Puerto Rico

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Quick Facts

[edit]

Capital

San Juan

Population

3,886,000

Government

Commonwealth associated with the US

Religions

Christianity (Catholic, Protestant)

Languages

Spanish, English

Calling Code

+0

Nationality

Puerto Rican

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Introduction

El Morro

© All Rights Reserved Hessell

What is most striking about Puerto Rico is the apparent contradiction between its Latino/Caribbean culture and its cosmopolitan city centers, akin to mainland U.S. cities. The influences of U.S., Spanish, African and Taíno cultures have had a perplexing effect on all aspects of Puerto Rican life. Fast food chains and old Spanish colonial buildings stand side-by-side in San Juan; folk music descendant from Spanish folk music contrasts with the bomba, a dance carried over from Africa.

Since it is easy to reach from the United States (no visa is required), Puerto Rico has matured into a tourist hot-spot. But while San Juan continues to be the country's prime attraction, journeys into the countryside reward travellers with a clearer glimpse into the unique Puerto Rican culture.

Brief History

Geography

Regions/Islands

• Puerto Rico is the main island and by far the largest.
• Culebra
• Vieques
• Mona

Aside from these islands, there are numerous smaller islands (many uninhabited) included in the archipelago.

Cities

• San Juan - The capital
• Areceibo
• Mayagüez
• Ponce
• Guayama
• Caguas

Sights and Activities

Bay of San Juan

La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico is the only site on the island that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here, a series of defensive structures was built during the period between 1400 and 1900 at a strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. They represent a fine display of European military architecture adapted to harbour sites on the American continent. The site includes Fort San Cristóbal, Fort San Felipe del Morro, Fort San Juan de la Cruz (called El Cañuelo as well), and bastions, powder houses, and three quarters of the city wall surrounding San Juan.

El Yunque

El Yunque National Park is located in the Luquillo mountains and is a park of around 11,000 hectares big. It encompasses a lush rain forest with over 400 species of trees and ferns. Within the park, you have the choice of about 13 hiking trails. Some of them are easy strolls, while others require better physical conditions, like the one to the peak of El Yunque.

While walking, keep an eye out for the coquí frog (the national symbol of Puerto Rico), the rare Puerto Rican parrot, beautiful orchids and waterfalls.

It's only about one hour from the capital San Juan.

Río Camuy Cave Park

In the northeastern region of Puerto Rico over 200 caves have been discovered. With some experience, you can go climbing, abseiling and swimming through the underground river system of the Camy River. This is one of the biggest underground rivers in the world.

Ponce

Billions of dollars have been spent to restore the colonial centre of the second biggest city in Puerto Rico, Ponce. The centre dates back to the 7th century AD and is known as a national treasure. You will find churches, squares, decorated colonial houses and other buildings and fountains. Plaza Las Delicias is one of the highlights for sure.

Other sights and activities

• Arecibo Observatory. The largest single-dish radio telescope in the world.
• Bosque Estatal de Guánica. A national park.
• Iglesia de San José. San Juan.
• Bacardi-walhalla. San Juan, producing hundreds of thousands of liters a day. Be sure to take a taxi!
• Vieques. A small island off the coast, known for it illuminating organisms .
• Culebra. A popular weekend getaway, so go during the week, or visit one of the even smaller islands by water taxi nearby.
• Mona Island. An island to the east, between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. You can only visit if you have a permit, as the island has a wonderful natural environment.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Puerto Rico has a hot and humid climate with temperatures rarely dropping below 18º C at night, although the mountainous areas can get a bit chilly sometimes.
Average daytime temperatures hoover around 30º C, a bit cooler from December to April and a bit warmer between June and October. This latter period also is the rainy season with a chance of hurricanes from late July onwards. Obviously, this is not the best time to visit.

Getting there

Plane

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan is where all international planes arrive and depart. It serves as the Caribbean hub for American Airlines and American Eagle and there are connections to almost every island nation in the region with these two airlines.

Many other airlines based in the United States serve Puerto Rico from numerous cities. These include Delta Air Lines and US Airways.
Destinations further away include Frankfurt, London and Madrid in Europe and several cities in South America like Bogota.

Boat

Dominican Republic - Puerto Rico vv
Ferries del Caribe offers three weekly ferries between Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and Mayagüez in Puerto Rico. From Santo Domingo they leave on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm arriving in Mayagüez at 8am the following morning. From Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, they leave on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm, and arrive in Santo Domingo at 8am the next morning. The journey takes about 12 hours in both directions.

Puerto Rico - United States Virgin Islands vv
Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. In the opposite direction, boats leave every two weeks on a Thursday at 5pm from St. John and 6 pm from St. Thomas. The trip takes about 2 hours and services are wih Transportation Services Virgin Islands.

Getting Around

By Plane

American Eagle, Vieques Air Link and Cape Air all provide domestic services between San Juan, Vieques and a few other towns.

By Car

Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore a lot of Puerto Rico and there are at least a dozen rental companies to choose from. Most are located at the international airport or in San Juan. An (inter)national driver's license is valid in the country. Although there is no reason for panic, just watch the road and stay calm. Most Puerto Ricans are not.

By Bus

Minivans known as públicos travel around the island and go to almost every corner of the island. They don't travel according to a schedule and they can be flagged down anywhere. If you don't travel between the largest cities, you will need to change once or twice to get to your final destination. It's a safe, cheap and social way of getting around.

By Boat

There are ferries between the main island of Puerto Rico and some island to the east. Boats leave Fajardo for the islands of Culebra and Vieques at least four times a day to either island. It takes around one hour and services are with the Puerto Rican Port Authority Office.

Red Tape

Visa requirements are the same as for the United States.

Money

See also Money Matters

The US Dollar, or "greenback", is the currency Puerto Rico. One dollar consists of 100 cents. Frequently used coins are the penny (1¢), nickel (5¢), dime (10¢) and quarter (25¢). 50¢ and $1 coins also exist, but are rarely used. Frequently used banknotes are the $1, $5, $10 and $20 notes. $2, $50 and $100 notes can also be found, but are rarely used.

Work

Study

Language

Related article: Spanish: Grammar, pronunciation and useful phrases

Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico. English is spoken by about 50% of the population, and is taught as a second language at high school. Puerto Rican Spanish is quite distinct from that of other Spanish-speaking countries, owing to the influence of ancestral languages and English.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

See also Travel Health

Safety

See also Travel Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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