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There’s more to discover beyond the Mediterranean.

A former yacht crew member spills the beans.

Exploring the Rioja Region with Pablo Villegas

Mallorca: Spanish Style Beyond the Beach

Where to eat the best tapas in Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, and San Sebastián—plus how to order them like the locals do.

Learning how to dance Flamenco in Spain.

Vieques may get more airtime when it comes to promoting Puerto Rico’s offshore islands, but the other “little sister” island, Culebra, attracts visitors for its famous Playa Flamenco, which was once named a world’s-best beach by the Discovery Channel. No one really remembers or cares when the superlative was bestowed, because as far as they’re concerned, Culebra retains the honor. Puerto Ricans come from the mainland to spend holiday weekends here, and even when it’s crowded, there’s plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the perfect sand and surf.

Suppose I told you there was a small, remarkably idyllic and fairly unpopulated island in the Caribbean just a short distance from the mainland United States, an island so immaculate, plans were in the works to make it a National Wildlife Refuge, an island with a beach rated one of the best beaches in the world, an island where you could basically do whatever you wanted along its iridescent shores with little chance of being interrupted by prying eyes.... What’s the first thing you’d do? Well, if you were the U.S. military back in 1901 and the destination in question was the island of Culebra, you’d blow it all to hell! For nearly 75 years, bombs pounded Flamenco Beach on Culebra, la “Última Virgen,” while the U.S. military used it for target practice. Protests drove the Navy away, but some relics remain on the once pristine sands as a reminder of how never to treat one of the best strips of beach in the world. During the weekends, Flamenco Beach can get fairly crowded with “mainland” Puerto Ricans taking the ferry over for a day in the sun, so I recommend you make time during the week for a more secluded experience. There are vendors nearby, but not too near, to make your stay a pleasant one with local cuisine and plenty of ice-cold beer.

Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance, steeped in history and tradition. Whirling dresses and stamping feet make this Andalusian tradition a must-see, while exploring Spain.

Overview

Spanish wines, gin and tonics, cerveza, vermut: Everything gets the Spanish treatment, whether you’re drinking in a fine cocktail lounge or in a neighborhood bodega. Try them all—the flamenco joints with live gypsy music, the pulsating dance clubs of Madrid’s youth culture, and the elegant hotel bars.

Don’t forget to take a piece of Madrid home with you—a Spanish fan, a pair of espadrilles or flamenco shoes, olive-oil soap. Follow the locals and browse chic designer clothing on Calle de Fuencarral or Calle Serrano. There’s no shortage of shopping, only space in the luggage.

As winter ends, and better weather is on the horizon, Europeans take to the streets to celebrate with public parties, surprising spectacles, and food, and drink. Dress in head-to-toe orange for King’s Day in Amsterdam, or don a polka-dot flamenco gown in Seville and become a local for the day.

What does the pulse of Spain feel like? Hurried, alive, and throbbing in your chest like a flamenco dance. Then it slows, melodically enchanting you with a steady, calm rhythm—like the lapping of the Mediterranean. Spain is a vast, varied, and complex country, but one thing is certain: from the deserts of Navarre to the winding roads of Andalucía, and from early morning at La Plaça de la Catedral to vermouth with tapas while the sun goes down, it ranks among the best.

This dockside restaurant has a charming historic patina, as it is part of an actual fishing club headquartered in an 18th-century military Cartagena fortress, San Sebastián del Pastelillo. Sit at outdoor tables with views of the city, the bay, and the club’s private marina and pier (some of your fellow patrons arrive by boat!), and dine on freshly caught seafood. On weekends, live music—jazz, bossa nova, and flamenco—animates the scene.