Puerto Rico - officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of the Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Hati) and west of the United States Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix). Puerto Rico (Spanish for "rich port") comprises an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. Puerto Rico has an area of 5,320 sq. mi./13,790 sq. km. The maximum length of the main island from east to west is 110 mi./180 km, and the maximum width from north to south is 40 mi./65 km. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area of the Greater Antilles. The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (containing the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies. Originally populated for centuries by indigenous aboriginal peoples known as Taínos, the island was claimed by Christopher Columbus for Spain during his second voyage to the Americas on November 19, 1493. Under Spanish rule, the island was colonized and the indigenous population was forced into slavery and nearly wiped out due to, among other things, European infectious diseases. The remaining population was emancipated by King Carlos I in 1520. Spain possessed Puerto Rico for over 400 years, despite attempts at capture of the island by France, the Netherlands, and England. The relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States has its origins dating back to the Spanish-American War, in which Spain, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, ceded the island to the United States. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and the United States Congress legislates many aspects of Puerto Rican life. However, the islanders may not vote in U.S. presidential elections.[11][12] Since 1947, Puerto Ricans have been able to elect their own governor. Its official languages are Spanish and English, with Spanish being the primary language. Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen, from Borikén, its indigenous Taíno name, which means "Land of the Valiant Lord". Puerto Rico's motto is "John is his name" - after Juan Ponce de Leon, who founded the first Spanish settlement in 1508 and was also the first governor.

1. Fort San Felipe del Morro - (officially Castillo San Felipe del Morro), also just called El Morro ("the nose"). It is a 16th-century (1539) citadel (a fortress for protecting a town) located on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, the Capital. The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983), as well as, a National Historical Site (1966).
2. La Fortaleza - is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World. It listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, as well as, a National Historical Site (1966).
3. Old Town San Juan - the historic core of San Juan. Although this 8 by 10 block district is part of San Juan, it is quite geographically and culturally distinct from the rest of the city.
4. Castillo de San Cristóbal - is the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World. When it was finished in 1783, it covered about 27 acres of land and basically wrapped around the city of San Juan. Entry to the city was sealed by San Cristóbal's double gates. (also part of the UNESCO and National Historical designations).
5. El Yunque National Forest -it is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. The forest is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains and it encompasses 44 sq. mi./114 sq. km of land, making it the largest block of public land in Puerto Rico. El Toro, the highest mountain peak in the forest rises 3,537 ft./1,065 m above sea level, which is only a few miles from the summit.