travel tips | puerto rico (eng.)

PUERTO RICO

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

The tropical island of Puerto Rico is situated in the Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest inhabited island of the Greater Antilles, with a 580 km long coastline. The islands of Vieques, Mona, Culebra and some others secluded islands are also part of its territory. Its location, history and friendly atmosphere make Puerto Rico the travel destination of thousands of tourists every year.

Surrounded by deep waters it is a true exotic getaway with miles and miles of white sand beaches and crystalline waters, mountains, forests and other natural beauties. The people of Puerto Rico are also an attraction with their culture and warm hearted way.

The official language is Spanish and English is spoken by just a quarter of the population. For federal subjects, English is required.

Immigration policy in Puerto Rico is regulated by the U.S. government, so you must obtain a visa at the U.S. Consulate before entering the territory.

The island has about four million inhabitants and belongs to the United States. Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. It has the same president, follows the same laws and rules and uses the U.S. dollar as currency, but has its own life with its independent culture.

This beautiful place was blessed with its almost perfect attractions. The nature was really nice to Puerto Rico, so you must get to know a little more about these wonders.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSPUERTO RICO

avoid the hurricane and cyclones season that occurs between May and November. During this period, you can have a low-season vacation. The good point is prices usually go down by half at this time of the year.

TRANSPORT

The transportation system of Puerto Rico has changed in the past few years. It is possible to get to the cities and islands in many different ways:

By ship - the main port of the country is ‘The San Juan Harbor’ that is one of the five busiest in the Western Hemisphere. Even

CLIMATEPuerto Rico has a tropical marine climate with warm and sunny days almost all year round. The temperatures are usually between 25 °C and 35 °C, at night and at the mountains, temperatures are usually lower. Throughout the year, it rains very often, but it happens with greater intensity between May and October, when the hurricane season occurs. January to April are the driest months. Regardless of the season, the humidity is high, averaging 80%.

BEST TIME TO VISITThe best time to visit Puerto Rico is from December to April, these are the best months to enjoy the tropical climate of Puerto Rican territory. The average temperature throughout the year is around 26 °C, but it is better to

though there is no passengers or tourists control service on the port, it is known that more than one million people visit the island each year. The other ports are: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Mayaguez, Playa de Ponce.

By air – there are more than 20 airports in Puerto Rico, the main one is the Luis Muñoz Marín, located in Carolina and receives daily international flights. Most of the airports are well prepared with restaurants, banks, duty free shops, banks and even rental cars.

Bus - the bus system in Puerto Rico is known as the AMA and Metrobus. This service connects the San Juan metropolitan area to seven cities: Trujillo Alto, Toa Baja (Levittown), Guaynabo, Cataño, Bayamón, Carolina and Loiza (vía Piñones). Its opening hours are 4:30am to 10pm.

‘Public Car’ - or ‘guaguas’. Vans that fit 10 to 14 people, it is a good option to visit the city, but it does not leave until the van capacity is complete, what might take from 10 minutes to several hours.

Taxi - they are all over the metropolitan area of San Juan. They are billed through the meter, but it is possible to fix a price depending on the destination.

Rent a car - there are several companies around the island. Rates tend to be slightly more expensive than in the United States.

Train - or “Tren Urbano”. There are 16 stations that connect the cities of San Juan, Bayamón and Guaynabo. Its opening hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

ATTRACTIONS

There are 78 cities in the entire territory of Puerto Rico, and each one has its particular history and beauty. On the next pages you will get to know a small selection of tourist attractions, after all there are many sightseeing points in Puerto Rico.

El Castillo San Felipe del Morro – it is a small town built in the sixteenth century. It is located in the northwestern part of San Juan and is a major tourist attraction. It is part of the National Historic Site in San Juan and was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983.

El Castillo de San Cristobal - is a Spanish fort built to protect the city from attacks by land. It is part of the National Historic Site San Juan and is 45 meters high. It is open every day from 9am to 6pm.

Palacio de Santa Catalina - or La Fortaleza, Paseo de la Princesa. It is the official residence of Puerto Rico governor. It was built between 1533 and 1540 and was declared World Heritage. It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World.

El Teatro Tapia - built in 1872, it is one of the oldest theaters in Latin America. Currently people can watch concerts, operas, plays and cultural events.


Centro de Bellas Artes - the largest fine arts center in the Caribbean. Where you can watch many concerts, plays and operas.

Bacardi Rum Factory - located in Cataño, northeast coast of Puerto Rico, is opened Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm and on Sundays from 10am to 3:30pm. It is also known as the ‘Cathedral of Rum’, about 500 thousand square meters big. There are guided tours daily.

Ateneo de Puerto Rico - This museum was founded in 1876 and is the largest cultural institution in the country. You can make part of art contests and art classes. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm.

La Princesa - is a former prison that became the Museum of History. The building was built in 1837 on the San Juan Bay, a beautiful place, surrounded by lots of trees. Open for visitation Monday through Friday.

Museo del Niño - or Children’s Museum, it is located in Calle del Cristo. Opened Tuesday to Sunday, there are many interactive exhibits, giving children simple lessons such as the benefits of brushing the teeth and recycling products.

