Life in Puerto Rico

Ever thought of going to Puerto Rico? Well, before you do here are some facts that might either change your mind or make you wanna go even more! Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with a landscape of mountains, waterfalls and the El Yunque tropical rainforest. In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its hotel strip, beach bars and casinos. Its Old San Juan neighborhood features colorful Spanish colonial buildings and El Morro and La Fortaleza, massive, centuries-old fortresses. Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, locals are American citizens, and American travelers can enter the Island without having a passport. Nor do U.S. travelers require international calling plans for their phones. The currency used in Puerto Rico is the U.S. dollar. Puerto Rico is the smallest island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean, located east of the Dominican Republic. The climate in Puerto Rico is warm and tropical. The temperature varies between seventy, and eighty degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. It can go down to about sixty degrees in the central mountainous area during December and January. There are around 3.2 million people in Puerto Rico. You can get to Puerto Rico by air or by sea. Airlines such as Delta, American Airlines, United, Southwest, Jet Blue, and Spirit Airlines have direct flights to the Island. To give you an idea, the Island receives over 1,300 weekly non-stop flights and almost 1,000 direct flights. Most of these flights come from cities like New York, Boston, Orlando, Philadelphia, Hartford, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, Washington, and Chicago. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States where the official languages are Spanish and English. You may come across people who speak a mixture of both, or “Spanglish,” given the influence of the U.S. on the Island. American travelers do not need to opt for international plans to make calls since their phones will work perfectly on the Island. In Puerto Rico, there is a 4GLTE network; 5G is available at some locations. In remote areas of the Island, cellular service and data coverage can be spotty, so always plan if you're going into the mountains, for example. Other fun facts: The legal age to consume alcoholic beverages in Puerto Rico is 18 years. The Island has almost 300 miles of coastline and nearly the same number of beaches. Puerto Rico has the largest shopping center in the Caribbean, Plaza Las Américas, and the most extensive rum factory globally, Casa Bacardí. El Yunque is the only rainforest in the U.S. Forest System and is in Puerto Rico. The forest receives over 120 inches of rain every year. Although Puerto Rico is an American territory, it competes as an individual country in Miss Universe's contests and the Olympics. Flamenco beach, in Culebra, has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the world on multiple occasions. The piña colada was invented in Puerto Rico. The remains of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León are in a tomb inside the San Juan Cathedral. Puerto Rico has been a colony since Christopher Columbus “discovered” the island during his second voyage to the New World in 1493. In 1508, Juan Ponce de León founded the first European settlement, Caparra, near a bay on the island's northern coast; Caparra was renamed Puerto Rico (or “rich port”) in 1521. Over time, people began referring to the entire island by that name, while the port city itself became San Juan. Initially, Columbus christened the Island as San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). Still, the name was soon changed to Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” when the Spaniards realized the impressive amount of gold found in its rivers. The economy of Puerto Rico is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and as the most competitive economy in Latin America by the World Economic Forum. Puerto Ricans are known for their warm hospitality, often considered very friendly and expressive to strangers. Greetings are often cordial and genuine. In conclusion these are some facts about Puerto Rico. Would you still like to go?