ECONOMY P. Rico is the most developed industrial island at the Caribbean standing out in the manufacturing industry, run exportation and nowadays, above all, the country is an important exporter of materials goods, high technology and pharmaceutical products, being at the same time one of the principal touristic destination at in­ternational level.

EDUCATION In 1985, 37,3 % percent of students between 18 and 24 studied higher education. This growing rate in education is higher than in U.S.A.

LANGUAGE Both spanish and english are official languages.

RELIGIONS Although the most part of Puertoricans are catholic, religious freedom is guaranted by the Constitution. The offices of catholic rites are celebrated on all sides of the island both in spanish and english language.

NATIONAL MONETARY UNIT U.S.A. dollar is the legal tender currency. It is very frecuent the use and acceptance of credit cards.

INMIGRATION Spanish people don´t need visa to enter in Puerto Rico as tourists if they remain less than 90 days. Driver´s license and a credit card are needed to rent and to drive a car.

TAXES Airport use taxe is included in the price of plane ticket. Fee is not included in the bills. It is very frecuent to leave on that concept aproximately 15% of the total.

PUBLICATIONS “ Qué Pasa” is a trimestral publication with practic information for the visitor. El Nuevo Día is the most circulated dairly in the island.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Puertorican Medical Commu­nity has the same cualification and experience that American and practically all the specialities are covered.

TRANSPORTS • By air: the mayority of aviation companies in North­america which operate in Europe offer conections into Puerto Rico, Iberia, Lufthansa and British Airways has direct flights from their respectives countries to S. Juan. • Terrestrial: It is obligatory the use of taximeter in taxis if you don´t negociate a service by each hour. The charge for each price baggage is half a dollar. The so called “public” are buses which covered all the cities and villages througth the island with frecuent time schedules during the day. The one known as “Ruta Panoramic” runs over the island meandering panoramical roads with spectacular views. • Cruisers: El Puerto de San Juan is the most significant cruisers operative center over the world. • Ferries: one line of ferries conects the mean island with Culebra and Vieques. Catano ferry link the two margins of Saint Juan´s bay and it is the ideal mean to arrive at Bacardi´s destillery.

SPORTS Puertorican people enjoy with the practise of sports. All Caribbean sports take play in P. Rico. It is possible to find the touristic guide “Qué pasa”, which is totally free. • Golf: The island is an exceptional place for those who want to learn. There are 14 golf courses, and there are golf cour­ses of inter­national category in the hotels Hyatt Cerronar, Hyatt Poblado Beach, Palmas del Mar and El Conquistador. Due to the high level of the golf courses, P.Rico is known as the “Caribbean Golf Capital”. • Tenis: People who are fond of tennis will also fell pleasure in the island because it is a popular sport. At the Central Park of S. Juan there are 14 public sport fields which could be rented per hours. • Equitation: There are several equestrian clubes, with the possibility of renting horses. The most important equestrian event in P.Rico is the exhibition of pure-bred horses at Paso Fino, bred only in the island. • Diving: Different from the rest of the Caribbean diving is organized by local companies in P.Rico. Almost all divers are certificated, NAUI or PADI. For diving at the most popular places: The Fajardo´s Coral reefs in the northeast, the waters near La Parquera in the southeast with their mangle island and Culebra, with splendid possibilities of exploration. There are possibilities of instruction, equipment and expedition in all parts.

ACUATIC sPORTS • Swimming. P. Rico offers hundreds of beaches to its visitors throughout its 414 Kms of coast, in which it is possible to practise every type of aquatic sports Public Beaches also called “Balnearios” have showers, ticket racks, and payment parkings. •Sail. The conditions of navigation are good alone the year and winds blow 10-15 knots. Boats are rented through several specialized companies which are functional in the island. • Sporting fishing: Nu­merous tournaments are celebrated with more than 30 world records. Fond people with the equipment can fish at lake Dos Bocas in Utuado and El Guajataca near Quebradillas. •Surfing and Windsurfing. P. Rico has been seat of the Surf World Championship in 1968, 1988 and 1989. Waters are the best to practise surf. Other favourite place is Ensenada Honda in Culebra. Windsurf is a very popular sport. Goods conditions above during the year.

GASTRONOMY • Meals. It is possible to find every type of international meal. Puerto Rican foods despite of being the result of the mixture of three foods, spanish african and native, use to be equilibrate and soft unlike other caribbean zones. The basic ingredients are: coriander, pápaya, cacao, medlar, celers, corn, batata, yucca, fish, shelfish and meat. Banana is the king of the food. Desserts with tropical fruits are excellents. There are made with guayaba, coconut, pineapple, etc. Gastronomical taverns. They are the official program of the Puertorican tourist company. It offers more than 50 selected restaurants in the whole is­land, perfectly identified with a logotype. • Beverages: Rum is the natural beverage. Beers are soft and served very cold. Delicious juices of fruit and cold coconut are fought. Piña Colada was born in Puerto Rico, 32 years ago, being its creator Ramon Marrero.

PLACES TO SEE • Ponce: Is placed one hour and a half by road far from San Juan. Others outstanding elements are: Hacienda, Buena Vista: Hacienda, Buena vista, restaurants with coffee plantation from XIX century; Firemen Park; Square; the in­digenous ceremonial Park of Tibes, where we can find a indigenous pre-columbian village. • El Yunque. 330 hectareas of pluvial forest in which there are eleven open sidewalks to the visitors with towers of observation . • Arecibo. established in 1556, it counts with the biggests radio-radar telescope over the world. • Parque de las Ca­ver­nas del Rio Camuy. One of the greatest caverns system over the world, with one of the longest subterranean river in the world: Camuy. • Culebra and Vieques. Eastward from the island coast, they stand out for their solitary beaches of white sands crystalline wa­ters, coral reefs. • Mona:. Uninhabited, westward it lodges colonies of sea fowls.