3 Things You Should Know About Visiting Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a very beautiful island that you can easily travel to from the United States. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, which means that Puerto Rico citizens are also United States citizens. That also means that, since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, you don't need a passport to travel there. Puerto Rico is an island paradise that you can freely visit as a United States citizen. Here are a few more things you need to know before you visit Puerto Rico.
Remember That People Speak Multiple Languages
The first thing that you need to understand is that as a United States territory, Puerto Rico had hundreds of years of history before it became a part of the United States. Some of that history can be seen in the languages that are spoken in Puerto Rico.
Spanish is the primary language spoken in Puerto Rico. Although many individuals do also speak English, don't expect everyone you encounter on your trip to speak English, or to speak English at a native-level.
You are going to encounter people speaking Spanish and other languages, and you should be prepared for that. Download a translation app on your phone to help you get through encounters.
Public Transportation is Not Common
Just like in the United States, there are some areas where public transportation is common and other areas where it is not that common. When you are in the big cities in Puerto Rico, you may be able to get around a little using public transportation.
However, overall Puerto Rico doesn't have a huge transportation system. In order to get around, you are going to want to rent a car, use taxi services, or take Puerto Rico guided tours when you need to get around. Make sure that you budget for this type of transportation, which is more expensive than public transportation, as you plan for your trip.
Take Advantage of Guided Tours
It can be nice to budget some time for free exploration on your trip; however, don't overlook the value of a guided tour. At the start of your trip, sign up for a few guided tours. Sign up for a guided tour of the city that you are staying in, and perhaps a few guided tours of the surrounding area. Guided tours are a great way to learn about the area and to figure out what areas you may want to explore in more depth later on.
Keep in mind that there are all sorts of guided tours that you can go on. You can go on a simple historical or informational guided tour, or you can go through a more interactive guided tour, such as snorkeling, hiking, or a food-based guided tour.
Puerto Rico is a beautiful island territory that you don't even need a passport to visit. When you visit Puerto Rico, sign up for some guided tours so you can learn more about the area and have some unique experiences. Be prepared to pay for taxis or rent a vehicle to get around. Download a translation app for your phone, as you may encounter speakers who don't know or are not fluent in English. Overall, enjoy your time on this beautiful island.