San Juan Things to Do

After we got off the cruise ship, we were headed to the taxi ranks when a tour representative stopped us and advised us that the Festival of St. Sebastian was in progress and that traffic was a mess...

Castillo San Felipe El Morro protected San Juan's harbor, it was built by the Spanish over 250 years, one of the largest forts built by them in the Caribbean. It was attacked by the English in 1595...

This area is east of the Condado, en route to the airport..AND IT IS CONSIDERED AMONG THE BEST BEACHES IN Puerto Rico and we were fortunate to have it right across our Marriott Hotel! There are lots...

When we walked off the ship we went to catch the ferry to old San Juan then a public bus to the Bacardi Rum Factory. Once we reached the factory we joined a group for a tour. The tour was interesting...

Originally built in the 1520's of wooden walls and a thatched roof this beautiful cathedral was then destroyed by a hurricane in 1529. It was rebuilt in 1540 and then again damaged by another...

We had visited El Morro, the other fort in old San Juan, on our last visit so this time we headed to San Cristobal which was free for the day in honor of Martin Luther King Day. We just missed a...

When we first visited San Juan in the 1980's, we took a day trip which included visiting El Yunque Rainforest. We climbed Mount Britton tower but I could find no pictures in my travel odds and ends to...

I visited the Old San Juan cemetary Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis with my students a couple of years back. It was amazing because I asked the tour guide to give us a walking tour of Old San Juan and...

Around Old San Juan you'll find several tributes to Christopher Columbus who is credited with the island's "discovery" in 1493. This particularly lovely fountain and monument can be found in Plaza de...

El Capitolio de San Juan was built in the 1920s just outside of the old city, close to Fort San Cristobal. It was built in an effort to officialize the position of Puerto Rico as part of the American...

La Fortaleza is the Governor's mansion. It's located in Old San Juan at the western section at the end of Fortaleza Street and faces the bay. The Fortaleza is the home of several governors since the...

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...

Palque de las palomas was a great and fun place to visit. I say was because unfortunately it has closed. I was there with my son on June of 2012 and we found out it was closed due to health reasons. I...

Jason and I planned to hit the caves only because they were so close to the Arecibo Observatory. I'm glad that we went, I was expecting something like Howe's Cavern's like we have here in NY, but I...

Like the Capitolio, the San Juan City Hall is open to all visitors from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Located on the Plaza de Armas in a beautiful building dating back to the 17th century, the...

Right next to the Cuartel de Ballaja (the former Spanish barracks, the most massive building in all of Old San Juan), you'll find the Plaza del Quinto Centenario. This plaza was inaugurated on October...

This Chapel built in 16th century has a few interesting stories surrounding the history of which conflicts wildly except on one point. Someone on horseback took a terrible spill off the cliffs at...

The Paseo de la Princesa takes you to the San Juan Gate, which is the city's oldest. Here, you can pick up the Paseo del Morro. This hike, only about a mile, follows the walls of the old fortress of...

Probably so named because it was the sight of parading Spanish troops during the Spanish-American War, we came upon Plaza de Armas on this beautiful, bright day to find it already decorated in...

El Convento is the most famous hotel in San Juan, and probably the most popular as well although not everyone can afford to stay there. Even if you are not one of the lucky few, you can still take a...

The Cuartel de Ballajá, or "Ballajá Barracks," once housed Spanish troops during the 1800's and later becoming the the quarters for American soldiers following the Spanish-American War. This building...