Paseo de la Princesa, San Juan

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To the south of Old San Juan, just outside the walls that surround the city, you'll find the Paseo de la Princesa. It's worth making the quick detour to walk along the short promenade and see the beautiful "Raices" fountain. Of course, "raices" means "roots", and the fountain features three figures - representing the Spanish, African and Native peoples - that pay tribute to Puerto Rico's rich cultural heritage. The Paseo de la Princesa offers great views of the bay of San Juan and of the city's fortifications. If you've been walking all day and feel like taking a break, this is the perfect place to go to sit in the shade for a while and enjoy a more quieter side of San Juan.

In visiting Old San Juan, a late afternoon stroll on El Paseo de la Princesa is a great choice to close the day. El Paseo de La Princesa is a promenade right outside the City Wall, a favorite place by locals for some people-watching and people-meeting. To tourists is a place to relax and enjoy the day going by, watching the coming and going and buying some street food at one of the many stalls selling food and drinks. Occasionally there are cultural exhibitions, the days I was in San Juan there was a very interesting photo exhibition and the place was crowded all the way.

It is very easy to get here from whatever spot in Old San Juan and from here you can continue your walk to El Paseo del Morro, through El Morro if you will, or, walking in the opposite side, through the cruise-ship dock. From the square at the end of the promenade, where you see the big fountain, one can enjoy beautiful views of the Bay, especially at sunset, with the sun setting on the Bay.

El Paseo de la Princesa is a lively place and worth a visit for the views of the bay and for a flavor of local life in Old San Juan.

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One of Old San Juan's most delightful walks, away from the urban traffic and noise, is the Paseo de la Princessa. It follows the course of the city's southern walls, and goes along the waterfront to the San Juan Gate. It's beautiful by day or night. At the end is a memorial to Queen Isabella of Spain.

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Located on the southern tip of Old San Juan and running from the San Juan Gate to the piers, the Paseo de La Princesa is a pleasant place to take an early morning or late afternoon stroll. Bordered by a huge colonial wall, the wide, tree-lined promenade offers unobstructed views of San Juan Bay and is well worth taking. Besides the great city and bay views, the walk also is worth mentioning because of the omnipresent pelicans and terns.