Puerto Rico 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 United States, Puerto Rico maintains a strict separation of church and state. Santería, a blend of Catholicism and the religion of the Yoruba people who were brought to the Caribbean as slaves from Nigeria, continues to be important to the island’s African community. Santería first emerged in the slavery era when Africans continued practicing their own religions but substituted the names of Catholic saints to appease their masters. Practitioners of Santería generally worship a hierarchy of saints and believe that it is possible to foretell the future.

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.