Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Caribbean.

Language

Spanish and English are the official languages.

Area

8,870 sq km (3,459 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT - 4.

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Population

3.94 million (2007).

Population Density

444.2 per sq km.

Capital City

San Juan. Population: 442,447 (2004).

Government

Self-governing US Commonwealth Territory (incorporated). Gained internal autonomy in 1951.

Head of Government

Governor Luis Guillermo Fortuno since 2009.

Head of State

President Barack Obama since 2009.

Religion

Roman Catholic 85%; the remainder are other Christian denominations and Jews.

Recent History

In 1998, the third referendum in 30 years asked Puerto Ricans to decide between becoming the USA's 51st state, becoming independent, entering a compact of free association or retaining the status quo. They narrowly voted for the status quo. Independence remains a sensitive issue, however, and its advocates received a boost in 2003 when the US military ended its use of the island of Vieques for military exercises after 60 years.

At the end of 2004, Sila Maria Calderón of the PPD was opposed by Anibal Acevedo Vila. It was an extremely close race. After two months of wrangling and recounts, Acevedo Vila, leader of the pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party, scraped through and was confirmed as the new head of government.

In 2006, an appeal was taken to the US Supreme Court requesting that Puerto Ricans be given the right to vote in US presidential elections; however the appeal was rejected.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +1 787,+1 939.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators.

Internet

Internet access is available in all cities and large towns; terminals can also be found in hotels and business centers.

Media

Broadcasting is regulated by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The English-language newspaper published in Puerto Rico is The San Juan Star.
Other papers include El Nuevo Día, El Vocero de Puerto Rico and Primera Hora. Home-grown comedies, talk shows and Spanish-language soaps are staple fare on local TV stations; the multichannel offerings of cable TV are also widely available.

Post

Puerto Rico post is part of the US postal system. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
11 Jan Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos
17 Jan Martin Luther King Day
21 Feb Presidents’ Day
22 Mar Emancipation of the Slaves
16 Apr José de Diego Day
22 Apr Good Friday
30 May Memorial Day
4 Jul US Independence Day
18 Jul Luis Muñoz Rivera’s Birthday
25 Jul Constitution Day
27 Jul José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday
5 Sep Labor Day
10 Oct Columbus Day
11 Nov Veterans’ Day
19 Nov Discovery of Puerto Rico Day
24 Nov Thanksgiving Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Epiphany
11 Jan Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos
16 Jan Martin Luther King Day
20 Feb Presidents’ Day
22 Mar Emancipation of the Slaves
6 Apr Good Friday
16 Apr José de Diego Day
28 May Memorial Day
4 Jul US Independence Day
15 Jul Luis Muñoz Rivera’s Birthday
25 Jul Constitution Day
27 Jul José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday
3 Sep Labor Day
8 Oct Columbus Day
11 Nov Veterans’ Day
19 Nov Discovery of Puerto Rico Day
22 Nov Thanksgiving Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
Each town celebrates a festival or fiesta in honor of a local patron saint. These can last up to 10 days.

Contact Information

Diplomatic Representation

As a commonwealth state of the USA, Puerto Rico manages its own affairs, but is represented abroad by USA embassies and consulates. Addresses of these and of USA tourist offices may be found in the United States of America section.

Puerto Rico Tourism Company in Spain

Calle Serrano 1, 2A, 28001 Madrid, Spain
Tel: (91) 431 2128.
Website: www.gotopuertorico.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK

22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com

Puerto Rico Tourism Company in the USA

666 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10103, USA
Tel: (212) 586 6262 or 1 800 866 7827.
Website: www.gotopuertorico.com