San Juan cruise port. Cruise Port San Juan The best things to do in and around the Port of San Juan

The Botanical Garden in San Juan is also called the Botanical Garden of the University of Puerto Rico. It is an educational center for scientific research and a place for excellent rest and relaxation. Its territory, with an area of ​​121 hectares, serves for the study and preservation of more than 30 thousand local and exotic plants, trees, and flowers.

The botanical garden is located in the center of the capital of Puerto Rico, the city of San Juan, in the northeast of the island. The idea of ​​​​creating such a place was voiced back in 1959, but only on March 10, 1971, the garden was officially opened. In 1991, the first visitors were able to enjoy the beauty of its botanical collections, lakes, waterfalls, cozy roads and sidewalks, allowing a better appreciation of native and tropical flora. The territory is divided into two parts - northern and southern, the latter contains most of the attractions. In the south you can see a garden of heliconias, orchids, palm trees, and a herbarium.

Login Botanical Garden free from six in the morning to six in the evening.

Book Museum

The Museum of the Book in San Juan is dedicated to the history of the book, where you can see the most valuable printed copies in all of Puerto Rico.

The Museum of the Book is located in Old San Juan, in the northern part of Puerto Rico. Today it presents many rare editions of books, medieval manuscripts written on parchment, and manuscripts dating from the 12th-17th centuries. The most valuable are two documents signed by the Catholic monarchs in 1493, which are considered the oldest in all of America. From the end of October 2013, they plan to open a new exhibition dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the founding of the House of Books.

Its history begins in 1955, when a group of townspeople founded the Friends of Calla del Cristo community, one of the goals of which was to create a specialized library of the best printed publications throughout the centuries. The best specialist in this field, Elmer Adler, was hired to organize the library. Under his leadership, books were purchased with public and private funds, and after a while the dream of this community became a reality.

The Book House is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11.00 to 16.30. Free admission.

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Market Square

The market square is located in Puerto Rico, the city of San Juan. More precisely, in its old part. The square has existed for almost a century. On its territory there are markets, shops, and museums. Festivals are also held here periodically.

The markets sell fresh farm produce, herbs, bread, delicacies and much more. There are also cozy restaurants and cafes on the square, where it is especially interesting to sit in the evening. They are surrounded by beautiful architectural buildings. Near the central building there are large sculptures in the shape of an avocado. In this square you can fully experience the life and traditions of the city. Local kiosks sell handicrafts of extraordinary beauty and you can even chat with local residents.

The Church of Christ the Savior or the Chapel of Christ, built at the end of the 18th century, on top of one of the defensive walls The city is one of the most beautiful and fascinating attractions in Old San Juan, and today it is more than 250 years old.

The Church of Christ the Redeemer is located at the southern end of Calle del Cristo, near the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, in the western part of San Juan. Legend has it that the temple on this site was built for a reason. In 1753, a young man took part in a race, but lost control of his horse, and it rushed into the abyss. The city secretary, Don Mateo Prats, asked Christ to have mercy on the guy’s life, and his prayer was answered. The young man, to express his gratitude, began building this chapel that same year. Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer in Old San Juan - a building with amazing story, it is a must see when traveling around San Juan.

Church of San Jose

Church of San Jose, built in Old San Juan in 1532, is the second oldest church in all of America. This temple is one of the few surviving examples of Spanish gothic architecture 16th century in the Western Hemisphere.

The Church of San Jose is located in the historic city of San Juan, in northern Puerto Rico. The land on which the temple was built was donated by Governor Don Juan Ponce de Leon, who was the first to be buried here. First, the Dominican Order built the monastery of St. Thomas Aquinas on it, then it was renamed by the Jesuits who settled here in 1865. The first governor of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon, was buried in the temple crypt in 1559, but in 1836 his remains were transferred to the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. Under the floor of the Church of San José there is still a crypt where the grandson of Juan Ponce de Leon is buried, as well as the famous artist José Campeche. The San Jose Temple is not in the best condition today; it has been closed for 13 years.

Cemetery of Mary Magdalene

The cemetery of Mary Magdalene in the city of San Juan received its name in honor of Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi. It is the burial place of many famous natives of the city and its residents. It began to be built in 1863 with the support of Ignacio Mascaro.

