Puerto Rico is a beautiful island with a rich history dating back centuries. The island is home to many historic sites and landmarks, which offer a glimpse into its past. Is a truly impressive island with many fine natural features, lovely towns and cities and a rich cultural heritage. Visitors to this friendly island, and the nearby smaller islands, can enjoy wonderful sightseeing tours exploring areas of historical and natural splendor. Puerto Rico’s marvelous landscape is also ideal for numerous outdoor activities.
Whether you are interested in learning about the island’s past or simply enjoying its beauty, you are sure to find something to interest you in Puerto Rico. These are just a few of the many historical sites and landmarks in Puerto Rico.
San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Plaza de Armas of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a place of history and culture. It is the heart of Old San Juan, the historic district of the city. The plaza was originally designed as the main square of the city during the Spanish colonial period. At that time, it was a place where important events were held, such as religious celebrations, military parades, and executions....
Utuado, Puerto Rico - The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park is an archaeological site located in Utuado, Puerto Rico. It is considered to be one of the most important Pre-Columbian sites in the West Indies. The site is known for its well-preserved ceremonial ball courts and petroglyph-carved monoliths. The Caguana Ceremonial Park was built by the Taíno people, who were the indigenous inhabitants of Puerto Rico. The park is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes, such as religious rituals and ball games....
San Juan, Puerto Rico -The San Juan Gates, also known as the Puertas de San Juan, are five gates that are part of the walls that surround the Old Town of San Juan, Puerto Rico. These gates were the only ways to enter and exit the city during the Spanish colonial period. The gates were built to control access to the city and to prevent attacks. There were made of limestone and were often fortified with cannons and other weapons. The gates were used for ceremonial purposes as well, such as royal processions and religious celebrations....
San Juan, Puerto Rico - The City Wall of San Juan, also known as “La Muralla”, is a defensive wall system that surrounds the western end of the Islet of San Juan, site of the historic Old San Juan district in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This defensive wall system was built between the 16th and 20th centuries to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan, a highly strategic point in the Caribbean. The wall is made of limestone and brick, and is up to 20 feet high in some places. It has a total length of about 2.5 miles, and includes five gates: the Puerta...
San Juan, Puerto Rico -The Capitol of Puerto Rico, also known as the Palace of Laws, is the seat of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The building is located on Juan Ponce de León avenue in the Puerta de Tierra sector, in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Capitol was designed by Puerto Rican architect Rafael Carmoega and was built between 1921 and 1929. The building is neoclassical in style and made of white marble. The building’s façade is adorned with Corinthian columns and a triangular pediment....
San Juan, Puerto Rico - La Fortaleza is the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico. It is located in the city of San Juan, in the historic district known as Old San Juan. La Fortaleza was built between 1533 and 1540 by order of the Spanish king, Charles V. It was originally a fortress, built to protect the port of San Juan from attacks by pirates and corsairs. The original building consisted of a circular tower and four stone walls. In the 17th century, two more towers were added, and in the 18th century, an interior courtyard was built....
Arecibo, Puerto Rico - The Arecibo Observatory is located near the north coast of Puerto Rico in the town of Arecibo. It is home to the largest and largest single parabola radio telescope in the world. It was built inside a depression left by a landslide. The Observatory, used by astronomers and scientists around the world, is recognized as one of the most important national research centers in the area of radio astronomy, planetary astronomy and atmospheric studies. In the Observatory is the Ángel Ramos Foundation Science and Visitor Center which includes interactive exhibits, audiovisual equipment and information panels about the earth and our solar system...
Ponce, Puerto Rico - The Old Ponce Fire Station “Parque de Bombas” is a historic old fire station located in the charming town square “Plaza las Delicias” in Ponce, directly behind the town’s Cathedral. This former fire station is famous for its history and has been recognized for its historical and architectural role in Puerto Rican society. It is one of the most photographed places on the island of Puerto Rico. For many years, the building housed the city’s main fire station and now houses a small museum in honor and commemoration of the Ponce firefighters. The Parque de Bombas reflects the prevailing architectural style in...
