Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico is a Caribbean island with a difference. It has the pristine beaches, tropical climate, crystal-blue sea and coconut palms characteristic of its counterparts; but along with its unmistakable Spanish colonial heritage, the island today is also part of the United States Commonwealth, meaning it has a first-world infrastructure mixed in with its traditional Latin American culture. Hamburgers are as endemic as island dishes like sancocho, and freeways connect shantytowns to strips of high-rise beachfront hotels. The second thing that makes Puerto Rico different to other Caribbean holiday Meccas is that it remains largely undeveloped, except for the coastal region around its capital city, San Juan. The island is edged with some magnificent beaches that are mostly uncommercialised, and which are easily reached from the capital and its large resort hotels because the island is so small and compact.Exploring Puerto Rico, both around its coast and throughout its interior, is a delight. Roads are excellent and there are numerous interesting attractions and unrivalled experiences, from the world's largest radio telescope to the magical experience of swimming at night amongst tiny phosphorescent creatures on the offshore island of Vieques.Historically Puerto Rico, like many other Caribbean islands, was originally inhabited by Taino Indians until the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the instigation of Spanish rule and settlement. The island's capital and larger towns have preserved their Spanish heritage as 'old quarter' tourist attractions, full of charm and interest. Puerto Rico is a hybrid of old and new which makes it an intriguing cultural destination, rather than just another tropical island paradise.
Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Need To Know

Money:
The United States Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency, which is divided into 100 cents. It is often referred to as the 'peso' in Puerto Rico. ATMs and bureaux de change are freely available and all major credit cards and travellers cheques are generally accepted. Banking hours are 9am to 3.30pm.
Time:
Local time is GMT -4.
Electricity:
Electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat attachment plugs are in use.
Language:
Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico.
Health:
There are no vaccination certificates required for travel to Puerto Rico, but travellers are advised to be up to date with routine vaccinations. Cases of dengue fever occur annually and mosquito protection measures are essential. Schistosomiasis is endemic and swimming in lakes, rivers and streams should be avoided. It is best to drink bottled water to avoid stomach upsets. Thoroughly wash or peel produce you buy in markets before eating it. Medical services are good but can be expensive; medical insurance is advised.
Tipping:
Some restaurants and hotels automatically add a 10 to 17% service charge to the bill, if not a 15% tip is expected. Taxi drivers and bar staff also expect tips.
Safety:
Visits to Puerto Rico are usually trouble-free but travellers should take sensible precautions to avoid petty theft.
Customs:
Social etiquette in Puerto Rico is typically Latin American, with some North American influences (such as a stronger sense of female independence, and a toning-down of the ideal of machismo). Western visitors to the country should feel comfortable, and 'at home', in most social situations. Hygiene, cleanliness and personal appearance are viewed as matters of self-respect, so travellers who've been 'on the road' for a little while might consider neatening up their beards or trimming their hair, especially if they want to make a good first impression. A final, important aspect of Puerto Rican social life, is the concept of relajo. Generally shy of direct confrontation and open criticism, relajorefers to the gentle, joking manner in which Puerto Ricans will bring up uncomfortable issues around each another. Visitors should be aware of this technique, as they may, on occasion, be required to 'read between the lines' to discover what locals are reallytrying to express.
Business:
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory although the resemblance is closer to Latin America. English is understood by many on the island, but Spanish may also be the language in which business is conducted. Dress codes will vary according to different sectors, but suits are favoured on very formal occasions. Shaking hands is common for both men and women. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken at lunch.
Duty Free:
Puerto Rico's customs regulations are the same as those for the United States. Visitors over 21 may bring in the following items without paying duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2kg of tobacco; 1 litre of alcohol; and gifts valued up to US$100. There is a long list of restricted and prohibited items which may not be imported or imported only under license, ranging from fireworks and matches to pre-Columbian sculpture and Cuban cigars. If in doubt consult your nearest US Embassy for advice. Any merchandise from embargoed countries (Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia and Montenegro and the Sudan) may not be brought onto US soil.
Communications:
The international access code for Puerto Rico is +1 787 and +1 939. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom). The outgoing code is not needed for calling the US, Canada and most of the Caribbean. Mobile phones work throughout the island and local operators use CDMA networks that are not compatible with GSM phones, as used outside North America. Internet cafes are available in most towns and resorts.
Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Puerto Rico Attractions

