Guánica Is technically a desert.
Ah, I see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_dry_forests
Average annual rainfall of 24-39" is not exactly anyone's idea of a desert (I believe 10" a year is the typical definition), though looking at the photos it does appear to be more similar to the transitional area in Texas Hill Country, for example, with short trees and more shrubs. Certainly a far cry from the lushness that I expected to encompass all of Puerto Rico.
Yep! It's still very lush and forested though. It's very similar to Barton Creek back in Austin. Highly recommend hiking both if you can!
It's typical for Islands to have a wet side and a dry side. The wet side gets the brunt of the storms and rain carried by prevailing winds. And the dry side is in the rain shadow.
Offhand thought 24 inches in a hot climate doesn't go as far as 24 inches in a temperate one.
The southwest corner of the island is known as a "dry forest" but there are areas, especially the coastal region, that are rocky desert.
Wear a big hat, go before 8am, and stop by the salt flats.
I've never been to Puerto Rico. Rainforest I can imagine, but where on that island is there a desert, even a relative one?! When you say "absolute desert" I'm imagining, I don't know, something like the Sonoran Desert.