TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

This volcanic island has three distinct areas: the Cordillera Central (central mountains), the Karst region, and the Llanos Costaneros (Coastal Plains). In San Juan and the northern cities along the coast, the land is fairly flat with a several rivers that carry moisture from the mountains into the sea. As you go a bit farther inland, along the western part of the north coast, you get into the Karst country. This area includes the Arecibo Radiotelescope and the Río Camuy Caverns Park, where the rains and the rivers have created huge sinkholes, caves and “haystack” hills.

Puerto Rico ’s unique location and topography create a year-round summer with different regional climates. The trade winds from the southeast keep temperatures along the coast 80°F (27°C) to low 90°F (32°C) during the day and 75°F (24°C) or so at night. In the mountains it is 10 to 20 degrees (6°C-11°C) cooler year-round. The mountain range captures moisture from the trade winds for the central and northern portion of Puerto Rico, creating the perfect environment for lush tropical interior forests. Since the weather tends to move from the southeast to the northwest, on an average day you can get a good short-term forecast by looking to the southeast.

Source: Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Go North & San Juan Metro Area, Travel Planner (2003).