PUERTO RICO TRAVEL TIPS
A collection of important information that can make your trip more enjoyable.

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic. (about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida). The island is comparatively small, 8959 sq km (3459 sq miles), with a central mountain range reaching an altitude of 1338m (4390ft) at Cerro de Punta, and surrounded by low coastal plains. The capital city is San Juan divided into an old and a new quarter. Puerto Rico is a modern progressive and civilized vacation spot that maintains the charm and hospitality of days gone by. You will find everything that the Caribbean has to offer in this all around family destination - and with it is a people whose warmth is equaled only by the sunshine that graces its shores. Take a moment to brush up on the travel tips that will help you be more prepared for travel anywhere in Puerto Rico.

PUERTO RICO GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 8959 sq km (3459 sq miles). Population: 3,839,810 (official estimate 2002). Population Density: 428.6 per sq km. Capital: San Juan. Population: 421,958 (2000). Government: Self-governing US Commonwealth Territory (incorporated). Gained internal autonomy in 1951. Head of State: President George W Bush since 2001. Head of Government: Governor Sila Maria Calderón since 2001. Language: Spanish and English are the official languages. Religion: Roman Catholic 74 per cent; the remainder are other Christian denominations and Jews. Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz.

GEOGRAPHY: The island of Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. Its coasts measures approximately 580 km, and if the adjacent islands Vieques and Culebra are included the coast measures approximately 700 km. To the north and south seas capes measure 8.525 m for the Grave of Puerto Rico and 5.000 m for the Grave of Tanner. In addition to the principal island, the Commonwealth includes: Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino (known by some by the Spanish Virgin Islands), Mona, Monito and various others isolated islands. Deep oceans waters fringe Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage, which separates the island from Hispaniola to the west, is about 75 miles (120 km) wide and more that 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) deep. Off the northern coast is the 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) deep Puerto Rico Trench, and to the south the sea bottom descends to the 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) deep Venezuelan Basin of the Caribbean.

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GETTING AROUND PUERTO RICO

Renting a car is the best way to see the island. International car rental agencies are well represented and there are plenty of local operators. Your home driving license is valid. Note that local driving habits are erratic (to be kind) though relatively aggression-free (to be fair). Also watch out for the speed limit signs, which are in miles per hour, even though distances are in kilometres. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road.

If driving doesn't appeal, you can stock up on patience and take public transport. Minivans known as públicos link all decent-sized towns on the island. They have no set schedule and usually operate in short hops, so be prepared for several changes if you're travelling a long distance and it's not between two major cities. Públicos are cheap, sociable and recognizable by the 'P' or 'PD' on their license plate. You can flag one down anywhere. Metered taxis are plentiful in San Juan and other major tourist centres.

Cheap government-operated ferries do the run from Fajardo to the islands of Culebra and Vieques. At least four ferries a day ply either route and the journey to either island is around one hour. It's possible to take a car, including rental cars, on the ferry to Culebra but it's necessary to book well in advance.


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PUERTO RICO CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION

There are no passports or visas necessary for United States citizens, which mean that US citizens can travel freely in and out of the island without going through immigration or customs. For more information, call the Puerto Rico State Department at (787) 722-2121.

Citizens of other countries have the same requirements as for entering the USA. Potential visitors must first obtain a visa, either a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The 90-day "visitor" visa is a non-immigrant visa to enter the United States temporarily. Those planning to travel to the US for a different purpose, such as study or temporary work, must apply for specialized visas. Click here for Visa Informations

At the airports in Puerto Rico, your luggage will be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make sure you are not carrying prohibited fruits and plants to the mainland. Avocado, papaya, coconut and plantain can be taken to the U.S.; mango, sour sop, passion fruit and plants potted in soil cannot. Travelers carrying undeclared prohibited items will be fined on the spot. Articles from Vietnam, North Korea, Kampuchea or Cuba, illegal publications, lottery tickets, chocolate liqueurs or pre-Columbian artifacts may not be brought into the country.

Passing through customs should be routine and quick. If you are taking prescription drugs, make sure you have a copy of the prescription with you; otherwise you could be held up.

If you want a copy of what is and is not permitted back on the mainland, write the U.S. Agriculture Department, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Room G-110, Federal Building, Hyattsville, MD 20782 or call (787) 253-4505, (787) 263-4506.

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PUERTO RICO TRAVELING WITH PETS

Before taking a flight with your animal, have your veterinarian examine your pet to ensure that it is healthy enough to make the trip. Airlines and State health officials generally require health certificates for all animals transported by air. You will be required to: 1) Outfit your pet with a sturdy collar and two identification tags. The tags should have both your permanent address and telephone number and an address and telephone number where you can be reached while traveling. 2) Rabies quarantine certificate from veterinary doctor stating that pet has had a rabies shot. For more information contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Puerto Rico office, Veterinary Division at (787) 766-6050.


