There aren’t many places where Americans can get an easier dose of the tropics than Puerto Rico. It’s a commonwealth under the American flag, the U.S. dollar is the official currency, English is spoken almost everywhere, and there are no immigration hassles. But the island has a Spanish heritage, which makes it feel like a foreign land.
Caressed by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, Puerto Rico has everything one would expect in a tropical paradise: exquisite beaches, warm seas, friendly people, mountains graced with jungle growth and waterfalls, elegant resorts, flashy casinos and world-class golf courses. There are numerous nature reserves and reefs teeming with marine life.
El Yunque, also known as the Caribbean National Forest, is the only rain forest in the U.S. National Forest system. It’s 45 minutes by road from San Juan and is centered on El Yunque Peak, a mountain that was sacred to the indigenous Taino Indians long before Columbus arrived in the New World. The forest is home to the endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the coqui, a native tree frog, both of which are found only in Puerto Rico. Trails wind through the park’s four types of forest, which comprise 240 species of tropical trees and dozens of kinds of orchids and ferns.
The world’s second longest underground river has carved an intricate network of caverns in the soft limestone at Rio Camuy Cave Park, 90 minutes west of San Juan.
On the southern coast the Guanica Dry Forest is about as different from the tropical rain forest as it can get. The forest has a wide variety of desert vegetation and is full of migratory and resident birds.
The best way to get around the island is by car. Mountain roads are twisting but overall the road system is good.
The capital city of San Juan has lively night life, but the historical center of Old San Juan with its Spanish colonial architecture, broad plazas and magnificent fortress of El Morro is the true heart of Puerto Rico.
Worldwide updates
Airline safety: Air travel in Africa has always had its risks, but according to the International Federation of Airline Pilots and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, it’s getting worse. Many national airlines don’t have the money to maintain adequately their already secondhand aircraft, the skies over Africa have become more congested, and much of the region’s airspace is not properly covered by radio communications and radar. In many cases, pilots are not advised of air traffic in their flight patterns. The FAA, which monitors many foreign governments’ compliance with international air-safety standards, found just two of several African countries it checked to be in compliance with regulations. Ghana and South Africa were rated satisfactory; Gambia, Swaziland, Congo (formerly Zaire) and Zimbabwe were not. Egypt Air and South African Airways have good reputations. If flying in Africa, know the risks and choose your flights carefully.
Gambia: The Basse area in the upper river division has been experiencing an outbreak of meningitis in recent months. A mass immunization effort is under way in the region and travelers should consider being vaccinated before going. Consult a doctor.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong is now in its final month as a British colony, with China assuming possession of the territory at the stroke of midnight on June 30-July 1. If you have never been to Hong Kong now is the time to go, to see it under British rule before the era passes. Accommodations will be hard to find, especially if you want to witness the takeover, but it will be worth the effort.
Hungary: Be careful where you eat if you get hungry in Budapest. There have been numerous reports of restaurants and cafes charging tourists scandalously large amounts of money for meals and using strong-arm tactics when necessary to make people pay up. Part of the problem is that prices aren’t listed on foreign-language menus, so if you have doubts, be sure to confirm prices before ordering.
Indonesia: Parliamentary elections, which almost everyone agrees were tightly controlled by the government, spawned riots in the capital city of Jakarta on May 23. The results of the May 29 election were a foregone conclusion since before the campaign began, but the passions engendered by it indicate there may be significant political tensions in the future.
Macau: Street violence has increased as gangs fight for control of cigarette-smuggling rackets and the lucrative casino business. On May 4 three men were killed at point-blank range on the busy Avenida de Praia Grande, bringing the total to 14 killed in the past month. Incidents have been largely restricted to areas near the casinos during the early morning hours. Exercise caution and follow local reports for current information.
Nicaragua: Airlines have been notified that the San Cristobal volcano, 75 miles northwest of Managua near the border with Honduras, has become increasingly active. On May 19 the 5,700-foot volcano began spewing ash and gases and 600 tremors shook the volcano during a 24-hour period. Travel with caution.
Northern Ireland: It’s too early to tell if the election of the Labor Party in Britain will be the catalyst that rejuvenates the peace process, but changes are coming to Northern Ireland. In recent elections to the Belfast City Council, Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political wing, won 13 of 51 seats, its best showing since it entered the elections 15 years ago. For the first time the Protestant majority on the council has been broken, and it’s likely that Belfast will have a Catholic mayor. Protestants hold 25 seats; the cross-community Alliance party holds six seats and the key to power. Analysts attribute Sinn Fein’s strength in the elections to its espousals of peace. British officials held talks with Sinn Fein leaders May 21, but whether Sinn Fein is allowed to participate in peace talks scheduled to resume June 3 remains in question, mostly depending on the IRA declaring a new cease-fire. Visitors should follow local press reports for current updates, especially as the peace talks get under way.
Yemen: Anyone who has had a secret desire to be kidnapped but didn’t want to suffer the consequences should consider a trip to Yemen, where kidnapping by local tribespeople has become virtually an accepted way to pressure the government into granting concessions to their regions. Since 1990 more than 100 foreigners have been kidnapped, but they’ve often been treated as guests during their captivity and been given gifts when they leave.
Congo: According to rebel leader Laurent Kabila, who drove dictator Mobutu Sese Seko from power last month, Zaire is now to be called the Democratic Republic of Congo. He formed a new government without including longtime opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, which could suggest trouble ahead. Avoid travel here until the political situation gets sorted out.
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Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. In the U.S., contact a Passport Agency office or the State Department in Washington; abroad, check in with the nearest American embassy or consulate.
