Puerto Rico is where four centuries of Spanish Caribbean culture comes face to face with the American convenience store. This leads to some strange juxtapositions - parking lots and plazas, freeways and fountains, skyscrapers and shanties - but it's all apiece with the Caribbean's hybrid history.

There is no place on earth quite like a volcanic island in the tropics, and there is no island in the tropical Caribbean quite like Puerto Rico. The geography of the island is unique. Take a rectangular piece of paper, crumple it up, smooth out the edges and you have a rough facsimile of it. The topography ranges from palm-lined beaches to rugged, steep mountains, gently rolling hills and desert-like areas.

The island’s north coast faces the blue Atlantic, and has areas of rough surf, along with several sheltered beaches ideal for water sports. This region is very green and lush.  Its Caribbean side, the southern coast, is flat and relatively dry, with several offshore cays and islets. Savannah – like conditions are prevalent and an assortment of dry forest settings are found.

This western region of the Island known as Porta del Sol – great growth over the years and rediscovered by travelers simply delighting in the aura and solitude of the many coastal small towns of Isabella and Aguadilla, or the cultural excitement of the larger southwest port city Mayaguez's with it's first rate zoo, historic theatre and beautiful plaza filled with shops and fine dining.

In Porta del Sol you will find some of the world’s great surfing areas and beaches.  Whether you are dreaming about spectacular surfing waves or a challenging golf course, Porta del Sol offers the active traveler a long list of opportunities. Surfing and golf compete with tennis, fishing, kayaking, Scuba diving, snorkeling, and horseback riding as popular sports… and windsurfing, parasailing and kite boarding are not too far behind. If it is something that can be done outdoors in our eternal summer weather, you can bet someone is doing it! With hundreds of miles of coastline, Puerto Rico offers a different beach for every day of the year. They come in every size, color and form, including the pure white dunes of Isabela. Porta Del Sol offers the active traveler a long list of opportunities.

Puerto Rico welcomes visitors with its warm, mildly tropical climate and great beaches. With little seasonal change, outdoor lovers will find much to do. Puerto Rico is balmy year round, with daily highs averaging between 80-86°F (27-30°C). Hurricane season is between May and November, especially intense in the months of August, September and October. Otherwise rain is fairly regular throughout the year, with February and March being slightly drier than other months.

Essential Facts:
Language:  Spanish and English are the official languages, but Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language.
Capital city: San Juan
Currency: United States dollar (US$)
Religions: At the present time, the Catholic faith still prevails. However, there are also Methodists, Adventists, Presbyterians, Jewish, Islam and many other faiths based on the island.
Political status: Puerto Rico is an “unincorporated territory” of the United States which according to the United States Supreme Court is “a territory appurtenant and belonging to the United States, but not a part of the United States.”
Literacy rate: 94.1% (2000-2004)
Electricity: The general rule in Puerto Rico is United Standards 110 and 120 volts AC, and the outlets take the same two-prong plugs found in the United States.
Telecommunications: Modern system, integrated with that of the United States by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability.  Country/area codes 787 & 939
Entry Requirements: As the new passport regulation goes into effect beginning January 23rd, all U.S. citizens traveling outside of the country by air will be required to present a valid passport at customs. This applies to every destination around the world, including Canada, Mexico and the entire Caribbean, with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Passport requirements for travel via sea (cruise) or land (Mexico & Canada via car, bus or train) take effect on January 1, 2008.
What to Bring: Puerto Ricans are a gentle and friendly people.  The island feels more like Latin America than the Unites States.  Swim wear is fine for the beach and leisure wear for the resorts, but elsewhere a little dressing up is in order.  Night time is somewhat informal.  Light & loose cotton clothing is the best bet year-round for Puerto Rico’s warm, tropical climate.  Pack a sweater for cool season evenings or if you plan to visit the mountain regions.  There are no nudist facilities in Puerto Rico.