The Day in San Juan: A Guide for the Adventurous Traveler
The Basics of San Juan
San Juan is the capital and most populous municipality of Puerto Rico. It is located on the north coast, on the island’s east side, facing the Atlantic Ocean.
The city was founded in 1521 by Spanish inhabitants, making it one of the oldest cities in America. It has a population of 395,326 (2018) and has a metropolitan population of 2,725,876 (2018).
San Juan is a major port and has an international airport called Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport which links to many cruise and cargo ships coming from different parts of the world.
It is one of our favorite cruise ports as it is technically still in the United States but feels Caribbean and exotic.
Top 5 Things to Do in San Juan
There are so many things to do in San Juan. Here are our top five:
Old San Juan: Old San Juan is the oldest part of the city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a must-see for anyone visiting Puerto Rico. It is perfect for walking and exploring. Many great restaurants, bars, and lots of great shops for souvenirs are located in Old San Juan.
El Yunque National Forest: El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest system and it is a great place to hike, camp, or just enjoy nature. El Yunque makes for a fabulous family trip for all ages. It’s not every day that you get to walk or hike around in an actual rainforest.
Bacardi Distillery Tour: The Bacardi Distillery Tour will teach you all about how this world-famous rum has been made for over 150 years and includes a tasting at the end of your tour! Enough said!
La Perla Habana Cigar Factory: La Perla Habana Cigar Factory offers tours of its factory every day. This is a great opportunity for cigar lovers to explore the process in detail and understand the rich heritage of this iconic cigar brand.
Visit one of Puerto Rico’s many beaches like Condado Beach or Isla Verde. Beaches in San Juan are beautiful on a whole other level.
A Day Trip to El Yunque Rainforest
This place is a perfect example of how nature can be so beautiful and so powerful. El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System.
El Yunque Rainforest is home to many animals, plants, and ecosystems that are not found anywhere else in the world. The diversity of life here is incredible. For example, it has more than 400 species of orchids.
The rainforest also contains many waterfalls and rivers that make it an ideal place for exploring on foot or by boat. One of these rivers is called Rio Grande de Añasco which flows through El Yunque’s center providing its name, Rio Grande de Añasco National Forest Reserve.
A Walking Tour of Old San Juan
San Juan is a city full of history and culture. It is also a place where you can find many delicious foods. A walking tour will take you to some of the most beautiful places in town while giving you some insights into the local cuisine. You must try the local mofongo and a Pina Colada.
Plaza de Armas: The first stop on this walking tour will be Plaza de Armas filled with a lot of history and culture. Many buildings date back to the 16th century, such as Casa Blanca. It was built in 1538 by Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León.
El Morro: Next stop on this walking tour is El Morro or “The Wall” in English. It was built by the Spaniards in 1540 to defend against attacks from pirates and other invaders.
Last Bit of Advice for a Successful Trip to San Juan
In conclusion, if you are planning to visit San Juan, make sure that you have a good plan. This way you will be able to make the most of your time there and get a feel for Puerto Rico’s culture.
Our Day in San Juan - Carnival Mardi Gras 2021
Join us as we share our day in San Juan, Puerto Rico with you from our Family Thanksgiving cruise on the Carnival Mardi Gras!
In this video, we share our day’s activities including hanging out at the Plaza Las Americas, finding one of our favorite speakeasy bars, and an epic hunt for some lunch. We ended up getting some delicious popsicles and making our way back to the ship. Later that evening, we had dinner at Chibang, Carnival’s new Chinese and Mexican fusion restaurant followed by a cool magic show!