Art Museum - it is located at Avenida José de Diego, Santurce 299. It is the most important gallery of Puerto Rico, where it was invested 55 million dollars. It has a rich collection of art displaying the cultural heritage of the Caribbean island. The value of the entries varies between adults, children and elderly, the largest value is around $ 8. Opened Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.


San Juan Beaches – the beaches are famous for its white sands and its nice and cool climate, different from the Caribbean sands that are dark and very hot on sunny days.

Isla Verde Beach – it is one of the most popular beaches in San Juan with several restaurants along the beach. There are several trees, parking spaces and showers. Tourists arrive there early to find a good place and the beaches are always crowded.

Beach County - also located in San Juan, surrounded by hotels and beaches it is the tourist’s favorite. You can rent equipments at the kiosks to practice activities like water skiing and paragliding.

Flamenco Beach - perfect for those who like to relax and go to a quiet place where tourists usually do not go. Located in San Juan, you will find there a long white sand path with crystal clear water and very quiet environment.

Muñoz Rivera Park - located at Avenida Ponce de León, it is situated at the seaside. It has a beautiful landscape and lots of trees, great to go for a walk. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

El Yunque – it is the biggest natural attraction in Puerto Rico. It is located thirty minutes east by car of San Juan. This rainforest is protected by the National Forests of the United States. It is almost 12 km long and covers the regions of Canóvanas, Las Piedras, Luquillo, Fajardo,

Ceiba, Naguabo and Rio Grande. There are about 240 species of trees and different plants, and 50 species of birds including the rare Puerto Rican parrot, which is on the brink of extinction. Visitors can walk along one of the trails watching the scenery, vegetation and waterfalls with different species of flowers and plants.

WHERE TO STAY

Puerto Rico offers a variety of hotels for different people and different pricing options. There are about 15,000 hotel rooms and inns available in all Puerto Rican territory, and most of them are located in San Juan, the capital.

If you want to rent or buy property on the island, real estate companies offer many services and information. Because Puerto Rico is a place where there are many tourists all year long, the country offers a wide selection of properties throughout the island.

WHERE TO EAT

When it comes to good food serving, Puerto Rico is not a friendly place for those on a diet. It is impossible to visit these islands and go home without trying any of the delicious foods. The most common appetizers are the bacalaitos (codfish cakes), the surullitos (rolls with corn) and Empanadillas with many types of filling. As the first course, there are the traditional black bean soup, from the Caribbean and soups like the classic arroz con pollo sopón (kind of soup), the sopón fish and caldo gallego, prepared with white beans, salty pork and different types of vegetables and sausages. Another type of stew is asopao, typically Puerto Rican, a mixture of various types of meat and spices.

The local cuisine uses two types of spices: the adobo - pepper, oregano, garlic, salt, olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice, that is used in the meat - and sofrito - different types of onions, garlic, cilantro and golden peppers in olive oil, used in rice, soups and stews.


In Puerto Rico, there are several choices of dishes with fish and seafood, besides pork and chicken. The main dishes are beef stew, beef and veal pastelón and other meat dishes.

SHOPPING

The mall, with many different stores, is located in San Juan suburb. The Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey, is the largest mall in the Caribbean with approximately 200 stores, including worldwide well known brands. There are also plenty of clothes, souvenirs, cosmetics, electronics shops with all sorts of products.

You can buy local handicrafts in San Juan, but the countryside festivals like Festival de las Chinas and the festival that takes place in Las Marías are great places to buy typical products at very reasonable prices.

Puerto Rico is a major producer of rum, so you can find several shops selling this beverage

for affordable prices. Another product of local culture are hand-made cigars, which can be found in Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra.

STREET MARKETS There is a route Puerto Rico southwest where you can drive and go along cities and places with rich Puerto Rican culture. At the regions of Yauco, Sabana Grande, Lajas, Hormigueros, Cabo Roxo Maiagüez, San Sebastián, Moca, Isabela, Aguadilha and Ponce you can get to know and have direct contact with the artisans.

Local crafts include wood carvings, musical instruments, ceramics, laces, masks, baskets and other rarities. Hammocks are the most typical objects of Puerto Rico that are still made in the traditional way. Another object of the local culture are the images of saints carved in wood.

CURRENCYAs Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States, its currency is the U.S. dollar. But the

currency is known as ‘peso’. It is normally abbreviated with the sign $, or $ or U.S. $ to distinguish it from other currencies into U.S. dollars using the same symbol $. The U.S. dollar is divided into 100 cents (cents). In circulation there are coins of 1 ¢ (one cent),

5 cents (nickel) 10 ¢ (dime) 25 ¢ (quarter dollar officially, or simply quarter - quarter in common usage), and 50 cents a dollar. Then there are the bills of $ 1, $ 2, $ 5, $ 10, $ 20, $ 50 and $ 100.


To exchange money, you can use “Banco Popular”, a national bank located in the capital San Juan. At airports there are also banks and agencies that do this service. The opening hours of banks, outside of airports, is from 9am to 3:30pm.


911 EMERGENCY SERVICES

COUNTRY CODE

787939

POLICE

787-343-2020

AMBULANCE

787-343-2222

CIVIL DEFENSE

787-724-0124

FIRE DEPARTMENT

787-343-2330

COAST GUARD

787-729-6770

TOURIST INFORMATION

787-722-1709

LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

787-253-3522

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

travel tips | puerto rico (eng.)

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