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Student Programs in Puerto Rico

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Exploring Puerto Rico

This island territory is nestled in the Caribbean between the Dominican Republic and British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico’s history is a blend of indigenous Taíno influences, Spanish colonial heritage, and modern American culture. The island’s people are known for their warmth and hospitality, making it an inviting destination for travelers.

Puerto Rico is filled with stunning landscapes, from rainforests and pristine beaches to towering mountain ranges. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Old San Juan or visiting one of the many natural wonders, there’s so much to discover.

 

Country Basics

Puerto Rico, often referred to as the “Island of Enchantment,” is an unincorporated U.S. territory located in the northeastern Caribbean with a population of approximately 3.2 million people. Puerto Rico measures about 100 miles by 35 miles, making it smaller in size than the U.S. state of Connecticut.

The island is divided into six regions, including the capital city of San Juan, which is part of the larger San Juan metropolitan area. The El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Puerto Rico, and while many Puerto Ricans are bilingual, it’s helpful to have some Spanish phrases ready to go. Here are a few that help:

  • Hello: Hola
  • How are you?: ¿Cómo estás?; Good: Bien
  • Good morning: Buenos días; Good afternoon: Buenos tardes; Good night: Buenos noches
  • Welcome: Bienvenido
  • Goodbye: Adios
  • Please: Por favor
  • Thank you: Gracias
  • Excuse me: Perdón
  • What is your name? ¿Cómo te llamas?;
    My name is ___. Me llamo ___.
  • Where are you from? ¿De dónde eres?;
    I am from ___. Yo soy de ___.
  • Do you speak English? ¿Hablas inglés?
  • I don’t understand. No entiendo.
  • Where is the bathroom? ¿Dónde está el baño?
  • How much is it? ¿Cuanto vale ___?

Social Norms & Expectations

In Puerto Rico, people take pride in their appearance and dressing neatly is important. Here are a few other social expectations to keep in mind:

  • When meeting someone new, it’s common to shake hands and smile. In social settings, Puerto Ricans often greet friends and family members with a kiss on the cheek.
  • Respecting elders is highly valued in Puerto Rican culture. When an older person enters a room, it is polite to stand and greet them. Holding doors for elders is a sign of respect.
  • Puerto Rico has a more relaxed approach to time, so it’s acceptable to be a little late for social gatherings.
  • During meals, it’s customary to wait for the host to sit before you do. It’s also common to say “Buen provecho” (Enjoy your meal) before eating.
  • Outdoor dining, known as “al fresco,” is popular, especially during the warm months.

Food

Puerto Rican cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African, Taíno, and American influences. The island’s flavors are rich and diverse. Here are some of the dishes you may encounter in Puerto Rico:

  • Arroz con Habichuelas – a classic Puerto Rican dish features rice cooked with red or pink beans, seasoned with a sofrito sauce made of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro.
  • Mofongo – mashed fried green plantains, often mixed with garlic, olive oil, and crispy bits of pork rind (chicharrón).
  • Lechón Asado – ‘roasted pig,’ marinated in a mix of spices and slow-cooked until the skin is crispy and the meat is tender.
  • Tostones – twice-fried green plantains served as crispy, savory snacks. They are often paired with a dipping sauce like garlic or cilantro.
  • Empanadillas – small, deep-fried turnovers filled with various ingredients such as ground beef, seafood, or cheese.
  • Bacalaitos – crispy salted codfish fritters. They are a beloved street food in Puerto Rico.
  • Alcapurrias – deep-fried fritters made from a dough of grated yautía (taro root) or green bananas, filled with meat or seafood.
  • Tres Leches Cake – a sweet sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.
  • Local Fruits – fresh tropical fruits like mangoes, guavas, papayas, and coconuts.

Currency

As a territory of the USA, Puerto Rico uses the United States dollar (USD) as its official currency. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are readily available in urban areas.

Weather

June and July in Puerto Rico brings warm and sunny weather with an average high temperature ranging from 85°F to 90°F and an average low temperature ranging from 75°F to 80°F. During these summer months, you’ll want to pack your sunscreen and stay hydrated.

The rainy season typically falls between April and November, however, the rain showers are usually brief and sporadic.

Environment

Puerto Rico’s commitment to environmental conservation includes a strong focus on renewable energy sources. A notable percentage of the island’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

To protect indigenous species and their natural habitats, Puerto Rico has designated several conservation areas and reserves. These areas are carefully managed to safeguard the island’s distinctive wildlife and ecosystems.

Education

Puerto Rico offers free and mandatory public education for children up to grade 12. This contributes to a high  literacy rate of 92.4-percent. However, the island faces challenges around economic factors and limited resources. Puerto Rico’s school system is vulnerable to natural disasters and also ill-equipped to help children recover from the learning setbacks that come with them. Because of these factors, academic outcomes have been on a steady decline since Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Puerto Rico, with a significant portion of the population adhering to this faith. Protestantism is the minority religion, with other faiths making up very small percentages of the rest of the population.

