Your Ultimate Vacation: Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea. It became a U.S. territory in 1917.

• 3.3 MILLION people live in Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico has about 300 beaches
• There are 2 official languages: Spanish and English
• Puerto Rico is 100 MILES long and 35 MILES wide

_{Sources: The U.S. Census Bureau, CIA World Factbook, Discover Puerto Rico}

• HIKE: Don’t miss El Yunque National Forest, a lush rainforest teeming with plant and animal life.
• SWIM: Enjoy the calm, turquoise waters at Flamenco Beach or grab a surfboard and head to Rincón, a popular surf spot.
• DANCE: Dancing is a favorite pastime, so get ready to move! Salsa, merengue, and bomba are three popular styles of music and dance on the island.
• EXPLORE: Old San Juan is a historic area known for its colorful, centuries old buildings, cobblestone streets, and many restaurants.
• LEARN: Follow the Taíno Route to learn about the Taíno people, whose ancestors settled the island thousands of years ago.

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate, which means it is warm and humid year-round.

• Average annual high: 86 DEGREES F
• Average annual low: 74 DEGREES F 
  
• Average annual rainfall: 61 INCHES

_{Sources: U.S. News & World Report, National Centers for Environmental Information}

• ARROZ CON GANDULES: yellow rice, gandules (a type of peas), and sofrito—a mix of onions, garlic, peppers, and cilantro
• MOFONGO: deep-fried plantain mashed with garlic, butter, and sometimes pork and served with meat or seafood
• LECHÓN ASADO: a whole pig marinated in adobo (a seasoning used in many Puerto Rican foods) and slowly roasted over coals for several hours
• QUESITO: a flaky pastry stuffed with sweetened cream cheese, often eaten with café con leche (coffee with milk)