“This US territory boasts a verdant landscape composed of tropical rainsforest, green mountains, and dramatic waterfalls, all found at the heart of the El Yunque National Forest.
The island’s coral reefs and pristine beaches make it a popular destination for sailing, diving, snorkelling, and surfing, whilst its capital, San Juan, offers a vibrant atmosphere of beach bars, casinos, and night clubs.”
Spreading over a total superficy of 13,790 square kilometers (5,320 sq mi), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an archipelago composed of 143 islands and islets, of which only three are inhabited, counting a population of around 3.5 million citizens.
Whilst its populated islands offer both vibrant urban life and peaceful rural pace, Puerto Rico’s uninhabited islets are dedicated to the preservation of its varied wildlife, with some also acting as a nesting ground to endangered bird and turtle species.
The territory also abounds with nature reserves and national parks aimed at conserving the stunning natural diversity of beaches, caus, caverns, rainforest, and bioluminescent bays that compose Puerto Rico’s rich landscape.
To visitors, the archipelago offers the familiarity and comfort of American facilities mixed with the irresistible exotism of the Caribbean and the vibrant Puerto Rican culture, providing various types of holidays in one single destination. Appealing to beach-lovers and adventure-seekers, as much as to newly-wed and families, Puerto Rico surprises with its diversity, not only in stunning landscapes and rich heritage, but also in atmospheres, giving visitors the opportunity to trade urban buzz for castaway peace in just a short boat trip.
But it’s not just its culture and nature that attract tourists: with an average temperature of 82.4°F (28°C) throughout the year, ranging from a minimum temperature of 66.9°F (19°C) and maximum of 85.4°F (30°C), Puerto Rico also benefits from an attractive year-round weather, with coastal waters temperatures averaging around 75°F (24°C) in February to 85°F (29°C) in August.
Whilst the Spaniards ceded the territory to the US over a century ago, Spanish has remained the first language of Puerto Rico, and is spoken by 95% of the population, as opposed to only 10% for the state’s other official language, English. And although tourists should not have any trouble navigating around the busier urban areas, some basic notions of the Spanish language can come in very useful in the more rural areas.
