Puerto Rico is filled with artifacts from its history. Christopher Columbus landed there on his second voyage to America. It was a colony of Spain for centuries then was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War.
No trip to Puerto Rico is complete without a tour of the old Spanish fort of Castillo San Felipe del Morro. It is remarkably intact. The historic districts of Old San Juan and Ponce offer a taste of Spanish colonial life and the distinct Puerto Rican culture. The Museo de Arte de Ponce has an especially nice collection of Puerto Rican art.
Puerto Rico features some of the most delicious food in the Caribbean. If you like pork and plantains, this place is for you. These are the staples of the Puerto Rican diet. You can also get some very nice seafood and chicken dishes with a Puerto Rican flair.
Famous restaurants include Augusto's Cuisine, Chef Marisoll and Ramiro's in San Juan as well as La Cava in Ponce and The Landing in Rincon. However, you don't have to spend a lot to get a great meal. Wander into Puerto Rico's nosh pits. They are full of roadside stands serving an array of local food. It is delicious and cheap.
There are many types of activities you can indulge in while visiting Puerto Rico. It is famous for its diving spots. Humacao, Fajardo and Mona Island are some of the finest in the world. If you don't want to leave San Juan you can dive off the beach near the Condado district. There are also stunning hiking trails to explore. Try tramping Mona Island, El Yunque and the Guanica State Forest.
The geography of Puerto Rico is spectacular. The island is surrounded by gorgeous beaches. Condado Beach, Playa Dorado and Luquillo Beach are considered among the best. There are hundreds of others that are also quite nice. Puerto Rico features other geographic attractions including Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, El Yunque and Rio Camuy Cave Park.
If you want to experience the grittier side of Puerto Rico, get off the beaten track. Monkey Island features a society of rhesus monkeys that lives free of human contact. You can see them clearly from a boat just off of shore.
Vieques and Culebra are remote islands that allow you to get away from modern society for a while. Take a nighttime cruise to Mosquito Bay which is also known as Phosphorescent Bay. Sea creatures light up the water beneath you.
The "Wet and Dry Tour" of Guanica combines exploring the rain forest with kayaking the shore. Cockfighting is a popular past time in Puerto Rico. It may be disgusting to some but there is no more authentic Puerto Rican experience.
