Birds fly south in the winter and along with them go people from Canada, New York, and more. One of the favorite destinations for the snowbirds is Florida. But while Florida is certainly a stunning state with warm winter temperatures, why not go even further to America’s Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is a superb holiday destination and there are plenty of things in Puerto Rico that one should plan their holiday around. Puerto Rico is a great location for full holidays and long weekends alike.
How Puerto Rico Became American & Its Deep History
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States and is around 1,000 miles (or 1,600 kilometers) southeast of Miami. It has been a possession of the United States since the Spanish American War of 1898 (when the American’s also seized Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam). Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens
Population: Around 3.2 Million San Juan: Capital and Largest City
The culture here on the island is Spanish and American influenced together with a Caribbean infusion.
Puerto Rico is rich in history and culture and has the oldest post-Columbian buildings anywhere in the United States. It is an island of exceptional food, picturesque mountains, and tropical Caribbean beaches.
For those with a love of history, Puerto Rico can put the oldest buildings still standing in New England and the other 13 original colonies to shame. It has four buildings hailing from the 1500s – one from 1532 (just 40 years after the first landfall of Christopher Columbus).
San Jose Church: Built in 1532 and Located in Old San Juan La Fortaleza: Built In 1533, Located In Old San Juan And is The Oldest Executive Mansion in the New World Castillo San Felipe del Morro: Built In 1539, Located in Old San Juan Cathedral of San Juan: Built In 1540, Located In Old San Juan – The Original Church was built In 1521
Related: San Cristóbal Is Worth Visiting For Its Stunning Waterfall Hike
The Resilience of Puerto Rico and When To Visit
While Puerto Rico may have suffered from a string of disasters in the last half-decade (like the Zika epidemic in 2016, and the Hurricanes of Irma and Maria in 2017), the island has shown resilience and bounced back.
Hurricane Maria: A Category 4 Storm that Claimed Thousands of Lives in 2017
Despite that and the current pandemic, the island set a new tourism record in 2021 and looks set to be a prime destination in 2022. Puerto Rico even rebounded from damaging earthquakes that stifled its tourism sector for a while.
Best Time to Visit: From Mid-April to June Fall: The Atlantic Hurricane Season
The best time to visit Puerto Rico is just after the busy winter season and just before the summer rains. Spring here is pleasant – although the best weather is during the winter months (that is why the winter is the most popular time, the most crowded, and the most expensive time.
Related: These Puerto Rican Villa Rentals Have Us Dreaming Of Sunny Days And Gorgeous Beaches
Puerto Rico Is a Caribbean Paradise
“Puerto Rico inspires Caribbean daydreams for good reason: it can satisfy both the lethargic beach bum and the budding big-wave surfer – all in a long weekend. Its coral reefs host a riot of fantastical fish and the shores shimmer like crushed pearls.”
– Lonely Planet
Once in Puerto Rico, explore beyond the condo towers and the congested roads. Discover the inner heart of Puerto Rico and find the entrancing salsa beats and the lechoneras (eateries specializing in suckling pig). See the coffee plantations, discover for oneself the best beaches, and learn about the history of the island in its museums.
The colonial history of Puerto Rico is among that of the oldest of any in the Americas. See its history filled with colonization, revolt, discover its bristling fortresses, learn of failed revolutions, and the island’s past going sugar.
In Puerto Rico, one will discover thick forests and labyrinths of mangroves creating a crucial coastal wildlife reserve.
Puerto Rico is less than a three-hour flight from Miami. It is an island that boasts 20-foot waves for surfers and calm-clear water for families to play in the water. For a secluded vacation, consider taking a ferry to the secluded and eye-watering beautiful islands of Vieques and Culebra.
Try Out The Food
The food here is delicious and is a mixture of Caribbean, Latin, North American, and indigenous Taíno influences. There is plenty here to whet the appetite of any foodie and one is sure to need more time to taste everything.
Asopao: A Traditional Stew Made With Chicken or Beef Mofongo: Seafood, Meat, or Vegetables On Mashed Plantains Pasteles: Made of Mashed Banana and Stuffed with Pork, Cod, or Chicken Lechon: A Smoky Roasted Suckling Pig Arroz Con Gandules: Rice and Pigeon Peas Tembleque: A Coconut Custard Pastelitos de guayaba: A Guava-Filled Pastry
Next: These Are The Cheapest Places To Visit This Spring
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Publish date : 2022-02-13 03:00:00
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