Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Browse the Puerto Rico Photo Gallery

With tropical rainforest, warm turquoise waters and soft yellow sand, Puerto Rico (Rich Port) is certainly abundant in natural riches.

The island of Puerto Rico is a vibrant and multicultural destination, represented clearly in the island’s infectious music scene and fast-paced nightlife; Latino beats fuse with West African percussion, swing and big band.

Its central mountain range reaches 1,338m (4,390ft) at Cerro de Punta; it has the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque; and its beaches are postcard-perfect.

Just as Puerto Rico's bionetwork boasts unique characteristics, the culture and way of life is also distinct. Many of San Juan's buildings proudly preserve their original Spanish style; this is still an island of fiestas and paella.

Geography

Puerto Rico is an island east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands. Also included are several smaller islands, such as Culebra, Mona and Vieques. The island is comparatively small, 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles), with a central mountain range reaching an altitude of 1,338m (4,390ft) at Cerro de Punta, and surrounded by low coastal plains. The capital is on the northeast shore. Much of the natural forest has been cleared for agriculture, but the trees in the northeast are protected as a national park. The other main towns are Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Caguas, Carolina, Cayey, Farjardo, Guaynabo, Mayagüez and Ponce.