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PUERTO RICO COMMUNICATIONS

U.S. by high capacity submarine cable and INTELSAT with high-speed data capability; digital telephone system with about 1 million lines; cellular telephone service; broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV; cable television carries all four major U.S. networks. The first local radio broadcast dating from 1923 and television from 1954. Dow Jones and Reuters are among the quotation and news services available.

Telephone
Puerto Rico has modern, reliable United States style telephone service (area codes 787 and 939). All local calls costs 25 cents. Local information is 411, 1-787-555-1212. For directory assistance to others parts of Puerto Rico, dial 0. Person-to-person, collect and calling card calls are easy to place. At the center of the phone book are blue pages in English.

Puerto Rico Telephone Company: (La Telefonica de Puerto Rico) (787) 749-9999.

Internet
Internet service companies provide access to the Net through local telephone calls around the island. National providers includes: AT&T, America On-Line, CompuServe, MSN and Sprynet. Local providers: Datacom Caribe, Inc., Caribbean Internet Services (now a PSINet Company), TLD Internet, and PRTC.

Internet country code: .pr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 76 (2000)

Internet users: 600,000 (2002)

Postal Service - Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. postal system (USPS) and has the same mail rates (23¢ for a postcard, 37¢ for a first-class letter) and service as provided on the U.S. mainland. Post offices in every city offer Express Mail next-day service to the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico. In addition, express services are offered by FedEx, UPS, Emery, RPS, and DHL.

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PUERTO RICO BUSINESS PROFILE

Economy: Puerto Rico has few natural resources, although some nickel and copper have been located. Manufacturing has overtaken agriculture as the main source of income following an intensive programme of industrialisation by the Government. The main products are pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic equipment, processed food, textiles, clothing, rum, petrochemicals and refined oil. There is a foreign free-trade zone at Mayagüez. In the agricultural sector, dairy and livestock produce is now more important than sugar cane, the island’s main crop. Fresh fruit and vegetables are grown for export. Tourism is the main service industry and has undergone steady growth in recent years; the sector is now worth more than US$2 billion annually. Another major source of revenue for the territory derived from a US naval base on the island of Vieques. Although employing over 6,000 people and injecting an estimated $300 million annually into the economy, it was widely unpopular with islanders; after sustained pressure, the closure of the base was announced in 2003.
Puerto Rico has observer status at the Caribbean trading bloc, CARICOM. The USA and its corporations dominate both the domestic economy and overall trade patterns, although Puerto Rico has important trading links of its own with Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The US government is in the process of removing certain tax exemptions enjoyed by US and foreign investors in Puerto Rico; the economic impact of this is as yet unclear but is causing concern in the territory.

Business: A knowledge of Spanish (the official language) is very useful, although English is widely spoken; most people in the tourist industry and the greater metropolitan areas are bilingual. Lightweight suits are advised for business meetings. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800. Government office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1630.


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PUERTO RICO SOCIAL PROFILE

Food & Drink: Puerto Rico (and especially San Juan) abounds with good restaurants, catering for all tastes from Spanish to Chinese, French, Greek and Italian. The island cuisine is Spanish-based, with rice and beans as the staple diet. Paella, chicken dishes, black bean soup, sancocho (beef stew), jueyes (land crabs) and pan de agua (native bread) are all excellent, as is the delicately seasoned langosta. Island rums such as Barrilito and Don Q are not to be missed.

Nightlife: Puerto Rico’s nightlife is abundant and varied. The streets are lively in the evening. Many shops are open late, and the visitor can sit in the squares of old San Juan and indulge in people-watching. A recommended walk is down La Princesa Promenade, lined with antique street lamps. Meeting places include a Bogart-style cigar bar and cocktail bars. Hotels provide some of the entertainment, but there are also different types of clubs, both modern and more mainstream. Many Puerto Ricans favour traditional Latin dance clubs with large dance floors, which often have live bands playing salsa and merengue music. Puerto Ricans are passionate about their nightlife, and often dress up. Casinos are intimate and friendly, generally opening at noon and closing at around 0400 daily. Hotel casinos are open to guests and non-guests alike.

