Puerto Rico Introduction
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island that is a self-governing commonwealth of the USA. It is a colorful, diverse and culturally unique island. Offering visitors hip, funky restaurants, Spanish forts, many shopping malls, the tropical rain forests, glitzy casinos, stunning beaches and caves to explore.
Tourism
People from the United States do not need a passport when visiting Puerto Rico and this attracts a large number of tourist every year. The warm, friendly people mostly speak English, in addition to their native Spanish.
Airport
Coordinates: 18° 26′ 22″ N, 66° 0′ 7″ W
The Luis Munoz Marin Airport (SJU) is situated about 14km from San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at this airport per year.
Airlines
The following airlines offer flights to San Juan International Airport
From Johannesburg:
From Cape Town
What to see / do
- Castillo de San Felipe del Morro – Commonly known as El Morro, is one of Old San Juan's most recognizable landmarks.
- The Vieques Biobay – One of the most bioluminescent bays with its geography, climate and local conservation.
- El Yunque – Also known as “The Anvil”, is a tropical rain forest and a lush, mountainous terrain
- Culebrita – Unspoiled beauty of long stretches of sand and water in several shades of blue.
- Rio Camuy Caves – Over 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances.
Events
- Ponce Carnival - Devilish vejigantes patrol the streets in their masks and colourful costumes at Ponce's annual carnival. Lively street parades and parties.
- Casals Festival – Classical music festival attracting an international roster of artists and ensembles.
- Saborea Puerto Rico – Three days of eating the finest Caribbean specialities and drinking rum, culinary seminars with cooking demos as well as rum and wine tastings
- Puerto Rico Heineken Jazzfest – The annual Puerto Rico Heineken Jazzfest brings together some of the biggest names in Latin jazz
- San Sebastián Street Festival - Fairground rides, food stalls and live music take over San Sebastian Street.
Accommodation
Search Hotels in Puerto Rico
General Info
Puerto Rico uses the US dollar, often referred to as the "peso".All major credit cards are widely accepted: American Express, Visa, Diner's Club, Discovery, Master Card and other Bank credit cards. ATM’s, called ATHs in Puerto Rico are a convenient way of obtaining cash from a bank account back home. They are common in most shopping areas and are often available 24 hours a day.
Weather
Puerto Rico has a tropical marine climate, which is mild and has only a little variation in seasonal temperatures. Temperatures range from 21˚C to 32˚C with an average of 26˚C. Rainfall is abundant along the north coast and in the highlands, but light along the south coast. June to November is known as Hurricane season with rain showers occurring once a day.
