Overview
Sights And Activities
Planning Your Trip
Accommodations
Cultural Essentials
Beyond Tourism
Basics
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.
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