Puerto Rico's culture is a rich blend of Taíno, Spanish, African and American influences, as evident in its salsa music as in its flavorful sofrito, a staple of island cuisine.

The figure of el jíbaro, a country person from the mountainous interior, is an idealized folk hero, common in island literature and the arts. El jíbaro continues to fascinate artists of various disciplines, and everyday Puerto Ricans frequently use the phrase–usually as a term of endearment, but occasionally as an insult.

The Island's music is likely to create the greatest impression on visitors. Even before the Spanish arrived, the Taínos were dancing, singing and banging drums to the areito –and the tradition continues.

The first Puerto Rican composer of note was Juan Morel Campos, who spun out more than 500 compositions and is associated with La Danza, a lively derivative of 19th century European parlor music.

In the mountains of the interior, jíbaros derived their version of the seis, sung in 10-line rhyming cadences, as well as other folk music that uses the guitar, cuatro, güiro and maracas. Much of this music can be heard during the Christmas season, and it drives the songs of contemporary protest singer Andrés Jiménez. The African-inspired bomba and plena rely more heavily on drums, and both feature a call-and-response interplay between the singer and the chorus. The bomba's best-known performers are the Cepeda family of Loíza.