“Puerto Rico – my heart’s devotion – let it sink back in the ocean!” sang Anita in West Side Story. Although Anita’s song made it clear that she preferred America, for many residents and visitors Puerto Rico really is their hearts’ devotion! Its warm tropical climate, perennial sunshine and beautiful beaches bring millions of tourists to the island every year. It has earned its nickname, the Island of Enchantment.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish for “Rich Port”) became an American territory and its inhabitants granted US citizenship in 1912. It is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles chain between the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south. Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony for nearly 400 years; it was ceded to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. Its Hispanic roots remain; Spanish is the primary language of the island. In addition to the main island, Puerto Rico includes several off-shore islands; Vieques, Culebra and Mona. Although uninhabited, Mona Island is a diver’s favorite because of its abundant marine life.

Visitors to the island flock to its pristine beaches, such as Luquillo Beach on the northeastern corner. Light brown sand and blue-green water gives way to lush palm forests that wave gently in the cool trade winds. The surrounding ocean is very deep; the Puerto Rico Trench, to the north, drops to 28,231 feet – the deepest known point of the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, between the cool, deep water and the trade winds, visitors find Puerto Rico’s climate very agreeable.

Aside from the glories of the beaches, Puerto Rico has much to offer travelers. San Juan, the capital city, has preserved the Spanish architectural influence in its older region. There, visitors will find original colonial buildings and fortresses carefully maintained to protect their authenticity. Native arts and crafts of all kinds, from bead work to clothing, thrive in San Juan. The fortress of San Felipe del Morro perches on the tip of the San Juan National Historic Site. La Fortalela, the old fort that is now the Governor’s Palace, glistens with sunlight playing off its dome roof.

Music is an essential part of the Puerto Rican culture; visitors are treated to performances of folk songs and ballads based on African and Spanish rhythms. Latino jazz music and salsa music and dancing have had world-wide influence; this alone is reason for many to seek out the Island of Enchantment. Savvy travelers know that, deep in the interior of the island, the seis dance art of the peasant farmers is performed by six couples accompanied only by the Spanish guitar. La Bomba is favored by Afro-Puerto Ricans along the coastal regions; the dance came to Puerto Rico with slaves from Africa, and is played only with two drums and maracas that accompany the vocalist. So rich in musical variety is the island that everywhere visitors are treated to some of the most sought-after music and dance performances on Earth.

Puerto Rico is known for its delightful local Hispanic-based cuisine. After a day on the beach or touring the old San Juan sites, diners are treated to sweet, colorful drinks, meals with a distinct Latin flavor, and luscious fruit and pastry-based deserts. All the while, musicians and vocalists provide the perfect backdrop to a spectacular evening.

In West Side Story, what Anita failed to mention is that since huge numbers of Puerto Ricans have immigrated to New York, New Jersey and Florida, they have such pride in their heritage that each year New York City holds a Puerto Rican Day Parade. On that day, it’s as if the Island of Enchantment has taken to the urban streets to remind the mainland that this American territory remains a unique treasure.

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