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Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean, to the east
of Dominican Republic and to the west of the Virgin Islands. Although
there is a main Puerto Rican island, the country is made up of
many smaller islands and keys, the largest ones being Mona, Vieques
and Culebra.
Although one of the smallest Caribbean islands, it has some of
the most vibrant culture, combining Caribbean and Latin American
traditions and customs to produce globally renowned music, food
and festivals. It is also a country steeped in history, with Pre-Columbian
ruins and tribal artifacts and the ancient cultures still inspire
local arts and crafts. Christopher Columbus arrived during his
second voyage in 1493 and the Spanish colonization of the island
radically changed it. The influence of this time still resonates
in the architecture, as many old buildings are Spanish and Italian
in design and use similar materials. There are several landmarks
across the islands which can still be traced back to this era.
The main city, San Juan, is home to almost half a million Puerto
Ricans and is the most important seaport on the islands. It is
also the cultural, financial, manufacturing and tourism centre,
with a large percent of high rise buildings and large residential
areas. The city has many different districts, including a beautiful
old area which has a lot of old colonial buildings and tourism
landmarks.
The Puerto Rican geology and environment are also stunning, with
various kinds of landscape. The island has a series of mountains
and hills all covered with plush greenery and these areas are home
to a variety of flora and fauna including 600 uncommon species
of plants and animals including 48 endangered species and 16 endemic
to Puerto Rico. In addition to the forest areas, the islands are
also globally famed for its stunning long white beaches and seaside
lifestyle. The waters are clear and blue and there are a variety
of water sports and activities to take part in, including water-skiing,
diving around the reefs and jet-skiing. Many tourists to the islands
also take trips between the various ports as it is a easy way of
exploring the different cultures and landmarks of each island whilst
also seeing the islands from a new perspective. In particular,
sailboat charters around the Spanish Virgin Islands are a fantastic
choice.
If you want to enjoy cheap
holidays in Puerto Rico for yourself, you can reach
the Puerto Rican islands from both sea and the air via the San
Juan
main seaport and also by Luis Munoz Marin International Airport.
The airport offers frequent flights and has strong links to many
American and International Airports.
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