Travel Guide to Puerto Rico
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
General Information:
Puerto Rico, known as "The Enchanted Island," is a vibrant, modern country with a rich and diverse culture that is a blend of Spanish, African, Indian, and American influences.
The island's uniqueness lies in being the first overseas territory of the US (Commonwealth/Territory). Residents of Puerto Rico are American citizens who enjoy a relatively high standard of living, a blooming economy, and fertile commercial life. American companies have invested and continue to invest significant sums in the island. The efficiency is American, but the island's atmosphere is more reminiscent of Latin America. Puerto Rico is the island with the richest Spanish tradition in the Caribbean. It features forts, walled cities, historical buildings, narrow and winding streets, churches, and plenty of carnivals that contribute to the atmosphere. Residents of Puerto Rico are known as friendly and kind people. Latin music and salsa dancing combined with West African-influenced jazz music are very popular among the island's residents. In addition to ancient cities and small, quiet towns, the island has prestigious and sophisticated neighborhoods such as Condado and Isla Verde, which feature luxury hotels and magnificent resorts with impressive casinos, glittering nightclubs, and cabaret shows. The island is known for its wonderful beaches and a variety of sports and recreation options, ranging from prestigious golf courses to unimaginable water sports. Puerto Rico is also known for its impressive and diverse landscapes and nature sites, from tropical rainforests to stalactite caves and cliffs to small, magical islands.
Compared to other Caribbean islands around it, Puerto Rico is a relatively inexpensive country to visit.
♦ Recommended Hotels in Puerto Rico
It is recommended not to stay in Old San Juan, as it is not pleasant to wander through some of its streets at night, but rather to stay in one of the two popular resort areas on the seafront in New San Juan, which are full of resorts and hotels from all major chains:
Hotels in the area of Condado
And hotels in the area of Isla Verde
Another excellent option is to stay in the city of Fajardo, in the northeast of the island, which is also an excellent starting point for a host of attractions and tourism and vacation sites in Puerto Rico. A particularly recommended hotel in this city with a private beach and plenty of vacation and entertainment facilities is:
El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
This is a five-star resort overlooking a magnificent view of the sea and the islands scattered in it. The resort features a water park, golf, horseback riding, and a wealth of sports and nautical facilities.
Location and Climate:
Puerto Rico is an island with a nearly rectangular shape, covering an area of about 9,100 sq km: 177 km long and 56 km wide (roughly the size of the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean). It is the smallest and easternmost island in the Greater Antilles chain. The island is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,600 km southeast of Miami, Florida. To the west of Puerto Rico lies the Dominican Republic and to the east are the Virgin Islands.
The island has a coastline of about 580 km, and if you include the islands belonging to Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra, located near its northeastern part, the length of the beaches reaches about 700 km!
Sixty percent of Puerto Rico's area is mountainous. The central mountain range (called Cordillera Central) is spread almost the entire length of the island from east to west. The island has a great variety of landscape forms: rainforests, deserts, beaches, caves, and rivers. The island has three main topographical areas: the interior, mountainous; the coastal area, low; and the Karst area (built of limestone), in the northwest of the country.
The highest point on the island is Cerro Punta, at an altitude of 1,338 meters. Puerto Rico has an abundance of rich tropical vegetation. Huge bamboos grow along the roadsides and in river valleys, and everywhere you can see ferns, hibiscuses, bougainvilleas, and impressive trees.
The island is full of relatively short rivers and streams. There are no natural lakes on the island, but there are several artificial lakes created by dams built for the purpose of generating electricity from water.
Puerto Rico's territory also includes three islands: Mona Island to the west, and Vieques and Culebra islands to the east.
Puerto Rico enjoys sunny summer weather in all months of the year. In winter, the average temperature is 23 degrees Celsius, while in the summer months it is 29.5 degrees. Pleasant trade winds coming from the east air-condition the coastal cities and ease the heat load.
Temperatures in the mountains are significantly lower than the temperatures along the coast, so if traveling in the interior of the island, it is recommended to bring warm clothes in all seasons. Relative humidity is high throughout the year.
On the northern shore of the island, the amount of rain is double that along the southern shore. The amount of precipitation in San Juan (in the north of the country) is 1,500 mm per year. The amount of precipitation in the mountains, in the interior of the country, is several times higher than along the beaches. The dry season is from December to March. The rainy season, mainly between the months of June-October, is considered the hurricane season on the island. Dozens of hurricanes have passed through the island since the first Spaniards settled there. The most destructive was San Ciriaco in August 1899. Also in 1998, Hurricane George left behind heavy damage. The last hurricane to hit the island was Jeanne in September 2004.
