Puerto Rico

Why Puerto Rico is special
Puerto Rico is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The leading draws are Old San Juan, nearby El Morro, and beachfront resorts.

Puerto Rico's top 6 attractions & experiences
The ones not to miss
See map below for their locations:

1. Old San Juan
   The walled historic zone of Old San Juan occupies only a seven-square-block area. You wander down narrow cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings, fine restaurants, lively nightspots, and tourist-oriented shops.
   
2. El Morro Fortress
   This massive, thick-walled fort is the photo icon of Puerto Rico. El Morro and a companion fort have guarded San Juan and its harbor for centuries.
3. El Yunque
   This national rainforest park is only an hour's drive from San Juan.
4. Rincon
   Advanced surfers gravitate to Rincon to ride its majestic waves. The lifestyle is laid back.
5. Viequez Island
   This satellite island lies just off Puerto Rico's eastern coastline. Be sure to swim at night in its Bioluminescent Bay to experience nature's amazing phosphorescent lightshow. The glow surrounds your body. (Update: Recently, the brightness ceased. No one knows for sure why. Hope the problem is short lived.).
6. Arecibo Radio Telescope
   Its receiver dish measures 305 meters (1,000 feet) in diameter - and scans the heavens for possible radio signals from distant planets.

More Puerto Rico tips & insights
Best accommodations in and near San Juan
In Old San Juan:

• Convento
  Traditional ambiance.
  
• Sheraton
  Convenient to cruise ship piers.
  

In Condado

• Conrad Condado Plaza
  Modern ambiance.

In Isla Verde

• El San Juan
  Puerto Rico's finest hotel and casino. Beachfront. Traditional ambiance.

Other worthy resorts are sprinkled around the island.

Distinct culture
Puerto Rico is a semi-autonomous commonwealth of the United States, but the Puerto Ricans proudly follow the beat of its island's 2,000-year heritage rather than becoming mainstream Americanized.

The diverse cultural influencers trace back as far as the indigenous Taino Indians, the Spanish colonialists, and the African slaves. Recent influences come from America, via TV shows and the Puerto Ricans who migrate to New York City and return to their homeland permanently or for family visits.

Language
Spanish is the official and most prevalent language, though English is widely spoken.

Island statistics
Puerto Rico is 177 kilometers (105 miles) in length and 56 kilometers (35 miles) wide.

Location Maps