San Juan, Puerto Rico
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We didn’t hold many expectations for San Juan, but by the end of our time here we fully understood why so many people love this place. We found ourselves walking through centuries of history and beautiful cobblestone streets that ultimately lead to a piña colada or a stunning sea-side view (or both!).
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or spending a little longer on the island, here are some of our favorite activities we did while visiting San Juan.
The Historic Forts
Both of the forts situated in Old San Juan are worth every penny. Between the two of them, we experienced sweeping ocean views, intricate tunnel systems, and strategically placed sentry towers. These forts did a fantastic job at transporting us back to the 1600s to experience what it would be like to defend Old San Juan.
Due to the size and locations of these forts, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes, bringing plenty of water, and (for us gringo folks) applying a healthy amount of sunscreen. Also, if you pay to enter one fort then your entrance fee for the other is already covered.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro sits at the northwestern tip of Old San Juan, overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay. Construction on the fort began in the early 1500s, and was designed to protect the city from attacks by sea.
This iconic landmark features a massive grassy lawn, towering stone walls, historic lookout posts, and sweeping ocean views. We spent a couple of hours here exploring every nook and cranny. It seemed like every new room had another stairway to a completely unexplored area.
If you only have enough time for one of the forts, then we highly recommend Castillo Sen Felipe del Morro. The history and architecture are summed up perfectly at this fort and the views are unbeatable.
Castillo San Cristóbal
Castillo San Cristóbal is on the eastern side of Old San Juan and was designed primarily to defend against attacks from land. Its sprawling defensive structures, tunnels, and elevated walkways make it equally fascinating to explore.
This fort is the largest fortress in the Americas and features a labyrinth of underground tunnels, prisons filled with drawings, and 20th century bunkers used in WWII. We especially loved the museum filled with 200lb mortar bombs, flintlock muskets, and soldiers' personal effects.
We highly recommend visiting both forts while you’re in Old San Juan!
Wandering The Colorful Streets
One of our favorite activities we did was simply wander the beautiful streets of Old San Juan.
This historic neighborhood is filled with colorful colonial buildings, beautiful balconies, blue-toned cobblestone streets, and small plazas. We spent hours wandering around, stopping for photos, exploring little shops, and admiring the architecture.
Here were some of our favorite stops (with the google map location pins):
Calle de la Fortaleza Colorful architecture and changing overhead decorations.
Calle del Cristo Cobblestone street with historic buildings, boutiques, and beautiful architecture.
Calle San Sebastián A lively street with colorful buildings, restaurants, bars, and energetic atmosphere.
Calle del Sol A charming street perfect for taking in the quieter side of Old San Juan.
Calle Norzagaray A street offering beautiful ocean views that connects the two forts.
Beach Break at El Escambrón
After spending a whole morning and afternoon walking around Old San Juan, we went straight to the beach to relax on the beautiful white sands of El Escambrón.
This beach was by no means the nicest beach we experienced while we were in the Caribbean, but it was a nice escape from the busy streets of Old San Juan. We spent our last few hours of the day swimming in the turquoise waters, listening to some typical Puerto Rican music, and watching a few of the locals surf some huge waves.
Restaurante Raíces
With so many places to choose from in Old San Juan, we left it to the locals to guide us to a restaurant that best represents this beautiful city.
On multiple occasions we were recommended this restaurant because of its traditional cuisine and lively atmosphere. If you can look past its gimmicky decor and long wait times, then Restaurant Raices is sure to impress.
Bonus: Parque de Los Gatos
If you love cats then you’ll love parque de los gatos. Simply put, it is a park full of the friendliest cats. Bring cat treats and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did :)
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