Map of Puerto Rico:
Language:
English and Spanish are official languages on the island, but the dominant language without a doubt is Spanish. In the tourist cities, most people master English well; however, as you move further away from the big city and travel to smaller towns and destinations, people know less English. Only a quarter of the country's residents are English speakers (many of them at a fairly basic level).
Currency:
Since Puerto Rico is part of the US, the official currency in the country is the US Dollar. Locals sometimes refer to the dollar as a "Peso."
Time Zone:
Puerto Rico is in the Atlantic Standard Time (AST) zone in all months of the year (it does not observe daylight saving time), meaning: when daylight saving time is practiced here, Israel is seven hours ahead of Puerto Rico, and in the winter months, the time difference is 6 hours.
Main Attractions on the Island:
♦ Booking tours and sightseeing in San Juan from Viator:
San Juan
San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is a modern and vibrant city that combines vacation options on classic Caribbean beaches with white sand, along with culture and impressive historical sites, all in the comfort of an American city. San Juan is also the country's financial capital and its industrial and political center. Its port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean and the second largest in North America. San Juan is considered the oldest city under US control. Greater San Juan consists of three main parts:
- The Old City
- The beach and resort area (such as Ocean, Isla Verde, and Condado) - The suburbs surrounding them (such as Rio Piedras, Hato Rey, Santurces).
♦ Recommended food tours in San Juan - purchase from Viator:
The Old City of San Juan
The Old City of San Juan (Old San Juan) is about 500 years old and originally served as a military outpost. The city is surrounded by a wall (the total length of the wall is about 10 km, its height is about 15 meters, and the thickness of the walls is about 6 meters) and includes seven blocks of buildings with ancient houses painted in pastel colors, streets paved with blue stone, and impressive squares. The Old City is located on the western tip of the island of San Juan, connected by bridges to the mainland and surrounded by water on three sides.
Museums:
In Old San Juan, there is a large selection of museums, the most interesting of which are:
Museo de Las Americas
Follows the development of humanity in the two Americas, both historically and culturally from the period preceding Columbus's voyages to the present day. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico Displays artworks by local creators, known artists from neighboring Caribbean islands, and international works.
The Children's Museum (Museo del Nino) is located across from the Cathedral. This is a popular museum for children with interactive displays and exhibitions of dolls and toys.
Sites in Greater San Juan (outside the Old City):
Outside the Old City, there are also many tourist sites, but unlike the Old City where everything is within a reasonable walking distance, visiting sites in Greater San Juan requires the use of public transportation, taxis, or a rental car.
The San Juan Botanical Garden is located at the University of Puerto Rico, in the neighborhood called Rio Piedras, and contains over two hundred types of tropical and sub-tropical plants.
Bacardi Rum Distillery
The two most touristic neighborhoods in the city lie on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean: Condado and Isla Verde, east of it. This coastal strip is full of resorts, casinos, restaurants, shops, and clubs. The main tourist activity in the area, besides seeing and being seen, is water sports of all kinds (details in the activities section).
Attractions in the Northeast of the Island
The Caribbean National Forest, commonly known as "El Yunque," is one of the most maintained and accessible rainforests in the world.
♦ Guided tour to the El Yunque rainforest including a waterfall departs from San Juan:
Vieques Island is located about 11 km from Fajardo Port. The island is known for its many recommended beaches (over fifty!) that are almost empty of people, with golden sand and clear turquoise waters. Diving and snorkeling conditions near the island's shores are excellent.
Culebra Island, with an area of 64 sq km, is smaller and quieter than its neighbor Vieques. It is famous for its coral reefs and beautiful beaches with white sand.
Las Cabezas de San Juan nature reserve is located near the city of Fajardo on road number 987. On the site stands a lighthouse, El Faro, which has been operating continuously since 1882, and additionally, there is a center for scientific research, archaeological excavations, and a wildlife sanctuary.
Attractions in the Northwest of the Island:
Rio Camuy Cave Park (Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy) - More than two hundred caves were created over millions of years in the Karst area in the north of the island.
Arecibo Radio Telescope (Radiotelescopio de Arecibo) Located in the northwestern mountains of the island, between Karst hills near the city of Arecibo. This is the largest radio telescope in the world.
Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park - The historical park is located east of Arecibo on a lovely beach and features the lighthouse that was recently renovated and restored. The site includes a museum, children's play facilities, sports facilities, and a restaurant.
In the city of Arecibo, there is also the only amusement park in Puerto Rico, Fun Valley Park. West of Arecibo on the way to Mayaguez are several world-renowned surfing beaches.
South of it is the surfing capital of the island, Rincon. This is a small fishing village that hosts annual world surfing competitions. From the observation park, located near the lighthouse north of the village, you can watch whales during the winter months.
