National Geographic Travel selected Puerto Rico as one of the 25 best destinations in the world to visit in 2027, in its October 2026 edition. The distinction is accompanied by an image by Puerto Rican photojournalist Yadira Hernández-Picó showing a vejigante, the traditional Puerto Rican festival figure, photographed on the Herrera Bridge in Loíza. The image serves as an invitation to the Fiestas in honor of Santiago Apóstol, held every July.
In its report, National Geographic highlights the island as a unique spot in the Caribbean: "(Puerto Rico has) a mix of community-driven cultures and traditions that is awakening renewed interest worldwide." On the list, titled The Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027, Puerto Rico shares honors with Luxor in Egypt, Penang in Malaysia and Chengdu in China.
Hernández-Picó has nearly two decades of experience documenting contemporary Puerto Rican history for outlets and institutions including El Nuevo Día, El Vocero, Bloomberg News, NPR and AFAR Media, as well as for International Medical Corps and Americares. Among her best-known work is the award-winning photo series "Volver a casa" ("Returning Home"), which documents the aftermath of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico.