When I had a short two-day visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I needed to visit all the sights that the city had to offer. I wanted to use my time to the fullest and therefore I was in Old San Juan at the 352 Guest House Hotel Boutique. It became the ideal place, the place to walk, the place to be colorful, and the place with history.
Since it was a short trip, this list will be limited to the best things to see in a limited time. You need a day or two to go through with all in more leisurely fashion.
Start with a Walking Tour
Trick: Puerto Ricans belong to the United States and not all of them speak English. You will make it, but you will not want to know why some people can not converse with you in English.
I always attempt to begin with a walking tour whenever I am in a new city. It makes me become familiar with the layout and to gain some feel of the culture. At San Juan, we were guided through the twisting streets of Old San Juan by our guide who told us stories about its history and its tradition.
Old San Juan is a very sunny place, very jovial–whatever the hour you come there, you will always feel elevated as you walk around here.
Take a Stroll through the San Juan Gate.
La Puerta de San Juan
Another most famous Old San Juan landmark is the San Juan Gate. This is a dramatic red entrance which was used as one of the principal entrances to the walled city in 1635. It is approximately 16 feet in height and one can either look at it at the top or simply walk through it. The exterior is bright and striking, whereas the interior unveils the antique stone.
Explore Castillo San Cristóbal
San Juan is not only old, but it is also extremely well-preserved, and Castillo San Cristobal is an ideal example. This giant wall defended against both land and marine invasion of the city.
Take your time here. Stroll across the tunnels, climb up to the upper levels and envision how life must have been like centuries ago. The perspectives of the city and the ocean are amazing in almost all directions.
Visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro
El Morro
El Morro is another great fortress that overlooks San Juan Bay and it is approximately a mile away to San Cristobal. It started being built in 1539 and in the 17th century it had expanded to be a huge defense system.
The site is currently operated by the United States National Park Service. You will hear about the defense of the fort by the soldiers and the cannon tracks are of particular interest. The lawn in the outside area is spacious, windy and ideal to take pictures.
See the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery of the past.
The cemetery of the sea at the El Morro is also one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. It is the gravesite of some of the most prominent personalities in Puerto Rico such as Jose and Miguel Ferrer. We did not get time to walk down it, but we had a good look at it, as we were not inclined,–and even there it is beautiful.
Enter the Cathedral of San Juan Bautiste.
The second-oldest church in the Americas, this cathedral was constructed in 1511 and updated during the course of history. It is well preserved and inside there is a tomb of the explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. Our tour guide was talking about the cathedral with a great deal of pride to make the visit even more significant.
Try a Rum Tasting
Puerto Rico is also known to be the land of rum hence a tasting is essential. We decided to go to Scryer Rum and Barrelhouse, a small rum-aging house in Old San Juan. Although the rum is distilled in Barbados it is aged in their beautiful local bar and shop.
We were informed about the process of rum production, the uniqueness of Scryer and of course, we had a tasting at the end of the tour. This was satisfactory and we purchased a bottle to have at home.
Visit Museo Casa Blanca
The White House
It is the oldest house in San Juan which was originally constructed to accommodate Juan Ponce de Leon. It is currently a museum with historical information about the house and the numerous renovations. It is important to walk through the gardens too–they are kept year round by the tropical climate.
See Capilla del Cristo
On the farthest end of the Calle del Cristo is a small 18th-century chapel called Capilla del Cristo. Although it is very small, it has made it one of the most recognizable pieces of religious property in Puerto Rico.
Eat Local Puerto Rican Food
Casa Luna Rest. is an inn that locals adore since we visited it thanks to the recommendation of our innkeeper in Old San Juan. We had such traditional Puerto Rican meals as mofongo, fried plantains, empanadas, and a delicious skirt steak, which was recommended to us by our waiter.
Final Thoughts
We had stopped just before Christmas, when the city was decked out with Christmas decorations but I believe Old San Juan feels like celebrating all year long. The old buildings, the colorful streets, the history, make it a great place to visit- particularly when you are interested in the history.
