Geographically,
Puerto Rico
is a Caribbean hub, presiding
squarely over the waters between
Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands.
As a commonwealth of the US,
however, it remains a world apart
from its island neighbours, over a
distance that can be measured not
just in kilometres, but in dollars.
It's island life with
infrastructure, the likes of which
the Tropic of Cancer seldom sees:
excellent interstate highways, for
example, allow travellers to zip
from coral reef to five-star
restaurant, and hikers can traipse
through the spectacular El Yunque
rainforest on well-paved trails
maintained by the US National Forest
Service. American influence is
strongest in
San Juan , where
even the ramparts of El Morro -
which staved off European aggressors
for 500 years - haven't managed to
prevent the influx of big-name
American fast-food and retail
chains. But the capital retains a
distinctly Latin character at its
core, with
Old San Juan
hosting a treasure-trove of pastel
Spanish colonial architecture on
exquisitely restored cobblestoned
streets.
Despite the threat of
overdevelopment from US dollars,
most of the 35-by-100-mile island
has managed to elude despoilment.
Even in the crowded capital, it's
hard to find a sullied beach, and
outside the major cities nature is
largely untouched - especially in
the jungly, mountainous interior; on
the relatively hidden beaches along
the southwest coast; and on the
offshore islands. In fact, the rich
natural resources and wide range of hiking,
birding, diving and caving
opportunities make Puerto Rico as
much a magnet for eco-tourists as
for sun-worshippers.
