Puerto Rico

From Wikitravel

Flag
Image:rq-flag.png
Quick Facts
CapitalSan Juan
Governmentcommonwealth
CurrencyUS dollar (USD)
Areatotal: 9,104 sq km
water: 145 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
Population3,957,988 (July 2002 est.)
LanguageSpanish, English
ReligionRoman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Calling Code+1 787 and +1 939
Internet TLD.pr
Time ZoneUTC -4

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island that is a territory of the United States of America. Located in the Caribbean Sea to the east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico lies on a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal - the Mona Passage.

Map of Puerto Rico
Enlarge
Map of Puerto Rico
Table of contents
1 Regions
2 Cities
3 Other destinations
4 Understand

4.1 Climate
4.2 Terrain
4.3 History

5 Get in

5.1 By plane
5.2 By boat

6 Get around
7 Talk
8 Buy
9 Eat
10 Drink
11 Sleep
12 Learn
13 Work
14 Stay safe
15 Stay healthy
16 Respect
17 Contact
18 External links
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Regions

  • Culebra
  • Vieques, also known as Isla Nena or Little Girl Island, is a small, rural island approximately 18 miles East of Puerto Rico.
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Cities

  • San Juan - Capital - Has one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean.


Second Order Administrative divisions 
There are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) including the above cities, others are; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
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Other destinations

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Understand

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Climate

Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Natural hazards 
periodic droughts; hurricanes
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Terrain

Mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas. Many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north.

Highest point 
Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
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History

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917 and popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998 voters chose to retain U.S. commonwealth status, rather than become the 51st state of the United States of America.

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Get in

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By plane

Getting to Puerto Rico almost always means flying to San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). The gleaming white terminal located just east of San Juan is ranked 34th among passenger airports in the United States. U.S. Inmigration and Customs Laws and Regulations apply. U.S. citizens flying between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico do not need to pass through Inmigration nor Customs. It is exactly the same as flying from N.Y. to Atlanta or Chicago.

Most U.S. and many international airlines offer direct flights to Puerto Rico, and making connecting flights is easy. SJU is one of the largest airports in the Caribbean and is a popular place for hopping over to the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations.

Transferring from the airport to your hotel usually requires taking a taxi, although some hotels provide complimentary transportation to their properties in special buses. Puerto Rico Tourism Company representatives at the airport will assist you in finding the right transportation. Major car rental agencies are located at the airport, and others offer free transportation to their off-airport sites.

From North America 2 ½ hours from Miami 3 ¼ hours from Atlanta 3 ¼ hours from New York 3 ½ hours from Washington, DC 4 ¼ hours from Toronto 4 ½ hours from Chicago and Dallas 7 ½ hours from Los Angeles

From Latin America 1 ½ hours from Caracas 5 ¾ hours from Mexico City 11 hours from Sao Paolo

From Europe 7 ¾ hours from Madrid 10 hours from Paris 10 ¼ hours from Brussels 12 hours from London

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By boat

Although there is no regular passenger service to Puerto Rico by sea, more than a million passengers visit the island on cruise ships every year, whether on one of the many cruise lines whose homeport is San Juan, or on one of the visiting lines.

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Get around

Whether you're dreaming about spectacular surfing waves, a challenging golf course, or the perfect sunbathing beach, Puerto Rico offers the active traveler a tremendous array of opportunities. Surfing and golf compete with tennis, fishing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, and horseback riding, not to mention windsurfing and parasailing, for your active time. Our perpetual summer weather begs you to enjoy the sport of your choice!

Learn about the different character of Puerto Rico's favorite Beaches, or find out where to participate in your favorite Sports. The hardest part will be choosing what to do first.

Blue Flag in Puerto Rico

The blue Flag Program, initiated in Europe since 1987 has been modified for implementation in the Caribbean. It is voluntary program and it has proven along the years to be a very effective strategy to guarantee the best quality in beach services for bathers in different parts of the world.

Scuba dive

... Puerto Rico's Caribbean coasts. Spectacular wall diving offshore Guánica, or the cayos of the Spanish Virgin Islands of Culebra & Vieques. PADI 5 star Instruction.

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Talk

Languages 
Spanish, English
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Buy

Plaza Las Americas

Category: Department Stores & Shopping CentersOpen Hours: 9am-9pm Mon-Sat; 11am-5pm SunPhone: +1 787 767 1525

Old San Juan

It is the home to many art galleries that specialize in painting and sculptures from local artists. Also widely available are local crafts that include hand-carved, wooden religious figures, festival masks made from coconut husks or papier-mâché, hand-embroidered linens, blouses and dresses, Spanish-style jewelry of copper, gold and silver, handbags, hammocks, baskets, ceramics, and many items made from mahogany.

