Old San Juan, Rainforest and an Island of Rhythm
Puerto Rico is a United States territory and island in the northeastern Caribbean, known for its colonial San Juan, its rainforest, its beaches and its music. With about 3.2 million residents and San Juan as its capital, it combines Spanish colonial history with Taíno roots, African heritage and American influence. The island is roughly 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, and a drive of a couple of hours can take you from the capital's blue-cobbled lanes to the cool rainforest of El Yunque or the surf at Rincón.
San Juan was founded in 1521, and its Old Town, with its pastel townhouses, balconies and plazas, is among the oldest European-built settlements in the Americas. The forts of San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal, together with sections of the city walls, form the San Juan National Historic Site, which UNESCO inscribed in 1983. Music is everywhere, from salsa and bomba to reggaeton, and the January San Sebastián Street Festival fills the old streets with art and dancing. Nearby Dominican Republic and US Virgin Islands make natural travel companions.
El Yunque, Vieques and the Flavours of the Island
Nature is a headline attraction. El Yunque National Forest, in the Luquillo Mountains, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System, with waterfalls such as La Mina Falls and trails under tall tree ferns. Off the east coast, Culebra's Flamenco Beach and Vieques' glowing Mosquito Bay show the island's quieter side. The wider archipelago is part of the Virgin Islands chain, a short ferry or flight from Fajardo. On the south coast, Ponce has a handsome plaza, a famous art museum and elegant neoclassical architecture.
Food is a reason to travel in itself. Mofongo, a mash of fried plantain with garlic and pork or seafood, sits beside lechón asado, roasted pork served at roadside restaurants in Guavate, and fresh seafood in the kioskos of Piñones. Coffee from the central mountains is a source of pride. A tourist board can showcase these themes together, from history and gastronomy to sailing and surf, to reach several kinds of traveller at once.
Read the full Puerto Rico guide on Visit Travel Group, or see PuertoRico.uk on Visit Travel Group.