Bioluminescent Bay
Description:
The water in Mosquito Bay sparkles like stars when disturbed due to the hundreds of thousands of bioluminescent dinoflagellates resident there. Several tour companies offer kayaking and snorkelling in the magical water, often ranked as one of the most romantic places on earth. Of the bioluminescent bays all over the world, Vieques' Puerto Mosquito has been certified the brightest by the Guinness Book of World Records. A trip to 'Bio Bay' (as it's locally known) is one of the best tourist attractions in Puerto Rico, and well worth the excursion from San Juan.
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Website:
www.biobay.com

Museo del Niño (Children's Museum)
Description:
San Juan's Museo del Nino (Children's Museum) is housed in a gorgeous 300-year-old building directly across from the city's cathedral. Started at the turn of the 21st century by a group of sociologists and student volunteers, the Children's Museum provides a hands-on learning environment for kids that features a lot of interaction, if not a great amount of high-tech gadgetry and visual stimulation. The exhibitions at San Juan's Children's Museum are educative rather than all-out fun, teaching young ones about the benefits of brushing their teeth, recycling, and caring properly for their pets. In fact, the great attraction of the museum is not its range of exhibition material, but the energy and dedication of those who work there. The museum's staff - largely comprised of student volunteers - will usually play with visiting children either one-on-one or in small groups, providing a much-needed way to burn off some pent-up energy.
Address:
150 Calle Cristo, Old San Juan
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 722 3791
Email:
info@museodelninopr.org
Website:
www.museodelninopr.org

San Germán
Description:
A historic town with a colourful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church, and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, San Germán is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.
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Old San Juan
Description:
This area, encompassing about seven blocks, dates back about 500 years to the Spanish occupation when it served as a military stronghold that even withstood Sir Francis Drake's armies. The original cobbles on the streets are blue-tinged, and were originally used as ballast on Spanish ships. The ancient stones set off the more than 400 restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings that fill Old San Juan and draw thousands of tourists to walk the narrow, steep streets every day. The old town is enclosed in amazingly thick, high walls and features numerous attractive plazas bearing sculptures and memorials.
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Fort San Felipe del Morro
Description:
The mighty six-level fortress of San Felipe del Morro, built in 1540, towers 140 feet (43m) above the sea on San Juan Bay, its 18-foot thick (5m) walls having proved a worthy defence against invasion. The largest fortification in the Caribbean, it is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, lookouts and ramps, offering spectacular views from atop its ramparts. Also in Norzagaray Street, Old San Juan, is El Morro's partner in defending the city, Castillo San Cristobal, built in the 17th century to a confusing and intricate modular design.
Address:
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Telephone:
787 729 6960
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov

La Fortaleza
Description:
The Fortaleza was built in 1540 as a fortress to guard the entrance to the San Juan harbour, but later became the official Governor's residence. During succeeding centuries the original structure has been remodelled and expanded, with a neoclassical façade being added in 1846 to leave the building with its palatial aspect. The current governor of Puerto Rico is in residence - the 170th Governor to live in the Fortaleza.
Address:
Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan
Postcode:
Telephone:
729 6960
Email:
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Saint John the Baptist Cathedral
Description:
San Juan's Cathedral was originally built in 1521 by Puerto Rico's first Spanish bishop as a thatched wooden church, but was destroyed in a hurricane in 1526. The current medieval structure, built from stone brought in from inland quarries by horses, dates from 1540, although extensive renovations and reconstructions were carried out in 1917. The cathedral features Doric columns and elliptical vaults, and contains the marble tomb of the island's first governor.
Address:
Cristo Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 722 0861 or 787 722 1709
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Website:

