General Facts

Located at the gateway to the Caribbean, the island of Puerto Rico is 110 miles long and 35 miles wide. San Juan, the capital city is a unique juxtaposition of old and new -- with modern business structures and services as well as traditional Puerto Rican and colonial Spanish flavors in Old San Juan. Puerto Rico's second largest city, Ponce is just 90 minutes from San Juan by car. In 1493 Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain, and the island remained under Spanish rule until 1898 when Spain ceded the island to the U.S. in the Spanish-American War. In 1917, under the Jones Act, Puerto Rico's residents became U.S. citizens and the island became a commonwealth of the U.S. in 1952.

Getting There

Puerto Rico is easily accessible to visitors with its three major airports. The island's largest airport, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, is located in the Isla Verde section of San Juan, minutes from the Condado area.

Airlines

Most major hubs including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. offer daily non-stop service to San Juan. Airlines serving Puerto Rico include American, Continental, Delta, USAir, United, Jet Blue, Northwest, Iberia, Spirit, and Air Canada, among others. American Airlines has made San Juan its hub for all flights to other Caribbean destinations.

Customs and Passports

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, and U.S. citizens do not need passports to visit the Island. Visitors of other nationalities must have passports. When leaving Puerto Rico to return to the U.S. mainland, checked luggage will be examined for agricultural purposes.

Language

Both Spanish and English are the island's official languages. English is widely spoken, especially in San Juan.

Climate

Year-round tropical climate with average temperatures between 70°F-80°F.

Currency

U.S. dollar

Ground Transportation

Taxis, buses and rental cars offer visitors convenient ground transportation. Tour operators also service the area. Easily identifiable "Taxi Turistico" or tourist taxis operate on a fare-zone basis between the airport or cruise ship pier and designated tourist zones including Old San Juan and the San Juan resorts. All other times they are hired on a metered basis or rented unmetered for an hourly rate.

Accommodations

Over 12,000 guest rooms ensure that island guests will be easily accommodated in Puerto Rico's world-class hotels and resorts.

Meeting Facilities

Puerto Rico's quarter million square feet of meeting space also makes the island ideal for meetings and incentive programs. Luxurious hotels and resorts, located conveniently throughout the island, reflect Puerto Rico's lush beauty and can accommodate groups of all sizes.

Tipping Guidelines

At restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms, 15% of the bill is considered an appropriate tip. Fixed service charges are not usually included in the bill, except for special functions or banquets. Also, in tourist areas, some restaurants add a 15% service to the bill.

Clothing

Lightweight summer clothes are appropriate. At certain establishments informal eveningwear is required -- jackets for men and dresses or dressy pants for women. Short pants are worn only for sporty occasions.

Recreation/Entertainment

Puerto Rico offers 272 miles of coastline and hundreds of beaches. Water sport lovers will enjoy activities such as snorkeling; scuba diving; sailing; deep-sea fishing and windsurfing. Sports enthusiasts also appreciate the more than 100 tennis courts and 12 championship golf courses located throughout the island. The island offers some of the finest dining in the Caribbean -- visitors can feast on Puerto Rican specialties -- a mix of Spanish, Creole and Indian flavors -- or choose to sample cuisines from around the world. Puerto Rico offers visitors a wide variety of nighttime and cultural activities including international casinos and nightclubs typically located in major hotels, and theater, dance, opera and outdoor concerts.

Shopping

From local crafts to international designer luggage, Puerto Rico offers shoppers a multitude of shops and factory outlets. Calle del Cristo is the main shopping area in Old San Juan where visitors will find discounted high quality gold and jewelry, as well as major outlets such as Ralph Lauren. The area of Condado is famous for its chic stores located in Ashford Avenue like Louis Vuitton and Cartier. In the San Juan metro area there are many malls that offer specialty stores for clothing, fine foods, home accessories, arts and crafts and more. The most recognized of all is Plaza Las Américas, located in the heart of San Juan. It is currently the Caribbean’s largest shopping center with more than 186 stores. Other large malls around the island are Plaza Carolina, located 20 minutes away from the International Airport; Plaza del Caribe in Ponce; Las Catalinas Mall in Caguas; and Montehiedra Town Center in Río Piedras.

Located in the northern part of the island, you will find Prime Retail Outlets, in the municipality of Barceloneta. On the northeastern part of Puerto Rico is located the recently inaugurated Belz Factory Outlet World, in the town of Canóvanas.

Shopping malls around the island usually open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Crafts

Traditional & popular crafts steeped in Puerto Rican history include santos -- small, wooden figures of saints and religious scenes; mundillo -- intricate, handmade bobbin lace; and vejigantes -- island masks made of papier mache or coconut.

Sightseeing

Historical Old San Juan -- the only walled city in the Caribbean -- is a haven for history buffs. The city boasts four fortresses from the Spanish colonial empire. Visitors can walk the cobblestone streets of the old city or visit the myriad historic sites and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Outside San Juan, visitors can explore the unique El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system. The island's oldest natural wonder, the Camuy Caves is the site of one of the longest underground river systems in the world. Certain to amaze visitors is Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park, a treasured preservation of stone monoliths and petroglyphs dating from 800 A.D. Man-made attractions include the Arecibo Observatory, the site of the largest radio/radar telescope in the world.

Executive Director

Mr. Mario González Lafuente

Address

Puerto Rico Tourism Company
P.O. Box 902-3960
San Juan, PR 00902-3960

Paseo la Princesa #2
La Princesa Building
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901

Phone

787-721-2400

Website