Country Overview

What is Puerto Rico? It is island teeming with beauty and teeming with life. Some of it is Spanish, some Indian, some African and some… something else. But somehow it all blends together into a culture that you will find fascinating and unique. Combine that with the fact that there is no place on earth quite like a volcanic island in the tropics, and there is no island in the tropical Caribbean quite like it, and you have Puerto Rico. The geography of the island is unique. Take a rectangular piece of paper, crumple it up, smooth out the edges and you have a rough facsimile of it.

A rugged mountain range runs across the center of the island from east to west. The north side is covered by dense vegetation, rain forests, karst formations, caverns, rushing streams and rocky cliffs.

The high central peaks often prevent rain clouds from passing to the south, so the south side is often sun-toasted terrain, home to exotic birds and tropical dry forests.

The island is about 100 miles long and 35 miles wide. That means that its most distant point is a three-hour drive away. It also means that just about every tropical landscape in existence is a short trip from wherever you happen to be! You can drive 40 minutes from San Juan to go canoeing in a rainforest or hiking on one of the steeper trails of El Yunque in search of the elusive Puerto Rican parrot. You can head one hour west to explore Cathedral Cavern in the Camuy Underground River System, the third largest on the planet. In less than two hours you can be rock climbing in the Toro Negro Forest or hiking the trails of the highest mountain on the island.

With hundreds of miles of coastline, Puerto Rico offers a different beach for every day of the year. They come in every size, color and form, from the pure white dunes of Isabela to the black volcanic sands near Punta Santiago in Maunabo. You can even choose your level of excitement, from a stroll in the shimmering shallow waters at Luquillo to a romp in the boisterous surf of Rincón.

If your idea of adventure is less athletic, take a boat on a moonless night out to the Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, or stroll through the majestic Guajataca Forest, only an hour and a half west of San Juan. Browse through the excursions listed in this section. You will be sure to find something that will make your trip unforgettable.

What about city life where you will be studying Spanish? San Juan is the Caribbean capital of nightlife and entertainment. It is the most cosmopolitan and diverse city in the region, whether you’re looking for bar hoping, Vegas-style gaming or anything in between.

Beat the house at blackjack or roulette at one of the Condado or Isla Verde hotels, or enjoy an exotic drink at any of Old San Juan’s famed watering holes. With its quaint cobbled-stoned streets and Spanish Colonial architecture, the walled city is a wonder to explore. Bars, discos and popular restaurants are found on nearly every corner of the city.

In greater San Juan, the night reigns, but you should also discover the vibrant life out on the island, including the special charms of resorts in Dorado, Rio Grande, Ponce and Mayagüez. You will be surprised by the youthful exuberance of La Parguera and Boquerón out west.

Excitement extends beyond the coast. The inland towns along the scenic highway hold annual festivals with live music, arts and crafts, and roadside gambling at motorized miniature horse races, called picas.

Whatever reason you may have for studying Spanish in Puerto Rico, you are sure to learn a lot of Spanish while at the same time discovering a wonderful place!

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