Puerto Rico Overview

From the rumble of reggaeton to the beat of bomba, life on Puerto Rico is a pulsing blur of sound and movement. Hordes of cars weave across the island, commerce bustles at the pace of a developed metropolis, and seemingly incessant fiestas ensure that nobody ever lacks a reason to celebrate. Sights, too, fill the island: Puerto Rico is remarkable for the sheer amount of stuff squeezed onto a plot of land the size of Connecticut. In addition to its four million people, Puerto Rico is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, the only tropical rainforest in the US, acres of coral reef, the world’s third-largest underground cave system, seven protected nature reserves, and species of wildlife not found anywhere else on the planet.

It is no wonder, then, that puertorriqueños are so widely known for their deep national pride, a sentiment most immediately evident in the ubiquitous Puerto Rican flags and “Borinquén Querida” bumper stickers. Puerto Rico stands at the intersection of the cultural and economic worlds of the United States and Latin America: the language is Spanish and the culture decidedly Latin, but Americanization and commercial development have penetrated most of its cities. Instead of choosing between these two worlds, Puerto Ricans have unified their diverse heritage—Taíno, African, and Spanish—to create a vibrant identity that is uniquely Puerto Rican, or more accurately, Boricua. The island’s original Taíno name still serves as a password for the lively spirit that is Puerto Rico.

Official Name: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Free Associated State of Puerto Rico).
Capital: San Juan.
Population Density: 1127 people per sq. mi.
Per Capita Gdp: $19,300.
Percentage Of Us Rum Produced In Puerto Rico: 70.
Population Of Puerto Ricans In The Us: 3.9 million.
Number Of Cities That Claim Columbus Landed There: 5 (Combate, Guayanilla, Mayagüez, Boquerón, Añasco).

Essentials

Passport Required: Required for citizens of every country except the US (US citizens should bring government-issued identification to prove citizenship).
Visa: Required for citizens of every country except the US, Canada, Bermuda, or one of the 27 countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Program.
Inoculations: Recommended up-to-date on DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), Haemophilus influenzae B, Hepatitis B, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and polio booster.
Work Permit: Required for all foreigners planning to work in Puerto Rico.
Phone Numbers: 911 for emergencies; 511 for directory assistance.
Currency: US Dollar (US$)

When To Go

Most travelers escape to Puerto Rico between December and April when the weather up north is miserable and the island’s climate is at its prime. As a result, hotels in San Juan, Culebra, and Vieques ...more