Puerto Rico, highlighted by National Geographic, prepares to host the Pan-American Academy of Engineering Biennial

San Juan, Puerto Rico. — Puerto Rico has been included by National Geographic among the 25 destinations in the world recommended to visit in 2027, as part of its annual Best of the Worldselection. The recognition comes just weeks before the island hosts the 2026 Biennial Meeting of the Pan American Academy of Engineering (API), which will bring together professionals, academics, and researchers from various countries across the Americas.

In its October 20th publication, National Geographic highlights Puerto Rico's cultural richness, traditions, and historical heritage. The review pays special attention to the Taíno, African, and Spanish influences that have helped shape the Puerto Rican identity, as well as the cultural expressions that remain vibrant in communities like Loíza.

The publication also invites readers to discover places of historical and cultural interest, including Old San Juan, the San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal fortifications, and archaeological sites that preserve evidence of the island's indigenous presence.

This international recognition coincides with preparations for the API Biennial Meeting, which will be held from November 14 to 18, 2026, in Puerto Rico. As part of the program, conference sessions will be held on the 16th and 17th at the Puerto Rico College of Engineers and Surveyors, dedicated to the theme "Engineering: Essential for Sustainability, Resilience, and Adaptability in the Face of Climate Change and Natural Disasters."

The program will bring together specialists from diverse disciplines to examine issues related to the development of resilient infrastructure, sustainable resource management, artificial intelligence, technological innovation, engineering education, and the challenges posed by climate change.

For international participants, the meeting represents an opportunity for academic and professional exchange, as well as a chance to engage with the history and culture of Puerto Rico. Hosting the Biennial will allow engineers and representatives from institutions in different countries to experience firsthand some of the attractions that motivated the island's recent selection by National Geographic.

Through this meeting, the API promotes the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives among engineering professionals from across the continent, with the goal of contributing to the analysis of common problems and the development of solutions that address the needs of American societies.

The designation of Puerto Rico as the host of the 2026 Biennial thus takes on an additional dimension that, in addition to facilitating dialogue on fundamental issues for the future of engineering, offers its participants the opportunity to get to know a country whose cultural and historical heritage continues to spark international interest.

The Best of the World 2027 selection and the feature dedicated to Puerto Rico can be viewed on the National Geographic.

Sources to link in the news: Best of the World 2027 and A review dedicated to Puerto Rico.