The cemetery is located in the historic city of Old San Juan, in northern Puerto Rico. It is located outside the walls of the citadel of San Felipe del Morro, the city's most famous landmark. Average height The walls are 12 meters, and the width is from four and a half to six meters. Many prominent personalities are buried in the cemetery in San Juan - Jose Ferrer, the first Latin American actor to win an Oscar, Pedro Salinas, a Spanish poet, Rafael Hernandez Marin, a famous musician, Jose de Acosta, a famous historian. The cemetery was built near the Atlantic Ocean as a symbol of the spiritual journey after death.

Grand Turk

The Old City is a place of shopping streets - everything is here: gold, diamonds, clothes, souvenir shops. There were a lot of tourists here. But there were places where it was quiet and deserted.

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Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista is a Roman Catholic church in San Juan, the oldest building in the entire city and the second oldest church in all of America, after cathedral Santa Maria la Menor in the Dominican Republic. It is the residence of the Archbishop of San Juan.

The cathedral is located in the western part of the city of San Juan, on Calle del Cristo, in northern Puerto Rico. The first original wooden church building, built in 1521, was destroyed by a hurricane, so a new cathedral was built in its place in 1540. In subsequent centuries, it was updated and restructured several times, most recently in 1917. The cathedral houses the tomb of the great Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, who founded the first European settlement in Puerto Rico. It also houses the relics of the Most Holy Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, the first Puerto Rican to be beatified by Pope John Paul II. Particularly noteworthy in the cathedral are relics such as the jewelry and clothing of John Paul II, which he wore during his visit to Puerto Rico in 1984.

The most popular attractions in San Juan with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places San Juan on our website.

More attractions of San Juan

Puerto Rico is considered almost the 51st state of America, i.e. is under the control of the United States, but is not an integral part of it (the validity of the US Constitution on the territory is limited, the supreme power belongs to the US Congress, but the territory has its own system of self-government).

In short, American visas (or, as we have, ESTA permits) had to be shown before visiting this state. Because of this, before disembarking, a huge queue lined up along the entire length of the boardwalk of our Independence.

Coming ashore, we were greeted by a very good weather. My friends and I decided to visit a real tropical forest, which is located an hour’s drive from the capital on the territory of national park El Yunque. As the guide promised, a real tropical jungle with waterfalls awaited us.

We immediately formed our mini-group at the port. This is what always usually happens - while we are finding out the prices and proposed routes, several people from the ship themselves come up to us and ask where we are going and if they can come with us. We are always happy to share our journey with the district residents.

We rented a minibus for 8 people, the price was slightly reduced - at first it was offered at $50, but we agreed on $45 per person. After the forest, they also promised to take us around the city, take us to the beach and show us Old San Juan.

On the way to the reserve we drove through the capital. San Juan is a city of contrasts, there are high-rise buildings, and there are also not very brilliant, to put it mildly, neighborhoods.

After some time we found ourselves in the rain forest of El Yunque National Park. Mount El Yunque, where the reserve itself is located, rises 575m above sea level. Of course, here you can get acquainted with all the variety of extraordinary Caribbean plants. There are even thousand-year-old trees and exotic plants. The bus climbed a steep road, surrounded on all sides by centuries-old tropical plants. The guide told us in detail what the tree is called.

There were several stops during the tour. The first stop introduced us to one of the many waterfalls in this park. Not Iguassu, of course, but still quite interesting to see the local sights.

You can find small waterfalls everywhere in the park, so it’s very pleasant to be in the forest, cool and fresh from them. But there is also frequent rain, so it is recommended to take something with you to cover yourself. We were lucky, not a drop fell!

Nature appears here in its original form - lush vegetation all around. Not a bad setting for any movie about ancient world, about dinosaurs. By the way, no poisonous reptiles are found in these tropical forests.

Next we climbed Yokahu Observation Tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the entire surrounding forest and even the coast can be seen in the distance.

Such an easy, pleasant walk around tropical forest It turned out that it was quite interesting to visit the centuries-old trees and plants, and visit the local waterfalls.

