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.
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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.
A commonwealth of the United States of America, Puerto Rico is a semi-autonomous territory whose constitutional status has long been a political oxymoron. The island’s cultural manifestations are similarly ridden with contradiction. Puerto Ricans love big American cars, but drive them more like they’re in Mexico City; they have served in numerous foreign wars under the banner of stars and stripes, yet share a closer historical identity to Cuba; they have exported over half of their ebullient population to the east coast of the United States, but still exhibit a fierce loyalty to their beloved Borinquen, the island they will always call home.
Confused? Don’t worry. Even native Puerto Ricans sometimes have difficulty in unraveling the baffling intricacies of their much-debated political system. When asked in a 1998 referendum if they would prefer to 1) adopt US statehood, 2) claim outright independence, or 3) remain as a commonwealth of the US, 50.3% of Puerto Ricans voted for an inconclusive ‘none of the above.’ Postponed for future discussion – the debate rages on.
Last updated: Oct 20, 2009
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Santo Domingo to San Juan/photographer
by JoseKevo 14 September 2011
As an American, I've yet to make it to Cuba so can't really compare the qualities of Havana. From what I've seen through photographs,…
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RE: Puerto Rico or USVI
by islander365 12 September 2011
I have found that for that "balance" of historic urban v nature I enjoy Rincon, Puerto Rico. There is an airport in the west in Aguadilla…
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Re: Puerto Rico or USVI
by clarkcoan 11 September 2011
I would go to San German, PR. Here's what Lonely Planet says about it: Introducing San Germán .Puerto Rico’s second-oldest city (after…
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Puerto Rico
Things to do
- All things to do (522)
- Activities (127)
- Entertainment (52)
- Restaurants (153)
- Shopping (26)
- Sights (164)
- Tours (0)
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Our Top Picks For Puerto Rico
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1 Rincón
The California of Puerto Rico boasts big surf breaks and dudes cool enough to chill a box of beer
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2 Lago Dos Bocas
Take a boat to one of the traditional restaurants that line the shores of this placid karst country lake
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3 Jayuya
Sip coffee fresh from the roasting room in this isolated mountain town ringed by towering jungle-covered peaks
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4 Boquerón
This quintessential Caribbean fishing village has zero pretension but oodles of spontaneous nightlife
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5 La Guancha, Ponce
With open-air bars and a festive atmosphere, this is where Ponce comes to party on the weekend
Fast Facts about Puerto Rico
- GDP (per capita)
GDP (per capita) : $19, 600
- Literacy rate
94.1%
- Unemployment rate
12%
- Population
3.9 million
- Population growth rate
0.39%
- Cell phones
3.3 million
- Life expectancy
78.5 years
- Miles of paved road
15, 220
Our favourite Puerto Rico Blogs (beta)
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Flamenco Beach on the Island of Culebra, Puerto Rico
Blog: Everything Everywhere - 17 January 2012
Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Discover great travel quotes.
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Dancing the Night Away – Salsa Culture in Puerto Rico
Blog: Landlopers - 9 December 2011
We weren’t quite sure what we were looking for, a bar or after-hours lounge of some sort probably. All I wanted to find was a place in Old San Juan where a few friends could sit and chat over a glass of wine or a...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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Kayaking in a Sea of Light – The Bio Bay of Puerto Rico
Blog: Landlopers - 29 November 2011
Puerto Rico surprised me in a lot of ways. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting exactly, but whatever my expectations were they were instantly surpassed. I was a guest of the San Juan Marriott Resort, a gorgeous property with a prime oceanfront location, and...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
