Paradise in the heart of the Caribbean Sea
An unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico has Commonwealth status. The country is located in the Greater Antilles, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It comprises the main island of Puerto Rico and smaller islands such as Isla Mona and Vieques Culebra. Puerto Rico was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. At the time, he named the country San Juan Baptista, in honor of John, Prince of Asturias at the time. The territory was colonized from 1508 until the end of the 18th century by the Spanish, who enslaved the local Taino population. The last remnants of the Spanish empire, along with Cuba, in the 19th century, Puerto Rico experienced an uprising against poverty in 1868. Invaded thirty years later by the United States, the island was ceded to the Americans and granted partial autonomy in 1952. In 2010, the population voted in a referendum to become a Commonwealth until 2020.
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Puerto Rico
Itinerary : Miami, Puerto Plata, San Juan, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Miami
50 other departures
MSC World America
8 d
Inside Stateroom
Miami
9/19/2026
from
797 $CA
Other departures:
18 Apr 2026
02-16-30 May 2026
13-27 Jun 2026
Other departures
Itinerary : Guayaquil, Fuerte Amador, Panama Canal, Cartagena, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, San Juan
Crystal Symphony
10 d
Ocean view Stateroom
Guayaquil
9/5/2026
from
6 830 $CA
Itinerary : Orlando, Puerto Plata, San Juan
Norwegian Prima
4 d
Inside Stateroom
Orlando
11/12/2026
from
610 $CA
The capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan boasts an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has preserved most of its ramparts and fortresses, like El Morro at the tip of the peninsula. The CasaBlanca museum, dedicated to the colony's founder, Ponce de Leon, and the museo de las Americas, set amidst the colorful colonial architecture, provide a fascinating insight into local culture. San Juan also boasts the second oldest church in America, the San José church dating from 1532, as well as a fine statue of Christopher Columbus.
To the northeast of the island, you'll find heavenly beaches, as well as the El Yunque national forest, which unveils a humid tropical selva. Off the coast, Monkey Island is off-limits to visitors, but its macaque population can be seen during kayak trips along the coast. A little further on, Ponce reveals its colonial charms. Puerto Rico's second-largest city, it boasts colorful neoclassical monuments tinged with Art Nouveau. Nicknamed the City of Museums, the city boasts an art museum and an architecture museum, among others. The Centro ceremonial indigena de Tibes focuses on Taino culture through a classical museum and a reconstructed village.
The wilder south coast features secluded beaches and much mangrove swamp. Here you'll find the dry forest of the Guanica Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the west coast, in Rincon, you'll discover the capital of surfing and its immense rollers in winter. Not far away, the Punta Higuero lighthouse offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. Film buffs and science enthusiasts will be enchanted by the Arecibo Observatory, which served as the filming location for the James Bond movie GoldenEye. The site boasts the largest radio telescope ever built, as well as an interesting little museum. Off the island of Puerto Rico, three islands stand out. The first, Isla Mona, has been dubbed the Puerto Rican Galapagos. A true ecological paradise, the site boasts renowned beaches, as well as varieties of sea turtle, humpback whale and iguana. Further afield, Vieques Island is famous for its bioluminescent Mosquito Bay, which can be discovered during swimming or scuba diving. Culebra Island, just next door, is appreciated for its dreamy beaches of white sand and turquoise sea.
Puerto Rico's climate is tropical. However, the country is subject to maritime influences, which give it relatively mild temperatures, ranging from 25 to 30°C all year round. It is advisable to travel during the dry season, between January and April. The country experiences a rainy season between May and December, and a sometimes violent hurricane season between August and October. Note that temperatures are cooler in the mountains at nightfall, and that the east coast is more subject to trade winds and rain, while the south-west coast is more protected and suited to seaside tourism.
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