Covering an area of 9,104 km², Puerto Rico is one of the most enchanting destinations of the Caribbean Islands. Puerto Rico is a self governing commonwealth of United States and is situated in the northeastern part of Caribbean, west of the Virgin Islands and east of the Dominican Republic. Surrounded by the beautiful open waters of Caribbean Sea and covered by lofty peaks, Puerto Rico looks like a picture of nature's good mood.

Puerto Rico is a country gifted with stunning sunsets, crystal clear lagoons and a climate which can be the definition of pleasant. But to compete as a tourist destination, to satiate the never ending hunger of a vacationer for diversity, the country has to have a human touch, to its touristic charms. Puerto Rico offers just that and much more to its weary guests who are looking for a memorable vacation. The cities of Puerto Rico, no matter how small in size, have a big appetite for fun. They are modern, yet have a culture tint to their lifestyle. Dotted with 15^th century Spanish forts on one end of the city and a funky nightclub blaring out hip hop music on the other, Puerto Rico is a total package for a tourist.

San Juan is the capital and the largest city of Puerto Rico. San Juan is one of the oldest European settled city in America and believed to be one of the earliest cities to take the path of modernization. The main attraction of the city are Fort San Felipe del Morro and pinones. Other Important cities of Puerto Rico are Bayamón Municipio, Carolina Municipio and Caguas Municipio.

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Fast Facts

 

Location – Caribbean
Capital – San Juan
Population – 3,957,988
Language – Spanish, English
Religion – Roman Catholic, Protestants

Calling Code - +1
Time Zone – UTC -4

Climate –Tropical Climate
Currency – US dollar (USD)
Best time visit – All through the year

 

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Highlights

 

El Yunque National Forest – San Juan

In a world where nothing is immune to change, El Yunque is a brave exception. It is said that El Yunque National Forest has remained as lush as it was when Columbus found Puerto Rico in 15^th century. Covering an area of 28,000 acres, El Yunque is the only tropical forest in U.S National Forest Service System. Situated just 40 km away from the capital city San Juan, it is a must visit destination for all nature lovers. There are many attractions inside the park like coca falls and El Toro, which is the highest peak in Puerto Rico, rising to a height of 1,078m.

Fort San Felipe del Morro – San Juan

Situated on the northwestern edge of San Juan, Fort San Felipe del Morro is one of the oldest surviving monuments in Puerto Rico. Built in 16^th century under the Spanish rule, it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in the year 1983. The earliest structure of the fort was not as big. Many additions were done to the fort throughout its history. Covering a total area of 70 acres, the fort is divided into six levels, the top most being at a height of 44m. Today, it is considered as a museum which and is a part of National Park Service.

Arecibo Observatory - Arecibo

'Ear to the Heavens' is how it is referred to as by the science fraternity. It is the world's largest radio telescope and also the most sensitive. It has a gigantic 20 acre antenna built into the ground. It is 167 feet deep and has a diameter of nearly a 1000 feet. Tourists can stand on a platform on the corner of the antenna and admire the awe inspiring site and sight. It is situated in between dense forest which makes the telescope stand out. It is situated in the town named Arecibo which is around 1.5hrs drive away from the capital San Juan. Tours are also organized to the observatory.

Rio Camuy

Thrown to public in the year 1986, Rio Camuy is one of the most unique and one of the most popular tourist attractions of Puerto Rico. It is a network of underground caves which are cut in a limestone base over a period of million years. It also is home the third largest underground river. Before entering the caves, you will be shown a small film about the cave history and dos and don'ts inside the cave. An open trolley lowers you down 200 feet into the cave. The interiors are well lit up to appreciate the natural sculptures.

 

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Things To Do

 

Scuba Diving – The Underwater Treat

The crystal clear lagoons surrounding Puerto Rico are inviting enough for you to indulge in scuba diving, Add to that, schools of multicolored fishes, thriving coral reef, networks of underwater caves; and you have one of the best diving destinations in th world right under your eyes. If you think you are experienced enough, swim to slightly open waters and you might be treated with views of migrating whales and sea cows. Vieques, Culebra, and Mona Islands are arguably the best diving spots in this Caribbean country.

Surfing – Mastering The Waves

Surfing seems to be designed looking at the waters of Puerto Rico. The beaches at northwestern part of the Puerto Rico are the most attractive destination for surfing. Often referred to as the 'Hawaii of East', Puerto Rico attracts surfers from around the world. There are numerous international surfing competitions as well that are organized here. Apart from beaches of San Juan, other popular surfing spots in Puerto Rico are Las Marías beach, Jobos beach and Middles Beach. The best time for surfing in Puerto Rico is from September to March.

Hiking – Walk Into the Wild

If the outer part of Puerto Rico is good for water sports, the interiors are splendid for hiking. The inside of Puerto Rico are filled with many national parks and deep forests, providing opportunities for hiking. Nature reveals its beauty when you least expect it. Few trek routes in the deep forests suddenly clear out to give you views of the calm ocean far away. The bird's eye view of the sea from long distance are truly a treat. Caribbean National Park, Maricao State Forest and Toro Negro Forest Reserve are the most popular hiking destinations in Puerto Rico.

Cruise – Lay back and Relax

It will not be wrong to say that Puerto Rico is the best place in the Caribbean for cruising. The reason being its convenient location close to many international ports, and of course the wonderful facilities that are provided. There are cruises to all almost all important islands of Caribbean from San Juan and almost all the major cruises that are organized in Caribbean, pass through San Juan. Not only length, you can also choose the kind of luxury of your cruise trip.

 

 

 

  Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 December 2009 04:26