Puerto Rico is mostly mountainous, though boasts long white sandy beaches, rain forests, deserts, caves oceans and rivers, highlighting its astonishing variety.
Both Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico, although Spanish is the most dominant language. Fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak English fluently, and many traffic signs are written exclusively in Spanish.
ROUTES AMERICAS 2016 will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hosted by Puerto Rico Tourism Company with the support of their partners Aerostar Airport Holdings LLC and Meet Puerto Rico between February 7-9, 2016. Read the official release.
Puerto Rico is a major hub of Caribbean commerce, finance, tourism, and communications. San Juan is one of the world's busiest cruise-ship ports, and Puerto Rico's standard of living continues to be among the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
The capital, San Juan is a metropolitan city and is the most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, with a population of two million. Founded in 1508, it is the country’s main port of entry and is the oldest city under U.S jurisdiction. However, the island was also where Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage of discovery in 1492, when he named it San Juan Bautista in honour of Saint John the Baptist.
The city is endowed in culture, and today is known as ‘La Ciuadad Amurallada’ (the walled city). The metropolitan area has three distinct areas – Old San Juan, the Beach and resort area and the other outlying communities. The city is also home to many modern amenities such as the Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey, which is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, containing over 300 stores.
The city features distinctly old architecture, including Spanish military forts which date back as far as 1540, as well as an active harbour and a thriving economic area in the Hato Rey district.
The island’s main airport is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Carolina, near San Juan. Most U.S and many international airlines offer direct flights from many cities to Puerto Rico, and American Eagle operates a hub at the airport.
Puerto Rico has much to offer in the way of nature, and its rainforest is a must-see. Spread out over a mountain, the rainforest offers a variety of plants and animal life at any altitude. It is the habitat of the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, and there are many hiking trails that lead you to see the forest from above, or straight down to the La Mina waterfalls.
Down on the West coast is Porta del Sol which is made up of 17 small towns and is home to the islands only zoo. Rincón, which is situated in the west, is famous for surfers and breathtaking beachfront sunsets.
Puerto Rico’s southern region is also known as Porta Caribe, or ‘Gateway to the Caribbean’, and retains its own customs and traditions. This area is renowned for its coffee, as Puerto Rico’s mountains have ideal conditions for coffee production. It is also home to the sugarcane fields that gave birth to Puerto Rico’s famous rum production.
The waters in the east of Puerto Rico are rife with marine life, making them popular destinations for sailing, snorkelling and diving excursions. Each corner of Puerto Rico offers something diverse, making it the perfect destination for everyone.
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