Country book · Latin America

Puerto Rico

Caribbean rhythm with an American passport

Puerto Rico blends Taíno, Spanish, African and American influences into a culture that is unmistakably its own — reggaetón was born here, and its rainforest, bioluminescent bays and colonial forts pack enormous variety into a small island.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

Reggaetón genuinely originated here
The genre developed in San Juan in the 1990s, blending Jamaican dancehall with Latin rhythms and hip-hop.
Puerto Ricans are US citizens by birth
Since 1917, everyone born on the island holds US citizenship, though residents can't vote in presidential elections.
The bioluminescent bays are real natural phenomena
Mosquito Bay in Vieques glows blue at night from microorganisms disturbed by movement in the water.
El Yunque is a genuine rainforest
It's the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, with waterfalls and coquí frog choruses at dusk.

Commonly believed, wrong

"Puerto Rico is a US state"
It's an unincorporated US territory, with its own distinct culture, flag and Olympic team.
"Everyone speaks only Spanish"
Most Puerto Ricans are bilingual, with English taught throughout schools and widely used in business.
"It's a small, homogenous island"
Puerto Rico contains rainforest, dry forest, karst mountains and dozens of surrounding islands like Vieques and Culebra.
"Salsa was invented in Puerto Rico alone"
Salsa developed jointly among Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians in New York City in the 1960s and 70s.

Highlights

The best of Puerto Rico

Old San Juan

Colorful colonial buildings inside centuries-old Spanish fort walls, right on the Atlantic.

El Yunque rainforest

Waterfalls, orchids and coquí frog calls fill the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest Service.

Bioluminescent bays

Mosquito Bay in Vieques glows electric blue when disturbed by kayak paddles at night.

Culebra and Flamenco Beach

One of the Caribbean's most pristine beaches, reachable only by ferry or small plane.

Culture

Cultural riches

Reggaetón's birthplace

San Juan's underground scene of the 1990s produced a genre that now dominates global pop charts.

Bomba y plena

Afro-Puerto Rican drum and dance traditions born among enslaved communities, still performed at festivals.

Taíno heritage

Indigenous words, foods and petroglyphs from the Taíno people remain part of the island's identity.

Baseball tradition

Puerto Rico has produced legendary MLB players, with baseball as a near-universal childhood sport.

Food

What to eat

Mofongo

Mashed fried plantain packed around garlic and pork cracklings, often served with seafood broth.

Lechón

Whole roast pork cooked over charcoal for hours, especially in the mountain town of Guavate.

Arroz con gandules

Rice with pigeon peas and sofrito, the island's essential holiday side dish.

Alcapurrias

Fried fritters of green banana and yautía dough stuffed with seasoned meat.

Piña colada

Invented in San Juan in the 1950s or 60s, blending rum, coconut cream and pineapple.

Music

World-famous voices

Bad Bunny

The most-streamed artist on the planet.

Daddy Yankee

The man who took reggaetón worldwide.

Ricky Martin

Global pop crossover.

Residente

Calle 13's razor-sharp lyricist.

Rauw Alejandro

Modern reggaetón and R&B.

History

Important people in history

Luis Muñoz Marín

1898 — 1980

First democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico, architect of the Commonwealth status and mid-century industrialization.

Ramón Emeterio Betances

1827 — 1898

Physician and revolutionary known as the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement.

Sila María Calderón

b. 1942

First woman elected governor of Puerto Rico, serving from 2001 to 2005.

Cities