 What
is Puerto Rico? It is island teeming with beauty and teeming with
life. Some of it is Spanish, some Indian, some African and some…
something else. But somehow it all blends together into a culture
that you will find fascinating and unique. Combine that with the
fact that there is no place on earth quite like a volcanic island
in the tropics, and there is no island in the tropical Caribbean
quite like it, and you have Puerto Rico. The geography of the
island is unique. Take a rectangular piece of paper, crumple it
up, smooth out the edges and you have a rough facsimile of it.
Please note
that additional info (prices, activities, etc) are found to the
right of this pages. 
 A
rugged mountain range runs across the center of the island from
east to west. The north side is covered by dense vegetation, rain
forests, karst formations, caverns, rushing streams and rocky
cliffs.
The high central peaks often prevent rain clouds
from passing to the south, so the south side is often sun-toasted
terrain, home to exotic birds and tropical dry forests.
The island is about 100 miles long and 35 miles
wide. That means that its most distant point is a three-hour drive
away. It also means that just about every tropical landscape in
existence is a short trip from wherever you happen to be! You
can drive 40 minutes from San Juan to go canoeing in a rainforest
or hiking on one of the steeper trails of El Yunque in search
of the elusive Puerto Rican parrot. You can head one hour west
to explore Cathedral Cavern in the Camuy Underground River System,
the third largest on the planet. In less than two hours you can
be rock climbing in the Toro Negro Forest or hiking the trails
of the highest mountain on the island.
With hundreds of miles of coastline, Puerto Rico
offers a different beach for every day of the year. They come
in every size, color and form, from the pure white dunes of Isabela
to the black volcanic sands near Punta Santiago in Maunabo. You
can even choose your level of excitement, from a stroll in the
shimmering shallow waters at Luquillo to a romp in the boisterous
surf of Rincón.
 If
your idea of adventure is less athletic, take a boat on a moonless
night out to the Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, or stroll through
the majestic Guajataca Forest, only an hour and a half west of
San Juan. Browse through the excursions listed in this section.
You will be sure to find something that will make your trip unforgettable.
What about city life where you will be studying
Spanish? San Juan is the Caribbean capital of nightlife and entertainment.
It is the most cosmopolitan and diverse city in the region, whether
you’re looking for bar hoping, Vegas-style gaming or anything
in between.
Beat the house at blackjack or roulette at one
of the Condado or Isla Verde hotels, or enjoy an exotic drink
at any of Old San Juan’s famed watering holes. With its
quaint cobbled-stoned streets and Spanish Colonial architecture,
the walled city is a wonder to explore. Bars, discos and popular
restaurants are found on nearly every corner of the city.
 In
greater San Juan, the night reigns, but you should also discover
the vibrant life out on the island, including the special charms
of resorts in Dorado, Rio Grande, Ponce and Mayagüez. You
will be surprised by the youthful exuberance of La Parguera and
Boquerón out west.
Excitement extends beyond the coast. The inland
towns along the scenic highway hold annual festivals with live
music, arts and crafts, and roadside gambling at motorized miniature
horse races, called picas.
Whatever reason you may have for studying Spanish
in Puerto Rico, you are sure to learn a lot of Spanish while at
the same time discovering a wonderful place!
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