After the jungle we headed back towards the city and stopped at one of the beaches to look at the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

We admired the ocean for a bit and continued sightseeing tour according to San Juan. We didn’t get off the bus because we had already walked through the tropical forest and just wanted to follow the pictures from the window. We saw the Capitol (Capitolio de Puerto Rico) - Legislative Assembly Puerto Rico, home of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Fort San Felipe del Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro), named after the Spanish king Philip II (Felipe II; 1527-1598), is a powerful fortified fortress located on the northwestern tip of the island.

The Telurico Totem, a giant column of black granite and ceramics by Puerto Rican artist Jaime Suárez, was erected in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the New World.

After the end of the excursion, as per tradition, we went onto the ship to have lunch and then went out for another 1.5 hours to stroll through the streets of San Juan before sailing. A cute town with ancient architecture. Merchants are not asleep - they offer souvenirs right on the road, not far from the liners. We just wandered along the streets and took in the atmosphere, so to speak. We accidentally wandered into an interesting salon of fashionable designer clothes. We met the owner, a very nice girl.

Those who do not like to travel on foot can choose another method of transportation, for example, by horse-drawn carriage or mini-train.

And we're back on board, thanks for the ride! Nice island, interesting.

Playa Caleton beach is small cozy beach in a beautiful lagoon surrounded by coral reefs, where a couple in love or a family with children can relax. On weekends, local residents come here - open and good-natured people. And on weekdays you can meet only a few people, so no one will bother you to relax and gain strength. This beach is also loved by divers for its protection from strong winds, clear water and beautiful underwater views.

Jeep safaris are a popular activity in Rio San Juan. During the excursion you can admire the magnificent landscapes of rivers and waterfalls, the sea coast, dense jungle, high mountains and mysterious caves, find out how a typical Dominican village lives, see how exotic fruits are grown and do a lot beautiful photos as a keepsake. In addition, tourists are accompanied by a video operator throughout the excursion, and participants receive a disc with a professional video of this trip as a gift. Official website: www.briandatours.com

Playa Grande Golf Course - golf club and nature reserve at the same time, occupying a vast territory near Rio San Juan. Here you can perfectly combine beach holiday, class aquatic species sports, playing golf on a beautiful green course surrounded by breathtaking sea views, as well as walking through a natural park and watching exotic birds. Official website of the golf club: www.playagrande.com

Eco-farm DR Eco Adventures is a great opportunity to relax away from the gray civilized everyday life. The project organizers offer hiking and horseback riding in nature, kayaking, biking, beach holidays, and surfing lessons. Guests are fed exclusively with environmentally friendly products. Official website of the eco-farm: www.drecoadventures.com

The Marlin Chaser is a sport fishing club where you can have a great time hunting for blue marlin that live in coastal waters. Sea fishing is a very popular entertainment in the north of the Dominican Republic. The club has everything you need to fulfill a fisherman’s cherished dream - to catch a huge exotic fish. Adrenaline rush, sea unforgettable impressions and a first-class catch are guaranteed. Club phone number: +1 849-264-5725.

Beach waves, reef waves, peak waves - which one do you prefer? In Rio San Juan you can get creative and catch any one. North coast The Dominican Republic is famous for its excellent surfing conditions throughout the year. The winter months are characterized by menacing waves six meters high - this is the time for the pros. It is better for beginners to try their hand in the summer - at this time the sea is much calmer, but you can ride with great pleasure. It was in Rio San Juan that the very first Russian surfing school was opened more than ten years ago. And the best place for this activity, as well as for kiting or windsurfing, is the Playa Grande beach.

The grand Maritime Carnival has been held in Rio San Juan every year since 1997. The holiday lasts four days, from February 14 to 17, and during this time lovers of bright shows come here from all over the world. There really is something to see: passionate Dominican women in bright robes and masks depict various inhabitants depths of the sea. Their costumes are decorated with shells, shark teeth and other marine decorations. Their slender bodies move in an endless dance to fiery musical rhythms. The action takes place on a huge stage installed right in the sea, in the middle of the picturesque Gri-Grí lagoon. During the carnival, you can try traditional festive dishes of Creole cuisine. The culmination of the holiday is the exciting moment of choosing the Sea Queen, whose head will be decorated with a silver crown with larimars and corals of black and pink colors.

