10 Interesting Facts About Puerto Rico You Didn’t Know

Deep in the heart of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a super-hot US territory with tons of hilly terrain and sandy beaches, well-known for carrying plenty of perks for American visitors and for its popular reggaeton scene. If you’ve never visited before, there are tons of interesting tidbits worth brushing up on before you travel!

In this guide, we take you through 10 interesting facts about Puerto Rico we’re confident will be new to you - we’ve done the research (and some of the SIMOVO team have even explored the archipelago!). 

Before we begin, of course, one extra fact to keep in mind is that a SIMOVO eSIM for Puerto Rico will help you keep your mobile data in check without any of the annoying extra costs or irritating dropouts. Make sure you load up before you go, and in the meantime, let’s check out some stats and facts.

10 fun facts about Puerto Rico you should know before visiting

Did you know that Puerto Rico has a unique rainforest? Did you also know that, if it were considered as a US state, it would be one of the most densely populated? Without spoiling any more, here are 10 interesting facts about Puerto Rico to help inspire a visit to the Caribbean.

1. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system

Out of the entirety of the US national forest system, Puerto Rico’s own El Yunque is the sole area to be designated a rainforest - and this is largely due to the amount of rainfall it receives every year. It’s estimated to be up to 140 inches!

The stunning rainforest is hot, humid, and home to all kinds of critters, in particular, endangered species such as the Puerto Rican parrot. It’s also pretty famous for its waterfalls and hiking trails, making it a must-see for any visitors looking to get out and about in nature. There’s endemic plant life out here, too!

2. San Juan is one of the oldest cities in the Americas

San Juan is one of Puerto Rico’s most visited cities, with more than five million people flocking here every year. But, did you know that it’s also been established for longer than most cities you’ll find elsewhere to the north and south? It was established in the early 16th century and played host to Juan Ponce de León.

It’s thought to be one of the oldest European settlements in the whole of the Americas, and the oldest to be continuously inhabited inside the US. Did you know that Puerto Rico and San Juan actually swapped names in the early 1500s, too?

3. Puerto Rican coffee is internationally recognized

Puerto Rico is famous the world over for its fascinating coffee culture, thanks largely to plantations here that date back centuries. In fact, some call Puerto Rico “Coffee Paradise” thanks to the fact that so much coffee has been exported from the nation over the decades.

Grown out in the mountains, we seriously recommend you take a coffee tour or two to really get up close and personal with the fabulous beans and blends. Otherwise, just sipping a cup or two while exploring Puerto Rico will be enough to tick off your bucket list!

4. It’s a densely populated nation

If Puerto Rico were considered a US state, it would be around the third most-densely populated, thanks to the fact more than 3.2 million people call it home. At a total land area of 5,515 square miles, that’s a lot of packing in!

Countries and islands similar in size to Puerto Rico include Crete and Cyprus, and it has a similar population density to other Caribbean territories such as Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. Therefore, if you’re used to island hopping around the Caribbean, chances are you won’t find Puerto Rico too overwhelming.

5. US citizens do not need a passport to enter Puerto Rico

Yes, believe it or not, you won’t need to worry about passport control if you head to Puerto Rico from inside the US. This is because the nation doesn’t actually have its own citizenship status. It’s known as an unincorporated territory of the US, meaning there’s freedom of movement, though there’s also no state sovereignty.

Puerto Rico is a multilingual nation, too, with Spanish and English serving as the dual official languages - making it even easier for people across the US to travel here. The one big drawback to this setup is that Puerto Ricans don’t have any rights when it comes to voting in US Presidential elections.

6. Puerto Rico has hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline

Puerto Rico is certainly famous for its sparkling sands as well as its tropical climate, making it a must-visit for anyone keen to work on their tans. Its extensive coastline covers hundreds of miles and almost 250 different beaches, meaning you’ve got plenty of choice if you want to kick back on the dunes.

Some beaches we’d recommend you check out first include Flamenco, Rincón, Playa Sucia, and Condado. Several of the sandy stretches here are rated among the best in the world, so take your sunscreen and make the most of them!

7. The Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest spot in the whole Atlantic

You’ve heard of the Mariana Trench, but what about Puerto Rico? The nation’s own deep dive really does go deeper than most - in fact, it’s the deepest point in the entirety of the Atlantic Ocean, going as far down as 28,675 feet, as per most recent estimates.

But, where does that put it on the leaderboard of trench depths worldwide? Oddly enough, there are seven trenches even deeper than Puerto Rico’s own - with Challenger Deep at the Mariana Trench still claiming the all-time record at 36,197 feet. We wouldn’t recommend trying to get down that far, but there are still plenty of great dive spots around Puerto Rico!

8. The island is home to multiple bioluminescent bays

Bioluminescence really deserves to be seen by the naked eye - and, in Puerto Rico, you’ve got the chance to see three bioluminescent bays up close! Visit Lajas, Fajardo, or Vieques, and you’ll literally get to see the water glowing.

That’s all thanks to the fact that these water spots are full of life that give off natural bioluminescence - isn’t science weird?

9. La Fortaleza is a unique executive residence

Puerto Rico is home to La Fortaleza, an impressive executive building that has the unique honor of being the oldest residence of its kind in continuous use in the West! It’s stood here since around 1533, back when it was used to help defend the city of San Juan.

Weirdly enough, it pre-dates the White House by well over two-and-a-half centuries, establishing itself as America’s oldest governmental residence still actively used today.

10. The island features one of the largest cave systems in the Caribbean

Finally, if you prefer to take your island adventuring a little further below ground, you’ll have plenty of caves to explore in Puerto Rico. It’s home to the enormous Camuy River Cave Park, which plays host to all manner of hollows, chambers, and secret rivers - it’s an ideal adventure for anyone looking to get off the beaten path.

Of course, we always recommend going caving in groups or arranging a guide if you don’t feel safe, or if you are likely to get claustrophobic!

Now you’ve taken a look through 10 interesting facts about Puerto Rico, start planning your next trip here - and if you want to travel further south, be sure to grab an eSIM for South America before you fly.