime kayak tours through the mangroves and onto a great bioluminescent bay. It usually runs around $40-$50 per person, well worth it in my opinion. Most major hotels can book you one of these kayak tours.

Well, that's my brief list of the top things to do while in Puerto Rico. It all depends on your time and preferences but definitely make sure your plans include enjoying the great beaches with some Piña Coladas and Mofongo to top it off. There's a bit of everything to do, so it all depends on your preferences and time.

On a side note, you might want to be aware that the University of Puerto Rico system (11 campuses) is currently going through a strike and there are ongoing protests around the Island. So if you see any protests, don't worry – they're peaceful student manifestations.

If you have any questions, you can always hit me up on twitter: @TheKristian

Have fun in San Juan and see you on the Pro Tour soon!