Puerto Rico

Marveling at the lush Central Mountains

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Aerial view of Mar Chiquita, a pool-like beach created by a natural break in the cliffs

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Dancing down a charming San Juan street

Discover Puerto Rico

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A mesmerizing sunset over Rincón

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Dining in the stunning Central Mountains

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Sunset stroll along the Paseo de la Princesa, a popular pedestrian thoroughfare in Old San Juan

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Wading in the gentle turquoise water

Discover Puerto Rico

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Walking the historic oceanside streets of San Juan

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Hiking through the mountains

Discover Puerto Rico

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Relaxing on the black sand of Playa Negra, Vieques

Relaxing on the black sand of Playa Negra in Vieques

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Major Airports:

Luis Muñoz Marín/San Juan (SJU)
Nickname:

Island of Enchantment

Island paradise with a rich cultural history

From the stunning diversity of El Yunque National Forest to one of the world’s brightest bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico is bursting with natural beauty to discover. Pull up a towel and relax on one of the Island’s many tropical beaches. Put on hiking boots for a walk through some of Puerto Rico’s 36 nature reserves, 19 state forests and five wildlife refuges to experience the Island’s ever-changing scenery. Looking for more of an adrenaline rush? There’s zip lining, rock climbing, rappelling, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. Puerto Rico is a destination brimming with authentic experiences – from the historic city of Old San Juan and the scenic Central Mountains to pristine islands like Vieques and Culebra.

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Soaking up the sun on Fajardo’s world-famous beaches

Natural Marvels

From a coastline of nearly 300 sandy beaches to maze-like caves to bioluminescent pools, there’s much to explore here. Puerto Rico is home to three of the five bioluminescent bays in the world (Laguna Grande in Fajardo, Mosquito Bay on Vieques and La Parguera in Lajas). These bays are an awe-inspiring sight at night, packed with millions of single-celled organisms that light up the water like glowing stars. The island is also home to several caves, including the famous Cañón de Tanamá in Utuado, where visitors can explore a network of caverns, canyons and tunnels amid limestone cliffs.

Adventures by Land and Sea

From land to sea, there’s plenty to keep visitors busy in Puerto Rico. Tour the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, El Yunque, to witness a wide variety of plant and animal species – some only found here. Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, the forest has several trails for hiking and is also home to ancient petroglyphs. Architecture lovers will want to explore some of the centuries-old buildings here, including historically significant forts and museums. Cool off in the water by swimming, surfing, rafting, tubing or kayaking in both ocean and river waters.

Dining Gems

Puerto Rico is a delight for foodies – incredible culinary experiences await at more than 4,000 restaurants representing every type of cuisine. Regional specialties include fried plantains called tostones, beef-stuffed fried pastries known as pastelillos and a popular dish of mashed green plantains called mofongo. Fresh, locally caught seafood can be found everywhere. Quench your thirst with a creamy and tropical piña colada cocktail; Medalla, a local favorite lager; or any number of rum-based cocktails made with locally produced Bacardí, Don Q and other rums. From high-end dining to street food, there are dining options on the island for every mood and occasion.

The Basics

Puerto Rico is a collection of islands in the Caribbean that’s now a commonwealth of the USA. The archipelago’s proud Spanish, African and Taíno heritage remains prominent today in the Island's architecture food, music and language to this day. English is widely spoken, the U.S. dollar is used throughout the Island, and entry requirements for Puerto Rico are identical to those of any U.S. state. A bonus: Year-round temperatures range between 21 and 27 degrees Celsius.

The People

Puerto Ricans proudly call themselves Boricua, a name derived from the Island's Indigenous Taíno name, Borinquen. Locals use Boricua to honor their historical and cultural heritage, describing their proud, passionate way of life. In Puerto Rico, everyone is encouraged to embrace the history, scenery and spirit of Island life – and welcomed with open arms to live Boricua.

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Fun Fact

Ice-cold piña colada cocktails, the official drink of Puerto Rico

The piña colada is the official drink of Puerto Rico.

Plaza Las Américas mall in San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan’s Plaza Las Américas is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean. Shoppers here can score finds from both local and international brands.

Must see places

El Yunque National Forest

Puerto Rico is home to the only tropical rainforest in the USA, El Yunque, where trails take visitors through the ferns and deep into the heart of nature’s paradise.

San Juan National Historic Site

Highlights at this World Heritage Site include Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a fortress that defended the Island for centuries. Nearby, La Fortaleza, now the Governor’s House, sits atop a massive fort featuring the City Wall, built between the 16th and 19th centuries to protect the Bay of San Juan. The historic district of Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico. The city recently celebrated its 500th anniversary, making it the oldest city in U.S. territory!

Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park

A dizzying combination of natural preserve and adventure, this eco-park’s "The Monster" is the world’s second longest zip line (and the longest in the Caribbean), sending you soaring over the lush landscape.

Flamenco Beach

Culebra Island’s celebrated beach is a major destination for sunbathing, soaking up the local scene and water sports. Gentle, shallow turquoise waters make for prime swimming and snorkeling conditions.

On a canyoning tour in Canon de Tanama, Puerto Rico

Cañon de Tanamá

Deep in the mountainous region of Puerto Rico is the Tanamá river of Utuado. Over millions of years, its flowing waters have carved a network of caverns, canyons and tunnels into towering limestone cliffs. Book an adventure with a local ecotourism company to go on caving, cave tubing, rappelling, hiking and rock-climbing tours. All require some physicality, but the level of difficulty and type of activities varies according to the operator and the tour you choose.

Looking out from the farmers market to the surrounding La Placita de Santurce in Puerto Rico

Plaza del Mercado

This weekend hot spot, also known as La Placita, switches from a bustling produce market during the day to a festive drinking, eating and dancing destination when the sun goes down.

Museo de Arte de Ponce

Stroll through galleries filled with more than 4,000 works of art, largely created by European masters like Rubens, El Greco, Velazquez and Lichtenstein.

Riding the trolley during the Casa Bacardi tour in Puerto Rico

Casa Bacardí

One of the Island’s most popular attractions is Casa Bacardí, the largest premium rum distillery in the world. Visit, take a guided tour, taste rum and enjoy a mixology class on the Art Deco grounds of this award-winning, family-run rum distillery, where some 100,000 liters of the sweet liquor are produced daily.

Museum of Art and Design of Miramar (MADMi)

Located in the eye-popping 1913 Casa Rosada (Pink House, in English), this interactive museum celebrates art-making and creativity of all kinds and mediums, but particularly the historical and aesthetic development of industrial design.

Mosquito Bay

The water shines brighter in Puerto Rico – literally! In Vieques, be captivated by the magic of Mosquito Bay’s glow-in-the-dark wonder, as you kayak through the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay. Be sure to visit at night during a new moon to make the most of this surreal adventure.