Puerto Rico

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Introducing Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is where the easygoing Caribbean collides with the slick efficiency of modern America over syncopated Latin rhythms and rose-tinted tropical sunsets. The result is a colorful, diverse and culturally unique island that is often as confusing as it is cosmopolitan. Hip, funky restaurants nestle next to 15th-century Spanish forts; sprawling concrete shopping malls encroach upon the fecund tropical rainforests; and glitzy casinos lie juxtaposed against some of the most stunning beaches, caves and offshore coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Racing headlong into the 21st century, contemporary Puerto Rico can sometimes present a bewildering picture to culture-seeking visitors. Outdoor enthusiasts will not want to miss the opportunity to visit the rare and wild treasure that is Isla Mona. Hop on a local bus, disappear in Bosque Estatal de Carite in the central mountains, change your pace on Puerto Rico's wacky sister, the island of Culebra, or pedal your way around the beautiful island of Vieques; just be sure to tear up any cast-iron itineraries and let the open road lead you where it will. History is another draw card and in beguiling Viejo (Old) San Juan, you'll find one of the oldest and best preserved colonial cities in the Americas. Neighborly pensioners recline languidly in creaking rocking chairs, bomba drums light up the somnolence of a diminutive baroque plaza, and the walls of two great military forts rise like wizened sentinels above the depths of the untamed Atlantic. On the south coast, Ponce, with its museums and Spanish colonial buildings, combines an easygoing atmosphere for families with a nightlife of pulsating reggae and salsa.

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Latest headlines for Puerto Rico

From BBC News

  1. Schedule/results 2009

    15 April 2009 1:35PM

    Fights in Britain and the rest of the world as well as the latest results.

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  2. Singer quizzed over plane sex act

    26 March 2009 9:20AM

    Grammy award-winning Puerto Rican singer Elvis Crespo denies an accusation of performing a sex act during a US flight.

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  3. Puerto Rico ex-governor cleared

    21 March 2009 12:01AM

    Puerto Rico's former Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila is found not guilty on all counts in his corruption trial in San Juan.

    Read more

See more news at bbc.co.uk/news

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