Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is bordered by the Caribbean Sea on the south and the Atlantic Ocean on the north. The island is separated from the Dominican Republic by the Mona Passage. The Virgin Islands is situated to the east of Puerto Rico. The island is crossed by mountain ranges, mainly the Cordillera Central, which rises to 1,388 m in the Cerro de Punta.

History

Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. At that time the island was inhabited by Tainos. In the 16th century the island was colonized by the Spanish and after the Spanish American War, the island was ceded to the United States in 1898. In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted United States citizenship although the residents do not vote in federal elections and do not pay federal taxes on their local earnings. The island was proclaimed commonwealth status in 1952 and has been upheld by various plebiscites since the 1960s.

Tourism

The major economic activity of Puerto Rico is tourism, supplying an approximate $1.8 billion. Puerto Rico is the most diverse island in the Caribbean with a wide range of attractions and places to visit in every nook and corner. Tourists can explore exotic hideaways, mountains and valleys, miles of white sandy beaches and many other natural wonders in the island of Puerto Rico.

Drive off to the historic town of San German dotted with old-world style Spanish homes. The town is home to the first church which was ever built in the New World. For those who love surfing can visit the Rincon town, one of the best surfing spots in the island. The town of Cabo Roja, with its scenic un-crowded beaches and beautiful lighthouses, offers tourists an ideal place to enjoy the best sunsets in Puerto Rico. The town is also renowned for exotic seafood restaurants. Tourists can experience the natural wonder of bioluminescence in the town of Lajas.

Another popular tourist destination in Puerto Rico is the island of Vieques. Renowned as the new capital of weddings and honeymoons of Puerto Rico, the island of Vieques offers pristine, virgin, and secluded beaches for tourists to enjoy their perfect vacation. Las Cabezas Nature Reserve, just 45 minutes from the island capital, comprises of mangrove stands, forest land, coral reefs, beaches, lagoons, and cliffs.

Located in the eastern region of the main island is the Caribbean National Forest, which is home to the majority (13 of 16) of species of coquí. This tropical rainforest is also known as El Yunque, after the name of its highest peak. The forest is also home to over 240 plants and 50 bird species. One can also find the Puerto Rican Parrot, one of the top 10 endangered birds in the world, in the Caribbean National Forest.

Other tourist attractions include Botanical Gardens, Pinones Forest Reserve, Rio Camuy Cave Park (site of the world's largest underground river), Cabo Rojo Lighthouse (El Faro), Bacardi Rum Plant (largest rum distillery in the world), Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park, and Castillo San Cristobal.

Transportation

The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, located in Carolina, 5 km south-east of San Juan, is Puerto Rico’s main international gateway, and serves as the Caribbean hub for American Airlines and American Eagle. The airport is also the island’s primary connection to the mainland United States. There are several car rental agencies at the airport and taxis and buses are plenty for short trip into San Juan.