How to get to Rio San Juan

Of course, it will not be possible to get to Rio San Juan directly from Russia: the city is not large enough to have its own airport. The nearest airport to the city is Gregorio Luperon, 65 kilometers away, in Puerto Plata, from where you can get there along road No. 5 by rented car, taxi or bus. The offices of car rental companies are located right at the airport; there are no special problems with taxis either. Good air-conditioned buses are provided by transport companies Caribe Tours (phone +1 809 586 4544) and Autobuses Metro (phone +1 809 586-6063). Travel time will take on average 1.5 hours.

Restaurants in the city

Of course, you won’t be satisfied with natural beauties alone, and after active sports entertainment you really want to eat, so we will tell you several popular cafes and restaurants in Rio San Juan, where you can taste home cooking, familiar dishes of European cuisine, and exotic delights , which are not prepared anywhere else.

La Table de Marianne is considered by many to be the best restaurant in the city. This is a restaurant-pub, open almost until the morning. The menu features French and international cuisine. There are outdoor and indoor seating. They can be booked in advance. The restaurant is visited by both cheerful groups and families with children. They offer wonderful homemade ice cream.
Address: Calle Duarte 15, Rio SanJuan.
Phone: 18294944445.
Official page: www.facebook.com/Latabledemarianne/info?tab=page_info
Opening hours:
Sun - Thu from 8:00 to 5:00.

Las Puertas Del Paraiso - this restaurant is liked by everyone, without exception, regardless of whether visitors are strict vegetarians or love well-done meat. Delicious cuisine, pleasant atmosphere and very courteous service - these are the main indicators that guests of Las Puertas Del Paraiso note in their reviews.
Address: La Novilla, Rio San Juan.
Phone: 18097299746.

Café de Paris overlooks the Gri-Grí lagoon and offers delicious and inexpensive lunch or dinner with French and international cuisine. A variety of drinks are offered to customers to choose from. They also brew wonderful coffee here. The cafe is very popular, so it is better to book a table in advance. On weekends, Café de Paris is open until late at night and is more like a bar or night club, where locals gather to drink and have a good time.
Average bill: RD$180 ($4) - RD$720 ($16).
Address: Laguna Gri-Gri, Rio San Juan.
Phone: 18097780687.
Opening hours:
Sun - Thu from 8:00 to 00:00;
Fri - Sat from 8:00 to 2:00.

La Casona

La Casona is a small family restaurant with a cozy homely atmosphere that will definitely appeal to those who like to eat in a calm, intimate atmosphere. In addition, local cuisine is excellently prepared here, which gives guests an excellent opportunity to get to know it better.
Address: Calle Duarte, Rio San Juan.
Opening hours:
daily from 9:00 to 22:00.

Arena Y Sol

Arena Y Sol, located on one of the streets of the city, offers delicious dishes from fresh seafood delivered here daily. Guests dine surrounded by tropical plants, accompanied by live music. The restaurant features excellent service, a pleasant atmosphere and good value for money.
Address: Calle Felipon Bonilla, 97, Rio San Juan.
Phone: 18098033530.

Rio San Juan Hotels

Rio San Juan is a small city, but you can stay here either in a small budget hotel or in an elite hotel, and the service will be warm and neat, no matter which option you choose and no matter what your budget. Below are some of the most popular hotels in the city.

Where is San Juan Cruise Port?

Cruise port San Juan is the largest in the Caribbean and has 2 cruise terminals.

Transit ships moor at the Old San Juan Cruise Terminal, which is located in the city center and has 6 berths. Liners whose route starts from San Juan, except Carnival Victory, use the Pan American Pier terminal. Its location is a little worse, but it is closer to the airport.

How to get to San Juan Cruise Port

There is a direct connection between the airport and the Old San Juan Cruise Terminal. At the airport you need to take the T5 bus at stop No. 1022. Bus fare is $0.75. Children under 2 years old are free. Entrance to the bus is only through the front door, payment at the entrance, the driver does not give change. Travel time is 53 minutes, the bus leaves every half hour. Please note that this route does not operate on Sundays. Getting from the airport to the cruise port will only be possible by making 3 transfers; the travel time will take about 2 hours. We strongly recommend taking a taxi on this day. The taxi ride from one area to another is fixed. Drivers turn on the meter only when driving in one area. A taxi ride from the airport to the cruise port will cost around $30-35.