Special Events: ‘Fiestas Patronales’ celebrations are held in each town’s plaza to honour the area’s patron saint. These fiestas can last up to 10 days and include religious processions, games, local food and dance. For further details, contact the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Puerto Rico in 2005:
Jan San Sebastián Street Festival. Feb San Blás Marathon; Coamo; Carnival; La Virgen de la Candelaria, Mayagúez; Ponce Carnival. May Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival, San Juan. Jun Casals Festival (classical music festival), San Juan; Aibonito Flower Festival; San Juan Bautista Day (begins a week of festivities celebrating San Juan’s patron saint). Jul St James Festival, Loíza. Aug San Juan International Billfish Tournament. Sep Convention and Hospitality Expo del Caribe, San Juan. Oct San Juan Cinema Festival. Dec Bacardi Artisans’ Fair; Hatillo Mask Fair. Dec-Jan 2006 Navidades (island-wide Christmas festivities). Dec 28 Festival of Innocents, Hatillo.

Social Conventions: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Casual dress is acceptable, but shorts should not be worn in hotel dining rooms or casinos, where formal dress is required after 2000. Spanish and American manners and conventions exist side by side on the island. Some hotels require formal dress.

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PUERTO RICO EMERGENCY NUMBERS

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PUERTO RICO HEALTH & MEDICAL FACILITIES

Health standards in Puerto Rico are generally comparable with those of the United States, its medical facilities are among the finest in the Caribbean. There are physicians and hospitals in all cities. "Departamento de Salud" (Department of Health), (787) 766-1616.

Vital Records of birth, death, marriage or divorce can be obtained writing to:

Department of Health Demographic Registry

P.O. Box 11854

Fernandez Juncos Station

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910

Cost per copy: $2.00

Money order should be made payable to Secretary of the Treasury. Personal checks are not accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (787) 728-7980. (10/1/2001 - has been reported no answer to phone calls to number provided. Any updates will be appreciated!)

 

PUERTO RICO LIQUOR LAWS

You must be 18 years old to purchase liquor in stores or buy drinks in hotels, bars, and restaurants. A municipal statute forbids alcohol consumption on the streets of many cities, like San Juan. It is illegal to operate motor vehicle at or above .08 blood alcohol level.

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PUERTO RICO CURRENCY

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US and uses the dollar. The US dollar is often referred to as the "peso".

Currency Exchange
Currency Exchange can be arranged through many institutions in Puerto Rico, including:

• Banco Popular. Foreign currency exchange: any branch. International division, second floor, 1500 Ponce de León, corner Europa, Santurce, (787) 723-0077.
• Caribbean Foreign Exchange. 201B Tetuan, Old San Juan. (787) 722-8222.
• Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange. International Airport, Isla Verde. (787) 791-1960, (787) 791-2233. Popular Center Building, Hato Rey (787) 754-2228.
• Scotia Bank of Puerto Rico. Canadian exchange only. Any branch. (787) 758-8989.
• Western Union. Cable money transfer. All Pueblo supermarkets (800) 325-4046.

Banking hours are 9 am. to 3:30 pm.

Credit Cards
All major credit cards are widely accepted: American Express, Visa, Diner's Club, Discovery, Master Card and other Bank credit cards.

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PUERTO RICO SHOPPING

Shoppers from the Caribbean and beyond are drawn to metropolitan San Juan, Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, containing 190 stores, including J.C. Penney's, Sears, Macy's, and dozens of smaller stores for clothing, gifts, electronics, cosmetics, etc. (787) 767-1525. Other commercial centers: Plaza Carolina in Carolina, Río Hondo in Levittown, Plaza del Carmen in Caguas and Mayagüez Mall in Mayagüez, Plaza de Aguadilla in Aguadilla, and Plaza del Caribe in Ponce.

In almost all cities there are regional commercial centers. Retail stores like: Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart and JCPenny anchor shopping centers and malls alongside locally owned shops and island chain stores.

Do not forget that Puerto Rico is a large producer of rum, with many different types ranging from light rums for mixing with soft drinks to dark brandy-type rums. Hand made cigars can still be found in Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra. A wide variety of imported goods from all over the world are available. Local artesanías include wooden carvings, musical instruments, lace, ceramics, hammocks, masks and basket-work.

Craft Shops
For information about island crafts and visits to island artisans, contact:

• Fomento Crafts Program (787) 758-4747 Ext. 2291.
• Puerto Rico Tourism Company artisan office (787) 721-2400 Ext. 2201, 2080.
• Institute of Puerto Rican Culture Popular Arts Center (787) 722-0621.

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PUERTO RICO TAX & TIPPING

Local tax is included in all purchases. There is a 9% hotel tax in a non-casino hotel and a 11% hotel with casino. Tipping is much the same as in the States. In hotels, major restaurants and nightclubs services charges are usually included. However, many inexpensive restaurants do not add service charge. If it isn't, tip between 15% and 20%.

