The island of Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea. There is a close connection with the United States. Although the US has some power in Puerto Rico and officially sees it as US territory, it does not belong to the US States. For European tourists, Puerto Rico is mainly a destination that is visited during a cruise vacation. There are also quite a few cruises that depart from San Juan. For those who want to stay in Puerto Rico itself, they will especially be able to enjoy beautiful beaches and tropical green nature. Check topmbadirectory for how to get to Puerto Rico.
Top 10 things to do in Puerto Rico
#1. El Morro
Old San Juan is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Puerto Rico that was once built to serve as a military stronghold. Old San Juan is also the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico. Now today it is the most endearing and charming neighborhood of the city of San Juan. In this old and historic part of the San Juan is the 16th century old Spanish Fort San Felipe. Since 1908 there is also a lighthouse. The six-storey castle has survived many attacks in the past.
#2. El Yunque National Forrest
The highest point in Puerto Rico is Mount El Yunque, which has an elevation of 1080 meters above sea level. The mountain is located in the El Yunque National Forest. This nature park is a very large forest of about 28,000 hectares with many waterfalls such as the Coca Falls, rocks and jungle. Frogs and snails in particular find an excellent living environment in this humid area. Walking over the special footbridge you have a fantastic view of the area.
#3. Tibes Ceremonial Center
If you like to go back in time and see how people lived before the time of Christopher Columbus, you should definitely visit the Tibes Ceremonial Center in Barrio Portugues. This place is located in the municipality of Ponce, which is located in the south of Puerto Rico. The Tibes Ceremonial Center is one of the most important Indian sites in the Caribbean Islands. The history mainly concerns that of the Igneri and the Taíno people. The houses from that time made of reeds and straw are scattered here and there. There is a museum where a lot is told about this pre-Columbian time.
#4. Caja de Muertos
The island of Puerto Rico includes a number of small islands such as Vieques, Culebra and Mona. But the most beautiful small and uninhabited island is Caja de Muertos. The island is protected as a nature reserve because of the turtles that lay their eggs there. The four beaches on the island are all equally beautiful. These are Playa Larga, Carrucho, Pelicano and Coast Guard. A ferry departs regularly from La Guancha to this beautiful island.
#5. Arecibo Observatory
On the north side of Puerto Rico is Arecibo, which is one of the oldest cities in Puerto Rico. Among other things, there is a large cathedral ‘Cathedral of Saint Philip Apostle’ and a very beautiful lighthouse ‘Punta los Morrillos Lighthouse’. However, Arecibo is best known for its radio telescope, which is the largest in the world. This one is in the Arecibo Observatory. This observatory has done many surveys in the universe and is still investigating various planets and other radar observations. The Arecibo Observatory has been featured in several films.
#6. La Guancha Boardwalk of Ponce Playa
There is always something to do along the long boardwalk of Puerto Rico’s second city. Here you will find the marina from where the ferry sails to the uninhabited island of Caja de Muertos. Especially in the evening there is a lot of fun and fun on the La Guanca Boardwalk. From the watchtower you have a beautiful view over the coast. The city of Ponce is worth a stroll through. The beautiful architecture of different buildings shows a nice mix of Art Nouveau with Neoclassical styles. The La Perla theater in particular is a wonderful example of this.
#7. Parque Familiar Julio Enrique Monagas
In this large family park there is a lot to do, especially for the children. For example, you can go pedal boating, have a picnic, go to the playground or visit the amphitheatre. It is possible to visit the park with a horse and carriage ride or step into the locomotive.
#8. Coloso Sugar Cane Refinery
In the town of Aguada is a refinery that was founded in the 19th century. Until at least 2003 sugar cane was processed into sugar in this refinery. The company was Puerto Rico’s longest-running sugar refiner. Now it offers guided tours and an inside look at Puerto Rico’s once important source of income.
#9. Fuerte de Vieques
East of Puerto Rico is the island of Vieques, which has about 10,000 inhabitants. It is known for its beautiful beaches such as Red Beach, Blue Beach, Green Beach and Corcho Beach. But even more famous is the Fuerte de Vieques. This fort was built in 1845 and now houses a museum of art and history.
#10. Isla de la Mona
After Puerto Rico and Vieques, Mona is the most important island. It is an uninhabited island which is actually one large nature reserve. Many nature lovers and participants of all kinds of research projects like to visit the island. The historic lighthouse ‘Faro de la Isla de la Mona’ attracts many visitors. The many caves, some with drawings and cliffs give this island a special appearance.