Shops and cuisine of San Juan

The main streets for shopping in the old town are Christ, Fortaleza and San Francisco streets. Here you can buy souvenirs popular among tourists: wooden figurines of saints, coca frogs, carnival masks made of coconut and papier-mâché, lace, musical instruments and, of course, excellent Bacardi, Barrilito and Don Qu rum. Pay attention to the local coffee, which has been supplied to the Vatican since the 19th century.

The modern and very large Plaza las Americas shopping center is 15 minutes' drive from the cruise terminal. This is one of the best shopping centers throughout the Caribbean! There are a lot of different stores, a good selection, constant promotions and discounts, and very polite staff. You can get there by taxi or bus with one change.

We recommend trying the roasted pig Lechon. Before roasting on a spit, it is marinated for 24 hours, due to which it acquires an absolutely delicious taste. The staple food in Puerto Rico is soups. One of the most famous soups is black bean soup. Another classic soup is chicken with rice. It may taste slightly different depending on the restaurant. The third classic soup is fish soup, prepared with fish heads and tails.

Try also all kinds of fruits: mango, guava, papaya, avocado, acerola (Barbados cherry), star fruit. Bananas are the most popular side dish served in any restaurant. Moreover, this is not just a raw fruit, but fried green bananas. The national drink in Puerto Rico is, of course, rum. 80% of all rum consumed in the United States comes from this island.

Routes, excursions, transport in the port of San Juan

A tourist train runs through the old town. Interestingly, you can ride it completely free of charge. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 7 pm, and from Saturday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. The train has 3 different routes, all of which start from stop number 1, which is located across the street from the cruise terminal. The route name is located on the front of the cart under glass.

What to see in the vicinity of San Juan

The largest rum factory in the world, Bacardi, is located 18 km from the capital. Here you can see the entire manufacturing process, visit the Bacardi Family Museum, and also taste and buy the rum you like. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 16:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. Cost from $15 per person. You can get there from ferry pier No. 4.

25 km east of the capital is the country's best reserve, El Yunque - the Caribbean National Forest.

The most best beaches near San Juan are located 6 km from the pier to the east - Cornado and Ocean Park. They can be reached by public transport. Cornado beach is located a little closer to the terminal, you can get there by buses T3 or T21 every day, except on Sundays, the travel time is about 50 minutes. Ocean Park Beach can be reached by buses T5, T21, D53 or T3 every day except Sunday. Travel time is about an hour.

Currency of San Juan

The national currency of Puerto Rico is the US dollar. The US dollar is often called "peso" on Puerto Rican price tags.

In all major populated areas There are many automated teller machines (ATMs), and some of them, designated ATH ("a todas horas" - "at any hour"), are located in banks, supermarkets, casinos and most large hotels) operate around the clock. Stores with sales tax refund ( tax free) not in the country.

Where to stay before and after your cruise?

To stop at the port before your cruise, try Airbnb, where you can rent a full-fledged apartment for the price hotel room. By registering using our link you will receive coupon for 2100 rub. for your first stay from RUB 4,500!

Top things to do in and around the Port of San Juan

These hotels have been selected by us based on own experience, and the experiences of other cruise travelers. Determining factors when choosing: proximity to the San Juan cruise terminal, the ability to quickly and easily get to the ship, as well as the airport or train station.

San Juan (Spanish: San Juan Bautista, John the Baptist) is the capital and largest administrative center in Puerto Rico. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 433,373, making it the 42nd largest city administered by the United States. San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, who named it Ciudad de Puerto Rico (City of Puerto Rico). This is not only the most Old city in Puerto Rico, but also the oldest city in the United States founded by Europeans, even older than St. Augustine in Florida. The capital of Puerto Rico is almost the oldest city (in 2nd place after Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic) European colonists in the Americas. San Juan has several historical buildings; the most notable include Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobál, as well as La Fortaleza - the largest continuously used in the Americas executive mansion.

