100 Reasons to Visit Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and U.S. territory with a landscape of green mountains, waterfalls and the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. It's known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs, popular for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing. Here are 100 reasons to visit Puerto Rico.

  1. 1

    The Amazing Food

    Source: foxnews.com

    Puerto Ricans sure can cook up a storm and definitely do so with a lot of gusto and passion. You’ve gotta try at least two P’s here – pork and plantains!

  2. 2

    Ease of Travel

    In addition to pants (on the beach, at least), passports are not necessary. You don’t need a passport because it is a territory of the United States. They also use the U.S. dollar so you don’t need to exchange money to purchase goods and services.

  3. 3

    The coast of Vieques is only a hop from the main island, and snorkeling there will totally change the way you understand the world.

  4. 4

    It’s cheap to get here

    Most major airlines fly there, including JetBlue, and the price of a ticket can be up to $200 cheaper than a flight to Miami.

  5. 5

    The Hotels in San Juan

    The hotels in San Juan are some of the chicest you'll ever see.

  6. 6

    Kayaking the mangroves in La Parguera

  7. 7

    Raices Fountain at La Princesa, Old San Juan

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    Luquillo Beach, Luquillo

  9. 9

    El Yunque Rain Forest

    Source: atabeytours.com

    El Yunque National Rainforest is actually the only tropical rainforest in the entire United States National Forest System. In El Yunque, you can hike through the many trails, experience breath-taking scenery, and even take a swim in the river! It's truly a magical place.

  10. 10

    Military reenactors at El Morro Fortress

    Source: lxdcdn.net
  11. 11

    To taste the Puerto Rican rum.

    Source: pinimg.com
  12. 12

    There is a beach that glows in the dark.

    At night, the Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay emits a blue haze, thanks to the unique microorganisms that live there.

  13. 13

    The brilliant weather. Even the name Puerto Rico invokes images of sunshine, beautiful beaches and brilliant weather all around.

  14. 14

    To visit Old San Juan

    Old San Juan is the more historic part of San Juan and it is laden with museums, galleries, cafes, gourmet dining and all things Puerto Rican.

  15. 15

    There’s lots of amazing surfing to be had here.

  16. 16

    History you can experience!

    From magnificent forts, such as El Morro, to the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center, Puerto Rico offers you the opportunity to experience history first hand.

  17. 17

    Visit the Pig Highway and party with the locals

  18. 18

    The view of the Atlantic Ocean from Fuerte San Felipe del Morro

    Source: www.flickr.com
  19. 19

    Very old tree in Guanica Dry Forest

    Source: tripadvisor.com
  20. 20

    The pink sand at Isla Verde Beach will bring your tanning experience to a whole new level

    Source: news.nster.com
  21. 21

    Music that inspires you to get up and dance

    Puerto Rico is a land of music and dance.

  22. 22

    Nuyorican Cafe for a wild evening

  23. 23

    The Architecture

  24. 24

    Flamenco Beach, Culebra

    Source: tripadvisor.com

    Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and several smaller islands including Vieques, Mona, and Culebra. The latter is located only 18 miles away from the mainland and is home to the Flamenco Beach, which was recently voted as one of the top ten best beaches in the world.

  25. 25

    La Playuela, Cabo Rojo

  26. 26

    Red Beach, Fajardo

  27. 27

    It’s never too late to start drinking chichaítos, a cocktail popular with the party-going Puerto Rican crowd

    Source: thrillist.com
  28. 28

    You can check out manatees and humpback whales in their natural habitats.

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    Puerto Rican Coffee

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    You might find buried pirate treasure in Puerto Hermina

  31. 31

    Attending a Cockfight

    Although a brutal sport that many find distasteful, cockfighting is legal in Puerto Rico.

  32. 32

    18th-century Castillo de San Cristobal

    Source: Flickr: Carlos Alberto Santos
  33. 33

    English is Common

    If you’re weary of getting lost in translation, then Puerto Rico is the place for you. While the primary language spoken is Spanish, most children are taught English from an early age in grade school.

  34. 34

    Everyone is Welcome

    Whether you’re single in your 20s and 30s, married with a family in your 40s or 50s or retired and relaxing in your 60s and 70s, there is something for everyone on the island.

  35. 35

    Fly in a Wingsuit over Puerto Rico

    Source: www.flickr.com
  36. 36

    La Bestia zip line, Toro Verde Adventure Park

  37. 37

    La Mina Falls

    Source: www.flickr.com
  38. 38

    Cueva Ventana, Arecibo

  39. 39

    Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy

    Source: www.flickr.com
  40. 40

    Caonillas River, Utuado

    Source: plus.google.com
  41. 41

    Royal Isabela golf course

  42. 42

    Colorful Festivals

    Source: www.flickr.com
  43. 43

    For the Wedding

  44. 44

    Chocolate is fair game for breakfast, lunch and dinner

  45. 45

    The world's largest single-dish radio telescope is in Puerto Rico, and it's pretty rad.

