The Untold Story On How Puerto Rico Got Its Name

Puerto Rico is an island that has a long and colorful history behind it. The island is alive with a happy and easygoing population full of culture, music, and great local cuisine. There are rainforests, dry forests, tropical forests, coastal areas, beaches and mountains. So how did such a fabulous island get its name over 500 years ago?

Puerto Rico is a large island that is eastern most of the Greater Antilles. It consists of roughly 3,500 square miles (9,065 square km) and was originally settled by the Taino Indians from South America. These were peaceful people and lived in harmony. They called themselves Boriken or Borinquen meaning “the great land of the valiant and noble lord”. They had a cacique or chief and lived on domesticated tropical crops such as sweet potatoes, cassava, and pineapple, and supplemented their diet with seafood.

On Oct 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus first spotted land in the new world which is known today as The Bahamas. After returning to Spain with the news of his discovery it was not hard to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela of Spain to finance a second trip to the new world. On September 25, 1493 Columbus set out with 17 ships and 1,500 men with sheep, cattle, and horses to colonize these new lands for Spain.

Monument to Christopher Columbus in Old San Juan

But how did Puerto Rico get its name? Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista after John the Baptist. The first settlement was named Puerto Rico, meaning rich port, because of the plentiful natural resources, the location, and the gold nuggets in the river. Later, thanks to one of Columbus’ lieutenants named Juan de León, the settlement became the most important military outpost for the Spanish. So, the names were switched, and San Juan became the name of the port and military outpost and the island became known as Puerto Rico.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.