Strolling through winding streets with colorful houses in the old town of San Juan, kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, relaxing and bathing on white beaches with crystal clear water, hiking through million year old shell systems or through tropical rainforest – Puerto Rico is an island with many features;Puerto Rico is an island with many special features and due to short gulfs and mild winds a good destination for island hopping between the Spanish Virgin Islands.
Climate: tropical with temperatures between 25 and 32 degrees
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Winds: Northeast trade
Sailing season: year-round, observing the hurricane season from June to November
Yacht charter Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is the easternmost and smallest island of the Greater Antilles. Together with other islands it forms the island state of the same name, which is a foreign territory of the USA. German citizens need a passport for entry, which should be valid for at least 6 months at the beginning of the journey, as well as an entry permit (ESTA) as for the USA. Those who wish to stay longer than three months must apply for a visa.
The island is usually approached from Germany with a stopover in the USA.
Yacht charter Puerto Rico: Green rainforest, white dream beaches and a colorful culture mix
Puerto Rico is suitable for all sailing levels due to mild trade winds, calm seas and short chop. However, one should be careful with the reefs. The island offers sheltered moorings and many berths. The warm weather all year round makes the island an ideal vacation destination.
The population is largely descended from Spaniards who settled the island during the colonial period, as well as indigenous inhabitants and African slaves. Therefore, the official languages are Spanish and English. Even today, these influences are reflected in the culture, for example in the local cuisine. On Puerto Rico you can gain insights into rum distilleries or coffee plantations. Puerto Rico was once one of the main producers of sugar, and there is still a sugar mill and a rum museum on the southwest coast in the town of Ponce. Those arriving by plane usually land near the capital, San Juan. In the old town, several hundred old buildings from colonial times have been restored and painted in bright colors. The fortress Castillo San Cristobal, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also dates from the Spanish colonial masters.
The interior of the island is predominantly mountainous with forested slopes. Impressive is the biodiversity that the island has to offer on land and underwater. Like the other islands of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has flora and fauna with endemic species, such as the coquí, a tiny frog that is also the national symbol of Puerto Rico. Especially in the National Rainforest el Yunque you can discover this biodiversity. As an alternative to hiking and driving, you can explore this part of the island on horseback or by bicycle, for example. Las Cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve in the northeast of the island is covered by mangroves and the 8 kilometer long reef is great for diving and snorkeling. In Rio Camuy Cave Park you can explore the third largest cave system in the world. The stalactite caves were formed over 1 million years ago by the Camuy River. Over 60 meters deep, you will enter caves that resemble cathedrals. The park also offers picnic facilities, trails for hiking and exhibitions. The Guànica dry forest in the southwest of the islands is also worth a visit.
From Puerto Rico, a trip to the Spanish Virgin Islands, which together with the American and British Virgin Islands form the Virgin Islands archipelago, is a good option. A good starting point for this is the town of Fajardo in the northeast of Puerto Rico, under which you will also find a suggested itinerary for the islands.
