{"id":3853,"date":"2024-05-13T11:07:58","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T15:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/palmeravacationclub.com\/blog\/?p=3853"},"modified":"2024-11-04T14:50:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T19:50:53","slug":"palmera-go-destination-highlight-san-juan-puerto-rico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/palmeravacationclub.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/palmera-go-destination-highlight-san-juan-puerto-rico\/","title":{"rendered":"Palmera GO Destination Highlight: San Juan, Puerto Rico"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

First known as Island San Juan Bautista after Christopher Columbus landed on the island\u2019s west coast in 1493, it wasn\u2019t colonized until the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Le\u00f3n, arrived in 1508. The area was then called Puerto Rico (meaning \u201crich port\u201d) after the Spaniards found gold, and the capital city of San Juan was then established.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ta\u00ednos<\/strong> 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\u2019s history.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Ethan Jameson | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s culture. Let\u2019s see what there is to do in each district:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Old San Juan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many visitors are attracted to Viejo San Juan<\/strong>, 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.<\/strong> Cruise ships also dock at the Old San Juan Port,<\/strong> so visitors disembarking for the day have access to a ton of historical landmarks without needing to travel very far. We\u2019ve made a list of just some<\/em> of the best things to do and places to see to fill your itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Jennifer Chen | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Stephanie Klepacki | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with some of the most photographed historical landmarks. If you\u2019re staying outside of Old San Juan, your taxi driver will often drop you off at Plaza Colon<\/strong>. This a great starting location, and you\u2019ll already want to start snapping pictures of open-air cafes surrounding the raised square, the Christopher Columbus Monument, and the popular \u201cI Love SJ\u201d sign.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA: View of a sentry box and the Atlantic Ocean from the top of Fort San Cristobal, also known as Castillo San Cristobal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In view, the Castillo San Crist\u00f3bal<\/strong> draws visitors to its entrance just up on the street. It\u2019s here that you\u2019ll have a stunning view of the ocean atop the fortified walls of the largest fortress ever constructed in the Americas.<\/strong> A pass can be purchased for a small fee, and America the Beautiful Passes are also accepted as you\u2019ll be entering a National Historic Site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/strong>Also a National Historic Site, you can explore this colonial fortification and city walls for an entrance fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Stephanie Klepacki | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Stephanie Klepacki | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Stephanie Klepacki | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Across the street from Castillo San Felipe del Morro is the Las Americas Museum<\/strong>. The museum is located within the historical landmark, Cuartel de Ballaj\u00e1, the former military barracks. <\/strong>The museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions that display art from the Americas. Walk a few blocks over, and you\u2019ll arrive at Casa Blanca, the house built for Ponce de Le\u00f3n in the 1520s<\/strong> that’s now a museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
San Juan, Puerto RIco | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> 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.<\/strong> 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,”<\/strong> where visitors can walk underneath a canopy of colorful umbrellas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Calle Fortaleza | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

New San Juan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> Many say that the prettiest beach is Playa El Escambr\u00f3n<\/strong> on Puerta de Tierra, but there are other popular beach resort areas like Condado, Isla Verde, and Ocean Park.<\/strong> Inside Balneario Escambr\u00f3n Beach, you’ll find the Escambr\u00f3n Marine Park <\/strong>where your group can scuba or snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles<\/strong> in clear, turquoise waters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Great view of the sea on a beautiful windy day at Condado Beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> You’ll find a lot of boat charters or tour options that sail out of the San Juan Bay Marina,<\/strong> including sailboats, fishing charters, and private boat rentals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An hour east of San Juan, you can find the closest of Puerto Rico\u2019s bioluminescent bays<\/strong>. A truly magical experience, it is worth the day trip or tour out to Laguna Grande <\/strong>to kayak or just take in the glowing waters. This is a recommended experience even if you\u2019re traveling to San Juan by cruise ship if port of call times line up correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bioluminescent Bay | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Waterfall in El Yunque National Forest | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

While we\u2019re talking about day trips, let\u2019s briefly mention another location that you\u2019ll want to look into. About 40 minutes away, we\u2019d recommend visiting El Yunque National Forest<\/strong>. There are many rainforest tours that\u2019ll let you explore independently or with a group that conveniently starts out of San Juan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city\u2019s nightlife is a mix of salsa clubs and bars on the beach.<\/strong> 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<\/strong> throughout San Juan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuisine is a great way to learn more about Puerto Rico\u2019s culture,<\/strong> and there are some dishes that you just simply have to try while you\u2019re there. Fish, plantains, coconut, and pineapple are the main pieces of local fare, with heavy Caribbean, Spanish, and Ta\u00ednos influences. To name a few, start by trying Mofongo, Tostones, Lechon<\/em> Asado, Pasteles<\/strong>, and more. Visit Discover Puerto Rico\u2019s website<\/a> to learn more about must-try local cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mofongo | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Fried Plantain | Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

You’ll be able to enjoy San Juan’s best weather in the winter months<\/strong> 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<\/strong>–sounds like paradise to us! Make that everyone. Winter is often known as the best time to visit, but it’s also the busiest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winter and<\/em> 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<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo by Chandler Walters | Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fall is normally the best time to find travel deals.<\/strong> 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.<\/strong> 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In New San Juan, you’ll find the Convention Center District.<\/strong> 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<\/strong>. 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<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong> Find examples of savings on accommodations found on Quest below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prices and discounts are subject to change. Resorts chosen at random. <\/em><\/p>\n\r\n\t\t