Puerto Rico’s Secret: Pride, Resilience and Community Makes It Special

by | Feb 17, 2020

Last updated on November 19th, 2023

Puerto Rico is vulnerable to nature, yet perseveres

by Carolyn Ray

I am drifting off to sleep in Ponce, on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, when the nightstand starts shaking in the darkness. In my jumbled, half-asleep mind, I associate this disturbance with my daughter stumbling into our hotel furniture in the darkness, or a vibration from a truck on the cobbled street below. But that isn’t the case. My iPhone alerts me that I am experiencing a 4.8 magnitude earthquake, and it’s close – only 26 km southwest of Ponce. I leap out of bed and rush to the window, and to my relief see no evidence of damage.

In the morning, the tremor is the talk of the town. I sense a different vibe in the central plaza. Residents are noticeably animated, having anxious conversations, congregating at banks to withdraw emergency cash. I assumed that was the end of it. However, four days later, a major 6.4 magnitude earthquake dominates world news headlines. It affects Ponce, Guanica, Yauco, and Guayanilla, all areas I had been to only a few days prior. Damage is extensive in Ponce, affecting many historical buildings, combined with sporadic power outages island-wide. According to news reports, thousands of people are homeless or simply seeking safe havens outside their homes.

After exploring Puerto Rico for three weeks, I am astounded by the prevalence and impact of natural disasters. I know that Hurricane Maria brought the people of this island together and strengthened their resolve to persevere. As such, Puerto Ricans universally exhibit a set of characteristics short in evidence and envied by most: resilience and optimism. From my conversations with people across the country, I witnessed so much generosity, compassion and empathy.

From San Juan to Vieques to Ponce, I saw signs of pride, resilience and community. An emerging farm-to-table movement. Craft cocktails and beer with native juices like guava and papaya. Stunning, untouched beaches, rocky cliffs and bioluminescent bays. Entrepreneurs working non-stop to build businesses. Vibrant restaurants and bars were rebuilt by friends and family after Maria. And generous, warm people, humbled by nature but more resilient and determined than ever before.

“There was an outpouring of support after the last earthquake,” said Paulina Salach, Co-Owner of Spoon, a culinary tour company in San Juan. “People didn’t wait – they got into their cars and took supplies to Ponce to help each other. After Maria, we came together as a community and became stronger.”

Our Ponce tour guide, Melina Aguilar ColĂłn, owner of Isla Caribe Tours in Ponce, who experienced the earthquake in her hometown, said: “Despite so many political, natural, and directed attacks to its culture and traditions, Puerto Ricans sometimes even without understanding why, are the biggest promoters and warriors for their culture and identity.”

“There was an outpouring of support after the last earthquake,”said Paulina Salach, Co-Owner of Spoon, a culinary tour company in San Juan. “People didn’t wait – they got into their cars and took supplies to Ponce to help each other. After Maria, we came together as a community and became stronger.”

  • Many airlines fly to Puerto Rico from Canada and the US. From Toronto: Air Canada and WestJet fly direct Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Cruises: 3-5 ships a week arrive in San Juan, or 60,000 people a week
  • Uber is new but not available everywhere; I found taxis more expensive than Uber
  • US Car rental agencies are located at the international airport and throughout PR
  • The entire island takes about 5 or 6 hours to drive around
  • 10 regional airports in San Juan offer low-cost flights around the country, including Vieques Air Link, Seaborne Airlines, Air Flamenco

Tourism in Puerto Rico

According to Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico, the tourism industry accounts for 6.5% of the economy’s GDP accounts and close to 80,000 jobs across 17 different sectors. In 2019, there were over 4 million visitors (source: Caribbean Journal, January 2020)

New Developments

  • District Live! or El Distrito, a new entertainment complex featuring a Marriott Aloft hotel, theaters, offices and a zipline, next to the Puerto Rico Convention Centre
  • A $1.5 billion destination resort anchored by a new Hyatt Regency in the Coco Beach area has replaced the Melia Coco Beach
  • Wyndham has opened the Candelero Beach Resort in Humacao
  • Puerto Rico hosts the PGA Tournament, Ironman 2020 and World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit (WTTC)
  • The biggest festival in Puerto Rico is the San Sebastian Street Festival or Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, held in the third week of January, since 1970

Read more about Puerto Rico

In 2023, Carolyn was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse for her work advocating for women over 50 in travel. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Conde Naste as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council, JourneyWoman Awards for Women 50+ and the Women's Speaker's Bureau. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), board member for the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance (CHEA) in support of Black and Brown businesses, a member of Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

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