  46. 46

    Ponce Historic Zone

    The Ponce Historic Zone is a historic district in downtown Ponce, consisting of buildings and structures with architecture that date to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

  47. 47

    Castillo San Felipe del Morro

    Source: wikimedia.org

    Castillo San Felipe del Morro also known as Fort San Felipe del Morro or Morro Castle, is a 16th-century citadel located in San Juan.

  48. 48

    San Juan National Historic Site

    San Juan National Historic Site in the Old San Juan section of San Juan, is a National Park Service-managed historic site which protects and interprets colonial-era forts.

  49. 49

    Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

    The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. The cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in San Juan, located in Old San Juan, and is the second oldest cathedral in the Americas

  50. 50

    Isla Verde

    Isla Verde is a District of Carolina located east of Santurce next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.

  51. 51

    La Fortaleza

    Source: wikimedia.org

    La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina.

  52. 52

    Museo de Arte de Ponce

    Museo de Arte de Ponce, is an art museum located on Las Americas Avenue in Ponce. It is considered one of the finest art museums in Puerto Rico. It houses a collection of European art, as well as work by Puerto Rican artists.

  53. 53

    Hacienda Buena Vista

    Hacienda Buena Vista, also known as Hacienda Vives, is a coffee plantation and estate in Ponce, established in the 19th century. The plantation was started by Don Salvador de Vives in 1833.

  54. 54

    Condado Beach

    Source: rentalo.com

    Condado Bridge Beach is a beach effervescence located at the end of Ashford Avenue in Condado.

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    San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

    San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is a hotel casino located on the beach in Condado, San Juan. It is operated by Marriott International. San Juan Marriott has 525 hotel rooms and a casino.

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    Culebrita

    Source: panoramio.com

    Isla Culebrita is a small, uninhabited island off the eastern coast of Culebra and is part of the Puerto Rico Archipelago.

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    Parque de Bombas

    Source: deviantart.net

    Parque de Bombas is a historic firehouse building in Ponce. It is one of Puerto Rico's most notable buildings, with some considering it "by far the most easily recognized landmark in the Island."

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    Museum of Art of Puerto Rico

    The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico is an art museum in San Juan.

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    Caja de Muertos

    Source: tripadvisor.com

    Caja de Muertos is an uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico, in the municipality of Ponce. The island is protected by the Reserva Natural Caja de Muertos natural reserve, because of its native turtle traffic.

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    Piñones State Forest

    Piñones State Forest is an ecological timberland forest jungle 7 yards from one of the longest beaches in Puerto Rico.

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    Casa Blanca

    Source: wn.com

    Casa Blanca is a house museum located in Old San Juan within the historic colonial section of the capital of Puerto Rico.

  62. 62

    Crash Boat Beach

    Source: caribya.com

    Crash Boat Beach or Playa Crash Boat is a beach located in the northwestern Puerto Rican municipality of Aguadilla.

  63. 63

    Arecibo Light

    Arecibo Light is a historic lighthouse located in the city of Arecibo. It is also known as "Los Morrillos Lighthouse" because of its location on top of a rocky headland known as Punta Morrillos.

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    San José Church

    San José Church, located in Old San Juan within the historic colonial section of the capital of Puerto Rico, is one of the first significant works of architecture on the island.

  65. 65

    Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo

    Source: www.expedia.com

    Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo is a 45-acre zoo located in Mayagüez. It is the only zoo on the island. It is named in honor of Juan A. Rivero, its first director.

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    Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

    The Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Barrio Portugués, Ponce, houses one of the most important archeological discoveries made in the Antilles.

  67. 67

    Cayo Luis Peña

    Source: wikimedia.org

    Cayo Luis Peña, formerly South West Key is a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Culebra, an island municipality of Puerto Rico. The island is a nature reserve which forms part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge.

  68. 68

    Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center

    Source: panoramio.com

    The Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, or Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré in Spanish, is a multi-use performance centre located Santurce, San Juan.

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    Culebra National Wildlife Refuge

    The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. It is part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which is a unit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

  70. 70

    Isla Palominos

    Isla Palomino is a small island located near to the east of Puerto Rico, near the coast of Las Croabas, Fajardo.

  71. 71

    Guajataca Lake

    Lago Guajataca is a reservoir located between the municipalities of San Sebastián, Quebradillas, and Isabela. This man-made lake was created in 1929. The lake receives flow from the Guajataca River and can be used for fishing.

  72. 72

    Ponce Cathedral

    The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or simply, Ponce Cathedral, is the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce located in downtown Ponce.

  73. 73

    Las Cascadas Water Park

    Las Cascadas Water Park is a water park, in Aguadilla. The park is the largest water park in the Caribbean region. The park is owned and administered by Aguadilla's municipal government.

