Looking for old world elegance with a vibrant Caribbean flare? Then look no further than San Juan. The capital city of Puerto Rico (PR) is not only the country’s largest metro area, but also one of the top travel destinations and cultural hubs in the entire Caribbean.
Originally founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, San Juan is steeped in culture and history spanning centuries of development. This blending of old world colonial architecture and more modern design is one of the most attractive features of a visit to San Juan. If history and architecture is not your scene, San Juan has you covered as well. Towering resorts and sprawling beaches line the Atlantic coast line, quickly reminding you that PR is truly a tropical paradise. With a zesty nightlife, pristine rainforests, and world renowned rum distilleries all at your fingertips, why not make San Juan, PR your next travel destination?
Keep reading for the top 5 do’s and don’ts of your next San Juan adventure!
1. DO visit Old San Juan
This is obvious. Old San Juan is the heart of the city and deserves a post unto itself. In this more brief context, I will try to just hit some highlights.
Old San Juan is one of the most popular cruise stops for Caribbean travelers. Although most explore this part of the city in a day, there are certainly enough attractions and entertainment for 48 hours should you choose. Old San Juan is not large, however take a look at a map to best plan your day. Part of the beauty and allure of this region is walking the cobblestone streets from attraction to attraction, perhaps exploring and finding new enticements along the way. With this in mind, knowing the basic layout of the region and the main attractions you want to hit will save a lot of time and backtracking.
I’d recommend a first stop at Castillo San Felipe del Morro. It’s a nearly 500 year old castle on the Atlantic Coast. It’s gorgeous and a must do! The prevailing opinion is that it is the better of the two castles in Old San Juan. The second castle, Castillo San Cristobal, is on the other end of Old San Juan. Admission to one grants access to the second, thus visiting both is preferable. However, if you’re short on time or only care to visit one castle, Castillo San Felipe del Morro is the way to go.
After Castillo San Felipe del Morro, consider touring the iconic Santa Maria de Pazzis Cemetery right next door. If this isn’t your scene, start walking south towards Calle de la Fortaleza (calle means “street” in Spanish). You can take the Paseo del Morro, which is a beautiful seaside path along the coast, or walk through the city proper and hit other attractions on your way. For a first time visitor, I’d recommend the latter.
On your walk you will pass homes of all colors, cafes and restaurants of all varieties, and several other interesting attractions. Quick stops at Catedral de San Juan Bautista and Plaza de Armas and scheduling a free tour of the historic La Fortaleza make the walk particularly enriching. La Fortaleza is the home of the governor of PR and certainly worth a stop when in Old San Juan.
The main touristy streets of Calle de San Francisco and Calle de la Fortaleza, are excellent choices to peruse shops or find eclectic bars and dining options as well.
2. DO explore local beaches
PR is blessed with some of the finest beaches in the world. From the heavenly shores of Flamenco Beach to the black sands of Vieques, PR has steep competition when finding a top beach destination. Within San Juan, the clear favorite is Isla Verde beach. Swaying palm trees and golden sandy shores, make this location one of the top urban beaches anywhere around. And with immediate proximity to the airport (less than 10 minutes) and a short uber to Old San Juan and other city attractions, staying along Isla Verde beach is my top choice when visiting the city.
Escambron beach is an excellent choice for those staying in Old San Juan. For the more adventurous, day trips from San Juan to the world famous Flamenco beach on the island of Culebra are available as well!
3. DO enjoy a Rum distillery tour
PR is home to some of the world’s largest and most popular rum distilleries. It is also affectionately dubbed the “rum capital of the world.” With such a pedigree, travelers to San Juan would be remiss to not enjoy the privilege of experiencing this PR tradition first hand.
Distillery tours are a unique way to learn about the production and fascinating history of rum on the island as well as to try some of the finest rum available anywhere in the world. In San Juan, there are two main choices of distilleries: Casa Bacardi and Hacienda Santa Ana. Both have tours is English and Spanish.
Casa Bacardi is home of the largest premium rum distillery in the world. It is my first choice for distillery tours. Visitors can reach the distillery by uber, taxi, or even via a ferry leaving from Pier 2 in Old San Juan. Tour options include a history tour, tasting tour, or even a mixology class. Book your tickets in advance. Casa Bacardi is one of the most popular attractions in San Juan and tour dates book up quickly.
Hacienda Santa Ana is home to Ron del Barrilito, the oldest distillery in PR. A tour of Hacienda Santa Ana takes visitors through the grounds of this 19th century estate. It details the history and production of small batch rum from this distillery, a process remaining nearly unchanged for over 100 years. Tours conclude back at the tasting room, where your pallet will be guided on an exploration of some of the finest rums available! Bonus tip, get the Coquito.
4. DO take advantage of day trips to El Yunque and La Cueva Ventana
PR is a small country with good infrastructure making San Juan a reasonable launching point for day trips nearly anywhere in the country. Two of the most popular destinations include La Cueva Ventana and El Yunque National Forest.
