Geographically, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean hub, presiding squarely
over the waters between Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands. As a commonwealth
of the US, however, it remains a world apart from its island neighbours,
over a distance that can be measured not just in kilometres, but in
dollars. It's island life with infrastructure, the likes of which the
Tropic of Cancer seldom sees: excellent interstate highways, for example,
allow travellers to zip from coral reef to five-star restaurant, and
hikers can traipse through the spectacular El Yunque rainforest on
well-paved trails maintained by the US National Forest Service. American
influence is strongest in San Juan , where even the ramparts of El
Morro - which staved off European aggressors for 500 years - haven't
managed to prevent the influx of big-name American fast-food and retail
chains. But the capital retains a distinctly Latin character at its
core, with Old San Juan hosting a treasure-trove of pastel Spanish
colonial architecture on exquisitely restored cobblestoned streets.
Despite the threat of overdevelopment from US dollars, most of the
35-by-100-mile island has managed to elude despoilment. Even in the
crowded capital, it's hard to find a sullied beach, and outside the
major cities nature is largely untouched - especially in the jungly,
mountainous interior; on the relatively hidden beaches along the
southwest coast; and on the offshore islands. In fact, the rich natural
resources and wide range of hiking, birding, diving and caving opportunities
make Puerto Rico as much a magnet for eco-tourists as for sun-worshippers. |
