Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. It has been a United States possession since 1898, and residents achieved citizenship status on March 2, 1917.
Activities to enjoy include surfing and hiking, and there are "paradores," or country inns, hotels and casinos, sandy beaches, traditional food kiosks throughout the island, a vibrant night life, symphony orchestra, educational and cultural hotspots, tropical rainforest and two Spanish forts in San Juan.
Officially known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Atlantic Ocean is to its north and the Caribbean Sea to its south. It's located west of Hispaniola and east of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Considered an archipelago, Puerto Rico is the main island, while Vieques and Culebra are two minor inhabited islands (Mona is uninhabited).
Tropical weather averages 83 degrees F in the winter and 85 degrees F in the summer. The culture has been molded by Spanish, African, Indian and American influences.
No passport is needed to travel from the continental United States. Spanish and English are the official languages. The American dollar is the official currency, and there are no customs duties.