La Casa Blanca
Description:
The family of Puerto Rico's first governor, Ponce de Leon, built the historic homestead of Casa Blanca in 1523 and then went on to inhabit it for 250 years. It was subsequently taken over by the Spanish and then the United States military. Today, the mansion house contains two museums. A small section is dedicated to artefacts associated with the Taino Indians, while the rest of the house depicts the life of those who lived there through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
Address:
San Sebastian Street, Old San Juan
Postcode:
Telephone:
724 4102
Email:
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Casa del Libro
Description:
The 18th-century mansion known as Casa del Libro houses a vast collection of rare sketches, illustrations, ancient manuscripts and books, some dating from before the 16th century. The museum's most prized possessions are two royal mandates signed by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1493 regarding the provisioning of Christopher Columbus's fleet for his second voyage to the New World. This was the voyage during which Puerto Rico was discovered.
Address:
255 Cristo Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
723 0354
Email:
Website:
www.lacasadellibro.org (Spanish only)

University of Puerto Rico Campus
Description:
The University of Puerto Rico campus in the Rio Piedras offers several attractions for visitors and non-students. The Museum of History, Anthropology and Art contains archaeological and historical exhibits and holds monthly art exhibitions, and the Art Museum Dr. Pío López Martínez de Cayey has a large collection of Puerto Rican silkscreen posters. The Botanical Gardens in the grounds of the University are a living laboratory, displaying the native flora of Puerto Rico, and containing more than 200 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants as well many sculptures from artists such as Leopoldo Maler, Carlos Guzman and Rolando López Dirube.
Address:
Rio Piedras
Postcode:
Telephone:
764 0000 ext 2452 (museum); 763 4408 (gardens)
Email:
Website:

Museo de Arte
Description:
Puerto Rico's showcase art gallery opened just a few years ago at a cost of millions of dollars. The gallery is housed in a former city hospital in Santurce and offers a permanent and visiting exhibition. The aim is to highlight the island's heritage through the work of local artists, such as Francisco Oller, who studied in France with Cézanne, and Jose Campeche, a late-18th century Classical painter. The museum has been described as a 'living textbook of Puerto Rico', providing on overview of centuries of the island's history through the medium of art.
Address:
299 De Diego Avenue, Santurce
Postcode:
Telephone:
977 6277
Email:
Website:
www.mapr.org

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory
Description:
America's ears and eyes are focused on the stars from the island of Puerto Rico. In the northwest mountains of the island, about 90 minutes drive west of San Juan, among the Karst Country hills, is one of the most important astronomical research facilities on earth, the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. Its massive dish is larger in area than a dozen football fields and is sited in a sinkhole, aimed at the heavens and tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted from the farthest stars. This is the home base for NASA's 'SETI' (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) project, and as such holds great fascination for visitors. A Visitors Centre is equipped with interactive exhibits to demonstrate how the huge structure works. Visitors can hike to the viewing platform to view the vast tiled dish.
Address:
Arecibo
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 878 2612
Email:
Website:
www.naic.edu

Caribbean National Forest (El Yunque)
Description:
The Caribbean National Forest, 35 miles (56km) east of San Juan, is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Park system and was named El Yunque by the Spanish. Its 28,000 acres contain about 240 different species of tree and numerous other plants, from tiny, delicate wild orchids to gigantic ferns. Visitors can start their visit at the El Portal Tropical Forest Centre where there are films, exhibits and interactive displays on the rainforest. Maps are available and you can choose from dozens of walking trails through the forest, graded according to difficulty. Nearby is Puerto Rico's best beach, Luquillo Beach, famous for its soft white sand and towering coconut palms.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 888 1880
Email:
mtirado@fs.fed.us
Website:
www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean

Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve
Description:
Located on three promontories on the extreme northeast corner of the island, Las Cabezas reserve is one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse natural areas in Puerto Rico. The reserve is close to Fajardo, a major marina and diving resort, located about an hour's drive from San Juan. The area offers pristine beaches ideal for snorkelling. The reserve contains seven different ecological systems including coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves and dry forest. It is also home to several endangered species. Boardwalk trails provide easy access to the different natural sites. A restored 19th-century lighthouse, El Faro, is situated on one of the headlands and offers an information centre and observation deck.
Address:
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Telephone:
722 5882 (weekday reservations), 860 2560 (weekend reservations)
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Parque de Bombas Fire Station
Description:
A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.
Address:
Plaza Las Delicias
Postcode:
Telephone:
284 4141, extension 342
Email:
Website:

Ponce Art Museum
Description:
The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin. Puerto Rican art also features strongly.
Address:
2325 Avenue Las Americas
Postcode:
Telephone:
(787) 848-0505
Email:
map@museoarteponce.org
Website:
www.museoarteponce.org

Coffin Island
Description:
On weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkelling trail. Visitors can also explore the 19th-century Caja de Muerto Lighthouse, that has been restored and now houses a museum. Coffin Island is a great excursion for visitors to Ponce, and ranks as one of Puerto Rico's best tourist attractions for diving enthusiasts.
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Museum of Puerto Rico Music
Description:
This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danzamusic style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bombaand plenza. The museum features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, all housed in the attractive former residence of the Serralles family, renowned rum producers.
Address:
50 Isabel Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 844 9722
Email:
Website:
www.icp.gobierno.pr/myp/museos/m15.htm

Museo Castillo Serralles
Description:
Perched above the city of Ponce on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's post-World War I architecture. The house surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains, and is renowned for its splendidly carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens, and makes for a wonderful day-trip destination from Ponce.
Address:
17 El Vigia
Postcode:
Telephone:
259 1774
Email:
Website:

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
Description:
This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance grounds, and standing stones believed to have been used as an ancient astronomical observatory. A popular Puerto Rico tourist attraction, just two miles (3km) north of Ponce, the site has been equipped with a reconstructed Taino village, a museum, exhibition hall, café and souvenir shop. Visitors are taken on conducted tours.
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Telephone:
787 840 2255
Email:
Website:
ponce.inter.edu/tibes/ingles/conozca.html

Culebra and Vieques
Description:
Dubbed 'the enchanted isles', Vieques and her smaller sister Culebra are located off Puerto Rico's east coast, accessible from San Juan by air and from Fajardo by ferry. Both support a few thousand friendly, laid-back inhabitants who live life peacefully and slowly, enriching rather than impacting on the natural beauty of their environment. Vieques is 20-odd miles long and five miles wide, and consists largely of the biggest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean, protected by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Some of the world's most beautiful beaches, with azure clear waters and sugary white sand, are to be found in the sanctuary. If you plan to visit Vieques, stay overnight to experience its premier attraction, Bio Bay. On a moonless night the bay glows with the bioluminescence radiated by microscopic one-celled organisms called dinoflagellates, providing an unforgettable sight. Smaller Culebra, just seven miles long and three miles wide, is a few miles north of Vieques and is renowned for the clarity of the waters washing its shores. This is caused by the fact that the island has no rivers or streams causing run-off: the arid island has to have water piped from Puerto Rico via Vieques. This quiet, unspoiled island offers unrivalled snorkelling and scuba diving in its magnificent encircling reefs, as well as kayak expeditions and hiking trails for bird-watchers through the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.
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Telephone:
863-0705 (for current departures to Culebra and Vieques)
Email:
Website:

Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
Description:
Named in honour of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, and featuring plenty of wide open space, picnic areas, walkways and even a small children's playground, the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is the perfect place to take the kids for a day of fun in the sun, especially those who have been cooped up on board a cruise ship. Pack a picnic or simply enjoy the fresh air and scenery along the tree-lined paths, decorated artistically with mosaics.
Address:
Between aves. Muñoz Rivera and Ponce de León
Postcode:
Telephone:
787 721 6133
Email:
Website:

Camuy River Cave Park
Description:
Children will feel like they are in an Indiana Jones movie when they visit the magnificent Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy(Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and waterways which can be explored by trolley. The caverns and underground tunnels were created over a million years ago by the tropical Río Camuy(Camuy River), which is the third longest underground river in the world and is home to a unique species of fish that is totally blind. Only three crater-like sink holes and two caves are open to the public, which are reached by a guided trolley that descends into a sinkhole lined with dense tropical vegetation. Kids will love the spacious grounds of the park, which include a cafeteria, picnic area, gift shop, walking trails, exhibition hall, and theatre. One of the country's most talked-about tourist attractions, the Camuy River Cave Park is an excellent addition to any Puerto Rico holiday itinerary.
Address:
Arecibo
Postcode:
Telephone:
(787) 898 3100
Email:
Website:

Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre
Description:
Undoubtedly one of the top tourist attractions in Puerto Rico, a trip to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre is a must for travellers to San Juan. Following their exile from Cuba in the 1950s, the Bacardi family moved to Puerto Rico and set up a small rum distillery on the outskirts of San Juan. Today, that small distillery has grown into the largest in the world - producing a jaw-dropping 100,000 gallons of rum per day, and 21 million cases per year. Tours of the Casa Bacardi Visitor Centre last about an hour, as visitors are shown around a variety of exhibits (including vintage rum stills) and informed about the history of Bacardi rum (including a short movie). The tour culminates in a visit to an on-site, classically-styled bar, where a bartender will show you the 'proper' methods of preparing Cuba libres and mojitos. The best part? All visitors receive two complimentary drink tickets, which they can cash in on ice-cold Bacardi-based drinks. There is also a gift shop located on the premises, a perfect place to pick up some rum or Bacardi apparel for friends back home.
Address:
Bay View Industrial Park
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.casabacardi.org

Isla Verde
Description:
Isla Verde ('Green Island') is San Juan's hippest area, and home to many of its best beach resorts and upmarket hotels. The area's name is inspired by the colour of the water in its bay: a rich, green-turquoise shade that will prove irresistible to swimmers and divers. While the beautiful crescent-shaped beach - with its soft sand and tall palm trees - is a tourist attraction in its own right, most visitors to Puerto Rico will seek out Isla Verde for its excellent beach resorts, plush hotels, international dining options, world-class spa treatment facilities and vibrant nightlife. Isla Verde is home to two of the island's best casino hotels and a wide range of raucous night clubs and bars, where live local music is often staged. A natural base for well-heeled travellers to San Juan, Isla Verde makes for a luxurious home away from home during your holiday in Puerto Rico. A fantastic winter sun vacation destination, Isla Verde sees most of its tourist activity between December and January, when days are warm and sunny and there is no threat of hurricanes or storms.
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Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo
Description:
Although located in Mayaguez on the east coast of Puerto Rico - and so rather off the beaten tourist track in Puerto Rico - the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo is a world-class establishment, and well worth a visit for animal lovers and for those who are passionate about wildlife conservancy. The island's only large-scale zoo, since its establishment in 1954 the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo has been growing a collection of rare and exotic animals that now includes lions, tigers, jaguars, hippos, giraffes and rhinos, as well as many species of tropical birds and large and varied collections of butterflies, amphibians and snakes. Central to the Zoo's growth has been a focus on conservancy, and several native species - including the Andean condor and the Puerto Rican crested toad - have benefited greatly from this approach. Featuring several recreated 'habitat systems' (including the tropical Spider Monkey Island), as well as numerous recreation areas, the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo is a wonderful place to take the kids for the day. Budget at least two or three hours to take it all in.
Address:
Mayaguez
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:

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