La Cueva Ventana (“window cave”) is located approximately 1 hour and 15 mins west of San Juan. Cueva Ventana provides immaculate views of the Rio Grande de Arecibo Valley. The caves are only available by tour so look ahead and book early. Tours often include transportation from San Juan for an additional fee. Note that at the time of this post the caves are currently closed. I unfortunately was not able to go on our recent trip to PR, but check out pictures of this awesome place online. Make sure to check and/or call ahead before visiting to ensure the caves are operational before booking your tour. You can visit the nearby Rio Camuy Cave Park to explore one of the most complex cave systems in the world as well.
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US. It is also less than an hour away from San Juan and makes for the perfect day trip! For a detailed two day itinerary of El Yunque check out fellow Adventuring With Friends contributor Emma’s post HERE!
From swimming in natural pools and waterfalls to climbing mountains high into the rainforest above, El Yunque has something to offer all outdoor enthusiasts. For those making the day trip from San Juan, I would recommend renting a car. The roads through the park are windy for sure, but exploring the park at your own pace makes a car rental necessary.
There is basically one out and back road through the park making navigation a breeze. Along the road, make sure to stop at Coco falls (small waterfall right off the road), Yokahu observation tower, and Juan Diego Creek (series of small waterfalls and natural pools requiring a very short hike). Regarding true hikes, I recommend the Mt Britton trail. This is a 1.6 mile moderate round trip hike up to an awesome observation tower overlooking the rainforest and coastline below. If time permits, consider the longer 5.4 mile round trip trek via El Yunque trail to El Yunque peak as well.
5. DO experience local culture and nightlife
You can clearly see that San Juan has all the ingredients of a top travel destination. Icing the cake is the vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene available even after the sun goes down. Two main experiences of note include attending a PR winter baseball game or visiting the party plaza of Santurce.
Baseball is the national sport of PR and countless MLB superstars have called this small island nation home. With such elite local talent, attending a PR baseball game is a great and economical way to potentially see the stars of the future as well as experience a more lively upbeat game than you would be used to in the states. Information on the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League, also known as the Roberto Clemente Baseball League, can be found HERE. The teams with stadiums closest to San Juan are Los Cangrejeros de Santurce and Los Gigantes de Carolina.
Researching top nightlife in San Juan will often bring you to La Plaza del Mercado de Santurce. This collection of streets is packed with lively bars and produces a unique symphony of club beats, karaoke, and salsa difficult to top anywhere on the island. I wouldn’t walk the surrounding streets much after dark, but the plaza itself is often crowded with droves of tourists and locals alike making for a melting pot of fun and engaging people.
Now for the Don’ts. This area will be much more brief…
1. DON’T hassle with a rental car while driving around the city
PR is relatively easy to navigate with a rental car. That being said, I would not recommend driving yourself around much within the city limits. This is especially true when visiting Old San Juan. Old San Juan is steeped in history. This includes its narrow, bumpy, cobblestone roads which were originally constructed in the 18th century. When factoring in finding a space to park, you are much better off to simply Uber or take a cab and then explore the old town on foot. In general, Uber is cheap, easy and widely accessible throughout the city. Check your app now for proof. While you may want a daily rental for excursions or when exploring more of the island, do yourself a favor and Uber your way around San Juan.
2. DON’T be late for your distillery tour
From my time in the Dominican Republic where everything seemed to be on “island time” I was surprised by the prompt nature of our reservations in PR. This was noted on our ferry rides between Ceiba and Vieques as well as our distillery tour at Ron del Barrilito. The tours are not cheap so arriving 10 minutes late and having to scamper around looking for your group is not the ideal way to start it off. Do yourself a favor and make sure you show up early. Both main San Juan distilleries have fascinating grounds, a bar, and a gift shop that you can freely peruse as you wait.
3. DON’T wander unknown neighborhoods, especially at night
Most people in San Juan are pleasant and welcoming and wandering the streets of Old San Juan is a staple of any visit to the city. I found the area around Isla Verde to be safe and fun as well. That being said, like any major city, crime exists and there are certainly places to avoid. A good rule of thumb would be to thoroughly research any neighborhood you plan on visiting, especially those you intend to be in after dark. Adventuring with friends is always a good idea as well ;).
4. DON’T assume everyone will speak English
Basically everyone you encounter in the main touristy areas of San Juan will speak English. So in a pinch, just knowing English will be fine. That being said, it is highly recommended to learn some simple pleasantries and phrases at a minimum when traveling to any country with a different primary language. PR is no exception. In the more rural areas and at certain times with Uber drivers, Spanish was particularly helpful but never completely necessary.
5. DON’T stay only in San Juan (or your hotel complex)
Many tourists have the unfortunate impulse to spend their entire vacation in the confines of their all inclusive resort. While in certain places this strategy is advisable for safety reasons, San Juan is not one of those cities. Take advantage of Old San Juan and embrace the many excursions widely accessible from the city. Cueva Ventana, El Yunque, and the bioluminescent bays of Fajardo are all about an hour from the city. You can consider more ambitious trips to the islands of Vieques or Culebra to explore a whole different relaxed side of PR as well.
Flights are typically reasonably priced and numerous from many main US cities. As a territory of the US, PR also can be enjoyed by US citizens without a passport, international drivers license, and often without adding coverage to your phone plan as well. Why not start planning your next trip to San Juan today??
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