Ethnic Groups

The majority of Puerto Ricans are of mixed European and African descent, shaped by centuries of colonial history. Spanish colonists, African slaves, and indigenous Taíno people have all contributed to the island’s unique culture and heritage.

Other Facts About Puerto Rico

  • The world’s smallest tree frog, the coqui frog, is a tiny tree frog native to Puerto Rico. It is known for its distinctive “co-kee” call heard throughout the island at night.
  • The island is home to three of the world’s bioluminescent bays, where microorganisms called dinoflagellates light up the water with a blue-green glow when disturbed. Mosquito Bay on the island of Vieques is one of the brightest in the world.
  • Puerto Rico has popularized music styles, including salsa, reggaeton and bomba. It is also the home of famous musicians like Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martin, and Bad Bunny.
  • El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System.
  • Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning it has a unique political relationship with the U.S., providing its residents with U.S. citizenship.
  • The Puerto Rican flag, known as the “La Borinqueña,” is one of the few flags in the world with five sides. Its colors represent different aspects of Puerto Rican history and culture.
  • Puerto Rico has a strong baseball culture, with many Major League Baseball players hailing from the island. The passion for the sport is celebrated each year with the Caribbean Series and the World Baseball Classic.

Rustic Pathways in Puerto Rico

Why Student Travelers Love This Caribbean Paradise

Puerto Rico is a special place to many of our travelers for its beauty, language and culture.

Environmental Impact in Puerto Rico

Kelly traveled to Puerto Rico in 2021 with Rustic Pathways. Learn about her favorite activities from celebrating her birthday there to kayaking on the bioluminescent bay.

Adventure

Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy
The Rio Camuy Cave Park features a huge cave system covering 268 acres and is thought to be the third largest cave system in the world.

Vieques and Bioluminescent Bay
The island is also known for a unique phenomenon at Mosquito Bay (also known as Bioluminescent Bay), where a large concentration of phosphorescent dinoflagellates light up movement in the water at night.

Coquí in the Rainforest

In Puerto Rico’s tropical rainforest, El Yunque, you may have an encounter with the beloved little tree frog, the coquí. The rainforest is a perfect habitat for this species!

History

History of San Juan
The capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan ranks high on the list of most historic cities in the New World. The city has been the scene of many historic events, from naval battles to pirate attacks.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro
The castle became a six-level fortress designed to protect the island from attackers approaching by sea. The bastion – integrated by barracks, dungeons, and storerooms – still holds some of the original cannons facing the ocean.

Castillo San Cristóbal
For centuries the Castillo San Cristóbal has been standing guard at the eastern gate of Old San Juan. This whole system, which is San Juan National Historic Site of defense, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Castillo San Cristóbal, is considered the largest fortress built in the Americas.

Catedral de San Juan Bautista
Old San Juan’s venerated cathedral is Puerto Rico’s grandest religious building, and one of its most important. In fact, San Juan Bautista is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puerto Rico. It is the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere, and the oldest church on U.S. soil.

Eat

Traditional Dishes
The gastronomical options in San Juan are endless many local spots specializing in traditional Puerto Rican dishes, and adventurous eateries fusing Caribbean and international flavors in exciting ways.

Read

Books of Puerto Rico
One of Puerto Rico’s most renowned authors (and its only Nobel Prize nominee) is, without a doubt, Enrique Laguerre (1906–2005). Julia de Burgos’ poetry is a soulful, profound celebration of life/love with all its joys and pains etc.

Arts and Culture

Music of Puerto Rico
One of Puerto Rico’s notable exports is its music, which is probably the predominant Caribbean music heard in the United States. Music is at the heart of Puerto Rican culture.

Festivals of Puerto Rico
Learn about Puerto Rico’s yearly celebrations, like “Dia de Los Reyes”, where a parade of locals precede the Three Kings in their procession backed by Caribbean and Latin American beats.

Puerto Rico in the Movies
From tropical beaches to the Arecibo Observatory to the streets of Old San Juan and other picturesque locations, the island gives filmmakers the opportunity to bring their stories to life.

Sports of Puerto Rico
Sports are a very important aspect of Puerto Rican culture. Tainos played batú, a competitive ball game, for hundreds of years. Since it was introduced in the early 1900’s, baseball has been the favorite sport of Puerto Rico, followed very close by basketball, and boxing.

Do

Dance Classes in Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, where there’s music playing, there are probably people dancing. If you love to dance, you’ll love Puerto Rico. Salsa, merengue, reggaetón, bachata, and cha-cha, are styles of music and dancing most people may recognize.

Art in Puerto Rico
Discover the San Juan neighborhood that has emerged as the capital of art in the Caribbean. Colorful, vibrant, and artsy, that is Santurce!