The island of Puerto Rico is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Its main attraction: its beaches. But its little-known landscapes are also worth a visit.

The link between the Greater and Lesser Antilles, attached to the American territory, Puerto Rico is a little larger than Corsica with 170 kilometres long and 60 kilometres wide. Straddling the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it is surrounded by four small islands: Mona and Desecheo to the west, Culebra and Vieques to the east, which are part of its territory. While most tourists are satisfied with San Juan, its beaches and casinos, Puerto Rico also offers a wide variety of panoramas. A lush coastline in the north and a drier region in the south, separated by a central cordillera, culminating at 1,340 meters in Cerra la Punta. The rain forest of El Yunque, in the northeast, is the joy and pride of the country. Birds, reptiles and plants flourish in this national park that is home to over 400 species of trees and ferns. There are several hiking trails, from the simple walk to the long hike to the summit of El Yunque from where, on a clear day, you can see the Virgin Islands. The karstic region in the northwest of the island is mountainous, lush and enamelled with caves and rock outcrops. A real paradise for experienced speleologists. The Camuy River is one of the largest underground rivers in the world. Moving further south, the landscape becomes more arid and rocky, encompassing several types of environment such as the dry forest of Guánica, exceptional for its coastal, tropical and dry character. The island has a series of beautiful beaches of which the most popular are Luquillo and Boqueron. American surfers and Puerto Rican families live together in Rincon, a city with beautiful bays and attractive spots. Not far away, El faron (the lighthouse) is home to whale and dolphin watching platforms. The amateurs of underwater diving, with bottles or simple snorkels, will have to move a little away from the coast to reach some of the most beautiful diving sites of the Caribbean. The coral reefs on the island of Culebra are fantastic in this respect. From December to April, the island is invaded by tourists, especially North Americans who come to seek a little heat. In fact, the prices are high and the rooms difficult to find. If you really want to avoid the crowd, you have to decide to leave... during the official hurricane season (May to December). The latter are rare, but can water your holiday in Puerto Rico to a large extent, or even more (it is better to keep a close eye on the weather forecast). Independent in spirit, Puerto Rico remained officially attached to American territory. It is an island where an American way of life and a four centuries old Hispano-Caribbean culture live side by side. This gives an astonishing assembly of car parks and plazas, highways and fountains, skyscrapers and huts. Small in size, Puerto Rico offers both a very wide variety of landscapes and a cultural mosaic made of Taino, Spanish, African and American inspirations. An island in the mountainous interior, with magnificent coasts, with imposing steep villages where in the central square time seems to pause, reefs for playgrounds of thirty different species of fish and an amazing culture, proud of its past. Everything is in place to make a trip to Puerto Rico exciting.

The passport is sufficient to stay in Puerto Rico and a visa is not required. However, all travellers must have the ESTA form: electronic authorization to travel to the United States and Puerto Rico. This form will be requested by the airlines before your flight to Puerto Rico.

Art and culture in Puerto Rico
All Puerto Rican artistic expression is marked by the multicultural heritage of the country: Tainos, Spanish, African, American. Legends are numerous and are transmitted from generation to generation, orally according to the Tainos tradition. At the heart of these stories: the power of nature, ghosts, pirates and hidden treasures but also the struggle and aspirations for freedom of African slaves. Puerto Rican music has its own sound, popular throughout the Caribbean. We dance to bomba, plena and reggaeton tunes. Salsa and mambo are also very popular in Puerto Rico. Among the most famous pop singers from the island are Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin.

What to visit in Puerto Rico
First of all, discover the capital by walking through the streets of old San Juan and walk along the city walls. The Plaza de Hostos has many artisans who will satisfy all the curious!