Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated United States territory located roughly 1,600 kilometres southeast of Miami, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Its capital, San Juan, is also its largest city. Spanish and English are the official languages, and the US dollar serves as currency. The island covers approximately 9,104 km² and has a population of around 3.2 million, shaped by Taíno, Spanish, and African cultural legacies.

Because Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, entry follows US federal rules. US citizens travel without a passport, using only a government-issued ID. Foreign nationals must meet standard US entry requirements — many nationalities qualify for the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), while others require a standard US nonimmigrant visa. There is no separate Puerto Rican immigration system.

Old San Juan's cobblestone streets are lined with 16th-century Spanish fortifications, most notably Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched above the harbour entrance. El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, rises to about 1,075 metres. The bioluminescent bay at Mosquito Bay on Vieques Island is among the brightest in the world. Camuy River Cave Park features one of the largest cave networks in the Western Hemisphere.

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with relatively stable temperatures year-round. Coastal areas typically range from 24 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer, while the mountainous interior runs several degrees cooler. The dry season, January through April, is generally the most comfortable time to visit. Hurricane season runs June through November, with peak risk in August and September. Light, breathable clothing is appropriate year-round; a rain layer is useful in the mountains.

• Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917.
• Home to the world's second-largest radio telescope remnant.
• Roberto Clemente became baseball's first Latin American Hall of Famer.
• The island hosts the oldest European-built road in the Americas.
• Puerto Rico exports roughly 25% of all US pharmaceuticals.

• discoverpuertorico.com — official destination marketing and tourism information
• estado.pr.gov — Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico
• weather.gov — US National Weather Service forecasts including Puerto Rico
• cbp.gov — US Customs and Border Protection, entry and travel requirements