Attractions in the South of the Island:
The City of Ponce
The city is located in the center of the island's southern coast and is the second-largest city in Puerto Rico. The drive by car from San Juan, the capital, to Ponce takes about 90 minutes. In the city known as the "Pearl of the South," about half a billion dollars were invested in the renovation and preservation of historical buildings, and today it is a paradise for architecture enthusiasts.
Hacienda Buena Vista is an estate and coffee manufacturing plant located about 10 km north of Ponce on the road leading to Adjuntas.
The "Tibes" Indian Ceremonial Center (Centro Ceremonial Indigena de Tibes) is a very important historical site from 400 AD. It is the oldest Indian ceremonial site uncovered so far in the Caribbean. Guided tours are conducted at the site, describing the lifestyle of the Indians before Columbus discovered the island. The park is located near Ponce.
The southwestern corner of the island is the driest area in Puerto Rico. Specifically, Bosque Estatal de Guanica, which is a unique dry forest with 700 types of plants, including cacti, 48 of which are of an endangered species, including 16 that grow nowhere else in the world. Over 100 species of birds live in the forest. There are many hiking trails in the forest.
Mona Island
The island is located about 75 km west of Puerto Rico and is known as the "Galapagos of the Caribbean." The island can only be reached by a boat trip of about six hours from the city of Boqueron in southwestern Puerto Rico. The small island is an ideal place for enthusiasts of eco-tourism, diving, and tranquility, who wish to leave the crowds and city sounds far behind.
The Interior:
Toro Negro Forest Reserve is located in the central mountains of the island.
Barranquitas is one of the most photogenic towns on the island. The town, located at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, was built on the model of a fortified Spanish village above a large volcanic channel.
Bioluminescent Bays
Along Puerto Rico's shores, there are several bays where a rare and spectacular natural phenomenon occurs: a glowing blue-green light in the dark seawater. Every fish swimming in the water appears surrounded by a special glow. People swimming in the water find that their hands and feet are lit with glowing colors. The glow is sometimes so strong that it is seen from afar, and some claim you can even read a newspaper by its light. The spectacular phenomenon is caused by single-celled organisms whose scientific name is Dinoflagellates, which as part of their defense mechanisms, initiate a chemical-physical reaction caused by movement in their close environment. These single-celled organisms are found in many areas of the world, but Puerto Rico's warm waters, abundant with mangrove trees, provide them with the most suitable conditions for their activity.
Kayaking on moonless nights is the most recommended way and time to see the special phenomenon in all its glory and glow.
Beaches:
Puerto Rico has more than 250 beaches that are very different from each other. The island has long, popular, and crowded coastal strips, overflowing with activities and water sports, and in contrast, quiet and hidden lagoons. The public beaches of Puerto Rico are called "Balnearios."
The most popular beaches on the island are Condado Beach, Isla Verde Beach, and Ocean Park Beach, which are very reminiscent of Miami Beach with a large number of high-rise hotels all along the beaches. The largest and most luxurious resorts were built, of course, near the most beautiful beaches. In any case, entrance to all beaches (including those adjacent to hotels) is free for everyone, but you have to pay money for the use of various facilities on the beaches. In the winter months, these beaches are crowded with tourists and vacationers.
Some of the best beaches in the country are on the islands of Culebra and Vieques.
In southwestern Puerto Rico, you can also find wonderful and deserted beaches. The main reasons the beaches are almost always empty of people are that they are far from San Juan, where most tourists live, and also the fact that access roads to some of the beaches are quite poor.
The best surfing beaches in the Caribbean are found on the western coast of the island, north of the city of Mayaguez.
Did you know? San Juan is considered the largest home port in the world for passenger ships. The port serves as the home port for about 30 ships, and every year more ships join the list.
Entertainment and Nightlife:
San Juan is considered the entertainment and nightlife capital of the Caribbean. But also in other areas of the island such as Dorado, Rio Grande, Luquillo, Pinones, Ponce, and Mayaguez, you will find vibrant resorts, full of activities and entertainment. The places of entertainment in the major cities in Puerto Rico are competitive with most cosmopolitan cities in the world.
The entertainment and recreation options in San Juan are many and varied and include nightclubs, cabaret shows, bars, casinos, theaters, dance shows, concerts, and even operas. The large hotels offer the best entertainment options in the city including casinos, nightclubs and discos, bars, and luxury restaurants. The most popular music on the island, providing an authentic local atmosphere, is Latin music with South American and Spanish influences such as salsa, but you will find clubs in every style, from jazz clubs to clubs where current New York hits are played. The entertainment in the city lasts until the small hours of the night. The largest parties and events take place mainly on weekends.