DESTINATION GUIDES > COUNTRIES

Puerto Rico

Whatever you want to do on a tropical vacation or business trip-play on the beach with the kids (or gamble away their college funds), enjoy a romantic honeymoon, or have a little fun after a grueling negotiating session-you'll find it in Puerto Rico. But you don't want to waste precious hours once you get here searching for the best deals and the best experiences. We've done that work for you. During our years of traveling through the islands that form the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, we've tested the beaches, toured the sights, reviewed countless restaurants, inspected hotels, and sampled the best scuba diving, hikes, and other outdoor activities. We've even learned where to get away from it all when it's time to escape the crowds...

Where to Go

Beneath a leafy canopy in El Yunque National Forest, we paused to listen for the croaks of Puerto Rico's tiny tree frogs. Then a gaggle of children in matching uniforms rushed past us, giggling and shouting. As remote as this Caribbean rain forest may seem, it's close enough to San Juan for school field trips.

One of the largest islands in the region, Puerto Rico's landscape encompasses mountains, underground caves, coral reefs, white-sand beaches and a rain forest big enough to supply water to most of the island. But it's also heavily developed -- San Juan is a big city with a bustling business district, glitzy resorts and casinos as well as one of the most stunning colonial zones in Latin America.

This mix of urban and natural attractions is just one of the reasons Puerto Rico is such an appealing destination. Another is the fact that the island, which is a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S., exists in two worlds. Most islanders have either lived in the U.S. or have relatives there. Yet they still hold on to island traditions: You'll see whole extended families on outings to museums, the theater and the park. You'll see men playing dominoes at well-worn outdoor tables. U.S.-style fast-food restaurants abound in Puerto Rico, but so do brightly painted roadside stands selling rice and beans. Even the language reflects the island's easy biculturalism: English and Spanish are both official languages, although Spanish is more commonly used.

Of course, having close ties with the U.S. and being a hub of the Caribbean has its drawbacks, too. Crime troubles parts of San Juan, although patrols in the tourist areas have recently been stepped up and reports indicate crime rates are down. Air pollution and water shortages are ongoing concerns. And the popularity of San Juan, particularly in the winter months, can mean long lines at historic sites and restaurants.

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History

Puerto Rico had few inhabitants when Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493. Fifteen years later, Spain appointed Ponce de Leon, the seeker of the Fountain of Youth, to be its first governor. The original settlers, the Taino Indians, rebelled against the Spanish, but their uprising only resulted in their decimation. For four centuries, Spain used the island as its gateway to the New World, defending it against assaults from the English, the French and the Dutch. (It was the last stop for treasure ships bound for Spain.) In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the Spanish met their match: The U.S. Army landed on the southern side of the island. Shortly afterward, Spain handed Puerto Rico over to the U.S. Puerto Rico became a commonwealth and its residents were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917.

However, residents don't have every right enjoyed by their mainland cousins. For instance, they can't cast ballots in U.S. presidential elections and their resident commissioner -- their elected representative to the U.S. House -- can sit on congressional committees but cannot vote. (On the other side of the coin, Puerto Ricans pay no U.S. federal income tax.) Puerto Ricans remain fiercely divided on whether their island should become the 51st U.S. state.

Agriculture was the island's mainstay in the early years -- coffee and tropical fruit plantations dotted the countryside and vast fields were planted with sugarcane, which was processed into some of the world's best rum. Some coffee, sugarcane and fruit plantations remain, but they, and other farming operations, now account for only 3% of employment and 1% of the island's income. In fact, so much farmland has been turned over to residential and commercial development in recent decades that a lot of the sugarcane needed for rum production is imported from neighboring Dominican Republic.

In the place of farming, industry -- led by manufacturing -- now dominates the island's economy, a legacy born of the U.S. government's Operation Bootstrap program in the 1940s. Exports include chemicals, pharmaceuticals and health-care products, apparel and footwear, rubber and plastic goods, rum and coffee. Tourism also is important to the island's economy -- more than 2 million people visit the island each year. Although poor compared with U.S. states, Puerto Rico has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.

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Dining

The cuisine is a mixture of Spanish, Indian and Creole, with plenty of American, Asian and other cuisines thrown in. The local food is highly seasoned, distinctive and quite good. Try the empanadillas (meat- or seafood-filled turnovers), paella and seafood. Other good local dishes include black bean soup, lechon asado (roast suckling pig), bacalaitos (salted cod fritters), mofongo (mashed plantain with garlic), sancocho (beef stew with vegetable roots) and tostones (fried cakes made of green plantains). Comida criolla refers to island cuisine.

Along every major roadway and city street, you'll find a variety of al fresco food vendors. The worst of these serve hamburgers and hot dogs, but the best serve wonderful Puerto Rican barbecued chicken and superb fried foods (from deep-fried ripe plantains to deep-fried mashed potatoes stuffed with spiced beef), all tasty and very reasonably priced. The local beer is also good. You can also find your fast-food favorites (their menus are often in Spanish).

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Shopping

Shop for locally produced fabrics, lace, straw and wood products, colorful masks (made of papier-mache or coconut shells), ceramics and tiles, cuatros (handmade guitars), santos (small carved-wood religious figures), cigars, local rum, embroidered goods and hammocks (locally claimed to be a Puerto Rican invention, found in many different styles, materials and colors). Be aware that Puerto Rico is not a duty-free port.

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Climate

The best time to visit is December-April. (That's also the high season.) The temperatures are in the 70s-80s F/23-32 C during the day and in the 70s F/23-27 C at night (do take a sweater for the evenings, especially in the mountain areas). Hurricane season is June-November, when it can be cloudy, more humid and rainy. It seems to rain at least once a day year round, but most of the rain comes in brief torrents and doesn't ruin a whole day. Taking along a waterproof jacket or lightweight raincoat is a good idea.

Passport & Visa

Entry requirements are the same as USA.

IMPORTANT: we cannot held responsible for the correctness of this information.

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© Copyright: John Nelson