20 images of Puerto Rico we can’t stop looking at
AMERICANS SO OFTEN FORGET there’s an absolutely beautiful Caribbean island that’s super close and that they can travel to with zero need for a passport. Puerto Rico is stunning, and it’s not just the beaches — it’s the rainforest and the varied scenery, but also the people, the architecture, and the culture.
A few years back I was lucky enough to spend a day and a half in Puerto Rico. And in that short period of time, I was able to visit a colonial fort, have a piña colada at the place that invented piña coladas, and go nighttime kayaking in a stunning bioluminescent bay. You just don’t get that sort of variety anywhere else, and these pictures are here to prove it.
DANCERS IN SAN JUAN

Photo: Angel Xavier Viera-Vargas
EL YUNQUE NATIONAL RAINFOREST
El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Park system. It sits on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains, and while it’s one of the smallest national forests, it’s also one of the most diverse in its flora and fauna. Find it a quick drive east of San Juan.

Photo: Thomas Shahan
THE COQUÍ
The coquí, a small frog native to Puerto Rico, has a chirping call that’s the de facto soundtrack of the island. You’ll find tons of other incredible animals, like parrots, lizards, and turtles, hiding in the forests, too.

Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region
BARBECUE ADVENTURE
Puerto Rican cuisine combines the culinary influences of the indigenous Taíno, Africans, and the Spanish. You can get a good taste for it all at the many lechoneras, chinchorros, and fondas (casual eateries that specialize in roast pork, fried goodies, and traditional dishes, respectively) you’ll find around the island.

Photo: Ricardo Mangual

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SURFER AT ARECIBO'S HALLOWS BEACH

Ricardo Mangual
20 Images of Puerto Rico
HERMIT CRAB

Felix Lopez
ART ON CALLE CERRA, SAN JUAN

Juan Cristobal Zulueta
ABANDONED TANK, PLAYA FLAMENCO

Angel Xavier Viera-Vargas
MUSEO DE ARTE DE PUERTO RICO

Chu Aponte
BACARDÍ

Jason Melcher
PUERTO NUEVO BEACH

Ricardo Mangual
ARECIBO OBSERVATORY AND TELESCOPE

Chris Amelung
LA COCA FALLS, EL YUNQUE

Ricardo Mangual
LOS MORRILLOS LIGHTHOUSE, CABO ROJO

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FLAMENCO BEACH, CULEBRA

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SANTA MARIA MAGDALENA DE PAZZIS CEMETERY

Arnob Alam
BOAT AT PLAYA ALMENDROS

Angel Xavier Viera-Vargas
LA FORTALEZA

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SUPING AT SUNSET

Aaron Perkins