An overview of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, known as “La Isla del Encanto” (The Isle of Enchantment) is as close to paradise as you can get. Small as it is (96 x 35 miles), do not let its size fool you. The island offers a multitude of attractions.

We are blessed with some of the greatest beaches in the Caribbean, as well as a rainforest hosting hundreds of animal and plant species, (some of which are autochthonous, such as the famous coqui). Puerto Rico is also home to several bio-luminescent bays, exclusive to a handful of places on Earth.

Old San Juan, founded in 1521, is the oldest city under the American flag and one of the oldest in the Americas. With its two massive fortresses, also the largest in the Americas, and its cobblestone streets, it has been beautifully restored and is a true gem. Of course our year-round sub-tropical weather means that all this can be enjoyed year-round. The daily temperatures never go below the 60’s (except high in the mountains) and never exceed the mid-90’s, so even summer and fall are great times to visit (when pricies are lower!). When it does rain it is usually over in a matter of minutes, rarely do we ever have a really gray, overcast day.

The culinary scene has an almost endless variety of offerings, from rice-and-beans comfort food to exotic Oriental and high-end European cuisine. And you can start any meal with one of our great rums and cap it off with our unequalled coffee.

Our music scene is no less varied. Salsa originated in Puerto Rico, as did a number of other music genres over the years (danzas, bomba, plena). Despacito by Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee recently took the world by storm. Hamilton was the creation of native son Lin-Manuel Miranda. You will hear music on every street corner. Major concerts are a regular feature of our cultural scene. Sting, Santana, Gloria Estefan, Cirque du Soleil are just a handful of names that come to mind. On the classical music scene the choice is no less varied. The Festival Casals plays every spring, and our surprisingly excellent Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra maintains a very active program, as do a number of other groups.

No wonder Puerto Ricans are considered some of the happiest people in the world! The human warmth of our people is contagious, it is actually our greatest unsung asset.

Oh, and we also have the longest zip line in the world! Not to forget kayaking, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, sailing, horseback riding, spelunking, adventure tours – the list goes on.

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and has a stable, democratic government. It may be bankrupt, but we, the people, are not, and everything functions as it should. Our currency is the US dollar and no passport is needed for visitors from the U.S. Also, English is commonly spoken by the majority of Puerto Ricans so you don’t get lost in translation.

Hop on the major airline of your preference and be here in just a few hours! So many airlines serve Puerto Rico that no matter where you are getting here is a hop-skip-and-jump. And there is enough competition to keep their prices honest.

Come and experience our cuisine, our music, our people, and let us help you fill your scrapbook with great memories from our Caribbean gem.