Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean with beautiful beaches, many opportunities for water sports, charming cities full of colorful colonial architecture, beautiful views, mountains, and numerous other attractions. Puerto Rico is a place where hear music at every step, and life follows its rhythm. All this makes it a popular destination for tourists. Here’s what you need to know before visiting the island.
Puerto Rico – a mix of Latin culture and American influences
Puerto Rico is an associated country with the United States, however, with a high degree of autonomy. The Congress of the United States is responsible for its defense and foreign policy. Legislative power in local affairs is within the scope of the bicameral Legislative Assembly. Executive power in the local area is exercised by the governor, and the judiciary by independent courts. Puerto Rico is represented in the Congress of the United States by a resident commissioner not entitled to vote. Residents have US citizenship without the right to participate in presidential elections; the US and Puerto Rican legislation are equally applicable.
The currency is the US dollar. To get to Puerto Rico you must register electronically in the ESTA system. Puerto Rico also has American fast-food chains and supermarkets. Electrical sockets are the same as those in the United States and most Latin American countries – different than European ones. Therefore, if you are a visitor from Europe you will need an adapter.
When it comes to politics and economics Puerto Rico is part of the United States, but socially and culturally, it is Latin America. You will find far more Puerto Rican flags than American (if you see the US flags at all). The official languages are English and Spanish, however, the vast majority of the population speaks Spanish. So it is highly recommended to learn a little bit of this language before your visit. You can hear mainly Latin music – salsa and reggaeton. Puerto Rican cuisine is a mixture of the influences of the various regions from which the ancestors of the island’s inhabitants came, but most of it comes from the cuisines of other Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Rent a car – public transport practically does not exist in Puerto Rico
To explore Puerto Rico and reach places that are considerably far from San Juan, the easiest way will be to rent a car. Public transport is well developed only in the agglomeration of San Juan and includes buses, subway, and city rail. However, public transport practically does not exist outside the metropolitan area of San Juan. There are long-distance buses to major cities that often arrive late or not at all. Also, remember to always have some cash on you – in many places, you must pay for the parking lot, and often parking lots accept only cash. Puerto Rico is not a friendly place for hitchhikers.
You will probably also use a boat
Many of Puerto Rico’s most famous seaside attractions are only accessible by water. In some cases you can use the ferry, sometimes you will need to rent a boat or book a boat trip.
Puerto Rico is not cheap
The costs of living, and thus also holidays in Puerto Rico are expensive. As a rule, the prices of products and services on the islands are higher than those on the coast of the mainland. This is due to the shipping and transport costs of many products, as well as the customs duty and fairly high taxes stipulated in US shipping regulations. The cost of living in Puerto Rico is higher than the average cost of living in the United States.
The temperatures on the island vary
Although Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean, it can be quite windy and chilly, especially in mountainous areas. The peak season, from December to April has the coldest temperatures of the year. It doesn’t necessarily have to be cold, especially during the day, but temperatures drop at night, and the breeze coming from
Kioskos and street food in Puerto Rico
Kioskos are an alternative to typical restaurants. You will also see many sellers offering hot meals – street food. Kioskos and street food are ways to avoid spending a fortune and minimize expenses during your stay on the island. Kioskos are offering local dishes and typical fast food. In some places, whole streets are packed with these booths.
Puerto Rican cuisine is based on meat and deep-frying
Puerto Rican cuisine, like all Latin American cuisine, is based on fried food, often deep-fried. The basis of this cuisine is meat, so those on diet or vegetarians may have trouble finding a nutritious meal. Puerto Ricans, like other Latinos, may be surprised when asked about a dish that is not fried but for example, cooked.
Mixed system of measures and weights
The system of weights and measures in Puerto Rico is mixed. Puerto Ricans use both the metric and imperial units. For example, distances are shown in kilometers and speed limits in miles per hour. So be sure to download a unit converter to your phone if you are concerned this might be a problem.
Be careful – some places are dangerous
Puerto Rico is a popular tourist destination, but it has dangerous regions. Theft occurs especially in certain neighborhoods of San Juan but also in other larger cities and popular tourist destinations. In most cases, victims are tourists. Always use common sense. Try to pay attention to what is going on around you. If you see that there are no locals around, try to avoid it, especially at night. If you plan to go out to a party after dark, take a taxi. Only have on you as much cash as you need. Try to leave your valuables at the hotel, preferably in a hotel safe.
Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and earthquakes
Although it’s been three years since Hurricane Maria devastated the island, Puerto Rico is still struggling to return to what it was like before the hurricane. The earthquake that took place last year wreaked additional havoc on the island, devastating especially its southern part. The effects of these disasters are especially visible outside the capital city of San Juan. Most of El Yunque is still closed. Be careful when driving – many stoplights are still broken, some road signs are still not restored, roads are sometimes bumpy, and there is poor lighting in some places as many street lights are off. The businesses on the island are back and most tourist attractions are already open, but some of the information you find online may be out of date, so rely on sources that were written or updated after Hurricane Maria and the 2020 earthquakes.
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