Puerto Rico Cultural Essentials

Puerto Rico’s history is a lesson in absorption, a brilliant mosaic of the cultures that have influenced its traditions for nearly two millennia. The Igneri people were among the first to populate the island, migrating upward from Venezuela; later on, the Native American Taíno civilization gave the island the name of Borikén, the origin of the modern-day term Borinquén, an affectionate name for Puerto Rico. West Africans, who came to Puerto Rico both as slaves and free persons, introduced the beat of bomba y plena and the religious tradition of Santería. Perhaps the most influential people to inhabit Puerto Rico were the Spanish colonists, who forcefully left the island with the legacy of the Spanish language, Roman Catholicism, the music of danza and décima, and traditional Spanish foods, such as flan and bistec empanado. The perceived importance of Puerto Rico’s Hispanic heritage is one of the reasons Puerto Ricans have consistently voted against becoming a US state. Despite their diverse heritage, Puerto Ricans are clearly united by their love of Borinquén Querida (beloved Puerto Rico) and are happy to introduce visitors to the wonders of their island home.

• Land

The island of Puerto Rico lies where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, 123 mi. southeast of Florida, between the Greater Antilles to the west and the smaller islands of the Lesser Antilles ...more

• History

The first inhabitants of the area now known as Puerto Rico, the Arcaicos, likely came to the island from North America and settled around Loíza. They were soon followed by the Igneri people, who came ...more

• Puerto Rico Today

In 2000, Puerto Ricans elected the island’s first female governor, Sila Calderón, who focused her campaign on the US military presence in Puerto Rico and especially on the island of Vieques. In April ...more

• Demographics

Like most Latin Americans, Puerto Ricans are an ethnic mix of their Spanish, African, and Native American ancestors. Today, 80.5% of islanders identify themselves as white (of primarily Spanish origin) ...more

• Language

Spanish and English are both official languages of Puerto Rico, but the vast majority of islanders prefer to speak Spanish. In San Juan almost everyone speaks English, but it is polite for visitors ...more

• Religion

Eighty-five percent of Puerto Ricans remain true to their Spanish roots and identify themselves as Roman Catholic, although most major religions are represented on the island. As a commonwealth of the ...more

• Culture

The wealth and diversity of restaurants in Puerto Rico, and especially San Juan, make it easy to visit the island without ever sampling regional cuisine. Don’t make that mistake. Though similar to ...more

• Holidays And Festivals

Puerto Ricans love a good party; there is some kind of festival or event somewhere on the island nearly every week. The island has three primary types of celebration—patron saint festivals, harvest ...more

• Additional Resources

The Taínos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus. Irvin Rouse (Yale University Press, 1993). The most informed and accessible history of Puerto Rico’s first major civilization from ...more