PUERTO RICO ISLANDS
ISLAND FUN FACTS
Capital: San Juan City is the capital of Puerto Rico
Population: 3.194 Million inhabitants
Religion: They are overwhelmingly Christians with 56% of Puerto Ricans being Catholics , 33% Protestants, and 48% identified as born-again Christians.
Language: Spanish and English
Side of Street Drive-On: All vehicles are supposed to drive on the right hand side of the road.
Currency: United States Dollar ($).
History:
Puerto Rico takes great pride in its history. The Taino, were the first group to settle there, an indigenous group that occupied the island 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived.
From his second voyage into America around1493, Christopher Columbus landed at Puerto Rico and claimed it for Spain. He named the island San Juan Bautista, which was then switched to Puerto Rico, meaning the ‘rich port’, and San Juan became the capital city.
THINGS TO DO
1. Ziplining
2. Parasailing
3. Flyboard/Hoverboard
4. Swimming
5. Jet Boating
6. Jet Skiing
7. Snorkeling
8. Scuba diving
1. Basketball
2. Biking and Skating
3. Bowling
4. Camping
5. Cockfighting
6. Cycling
7. Diving
8. Fishing
9. Hiking
10. Horse riding
11. Surfing
12. Tennis
Puerto Rico’s musical taste springs from the Taino people. Their music borrows the Caribbean tune that was played on handmade instruments such as the mayohuacán, a wooden slit drum.
The guiro is another traditional Puerto Rican instrument played by the Taino people. It is a percussive instrument made from a hollowed gourd.
Other music traditions reached Puerto through interaction with Spanish and African cultures.
These new inhabitants came in with varied instruments, like guitars with varying levels of strings. Puerto Rican Cuatro, which has 10 strings! is the most iconic amongst all the musical equipment’s.
1.Tostones – batter coated plantain
2. Arroz con gandules-
3. Alcapurrias- fritters filled with ground beef
4. Mofongo- green plantains seasoned with garlic and salt
5.Pernil – roasted pig
6.Rellenos de papa- potatoes stuffed with ground beef
7.Pateles- green planatins filled with any type of meat
8.Pastelon- Italian lasagna
9. Platanas Maduro- fried plantains
10. Asopao- blend of rice and soup
11.Coco Rico- Peurto Rican Coca Cola
12. Coquito- A milky coconut drink
13. Arrox Con Dulce- rice cooked with coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
14. Flan- tastes like cheesecake
15. Tembleque- creamy coconut pudding made from coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch
1. Old San Juan
2. El Yunque National Forest
3. Culebra Island
4. Vieques and Bioluminescent Bay
5. Surfing and whale watching at Rincon
6. Luquillo Beach
7. Rio Camuy Caves
8. Ponce’s Historic City Center
9. Isla Verde
10. Seven Seas Beach
1. Playa Flamenco Beach
2. Sun Bay Beach
3. Luquillo Beach
4. Playa Crash Beach
5. Playa Sucia Beach
6. Condado Beach
7. Tortuga Beach
9. Gelee Beach
10. Grann Do Beach
ISLAND FUN FACTS
Capital: Isabel Segunda
Population: 9,301
Religion: Roman Catholic
Language: Spanish
Carnival: Festival of Our Lady of Carmen is held the third week in July
Currency: US Dollar
Side of Street Drive-On: Left
History:
Vieques has a long history. It was first thought to be inhabited by the Taino which were Native Amerindians from South America. After the Christopher Columbus era and several attempts bu European forces to colonize, it remained a free port thriving as a smuggling center. Subsequently, the island became a base for the US Navy in the 1940’s and remained a site for weapons testing right up until May 2003.
THINGS TO DO
Watersports, Horseback Riding
la Isla Nena (a local nickname for Vieques)
Enjoy the taste of Puerto Rican cuisine and sumptuos seafood at several restaurants across the island including Coquí Fire Café, El Quenepo and Bieke’s Bistro
Punta Mulas Lighthouse, Puerto Ferro Lighthouse
Playa Esperanza, Sun beach, La Chiva, Playita Negra
Spend the day exploring the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge or better yet marvel at the pristine Mosquito Bay – the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world (recognized by the Guinness Book of Records in 2006)
ISLAND FUN FACTS
Capital: Culebra Pueblo (Dewey)
Population: 1,828
Religion: Roman Catholic
Language: Spanish
Carnival: Festival of Our Lady of Carmen is held on July 16.
Currency: US Dollar
Side of Street Drive-On: Left
History:
Culebra is an island municipality of Puerto Rico. The island was founded in 1880 by Cayetano Escudero. It is also known as Isla Chiquita (small island) and Ultima Virgen (large virgin) due to its last position at the end of the Virgin Islands chain. In 1903 the Culebra Naval Reservation was established and 1939 the Culebra Archipelago became the main gunnery and bombing practice site for the U.S. Navy. Many relics remain there to this day.
THINGS TO DO
Watersports, Trekking, Hiking
The first known inhabitants on the island were pre-Taino Indian. Presently Culebrenses are a mix of Puerto Ricans and persons from all over the United States
Enjoy the taste of Puerto Rican cuisine and sumptuous seafood at several restaurants across the island including El Edén, Dinghy Dock and Restaurant Caracoles
Culebra Historical Museum, Museum Fort Count Mirasol and Isla Culebrita Lighthouse
Tamarindo Beach, Flamenco Beach, Punto Melones Beach
The Culebra National Wildlife Refuge provides a safe haven for large colonies of sea birds and nesting sea turtles. It is also the favorite roosting site for the endangered brown pelican.
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