Puerto Rico – The Isles of Enchantment

I recently watched a wildlife documentary on Puerto Rico on BBC2 narrated by the wonderful David Attenborough and was hooked.

I have never been to this Island in the Caribbean but now want to visit and not just for a day. I was amazed at the current rehabilitation programmes that are in place for specific species that are native to this small Island. So not only do these ‘Isles of Enchanment’ have amazing history but also some beautiful species of marine and wildlife.

Puerto Rico (Spanish for “rich port”) consists of an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and several islands: Vieques, Culebra, Mona and numerous islets.  Located in the northeastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United State.  At only 100 miles long by 35 miles wide, it is the smallest island of the Greater Antilles. Discovered by Christopher Columbus it has a rich history with the Spanish and this is the main language spoken on the island.

The US Army used military testing on the Island of Vieques until the early 2000’s and there is still ongoing issues with the consequences that have been left by the US military to the local people and area. To date, the US Military has spent over $220 million since 2003, to investigate and clean contaminated lands. This is so sad to see a beautiful island destroyed by man kind.

During the 50′ & 60’s Puerto Rico experienced rapid industrialization, it was intended to transform Puerto Rico’s economy from agriculture-based to manufacturing-based to provide more jobs. Puerto Rico has become a major tourist destination and a cruise port, as well as a global center for pharmaceutical manufacturing. But, this was to a cost of their natural inhabitants.

The Puerto Ricans thank goodness, decided that enough was enough and after years of watching the main island lose it’s rain forest and national species to the rising population and growth of the wealth onto the island, they finally decided to take control.

Over the years they have now managed to retain 60% of the lost rain forest and bring back near extinct species to enjoy.

The national symbol for the Island is one of the loudest frog known to man called the Puerto Rican Rock Frog or known locally as coquí guajón. Back in 1997 this Frog was placed on the endangered list, but with the help of court rulings and conservation and wildlife groups, this frog is doing what it does best and can be heard all across the island when looking for a mate.

They have a Manatee center to help rehabilitate the Manatees also native to the waters of Puerto Rico, many get injured or killed due to jet-skis or speed boats, as they like to graze close to the shore in shallow waters. With less than approx 700 in the wild, it is an important programme that helps get the manatees back into the wild to try and re-populate. They are amazing, gentle mammals and I had the pleasure of seeing them in Florida.

The Puerto Rico Amazonian Parrot was at near extinction with just 13 left recorded back in 1975 and thanks to another great programme, they are starting to thrive back in the rain forest and re-populating at a slow but steady rate and they hope that this beautiful bird will be off the endangered list by 2020.

The courts in Puerto Rico are one of the biggest allies for the wildlife, because without the courts ruling in favor of the conservation of the islands wildlife, more areas of the Island would be sold off to developers. On the programme I watched, one of the wildlife experts whom has helped with the re-population of the islands sea turtles, campaigned against one of the beautiful beaches looking to be sold off for development.

The beaches of Puerto Rico, especially Dorada Beach in the north coast, is one of the prime nesting grounds for the leatherback turtle, yet again another endangered species. The court ruled that the beach would be protected from developers, which was great news and if you are lucky enough to be in the area at the right time, you too might get to see some of the baby leatherbacks making their escape to the ocean.

Have you been? Do you have any hints or tips for what to see and do in Puerto Rico?

Or have I whetted your appetite and now you fancy going? Well if you like the sound of checking out Puerto Rico, or have already been but didn’t get to see the real beauty of this country, then why not look to stay a few days or longer before you cruise? With Norwegian Airlines offering direct flight services from London, they have made the journey just that bit easier..

Currently, for 2017 Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise line have a ship based there sailing each week. Then come the winter months, when the Caribbean is the right place to be for that time of year, you can choose from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise line and even Viking Ocean Cruises will all have a ship based in the capital of San Juan.

Dawn

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