Casual Cultural Highlights Of Puerto Rico You Can’t Miss
So, you want to spend your forthcoming holiday on a Caribbean island… How about Puerto Rico??? With a unique blend of rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and vibrant hospitality, this idyllic island has emerged as a preferred vacation destination for tourists seeking adventure beyond the ordinary. Besides, this place is home to the U.S.’s only tropical rain forest- El Yunque National Forest. Today’s blog post provides insight into Puerto Rico’s rich cultural heritage and discusses how it has become a source of endless fascination for tourists.
A Look Into Puerto Rico’s History
The present-day cultural landscape of Puerto Rico is the result of a perfect blending of indigenous heritage, European colonization, African influence, and American involvement. With so many influences, it’s crucial that we have a basic understanding of the island’s history before delving into conversation about its cultural heritage.
Before Puerto Rico was claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain in 1493, the island was inhibited by the Taino people. Under Spanish rule, enslaved Africans were brought to the island to boost agricultural activities- sugarcane plantation in particular. The island was ceded to the great United States following the Spanish-American War in 1898. Since then, it has been an unincorporated territory of the US.
Puerto Rico’s Cultural Landscape: A Brief Discussion
The fusion of European, African, American, and indigenous Taino tradition has added a unique flavor to Puerto Rico’s cultural identity. This unique cultural fusion can be observed in the island’s language, music, dance, cuisine, and even in festivals. Want to learn more about it? Please go through the following discussion.
Music and dance
Salsa- one of the most famous and adorable dance form known to mankind- originated in Puerto Rico. There is something special about this island’s climate… that has made its inhabitant develop special tastes for music and dance.
Whether you’re touring the streets of Viejo San Juan or relaxing at your favourite the beach on the island, it is likely that you’ll encounter local musicians performing energetic dance moves. If you want to learn these captivating dance moves, you can enroll yourself in a nearby training institute. There are all sorts of dance training institutes located throughout the island that aim to teach visitors steps of traditional dances like salsa and merengue.
Cuisine
As with the music and dance, Puerto Rican cuisine has also been impacted by the fusion of different cultures on the island during different time periods. When the island was under the Spanish rule, local dishes underwent major transformations.
Ingredients like rice, beans, olive oil, and spices started becoming part of Puerto Rican cuisine. New cooking techniques were also introduced to add some European-flavors into the dishes. African slaves brought to the island by the Spanish colonizers also made their contribution into diversifying local population’s eating habits and preferences. Local eateries and food trucks are great places for tourists to enjoy authentic Puerto Rican cuisine.
Arts and craft
The presence of Spanish colonizers and African slaves on the island during colonial era has also shaped Puerto Rican art and craft in a very creative way. It opened a window for the native population to learn European artistic styles and techniques.
European ways of pottery, weaving, and woodworking found their way to this tiny Caribbean island during the colonial era- the mark of which can be seen on today’s Puerto Rican architecture and urban design. The contribution of African slaves to this small yet beautiful island’s diverse artistic traditions can’t be ignored. They have left their mark on basket weaving, mask-making, and other traditional craft techniques.
Festivals and celebrations
An amazing fact about Puerto Rico is that its calendar is filled with colorful festivals and celebrations. The islanders simply loves to celebrate… no matter how small the occasion is. Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, Día de los Reyes Magos, Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol, Ponce Carnival, Día de San Juan Bautista are just a few famous celebrations.
Explore Puerto Rico’s Hidden Wonders With Caribbean Breeze Adventures
Puerto Rico has a lot to offer to its admirers… 
from lively rhythms of salsa to the mouth watering flavors of traditional dishes. Fun leaving inhabitants of this tiny island loves to celebrate- they find reasons to celebrate every day of their lives. If you want to explore this beautiful place from a completely different perspective, let Caribbean Breeze Adventures guide you through. Call us or visit our website to book your once in a lifetime adventure.