Today, San Juan is one of the most important ports, industrial, financial, cultural and tourist centers of Puerto Rico. Population of the metropolitan area, including San Juan and the municipalities of Bayamón, Guaynabo, Cataño, Canóvanas, Caguas, Toa Alta Alta), Toa Baja (Spanish: Toa Baja), Carolina (Spanish: Carolina) and Trujillo Alto (Spanish: Trujillo Alto), has about 2 million inhabitants - about half of Puerto Rico's population lives and works in this area. The city has hosted many important sporting events, including the 1979 Pan American Games, the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games, the World Baseball Classic and Caribbean series 2006.

Pre-Columbian period

The history of Puerto Rico in the period preceding the arrival of Christopher Columbus on this land has not been fully studied. Everything that is known about it comes from archaeological excavations and oral histories of the first Spanish travelers. The first book to comprehensively describe the history of Puerto Rico was written by Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra in 1786, 293 years after the Spanish first visited the island.

The first settlers of Puerto Rico were the Ortoiroids, representatives of an ancient culture. Excavations carried out in 1990 found the remains of primitive man, whose age dates back to approximately 2000 BC (4000 years ago). The remains were named “Puerto Ferro man”. Between 120 and 400 AD, representatives of the Igneri Indian tribe from the Orinoco River region arrived on the island. South America. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, the island began to be inhabited by Arawakan tribes who founded the Taino culture, and by about 1000 AD, this culture began to dominate the island, until the arrival of Columbus in 1493.

Spanish colonial period

When Christopher Columbus landed on the island on November 19, 1493, during his second voyage to the shores of America, the island was inhabited by Indians who called themselves Taino. The Taino called the island "Boriken" (Spanish: Borikén), which was later interpreted by the Spaniards as "Borinquen" (Spanish: Borinquen). The Spanish originally named the island San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist, but the island was eventually named Puerto Rico, which means "rich port." The colonization of the island by the Spaniards began in 1508, when Juan Ponce de León (Spanish: Juan Ponce de León) arrived from Santo Domingo (the island of Haiti) with a detachment of conquistadors, who founded the city of Caparra. The administrative center of the island eventually became the port of Puerto Rico, which was moved to a new location in 1521. The name San Juan passed on to the capital of the territory and to the small island of "Old San Juan", now part of the capital. In 1508, the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León became the first governor of the island. There is a geographical curiosity associated with the name of the state and its capital. The island was originally named San Juan, in the tradition of the Spanish colonialists, after a Christian saint. The capital, accordingly, received the name Puerto Rico (Rich Port), but subsequently cartographers “confused” the names.

The island was soon colonized by the Spaniards. African slaves were brought to the island as free labor to replace the rapidly declining Indian population forced to work for the Spanish crown. Eventually, the Tainos died out completely as a result of the diseases brought by the Spaniards and Africans, as well as the harsh living conditions in which they found themselves. Puerto Rico quickly became an important fortress and port of the Spanish Empire in the Caribbean. However, at the end of the 17th-18th centuries, the center of colonization was still the more prosperous territories of the mainland, and not the island, which was impoverished due to population decline. To protect against the threat from Spain's European enemies, various forts and fortresses gradually arose on the island, such as La Fortaleza, Fuerte San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal. San Cristóbal). The French, Dutch and British made repeated attempts to capture Puerto Rico, but failed in their attempts to occupy the island for a long time.

In 1809, at the moment when the troops of Napoleon I occupied most Iberian Peninsula, and the First Spanish Revolution was in full swing, a gathering of populists from spanish city Cadiz declared Puerto Rico an overseas province of Spain with the right of representation at the Spanish court. The first representative of the island in the Cadiz Cortes, Ramón Power y Giralt (Spanish: Ramón Power y Giralt) died shortly after arriving in Spain. With the adoption of the Cadiz Constitution in 1812, when Spanish territories were divided into provinces, Puerto Ricans were granted conditional citizenship.

