Puerto Rico

"Fantasy Island" was the fictional name of an old television program starring Ricardo Montalbalm. Guests brought their fantasies and dreams to him to transform into reality.

A real fantasy island is located where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic Ocean, in Puerto Rico. Palamino Island is one part of the 500-acre El Conquistador Resort and Country Club. It can become your own private island where anything can be created to fulfill your wedding fantasyday or night.

The resort has designed itself to be an ideal site for destination weddings. On Palamino Island, the word "no" doesn't exist," Mr. Nicholas, the island manager said. "It's all just a matter of how much and how long." The island has been transformed to fulfill a full range of fantasies from elegant parties to a Brazilian-style carnival with guests in masquerade costumes to Jurassic Park complete with moving dinosaur recreations, including a flying pterodactyl, and helicopter arrivals for guests onto a dock styled after the movie. Tents, generators, entire orchestras or local reggae bands can be provided.

The 100-acre island has several beaches and offers hiking, horseback riding and every imaginable type of water sport. A private wedding chapel set on a hilltop overlooks the ocean. "When it comes to food for weddings on the island, anything goes," said Michael, the island head chef.

For a more conventional resort wedding, three luxurious ballrooms as well as outdoor veranda sites are available. The ballrooms have elaborate chandeliers, decorated, slipcovered chairs and beautiful table linen. Socorro Cabrera, the catering manager and wedding coordinator, will arrange food tastings to set the menu as well as flowers, photography, entertainment and the marriage license.

The focus is on service. No matter what a guest needs, no matter what the problem is, no matter what is desired, someone is immediately there to arrange accommodations. Concierge desks located throughout the complex are open continuously. Some suites have their own private butler service.

Choice and pampering seem to be the motto of the El Conquistador. Guests can choose from four different environmentshigh atop a bluff overlooking both the Caribbean and the Atlantic, near golf and tennis, near a casino and entertainment or overlooking a romantic fishing village. Nearly every room has some water view. The complex contains six swimming pools with two environments having their own private pools.

A world class spa and beauty salon is on the premises. In all, 26 restaurants and bars specializing in differing atmospheres and cuisine are situated throughout the resort. The needs of young children, families and those with disabilities have been anticipated. Daily programs, catered with the men of your choice, can be designed for the full group or for adults and children separately.

Package plans are available for honeymoons or for wedding guestsÕ vacations. The staff recommend choosing May or June when, coincidentally, rates are substantially reduced. September through December is rainy reason.

Excursions may be arranged to rain forests, historic Spanish fortresses, Taino Indian ceremonial grounds, forest reserves, the world's third largest underground river, a working 19th-century coffee plantation and phosphorescent bays.