A Brief History Of The Puerto Rican Community In Miami FL

In 1953, the Puerto Rican population in Miami was a mere 3,000, with less than 10,000 in Florida. Fast-forward to 2018, and Puerto Ricans are over one million strong in the state and rising.

Though that number pales in comparison to northern states like New York, which holds a considerable community, Florida has seen a steady influx of emigration ever since the U.S. took control over the island in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Most have emigrated in search of economic opportunity, settling primarily in cities such as Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. Now, all of Florida is bracing itself for thousands of emigrants following the recent hurricane devastation to the island.

A damaged building in San Juan, Puerto Rico in November 2017

In fall 2017, Puerto Rico was ravaged by Hurricane Maria (category 4) and Hurricane Irma (category 5). Most of the island was left without power. Homes were flattened, and streets flooded, incurring a catastrophic crisis. The island has battled with repairs, and rebuilding has been slow. All of this has led to the arrival of over 215,000 Puerto Ricans in Florida since the hurricane.

In Miami, the Puerto Rican influence is not as visible as the Cuban community, which has changed the city’s landscape politically and economically. But still, many Puerto Ricans have found the Spanish-speaking city easier to settle into with better opportunities than the rest of the U.S. Neighborhoods such as Wynwood, the arts district in Edgewater, is home to a significant population of the Caribbean islanders. Borinquen cuisine is becoming a local favorite with restaurants like Jibarito Market in Wynwood, or the numerous restaurants in the suburbs of Kendall, including Isla Del Encanto, which specializes in treats and dishes such as mofongo (fried plantains), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and pasteles (pastries).

Besides, no Miamian is a stranger to the delicious Puerto Rican Christmas holiday drink called “coquito.” It is the Puerto Rican version of eggnog—a mix of coconut, condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and, of course, rum. With more islanders expected to migrate to the Magic City within the next few years, we can estimate the city to receive greater influence from the Puerto Rican culture just as it has from Cubans, Venezuelans, Peruvians, and Mexicans.

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.