What are 5 interesting facts about Puerto Rico?

42 Fun & Interesting Facts About Puerto Rico
  • Puerto Rico Isn't an Island (It's Several) ...
  • Puerto Rico is a Territory. ...
  • Puerto Ricans Don't Vote in US Elections. ...
  • Puerto Ricans Have their Own Citizenship. ...
  • Puerto Rico is Still a Colony. ...
  • US Citizens Don't Need a Passport. ...
  • Puerto Rico Has Two Official Languages.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on travellemming.com


What are 3 things that Puerto Rico is known for?

Puerto Rico is the world's leading rum producer; 80% of the rum consumed in the United States hails from the island. There is a counted number bioluminescent bays in the entire world. Puerto Rico is home three bioluminescent bays.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on welcome.topuertorico.org


What is an interesting fact about Puerto Rico?

Other facts

Although Puerto Rico is an American territory, it competes as an individual country in Miss Universe's contests and the Olympics. Flamenco beach, in Culebra, has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the world on multiple occasions. The piña colada was invented in Puerto Rico.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on discoverpuertorico.com


What are Puerto Ricans known for?

Puerto Ricans are known for their warm hospitality, often considered very friendly and expressive to strangers. Greetings are often cordial and genuine.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on welcome.topuertorico.org


What are two interesting facts about the history of Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico Is the World's Oldest Colony

He stayed on the island for just two days, yet he claimed it as a Spanish colony. Spain then controlled Puerto Rico for just over 400 years. In 1898, Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States after the Spanish-American War.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on theplanetd.com


Interesting Facts About Puerto Rico | Facts about Puerto Rico



What is Puerto Rico's nickname?

Its nickname is "Isla del Encanto," or "Island of Enchantment," and on the surface, Puerto Rico seems to fulfill every paradisiacal promise made about it by glossy travel magazines.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on scientificamerican.com


What is Puerto Rico's old name?

Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. Initially, Columbus christened the Island San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). The name was soon changed to Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” when the Spaniards realized the impressive amount of gold found in its rivers.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on discoverpuertorico.com


What is Puerto Rico's famous food?

The vibrancy of Puerto Rican culture comes alive in its dishes, a celebration of flavors that visitors have the opportunity to indulge in. Some of the favorites are mofongo, tostones, pasteles, arroz con gandules, tembleque, and coquito.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on discoverpuertorico.com


What are Puerto Ricans proud of?

Puerto Ricans are proud of their cultural heritage and history, stemming from a mix of Taíno, Spanish, and African traditions. Whether it's through music, art, food, traditions, festivals, or one of many other bountiful options, culture is present—and waiting to be discovered—in every corner of this Caribbean paradise.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on discoverpuertorico.com


What sport is Puerto Rico known for?

Since it was introduced in the early 1900's, baseball has been the favorite sport of Puerto Rico, followed very close by basketball, and boxing. In addition, Puerto Rico has been participating in the Olympics since 1948 as an independent country.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on welcome.topuertorico.org


What is Puerto Rico's national animal?

The Puerto Rican coqui (pronounced ko-kee) is a small arboreal frog that's brown, yellow, or green in color. Its scientific genus name—Eleutherodactylus—means “free toes” because, unlike many frogs, the coqui doesn't have webbed feet.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nwf.org


How old is Puerto Rico?

In 1508, Juan Ponce de León founded the first European settlement, Caparra, near a bay on the island's northern coast; Caparra was renamed Puerto Rico (or “rich port”) in 1521. Over time, people began referring to the entire island by that name, while the port city itself became San Juan.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on history.com


What are Puerto Rican traditions?

Every year, Puerto Ricans celebrate Three Kings Day, or el Día de Reyes in Spanish, which is also known as Epiphany. This is another of the many religious customs in Puerto Rico and is to honor the Three Wise Men who visited Jesus not long after he was born.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on destguides.com


What were the 4 main products of Puerto Rico?

The economy of Puerto Rico is mainly driven by manufacturing, primarily pharmaceuticals, textiles, petrochemicals, and electronics; followed by the service industry, primarily finance, insurance, real estate, and tourism.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What makes Puerto Ricans happy?

Puerto Ricans say emphasis on extended family, an easy warmth among even strangers and a readiness to celebrate anything, anywhere, at any time, all contribute to a high quality of life here.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orlandosentinel.com


What is the most common Puerto Rican last name?

List of the most common surnames in Puerto Rico:
  • Sanchez - 128,384.
  • Rivera - 114,777.
  • Diaz - 107,640.
  • Rodriguez- 102,137.
  • Narvaez - 70,764.
  • Burgos - 68,522.
  • Colón - 64,692.
  • Vázquez - 62,659.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What is a Puerto Rican breakfast?

People in Puerto Rico typically eat pastries, porridge, and egg dishes for breakfast. Popular breakfast pastries in Puerto Rico are called pan de mallorca, a sweet bread sprinkled with powdered sugar, and quesito, which is filled with cream cheese.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on matadornetwork.com


What is the main meal in Puerto Rico?

Typically a Puerto Rican dinner consists of rice, beans, meats, and stews. Mainly cooked in a heavy kettle or caldero. One of the most popular dinners includes beefsteaks, or in other words “bistec”. The beef is marinated in adobo, a mix of salt, garlic, black pepper, and oregano.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nutritiondork.com


What did Puerto Rico invent?

The pina colada was invented in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (another claim was made at the San Juan Caribe Hilton bar). Puerto Rico produces and exports more rum than any other couhtry in the world. Salsa music was invented by Puerto Ricans and Cubans in New York City and was exported to the island.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on tripadvisor.com


Why do Puerto Ricans have two last names?

In Puerto Rico, as in many Hispanic cultures, the first surname comes from the father's first surname, and the second one comes from the mother's first surname.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on diverseeducation.com


Who lived in Puerto Rico first?

The first inhabitants of Puerto Rico were hunter-gatherers who reached the island more than 1,000 years before the arrival of the Spanish. Arawak Indians, who developed the Taino culture, had also settled there by 1000 ce. The clan-based Taino lived in small villages led by a cacique, or chief.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on britannica.com


What is Puerto Rican slang for bro?

Broki. Many Puerto Rican slang words come from English. Broki is one of them; it comes from “brother,” and used in its broader sense: it can mean both a sibling or a close friend.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on storylearning.com


What do they call girls in Puerto Rico?

17. guial: Comes from the English “girl” and is used in Panama and Puerto Rico.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on speakinglatino.com