On August 10, 1815, a royal decree was issued in Spain encouraging Spaniards and other non-Spanish Europeans loyal to the Spanish crown and Roman Catholic Church, settle on the island, which opened the door for Puerto Rico to trade with other countries. This was the beginning of the growth of the island's agricultural economy, with sugar, tobacco and coffee becoming the main export products. The island began to be settled by immigrants from Germany, Corsica, Ireland, France, Portugal and Canary Islands, fleeing severe economic turmoil in Europe and attracted by the possibility of free entry to the island. However, these small concessions and rights were soon canceled. After the overthrow of Napoleon I, an absolute monarchy returned to Spain, which abolished the Cadiz Constitution and returned Puerto Rico to the status of a colony, a symbol of the unlimited power of the Spanish monarchy.

On June 25, 1835, the wife of the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, Maria Cristina, being at that moment the regent of Spain (1833-1840), abolished the slave trade in the Spanish colonies. In 1851, the island's governor, Juan de la Pezuela Cevallos, founded the Royal Academy of Fine Arts on the island, which educated school teachers, developed teaching methods, and organized literary competitions that contributed to the intellectual and literary development of the island. In 1858, Samuel Morse installed the first telegraph apparatus on the island in the city of Arroyo (Spanish: Arroyo).

Life in Puerto Rico in the second half of the 19th century took place against the backdrop of a struggle for autonomy. The 1860 census showed the island's population to be 583,308. Of these, 300,406 (51.5%) were white, the rest belonged to other races. Of these, the vast majority (83.7%) belonged to the poor. The agrarian development of the island was hampered by the lack of roads, the primitiveness of tools and natural disasters such as hurricanes and drought. The economy also suffered from high tariffs and taxes imposed by the Spanish royalty. On September 23, 1868, an independence uprising known as "El Grito de Lares" broke out in the city of Lares (Spanish: Lares), which was quickly suppressed. The leaders of this uprising, Ramón Emeterio Betances (Spanish: Ramón Emeterio Betances) and Segundo Ruiz Belvis (Spanish: Segundo Ruiz Belvis) are considered the fathers of the Puerto Rican nation in modern Puerto Rico. Later, a political movement for independence arose under the leadership of Roman Baldorioty de Castro (Spanish: Román Baldorioty de Castro), and at the end of the century, a movement led by Luis Muñoz Rivera (Spanish: Luis Muñoz Rivera). In 1897, Muñoz Rivera and his associates spoke to the liberal Spanish government for autonomy for Cuba and Puerto Rico. The following year, 1898, an autonomous government was declared for a short period. The Charter of Autonomy was responsible to the island's governor, appointed by Spain. The governor had the right to annul any decision of the local government and participated in parliamentary elections.

American rule period

On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, American troops invaded Puerto Rico, landing in the municipality of Guánica. As a result of the war, Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico, as well as Cuba, the Philippines and the island of Guam under the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Puerto Rico entered the 20th century under the military rule of the United States, including a governor appointed by the President of the United States. In 1917, under the Jones-Shafroth Act, residents of Puerto Rico were granted US citizenship, a status that is still valid today. Since World War I, many Puerto Ricans have served in the US military. Natural disasters and the Great Depression made life on the island worse. Some politicians, such as the leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Pedro Albizu Campos (Spanish Pedro Albizu Campos), advocated granting independence to the island. He was subsequently arrested twice and imprisoned for subversive activities against the American administration on the island. Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, also initially favored the territory's independence, but, observing a serious economic decline accompanied by rising crime and popular discontent, chose the status of an associated territory as an intermediate stage on the path to independence.

During the Roosevelt-Truman administrations, the nature of the territory's internal governance changed as a result of a compromise between various political forces. The changes culminated in the appointment in 1946 of President Harry Truman of the first Puerto Rican-born governor, Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez. In 1947, the Americans gave Puerto Rico the right to choose its own governor. In 1948, as a result of democratic elections, Luis Munoz Marin was elected governor of Puerto Rico, who remained in this post for 16 years, until 1964.

Since that time, large numbers of immigrants from the island have moved to the mainland United States in search of better life. If in 1945 there were about 13,000 Puerto Ricans living in New York City, then by 1955 their number was already about 700,000 people, and by the mid-1960s their number exceeded a million.

On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican separatists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate President Truman. The consequence of this incident was Truman's agreement to hold a referendum on the island on Puerto Rico's own constitution. As a result of the approved constitution on July 25, 1952, Puerto Rico received its current status as an associated territory. The island experienced rapid industrial growth in the 1950s, transforming Puerto Rico's economy from an agricultural to an industrialized one.

