Highlights:
- More than anything else, January on the island is known for Three Kings Day, which has its own traditions.
- The HMS Bounty docks in Old San Juan, giving visitors a chance to check out one a replica of one of the most famous ships in history.
- January also kicks off whale-watching season in Rincón and the west coast of the island.
Events Calendar:
- Through January 8: The Bosque de Navidad, or "Christmas Forest" in Mayagüez, spends one last week recreating a fantasy land in the city's Parque Litoral. This year's theme is the Avatar movie.
- Through January 31: This is the last month to catch the Body Worlds exhibition, an amazing look at human anatomy and physiology.
- Through March: The HMS Bounty, built for the famous 1962 movie "Mutiny on the Bounty," is a marvelous recreation of an 18th century classic, and one of the most famous names in maritime history. She docked in Old San Juan this December, and will be offering self-guided tours until March.
- January 2: Catch a free concert called "Christmas in Puerto Rico" by the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra at the Ventana al Mar Park on Ashford Avenue in Condado.
- January 5: On the eve of Three Kings Day, the Luis A. Ferré Center for Performing Arts in Santurce holds a Kings' Concert featuring the Puerto Rican symphonic orchestra.
- January 6: In Puerto Rico, the Three Kings rule the Christmas season. Puerto Ricans celebrate December 25, but the most important day of the season falls on January 6, El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day. An old-fashioned tradition calls for children to gather grass and place it in a box at the foot of their beds, so that the camels of the Three Kings will have something to eat when they come to visit. While it is a revered holiday throughout Puerto Rico, nobody does Three Kings Day quite like the small, southern town of Juana Diaz, whose Three Kings tour the island before making the voyage home. In Old San Juan, head to Luis Muñoz Marín Park for the live music, parades, food and drink, and plenty of revelry.
- January 12-15: The largest street fair in Old San Juan is the San Sebastián Patron Saint Festival, when thousands descend on San Sebastián Street to commemorate and celebrate. It's by far the biggest patron saint celebration on the island. Expect fairground rides, food stalls and live music, parades of traditional Puerto Rican masked figures called vejigantes, and plenty of dancing at night. A day earlier, the town of San Sebastián kicks off its own festival to honor its patron saint.
- January 22: Selena Gomez comes to the Coliseum in San Juan for one night.
- January 27-29: Hard-core cyclists will want to register for La Vuelta Puerto Rico, a three-day, 375-mile spin around the island. Registration is open until January 15.
- January-February: It's whale-watching season in the west coast of Puerto Rico, when humpback whales can be spotted off the coast. An excellent spot to see them is the observation park at the Rincón lighthouse.
