Puerto Rico A Philosophy For Travelers

Research sustainable forestry techniques at Las Casas de la Selva .
Build homes for low-income Puerto Ricans in San Juan .
Speak with locals in Spanish after studying at a language school in Puerto Rico .
Teach communities about environmental preservation .

As a tourist, you are always a foreigner. While hostel-hopping and sightseeing can be great fun, you may want to consider going beyond tourism. Experiencing a foreign place through studying, volunteering, or working can help reduce that touristy stranger-in-a-strange-land feeling. Furthermore, travelers can make a positive impact on the natural and cultural environments they visit. With this Beyond Tourism chapter, Let’s Go hopes to promote a better understanding of Puerto Rico and to provide suggestions for those who want to get more than a photo album out of their travels. The “Giving Back” sidebar features also highlight regional Beyond Tourism opportunities.

There are several options for those who seek to participate in Beyond Tourism activities. Opportunities for volunteerism abound with both local and international organizations. Studying in a new environment can be enlightening, whether through direct enrollment in a local university or in an independent research project. Working is a way to immerse yourself in local culture and finance your travels simultaneously. However, travelers who hope to work in Puerto Rico should be aware that because of the island’s long-standing high unemployment rates, travelers who work may be taking much-needed jobs away from locals.

As a volunteer in Puerto Rico, you can participate in projects that range from helping to research sustainable hardwood foresting techniques in Bosque Estatal Carite to tutoring elementary students at risk of dropping out of school. Later in this chapter, we recommend organizations that can help you find the opportunities that best suit your interests, whether you’re looking to get involved for a day or for a year.

Studying at a college or enrolling in a Spanish-language program are both popular options—most students immerse themselves in the Spanish language and Puerto Rican culture through a combination of classes and homestay with a Puerto Rican family. Many programs meet for around 20 hours per week, leaving students plenty of free time to enjoy the island.