Since the 60s, the Puerto Rican independence movement has risen again, which even turns into an armed struggle under the leadership of Filiberto Ojeda Rios.

Currently, Puerto Rico has become a major tourist destination with a developed pharmaceutical and manufacturing structure. The political status is still not fully determined, and therefore last years Various plebiscites are held on the island.

Flora and fauna

According to 1998 data, the flora of Puerto Rico consisted of 239 different species of plants, 16 species of birds and 39 species of amphibians and endemic reptiles were observed in the fauna. The resident "Rico" frogs, known as "coquis" (Eleutherdactylus coqui), are a beloved symbol of the island, although their presence can only be felt by sound and few tourists can see them - the largest "coqui" is no more than 5 centimeters in length . These small creatures manage to make such loud “ko-kii” sounds (where their name comes from) that even a small colony of “croaking” frogs can deafen a person. Local residents even have their own term for this - “hell chant”. The tropical humid Caribbean National Forest, also known as El Yunque, is the primary habitat for these frogs. El Yunque is one of the few remaining tropical rainforests in the Caribbean. Forest landscapes are decorated with picturesque waterfalls. This is a real kingdom of ferns. Endangered species such as the coquis find refuge in the forests of El Yunque. Thanks to the leaves of the cicropia plant, which has grown wildly on the island. The forest contains about 225 species of trees, 100 species of ferns and about 50 species of orchids. Thanks to the huge diversity of flora, El Yunque received the status of a Biosphere Reserve under the auspices of the UN. A few hours' drive from El Yunque, there is another biosphere reserve - Guanica, which belongs to the classification of tropical dry forests. This reserve contains zoological species found only in Puerto Rico. Here you can find 750 plant species, seven of which are on the verge of extinction. The greatest value for Puerto Rico is the mangrove forests and coral reefs, which are almost untouched by poachers.

Geology

The geological structure of the island consists of volcanic and igneous rocks formed between the Cretaceous period and the Eocene era of the Paleogene period, covered with later rocks of the Oligocene era, and even later carbonates and sedimentary rocks. The oldest rocks are estimated to be approximately 190 million years old (Jurassic) and are located in the municipality of Sierra Bermeja in the southwestern part of the island. These rocks may represent parts of oceanic crust, and apparently came from the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Rico lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates and is currently being tectonically deformed by the action of these plates. Such a transformation can cause earthquakes and tsunamis, which, together with landslides, pose the greatest geological hazard on the island and the northeast Caribbean Sea. The last major earthquake in Puerto Rico occurred on October 11, 1918, measuring approximately 7.5 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was at the bottom of the sea off the coast of the municipality of Aguadilla, which caused a tsunami.

The Puerto Rico Trench, located 120 km north of the island, is the largest and deepest ocean trench in Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. The length of the trench is 1754 km, the width is about 97 km, and the greatest depth is 8380 m.

Culture

The national symbols of Puerto Rico are the small bird of the tanager family Spindalis portoricensis, the Thespesia flower (Thespesia grandiflora) and the cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra). The unofficial national animal is the Tiny Frog (Eleutherdactylus coqui).

Puerto Rico has quite the wealth for a small island state, cultural traditions, including such manifestations as folklore (dances, music, songs, colorful religious processions and performances), painting, literature, theater, amateur cinema, etc.

The first written mention of a theatrical performance on the island dates back to 1644, when Bishop Damian de Haro, appointed by the Vatican, mentioned in his letter that upon his arrival from Spain he was greeted by local residents who prepared for him dancing, a bullfight and theatrical comedy.

The first printing press was brought to the island in 1806, which gave a powerful impetus to local printing and literature.

Such stars as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel, Marc Anthony come from the island. It is generally accepted that the musical style of reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico.

Representatives of Puerto Rico constantly participate in the Miss World and Miss Universe beauty contests. Puerto Ricans have won the Miss Universe competition 5 times (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006), second only to the United States in the number of nominations, and once won the Miss World competition (1975). At this competition in 2005, the representative of Puerto Rico took second place.