Camuy, Puerto Rico - Caverns of the Camuy River National Park is one of the most spectacular places in Puerto Rico. It is the third largest underground river and cave system in the world where 18 entrances have been discovered so far. The Río Camuy Caverns are part of one of the most dramatic and massive cave systems in the Western Hemisphere. So far, more than 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances have been mapped in this Camuy cave system. This is just a fraction of the entire system that many experts believe still contains another 800 caves. The Park is...
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Fort San Cristóbal known as “Castillo de San Cristóbal” is one of the main tourist attractions in Old San Juan. Built from 1634 to 1765, for centuries Fort San Cristóbal has stood guard at the east gate of Old San Juan. The imposing fortress was built to protect the city from enemies that were approaching by land, serving as a counterpart to the Castle San Felipe del Morro. The fortification covers more than 27 acres and is the largest made by the Spanish in the New World. Fort San Cristóbal defended San Juan Bay from foreign attacks, such as the Battle...
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Castle San Felipe del Morro also known as El Morro, located at the northwest point of the Old San Juan islet, is considered the most emblematic fortification built by the Spanish in the Americas between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Castle San Felipe del Morro is one of the most picturesque places in the Caribbean with resplendent architecture. It is the most recognized monument in Puerto Rico and most loved by Puerto Rican families. More than two million visitors a year explore the castle, making it one of the top tourist attractions in Puerto Rico. The fortification was designed to...
Vieques, Puerto Rico - Mosquito Bay (Mosquito Bay) also known as Bioluminescent Bay is located on the southern coast of the island of Vieques, one of the islands east of Puerto Rico. This bioluminescent bay is the brightest in the world. The magical quality of this natural wonder makes a visit to this bay almost mandatory, for those who want a unique experience. There are only a few bioluminescent bays left in the world, and Puerto Rico is fortunate to have three of them. The bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico are Laguana Grande in Fajardo, Mosquito Bay in Vieques, and La Parguera in Lajas, with Mosquito Bay...
Río Grande, Puerto Rico - El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Caribbean National Forest (or Caribe National Forest), is a forest located in the northeast of Puerto Rico in the rugged Sierra de Luquillo, 40 km southeast of San Juan ( latitude 18’19 “N, longitude 65’45” O). It is the only rain forest included in the United States National Forest System and the United States Forest Service. It is known for its rare trees and birds. It is one of the smallest rain forests, but it has a diverse habitat and is the most biologically diverse. The forest covers the lands of the municipalities of Canovanas,...
Ponce, Puerto Rico - La Guancha Boardwalk is one of the most visited places in Ponce. On the left side of the recreational complex you will find Ponce Beach, with sanitary facilities and an area for sports such as volleyball. It’s not a beach for swimming, as it has hedgehogs and stones, however, it’s perfect for sunbathing and getting your feet wet. The Recreational and Cultural Complex of La Guancha offers multiple attractions; an observation tower, a boardwalk, restaurants, light food kiosks with a platform with dance music, boat ramp, a passive children’s park and an outdoor amphitheater for the offering of artistic and cultural events. ...
Historic Sites and Landmarks in Puerto Rico Discover the Hidden Gems: Unveiling Puerto Rico's Must-See Attractions Puerto Rico is a beautiful island with a rich history dating back centuries. The island is home to many historic sites and landmarks, which offer a glimpse into its past. Is a truly impressive island with many fine natural features, lovely towns and cities and a rich cultural heritage. Visitors to this friendly island, and the nearby smaller islands, can enjoy wonderful sightseeing tours exploring areas of historical and natural splendor. Puerto Rico’s marvelous landscape is also ideal for numerous outdoor activities. Whether you are interested in learning about the island’s past or...
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico The Walled City Old San Juan is an island connected to the main island by bridges on the east side. The oldest section is on the west side and walled on 3 sides. The historic city is divided into seven square blocks. On the north side of the city lies the residential area of the city on a slope. On the southern part, or the port area (ports 1-4), there is the commercial and tourist section that is made up of shops, docks with the majority being restaurants. The east side of the city is protected by Fort San Cristóbal. In the western area of...