Puerto Rico

Country Description

Experience all of the benefits of traveling to a new land without having to find your passport. Take the bridge over to Old San Juan to see one of the oldest European settlements in the New World; there aren’t too many towns that can trace their origins back to Ponce de Leon. Then take the bridge back to new San Juan and enjoy the bustling nightlife. Once you’re back in the capital, settle down for some of the best food in the world. With American, Spanish, African, and Caribbean cultures all coming together in a place with so many natural resources, it couldn’t be any other way.

You could make an entire trip of trying to find the best mofongo (a Puerto Rican dish with fried plantains as its main ingredient) or pernil (a slow-roasted marinated pork leg or pork shoulder) on the island, and once you get a taste of the local cuisine, you might just do that. You’re going to spend time on the beach—that’s pretty much a given—but take a trip to El Yunque National Forest to see some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see. A visit to Puerto Rico will give your students the chance to learn about so many different cultures and histories at the same time, that it’s almost like taking three or four educational tours at the same time and all without leaving the country.

Puerto Rico’s economy is small when compared with other parts of the United States. MBA students specifically will see their experience and spending in Puerto Rico as a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity. When compared with the economies of nearby island nations, however, Puerto Rico’s economy is doing well. It receives tax funds and regulatory assistance from the United States federal government. The main driver of the Puerto Rican economy is manufacturing, particularly for the pharmaceutical and textile industries. The economy is also supported, to a lesser extent, by the export of products and the tourist industry, especially with visitors from elsewhere in the United States.