  74. 74

    Castillo Serrallés

    Castillo Serrallés is a mansion located in the city of Ponce, overlooking the downtown area. It was built during the 1930s for Juan Eugenio Serrallés, son of businessman Juan Serrallés, founder of Destilería Serrallés.

  75. 75

    Casa Roig

    Casa Roig is a Prairie School style house. It was designed for the wealthy sugar planter Antonio Roig Torruellas by the prominent Czechoslovak architect Antonin Nechodoma. Casa Roig was builted in Humacao in 1920.

  76. 76

    Museo de la Historia de Ponce

    The Museo de la Historia de Ponce is a museum located in the historic Casa Salazar-Candal in the city of Ponce. The museum depicts the city's ecology, economy, architecture, government, and elements of daily life.

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    Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art

    The Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art, often abbreviated to MAC, is a contemporary art museum in Santurce.

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    Pozo de Jacinto

    Source: fanpop.com

    Pozo de Jacinto is a pit cave located at Jobos Beach in the northwestern Puerto Rican municipality of Isabela on Puerto Rico Highway 466.

  79. 79

    Albergue Olímpico

    The Albergue Olímpico German Rieckehoff Sampayo or Olympic Hostel is an athletic training and recreational center located in Salinas.

  80. 80

    Punta Higuero Light

    Punta Higuero Light, also known as Faro de Punta Higuero, is an historic lighthouse located in Rincón. The original building was built in 1892 by the Spanish government and was rebuilt in 1922 by the U.S Coast Guard.

  81. 81

    Fortín de San Gerónimo

    Source: flickr.com

    Fortín de San Gerónimo del Boquerón is a small fort located in the mouth of the Condado Lagoon, across from the historic sector of Miramar in San Juan.

  82. 82

    Tanamá River

  83. 83

    Joyuda Lagoon

    Source: flickr.com

    Laguna Joyuda is a natural reservoir located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico. The lagoon is one of only two natural reservoirs in the island of Puerto Rico, and is home to an ample variety of species.

  84. 84

    Casa del Rey

    Source: wikimedia.org

    Casa del Rey, the "King's House," is a historic place in the town of Dorado. It is also known as Cuartel de la Guardia de Milicias, Parador, or Carcel Municipal. It was constructed as a parador, or inn, about 1823.

  85. 85

    Isla de Cabras

    Source: eyetour.com

    Isla de Cabras is an islet located at the entrance of the San Juan bay.

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    Jobos Beach

    It is one of the best beaches to learn the Surfing Sport due to the great waves on a low depth area.

  87. 87

    Spanish Virgin Islands

    The Spanish Virgin Islands, formerly called the Passage Islands and also known as the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands, primarily consisting of the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

  88. 88

    Carite Lake

    Lago Carite is a lake located in the municipality of Guayama. The lake was created in 1913 and serves as a reservoir for irrigation, and potable water.

  89. 89

    Paseo Atocha

    Source: tripadvisor.com

    Paseo Atocha is a pedestrian mall in the Ponce Historic Zone, a historic district in Ponce. For over a century Paseo Atocha was a commercial street opened to motor vehicle traffic.

  90. 90

    Hacienda El Jibarito

    Hacienda El Jibarito is a 19 room agro-hotel located in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico designed to attract people to appreciate the countryside and historic elements of Puerto Rico.

  91. 91

    Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña

    Source: pinimg.com

    The Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña is a museum in Ponce, that showcases the development of Puerto Rican music, with displays of Taíno, Spanish, and African musical instruments

  92. 92

    Paseo Tablado La Guancha

    The La Guancha Boardwalk is a boardwalk in the La Guancha sector of the Playa barrio in the city of Ponce.

  93. 93

    Isla de Ratones

    Isla de Ratones is a small island located near the Joyuda Lagoon in Cabo Rojo.

  94. 94

    Spanglish was invented here

    A singsong, rapid-fire cadence and a tendency to blend English with Spanish set the Puerto Rican tongue apart.

  95. 95

    Where the jukebox still reigns

    Closet-size Café Celeste is often overshadowed by the famous Nuyorican Café across the street, but the scene inside this Old San Juan hole-in-the-wall is no less worthy.

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    Street arts in Puerto Rico

    Source: pinimg.com
  97. 97

    The Puerto Rican Straw Hat

  98. 98

    Naguabo

    Source: boriken365.com

    Naguabo is a small beach resort town that seems to cater mostly to locals.

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    Devils Guerite

    The oldest part of San Christobal has the La Garita del Diablo, where it was rumored that Soldiers sent for watch there would disappear randomly.

  100. 100

    Birding Humacao Wildlife Refuge

    Humacao Wildlife Refuge is one of the better places in Puerto Rico to find several species of birds, including West Indian Whistling-Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, and Green-throated Carib.

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