Useful information for organizing a trip or vacation to Puerto Rico, an island in the Greater Antilles characterized by an area with natural beauty typical of the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico in a nutshell
The island of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) is located in the eastern part of the Greater Antilles and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the Antilles Sea in the south, the Canal de la Mona separates it from the island of Hispaniola.
It has for capital San Juan, an area of 9,104 sq km, a population of 3,981,585 whose inhabitants are mostly Catholic and Protestant or other religions.
The official name of Puerto Rico is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, a state freely associated with the United States of America.
Territory
The territory of Puerto Rico is made up of the main island of the same name and various smaller islands, including Mona, Vieques, Culebra, Desecheo and others.
The greater island is crossed from east to west by the Cordillera Central, where the Cerro de Punta is located, with its 1338 meters above sea level it represents the highest peak on the island.
In this area the mountain range has very steep sides characterized by ravines and caves, while in the eastern part the peaks are more rounded and the valleys wider.
The Caribbean National Forest also extends into the same area, an extensive rainforest dominated by Mount El Yunque, from which it takes its name. Less than a third of the island's surface is made up of plains that extend for the most part along the coast which is very varied.
Hydrography
The main streams flow from the Central Cordillera towards the Atlantic and the most important are the Bayamón, Rio de la Plata, Rio Grande de Manati, Rio Grande de Arecibo and Tanamá.
The major rivers that flow into the Caribbean Sea are the Coamo and the Salinas, while the Rio Grande de Añasco and Guanajibo rivers flow into the Strait of Mona.
Climate
Puerto Rico's climate is tropical hot and humid. The rains affect the whole year, but are more consistent from May to October, particularly in August and especially in the inland mountainous area.
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The southern region has a warmer and drier climate than the northern region.
Population
The dominant ethnic group of the Puerto Rican population is made up of whites, Europeans descendants mainly from the Spanish and for the most part mestizos with a fair percentage of somatic traits of the Taino Amerindians.
This is followed by the ethnic group of Africans, descendants of slaves brought by the Spaniards, and Asians from China and Japan.
In recent times Cubans, Dominicans, Venezuelans and Colombians have come to the island.
Time zone
The time difference between Italy and Puerto Rico is 5 hours behind Italy.
Spoken language
The official languages of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English.
Economy
The economy of Puerto Rico, which despite the high unemployment rate has shown dynamism over time, boasts technologically more advanced infrastructures than other Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Agriculture once at the base of the country's economy is losing importance and for this reason restructuring plans are planned in this sector.
The main crops are for export products, sugar cane, coffee and tropical fruit, while for domestic consumption, corn, cassava, potatoes, rice and tomatoes are grown. In the manufacturing sector, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry dominates.
The tourism sector is important, fundamental for the economy of the country.
When to go
The best time to visit Puerto Rico is from December to April. The hurricane season runs from May to November.
Necessary documents
The entry rules to Puerto Rico are the same as those governing access to the United States.
Phone
The international code to call from Italy to Puerto Rico is 001787, while the one to call from Puerto Rico to Italy is 01139
Electric current
The electrical current in Puerto Rico is 120 V 60 Hz with sockets A and B that require the power adapter.
Currency
The official currency of Puerto Rico is the US dollar. ATMs that are spread all over the island are very useful for withdrawing cash.
Credit cards, in particular Visa and Master Card are welcome in the main hotels, restaurants and shops.
How to get
A short distance from the capital of San Juan is the Luis Muñoz Marin international airport, where most international flights land, except for some planes from the United States that are directed to Rafael Hernández airport in Aguadilla, in Borinquen in the municipality of Aguadilla northern tip of the island.
American Airlines, American Eagle Airlines and other American airlines connect some U.S. cities with Puerto Rico. From Europe the airlines Iberia, Condor, Virgin Atlantic Airways offer flights to Puerto Rico.
Vaccinations
Although mandatory vaccinations are not required to visit Puerto Rico, those for anti-tetanus, anti-tetanus, anti-hepatitis A and B are recommended.
Furthermore, it is good to drink only bottled water and drinks without adding ice, to eat only cooked food and personally peeled fruit.
Before departure, it is advisable to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and any repatriation.
