The island has a rich Spanish heritage that fascinates visitors. Following the Spanish-American War in 1889, Spain ceded the island to the United States, and in 1917 Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship. Today, there is a harmonious mingling of Spanish and American cultures.

The spirit of the colonial period is most evident in Old San Juan, where numerous historic sites and monuments have undergone restoration in an effort to preserve Puerto Rico's rich heritage. The fortress walls that guard San Juan's harbor at Fort San Cristobal are notable as a strategic masterpiece with its 17th Century military design and an intricate network of tunnels. Castillo de San Felipe del Morro is a commanding six-story fort with towers and dungeons to explore.

A combination of mountain ranges and the prevailing trade winds divide the island into several climate zones. A lush tropical jungle covers the eastern mountains as the peaks are drenched in rain and shrouded in the cloud forest at El Yunque. See brightly colored parrots, fragrant orchids and over 200 species of tropical ferns and trees. Popular hiking and walking trails take you through forests and gardens to cascading waterfalls. North and west of the mountains, short grasses and cacti mark the landscape.