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GETTING MARRIED IN PUETO RICO

Puerto Rico offers a wide variety of services for those wishing to get married in paradise.

Marriage License Information
Marriage license papers may be requested in writing from the Dept. of Health, Demographic Registry Office, Box 11854, Fernandez Juncos Station, Santurce, PR 00910 (allow 2 months) or call (787) 728-7980.

With the above hand you need to obtain a medical certificate from a physician in Puerto Rico (VDRL blood test required), such document will expire in 14 days. Lastly you visit the Marriage License Bureau to have all the documents authenticated. Once your documents are in order you may be married at the free weekly Judicial Center ceremony or at a $150-200 private ceremony (your hotel may set this up).


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PUERTO RICO PEOPLE

Puerto Rico's fertile soil supports one of the densest populations in the world. The Puerto Ricans are descended from Spanish colonists and also from Native Americans and Africans. Spanish and English are the official languages, although Spanish is predominant. Roman Catholicism is the main religion. Spanish is the medium of instruction, but English is studied as a second language by all students. Institutions of higher learning include the Univ. of Puerto Rico (with its main branch at Río Piedras), the Inter-American Univ. at San Germán, the Catholic Univ. at Ponce, and a Catholic college for women at San Juan.

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PUERTO RICO COURTESY & DRESS
Puerto Ricans are a gentle and friendly people. The island feels more like Latin America than the United States. Swim wear is fine for the beach and leisure wear for the resorts, but elsewhere a little dressing up is in order. Night time in San Juan is somewhat informal.

Light and loose cotton clothing is the best bet year-round for Puerto Rico's warm tropical climate. Pack a sweater for cool season evenings or if you plan to visit the mountain regions.

There are no nudist facilities (camps and/or beaches) in Puerto Rico. Nudism is illegal in Puerto Rico

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PUERTO RICO SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor activities: Horseriding on mountain trails or beaches is an excellent way to see the island. Puerto Rico prides itself on its paso fino horses, a breed noted for its endurance and the comfort it affords the rider. Riding facilities can be found all over the island. Beach riding is particularly recommended at Luquillo in the northeast or Isabela in the northwest. There are many forest reserves with hiking trails. Energetic walkers can tackle the mountains in the interior. Toro Negro, with its lush forests and marvellous vistas, is recommended, while the highest peak is Cerro de Punta. The Guanica dry forest in the southwest or the El Yunque rainforest in the northeast both have visitors’ centres where trail maps and advice can be obtained. The Camuy Caves in the west of the island are a national park, and visitors need to be escorted by a local guide. Birdwatchers will enjoy the Guanica dry forest or the Cabezas de San Juan nature reserve. The latter, visits to which must be booked in advance, is run by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, PO Box 9023554, San Juan PR 00902-3554 (tel: 722 5834; fax: 722 5872; website: www.fideicomiso.org).

Watersports: Palmas del Mar rents small- to medium-sized boats for day sailing and the resort is headquarters for the annual Copa del Palmas, the major 1-design regatta in Puerto Rico. Motorboats and rowing boats are also available. Puerto Rico’s shoreline has many areas protected by beautiful coral reefs and cays, and snorkelling in shallow reef waters and mangrove areas is an excellent way of seeing the beautiful and colourful underworld of the sea. Scuba diving instruction and equipment rental are available at watersports offices of major hotels and resorts. Recommended areas include the island of Mona, just off Boquerón on the southwest coast, where the marine life is particularly rich. Because this area is a nature reserve, independent divers require government permission to dive there. Desecheo island, off the northwest coast, Parguera and Isabela are also good diving areas. Many beaches cater for surfing and windsurfing, for example Pine Grove and Condado beaches.

Fishing: Deep-sea fishing is available, with blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, Allison tuna, mackerel, dolphin, tarpon and snook to be found. Fully equipped boats with crew are available for charter all over the island.

Other: There are six baseball teams in the league and the San Juan-Santurce stadium seats close to 25,000 people. There are other ball parks at Arecibo, Caguas, Mayagüez and Ponce. There are many golf courses, including Punto Borinquen at Aguadillo (18 holes), and five 18-hole courses at Dorado. Tennis courts are available all over the island, especially at major hotels. In addition, play is available on 17 floodlit public courts in San Juan’s Central Park, which is open daily. There are also six courts available at the Dorado del Mar Country Club at Dorado. There is horseracing at Rio Grande (El Comandante) all year round.

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PUERTO RICO TIME ZONE

Atlantic Standard Time (AST) (EST +1; GMT -4) all year around, which means that the island does not observe Daylight Savings (one hour later than Eastern Standard Time (EST) from October to April, and the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October).

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