Puerto Rico has all the sun, fun and sporting activity you'd expect on a beautiful Caribbean island. The 272-mile (437 km) coastline has world-class beaches for sun-bathing, swimming and snorkeling. Nightlife is among the liveliest in the Americas, and there's a full range of accommodation, from rustic campsites to luxury hotels. Eco-tourists could easily spend a year in Puerto Rico. Its rain-forested mountains have the full, exuberant range of Caribbean vegetation and wildlife. The 28,000 acre (11,300 sq km) El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Parks system. Taking the hiker's trail through the park, you'll see four distinct types of forest, which are home to 240 species of wildlife, flowers and trees. The Rio Abajo Forest Preserve can be explored easily on 70 walking trails. San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Whether you're dreaming about spectacular surfing waves, a challenging golf course, or the perfect sunbathing beach, Puerto Rico offers the active traveler a tremendous array of opportunities. Surfing and golf compete with tennis, fishing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, and horseback riding, not to mention windsurfing and parasailing, for your active time. Our perpetual summer weather begs you to enjoy the sport of your choice! A rugged mountain range runs across the center from east to west, which often prevents rain clouds from passing to the south. The north side of the island is covered by dense vegetation, karst formations, and rushing streams, while, the south side is sun-toasted terrain, home to tropical dry forests and many species of exotic birds. Puerto Rico is only about 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, so its most distant points are only a three-hour drive apart. It also means that just about every tropical landscape in existence is a short trip from wherever you happen to be! San Juan is the Caribbean capital of nightlife and entertainment, where you can indulge in bar hopping, fine dining, gambling or just about anything in between. Throughout the San Juan area, bars, discos and popular restaurants are found on nearly every corner of the city, but be sure not to miss the vibrant nightlife out on the island, including the special charms of resorts in Dorado, Rio Grande, Ponce and Mayagüez. Ground transportation in Puerto Rico can mean a taxi, a tour bus, a rental car, a ferry, a small plane, a charter boat, a Metrobus, or a público. In the near future, you will also be able to get around part of greater San Juan in a shiny new Urban Train. Both Spanish and English are the official languages, the local currency is the U.S. dollar, and no visas or passports are required to enter Puerto Rico from the United States. Mail is sent through the US Postal Service at the same rates as on the mainland. San Juan Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Accommodations are plentiful and varied in Puerto Rico. At the top of the list are the grand resorts sprinkled throughout the island, with gorgeous golf courses, elegant casinos, fabulous restaurants, and exciting nightlife. They are all situated on beautiful beaches, wonderful places to luxuriate in the sun. There are also a great variety of moderately priced hotels, usually located a few blocks from the beach. Many travelers enjoy the personal touch and unique charm of the scores of small hotels and guesthouses that dot the island, and return year after year to their favorites. The peak tourist season is between December and April, but this has more to do with the climate in U.S. mainland than anything else. The best time to avoid the crowds is the low season between May and November, which is also hurricane season (June-November). http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Puerto_Rico/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:20:09 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Puerto_Rico/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:20:09 EST An agreeable climate is one of Puerto Rico's most attractive characteristics. Puerto Rico has a tropical marine climate, with an average annual temperature of 82 °F (28 °C). Puerto Rico enjoys year round summer temperatures. The dry season is December to March. Note that temperatures in the mountains are significantly cooler than the coast, so if you intend to travel inland bring a sweater for the evenings regardless of when you visit. Annual rainfall is 62 inches. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Puerto_Rico/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:20:09 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Puerto_Rico/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:20:09 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Puerto_Rico/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 23:20:09 EST