Interesting Facts

Six of the United Nations' designated World Heritage sites are located in San Juan.
San Juan is the oldest city under the United States flag.
San Juan Bautista is the patron saint of San Juan. On his feast day, June 23, city residents walk backwards into the sea three times at midnight. This tradition is supposed to bring good fortune in the next year.
The island of Puerto Rico was originally named San Juan Island. When Ponce de Leon moved the Caparra settlement to the city in 1511, he called it Puerto Rico or "rich port" because of its advantageous location for shipping.
Despite being illegal in the United States, cockfighting is legal and commonplace in Puerto Rico. The town of Salinas is known for the quality and frequency of its fights but the Coliseo Gallistico in Isla Verde also stages matches. Tickets to view this uniquely Puerto Rican entertainment are available for as little as $10.
The R�o Camuy runs underground for part of its course, forming the third largest subterranean river in the world. The Rio Camuy caves, a short distance from San Juan, are one of the most important cave structures in the Western Hemisphere.
The Bacardi distillery produces 100,000 gallons of rum daily. It takes 100 gallons of molasses to make just one barrel of rum.
The streets of Old San Juan are paved with glazed bricks called adoquines. These bluish cobbles arrived in Puerto Rico by Spanish galleon � they were used as ballast. The bricks have interesting light absorbing properties � they are said to "wake up" with whatever hue the sky showed the evening before.
Puerto Rico is a mere 110 miles long and only 35 miles wide. The temperate climate rarely reaches above ninety degrees and rarely dips below sixty. Do bring a raincoat � especially if you are planning a visit to the northern coast or the mountains.
The unusual sound you hear in the evenings is the shrill chirp of the coqui tree frog. You see his picture everywhere � he is a symbol of the island � because Puerto Rico is his only remaining habitat. Many coqui live in El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the Eastern United States.