Steeped in history, from a romantic seaside castle to a charming colonial downtown, and brimming with energy, from street festivals to nightlife, San Juan is the first stop for most visitors to Puerto Rico. But so many more adventures and attractions await them beyond the island's capital city. The following slide show will give you some ideas for recommending a longer, thoroughly immersive stay with plenty of outdoor fun.

Travel around the island and you'll come across a surprising array of terrains and landscapes, perhaps the most famous being El Yunque Rainforest - the only such forest in the U.S. national park system - located in the northeastern portion of the island. The region's lush greenery surrounds luxurious golf courses and extends into pristine wilderness, including the picturesque Punta Tuna Wetlands Nature Reserve in the southeast. Activities like guided nature walks, golf and hiking are complemented by wellness activities. Near Rio Grande there are bed & breakfasts where staff can help guests engage with the peaceful environment through yoga and meditation hikes, among other activities.

On the eastern mainland of Puerto Rico, Luquillo is famous for its beaches, as are the islands of Vieques (home to the world's brightest bioluminescent bay) and Culebra -- both islands also feature expansive wildlife preserves. Visitors looking for lodging in Luquillo or Vieques will find not only a range of resorts and hotels, but also several hostels, which are affordable small properties with a unique, casual ambiance. Here travelers get to know their fellow guests as well as their hosts and learn about local life. Luquillo also has a 15-room parador (a small family-owned inn offering attentive service).

The southern coast features remote stretches of sand and mangrove cays waiting to be explored by kayak. And here, the famous forest is dry: Gu¨¢nica Dry Forest embodies a stark, dramatic beauty, while its terrain is perfect for mountain biking, hiking and viewing its many different bird species. Visitors can stay at a resort or parador in the town of Gu¨¢nica and should balance their nature exploration with a visit to other towns like Yauco, with its urban artworks, or Ponce, aka "The Pearl of the South". Ponce is a lively university town graced by neoclassical architecture and fountains, a beautiful cathedral, world-class art museum, indigenous ceremonial center, a bathing beach and a very popular Mardi Gras celebration.

The West coast is where Puerto Ricans tend to vacation and it abounds in attractions. The beaches around the town of Rincon offer great spots for surfing, diving and snorkeling and are famous for their sunsets. Attractions around Cabo Rojo include Los Morrillos Lighthouse, pink-hued salt flats, white-sand beaches and the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. The southwestern fishing village of La Parguera, on a bay of the same name, features a boardwalk, boat charters and its own bioluminescent waters. For an alternative to the resorts, your clients may wish to consider staying at the nearby parador, which is on the bay and features an excellent seafood restaurant.

This area of Puerto Rico is also known as the "northern karst" region on account of its large limestone hills, which harbor a remarkable variety of plants, animal life and landscapes. Recommend that your clients try a resort or parador in the coastal town of Isabela, where they will be close to a diversity of terrains, including cliffs, coastal flats, forests, hills dotted with wildflowers, lakes and mountains. Off the beaches, they'll find fish-filled waters great for snorkeling.

The Central Mountain region is where your clients will find cooler temperatures year-round as well as coffee farms. Local staff at the parador in Adjuntas can direct guests toward the best attractions and activities in the area - like coffee tastings at nearby haciendas, sites for rock climbing or caving, or trails that take hikers past natural pools, waterfalls and to the summit of Monte Guilarte at 3, 394 feet.

This slide show has mentioned in passing just a few towns where travelers can find a range of lodging options, including one or more of Puerto Rico's paradores, bed & breakfasts and hostels. Rooted in the local economy and staffed largely by people from the area, the latter options offer an authentic experience where your clients can learn firsthand about a region's culture, food and attractions. In partnership with Discover Puerto Rico, Travel Agent Academy has recently launched a new chapter on this great way to enhance your clients' exploration of the entire island. To learn more about Puerto Rico's small inns - and about other topics ranging from nature to golf to family travel and weddings - go to DiscoverPuertoRicoAgents.com.