San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico, is also the largest and most popular city for travelers to visit on the Caribbean Island. Located in the West Indies, Puerto Rico is a unique blend of cultural influences that offers delicious cuisine, beautiful architecture, a rich history, and an array of tropical landscapes to discover. A popular travel destination for couples looking for a romantic getaway, San Juan also attracts visitors from the United States who are looking to explore the Caribbean without needing a passport. Easy to reach from many larger US airports, San Juan also welcomes incoming guests from its cruise port terminal.
First known as Island San Juan Bautista after Christopher Columbus landed on the island’s west coast in 1493, it wasn’t colonized until the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de León, arrived in 1508. The area was then called Puerto Rico (meaning “rich port”) after the Spaniards found gold, and the capital city of San Juan was then established.
The Taínos people inhabited the island long before any Italian or Spanish explorer stepped foot on the island. After multiple attacks made by the indigenous group and added assaults from the coastline made by other European forces like the French, the need to fortify San Juan became clear. Now an UNESCO World Heritage Site, various forts have withstood both the test of time and strong battles to offer visitors a glance into Old San Juan’s history.
After a brief period of autonomy, the island was ceded to the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War within the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Officially becoming a U.S. territory in 1917, and in 1952, an internal self-government was established in a constitution, allowing Puerto Rico to have commonwealth status. San Juan has been known as a popular vacation destination for travelers around the world, but because of no passport requirements, the use of U.S. dollar, and having English as an official language in addition to Spanish, the city remains a favorite getaway for United States citizens back on the mainland.
There are two districts within this destination: Old San Juan, and the New San Juan. Combined, these areas are the best of both worlds and offer travelers different atmospheres, activities, and ways to learn about the island’s culture. Let’s see what there is to do in each district:
Old San Juan
Many visitors are attracted to Viejo San Juan, or Old San Juan, as the walkable historic district is filled with colorful European-style architecture, beautiful squares, 5th-century forts, and many museums to discover. Cruise ships also dock at the Old San Juan Port, so visitors disembarking for the day have access to a ton of historical landmarks without needing to travel very far. We’ve made a list of just some of the best things to do and places to see to fill your itinerary.
Let’s start with some of the most photographed historical landmarks. If you’re staying outside of Old San Juan, your taxi driver will often drop you off at Plaza Colon. This a great starting location, and you’ll already want to start snapping pictures of open-air cafes surrounding the raised square, the Christopher Columbus Monument, and the popular “I Love SJ” sign.
In view, the Castillo San Cristóbal draws visitors to its entrance just up on the street. It’s here that you’ll have a stunning view of the ocean atop the fortified walls of the largest fortress ever constructed in the Americas. A pass can be purchased for a small fee, and America the Beautiful Passes are also accepted as you’ll be entering a National Historic Site.
Continue to walk up Bulevar de Valle with the ocean to your right for about 25 minutes, and you’ll arrive at another popular fortress for visitors that juts out into the Atlantic, Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Also a National Historic Site, you can explore this colonial fortification and city walls for an entrance fee.
Across the street from Castillo San Felipe del Morro is the Las Americas Museum. The museum is located within the historical landmark, Cuartel de Ballajá, the former military barracks. The museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions that display art from the Americas. Walk a few blocks over, and you’ll arrive at Casa Blanca, the house built for Ponce de León in the 1520s that’s now a museum.
There is a walkway that parallels the old city walls that’s accessible through multiple points, including Castillo San Felipe del Morro and further down at the gate and original entrance to Old San Juan, Puerta de San Juan. Continue to walk along the water, or head through the gate to access your next stop, La Fortaleza, the official residence of Puerto Rico’s governor that was built in the 16th century. When not in session, you can take a guided walking tour of the building and gardens. Just outside you see another notable landmark, Calle Fortaleza, or the “Umbrella Street,” where visitors can walk underneath a canopy of colorful umbrellas.
New San Juan
Hitting the beach is definitely a top priority for most visitors to San Juan, and some of the best beaches in all of Puerto Rico are located along the capital city’s coastline. Many say that the prettiest beach is Playa El Escambrón on Puerta de Tierra, but there are other popular beach resort areas like Condado, Isla Verde, and Ocean Park. Inside Balneario Escambrón Beach, you’ll find the Escambrón Marine Park where your group can scuba or snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles in clear, turquoise waters.
There are many opportunities to go scuba diving and snorkeling, along with other tours that let you take a thrilling ride on a jet ski or mini boat or a peaceful paddle board tour. You’ll find a lot of boat charters or tour options that sail out of the San Juan Bay Marina, including sailboats, fishing charters, and private boat rentals.
An hour east of San Juan, you can find the closest of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays. A truly magical experience, it is worth the day trip or tour out to Laguna Grande to kayak or just take in the glowing waters. This is a recommended experience even if you’re traveling to San Juan by cruise ship if port of call times line up correctly.
While we’re talking about day trips, let’s briefly mention another location that you’ll want to look into. About 40 minutes away, we’d recommend visiting El Yunque National Forest. There are many rainforest tours that’ll let you explore independently or with a group that conveniently starts out of San Juan.
The city’s nightlife is a mix of salsa clubs and bars on the beach. You can dance the night away or enjoy delicious tropical drinks to the tune of local live entertainment. Those who like slot machines and table games will be in luck, as there are multiple resorts that offer casinos throughout San Juan.
Cuisine is a great way to learn more about Puerto Rico’s culture, and there are some dishes that you just simply have to try while you’re there. Fish, plantains, coconut, and pineapple are the main pieces of local fare, with heavy Caribbean, Spanish, and Taínos influences. To name a few, start by trying Mofongo, Tostones, Lechon Asado, Pasteles, and more. Visit Discover Puerto Rico’s website to learn more about must-try local cuisine.
You’ll be able to enjoy San Juan’s best weather in the winter months when it’s the coldest. But don’t worry, Puerto Rico’s “cold” is not the normal sense of the word. Throughout the year, average highs stay in the 80s, and average lows stay in the 70s–sounds like paradise to us! Make that everyone. Winter is often known as the best time to visit, but it’s also the busiest.
The winter and summer seasons are both busy seasons. This includes visitors staying on the island as well as stepping off cruise ships. Summer vacation brings both travelers and locals to the beaches. This is also a rainier season, with August usually being the rainiest.
Fall is normally the best time to find travel deals. The weather isn’t too different from early or late summer, but it’s typically the time when the hurricane season is at its peak. Puerto Rico has been hit by large hurricanes in the past, but that doesn’t mean you have to be fearful during your trip. Watch out for the weather leading up to your stay, and take the stress out of planning your trip by purchasing trip insurance.
There are various areas where tourists love to stay during their time in San Juan. For starters, those looking to have easy access to the various historic landmarks and museums will want to stay in El Viejo San Juan. There aren’t as many hotels and resorts here than there are in the other part of the city, but there’s a good collection of different types of accommodations.
In New San Juan, you’ll find the Convention Center District. This area is perfect for those traveling for business or larger groups, and who don’t mind renting a car or hopping into a taxi to get to popular beaches and Old San Juan. A popular beachfront resort area is Condado. Tourist-friendly and easy to navigate on foot, you’ll find a ton of hotels and resorts right on the beach–what can get better than that? For a more local setting, book a rental in Ocean Park.
As a Palmera Vacation Club Member, you have access to resorts worldwide through the RCI Exchange as well as travel discounts available on Quest Travel Club. Find examples of savings on accommodations found on Quest below:
Prices and discounts are subject to change. Resorts chosen at random.
