As a college student, I spent two years studying Spanish as part of my degree program. Through my studies, I became interested in Spanish-speaking countries–their culture, cuisine and traditions–around the globe. Recently when the opportunity arose to visit Puerto Rico, I could hardly wait to land in San Juan, the island’s capital and largest city, and start exploring the island. Though I was disappointed in my poor recall of the Spanish language, I soon forgot all about it as I got caught up in the sights and adventure of this island getaway.

Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, many things that have to be negotiated in other countries are no problem on this Caribbean island. For instance, visiting a country with a foreign national language on your own can be daunting. However, English is spoken throughout Puerto Rico. In fact, both Spanish and English are the national languages here, and many residents speak both. When dining or shopping, I found many signs, menus and other information printed in both Spanish and English.

Another great perk to Puerto Rico is its accessibility -- it's a three-hour plane ride or less from many Southeast U.S. gateways. The island sits between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Three major airports are located on the island: San Juan (northeast), Ponce (south) and Aguadilla (west). When traveling to Puerto Rico, U.S. residents do not need a passport, nor do they need to go through customs or immigration at any time; however, upon leaving Puerto Rico, checked luggage will be examined for agricultural purposes. This is to prevent transporting parasites and diseases via produce and organic products from one country to another. This is a simple process and, during my departure, only took a few minutes.

Since the U.S. dollar is accepted as tender throughout the island, travelers do not have to worry about currency exchanges. And because the country operates on standard 110-volt power, electrical adaptors (which are needed in many foreign countries) are not necessary for hairdryers or other electrical equipment.

Colorful buildings in Old San Juan.

No matter what areas of the island visitors go to, no trip is complete without seeing Old San Juan, located approximately 25 minutes west of the airport in San Juan. Originally built as a military stronghold, Old San Juan is the only walled city in the Caribbean (Outside the city, the encompassing metropolitan area is referred to as San Juan). Old San Juan overflows with historical sites dating back to the early 1500s. At the time of construction in 1630, Old San Juan’s walls contained four doors providing entrance into the city. Since many sections of the walls have been torn down, only one of those doors remains: the San Juan Gate, which was the traditional entrance to Old San Juan. Located on the city’s south side, no visit to the city is complete without a stop at this historic door. For centuries these gates were closed at sundown to cut off access to the city and protect it from invaders. With the wall up to 20 feet thick and up to 40 feet tall, it creates quite a formidable presence when standing before it.

The Castillo de San Cristóbal, which translated means St. Christopher Castle, is the largest of San Juan’s three forts. It rises nearly 150 feet above sea level on the northeast edge of Old San Juan and was built to protect the city from land approaches on the island’s east coast by the British, Spanish and Dutch. The grounds encompass approximately 27 acres and include a network of interdependent fortifications connected by paths and tunnels. Guests can explore the tunnels, see barracks and visit a prison holding cell lit only by a very small, narrow window. A few minutes in this room, and one can easily understand how captive prisoners might go insane.

About a mile west of San Cristóbal, Castillo de San Felipe del Morro (also called El Morro), which translated means Castle of St. Philip of the Headland, prevented enemy ships from entering San Juan Bay. From its weathered stone walls, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and San Juan Bay. You also can peruse the various rooms, chapel and other quarters located in the fort.

Covering a seven-square-block area more than 500 years old, Old San Juan’s beautiful architecture, eclectic shopping and mouthwatering dining are located along cobblestone streets. Sightseeing highlights include La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico (also the oldest functional executive mansion in the United States). Highlights include the Catedral de San Juan, Ponce de Leon’s final resting place; and Plaza de Armas, the original main city square. Shoppers will love browsing the stores for a variety of souvenirs ranging from Tommy Hilfiger clothing to locally owned specialty shops featuring art, jewelry and handmade crafts such as small wooden figures of saints and papier-maché carnival masks.

To satisfy appetites, Old San Juan’s restaurants include diverse international fare from French cuisine to American selections, but I recommend trying traditional Puerto Rican dishes. A blend of Taíno (the indigenous people of Puerto Rico), Spanish and African traditions, Puerto Rican cuisine contains a mixture of exotic spices and ingredients that creates a flavor uniquely its own. While I was expecting hot and spicy food similar to that found in Mexico, I was pleasantly surprised by the milder, tasty treats I sampled during my stay. One of the most popular menu items are tostones, flattened and fried green plantains, accompanied by a heaping serving of rice and beans and meat. Delicious!

Waterfall in El Yunque.

Because of its relatively small size — 110 miles long and 35 miles wide — traversing the island from coast to coast takes just a few hours regardless of the starting point. During my visit, I traveled along the west coast of the island from Rincón down to Guanica on the southwest coast. This provided a wonderful opportunity to see the island’s diverse landscape. Sometimes the landscape was relatively flat and sparsely covered by trees while others contained rolling hills and a lot of greenery provided by trees and shrubs. There were even moments when you could see the Cordillera Central mountain range that traverse the center of the island.

While staying in Rincón, I traveled the short distance north (approximately 12 miles) to Aguadilla, where I enjoyed a leisurely horseback ride. We followed a trail that took us over two beaches, through cool forests and across grassy areas. The ride was broken up by a break halfway through the journey. While the horses rested in the shade, we had the opportunity to climb the rocks at the end of the beach. The climb was not strenuous at all, and the breathtaking view at the top was well worth the effort.

Farther south in Parguera, I explored the island’s underwater landscape while snorkeling. The aquatic scenery and wildlife included coral, sea fans, angelfish, trumpet fish and squid. The snorkeling guide told my group we just missed seeing a manatee, which he said quickly left the diving area when our boat arrived. Other noteworthy places for diving and snorkeling include La Parguera in Ponce on the south coast, which features the Black Wall diving site – home to the Caribbean’s rarely seen black coral; Mona Island on the west coast, home to sea turtles, dolphins and marlin; and Superhero and Palomino Wall in Fajardo on the east coast, which includes small caverns and channels decked out in coral.

Another popular site for outdoor exploration is El Yunque National Forest, on the east side of the island. It is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. Easy to moderate hiking trails are well maintained, and easy to access. The forest is full of lush jungle and interesting creatures, like the tree frog. Guided tours are available to El Yunque, and still other ways to explore the island – on your own or with a group – include mountain biking and kayaking.