On Calle Marina in Old San Juan, opposite Pier 3, is the Plazoleta del Puerto, a great collection of shops specializing in local island crafts.

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Phone: 787/727-4153 or 800/946-3244.

  • THE CALETA GUESTHOUSE 151 Clara Lair St., Old San Juan, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/725-5347.

  • CARIBE HILTON SAN JUAN Calle Los Rosales, San Gerónimo Grounds, Puerta de Tierra, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/721-0303 or 800/468-8585

  • COURTYARD ISLA VERDE BEACH RESORT 7012 Boca de Cangrejos Av., Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/791-0404 or 800/791-2553

  • EL CANARIO BY THE SEA 4 Av. Condado, Condado, San Juan 00907, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/722-8640 or 800/742-4276

  • EL CONSULADO 1110 Av. Ashford, Condado, San Juan 00907, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/289-9191 or 888/300-8002

  • EL CONVENTO HOTEL 100 Calle Cristo, Old San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/723-9020 or 800/468-2779

  • EMBASSY SUITES SAN JUAN HOTEL & CASINO 8000 Calle Tartak, Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/791-0505 or 800/362-2779

  • GALLERY INN 204-206 Calle Norzagaray, Old San Juan, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/722-1808

  • HAMPTON INN & SUITES SAN JUAN RESORT 6530 Av. Isla Verde, Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/791-8777 or 800/426-7866

  • HOSTERÃ?A DEL MAR 1 Calle Tapia, Ocean Park, San Juan 00911, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/727-3302 or 800/742-4276

  • HOWARD JOHNSON HOTEL 4820 Isla Verde Av., Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/728-1300

  • INTER-CONTINENTAL SAN JUAN RESORT & CASINO 5961 Av. Isla Verde, Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/791-6100 or 800/443-2009

  • PARK PLAZA NORMANDIE Av. Muñoz Rivera at Parque de Tercer Milenio, Puerta de Tierra, San Juan 00902, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/729-2929, 877/987-2929, or 800/448-8355

  • RADISSON AMBASSADOR PLAZA HOTEL & CASINO 1369 Av. Ashford, Condado, San Juan 00907, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/721-7300 or 800/468-8512

  • RITZ-CARLTON SAN JUAN HOTEL, SPA & CASINO 6961 Av. Los Gobernadores, Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/253-1700 or 800/241-3333

  • SAN JUAN MARRIOTT RESORT & STELLARIS CASINO 1309 Av. Ashford, Condado, San Juan 00907, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/722-7000 or 800/228-9290

  • TU CASA BOUTIQUE HOTEL 2071 Calle Cacique, Ocean Park, San Juan 00911, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/727-5100

  • THE WATER CLUB 2 Calle Tartak, Isla Verde, San Juan 00979, Puerto Rico

Phone: 787/728-3666 or 888/265-6699

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Learn

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Work

Puerto Rico is open for business. Companies operating on the Island enjoy the pro-business atmosphere that provides financing for business, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a dedicated and low cost labor force.


The Commonwealth uses its financial independence to provide lucrative tax incentives, has instituted a centralized and simplified permitting process for new construction and has taken concrete steps to assure protection from petroleum price hikes.


Puerto Rico is also building a world class, state-of-the-art convention center that will include meeting spaces, gourmet restaurants and 102,000 square feet of public areas and be located in the heart of San Juan's tourist center.


The Commonwealth's new Port of the Americas will be a trans-shipment center for the Caribbean and South America. And the new Techo-Economic Corridor will integrate the technical resources from the public and private sectors, as well as Academia.

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Stay safe

Crime is on the increase and is mostly linked to drugs trafficking. Car theft is a common occurrence so remember to lock your car and set the alarm. A safer though tiring option is to use the public transport system.

San Juan is not a safe area to venture out at night. Women travellers should take extra care and always move around in a group and steer clear of Condado beach at night. A number of thefts take place on beaches, even in daytime. So it’s advisable not to leave your belongings lying around.

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Stay healthy

Sunburn and mosquitoes are the worst threat to your health so carry sunscreen lotion and mosquito repellent. The threat of contracting Hepatitis A is low but it’s better to be careful and it’s recommended to take the necessary shot before leaving home. Fresh water lakes and streams are often polluted so avoid going in for a dip. It’s safe to drink tap water though if you’re venturing into the rural areas, carry bottled water.

Medical facilities are easily available especially in and around San Juan. There are a number of government as well as private hospitals. However, health services are fairly expensive.

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Respect

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Contact

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External links


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