Puerto Rico might be the Caribbean island with the finest qualities: magnificent beaches, lovely people, and an incredibly simple journey from the US! Here’s a little about our experience there and some of the best places to visit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
San Juan Gate
This striking red gate is one of the last standing remnants of Puerto Rico’s 16th-century 20-foot wall. It used to be the only accessible route into the land of Puerto Rico. This gate is located in the town of Old San Juan and is an incredible sight to see. It's also an outstanding place to stop and take some pictures!
Paseo de los Presidentes
This street-side landmark honors our noble presidents, specifically the ones who have stepped foot in Puerto Rico. It’s a walkable array of presidential statues, including Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama. We realized that not many presidents have actually visited this majestic island.
The shining golden-bronze statues are uniquely and intricately crafted, mirroring the presidents’ facial features, height, and other bodily characteristics. Behind each statue is a small podium engraved with information and the history of the presidential figure. This walkway is immensely captivating
and definitely worth the visit!
Calle de la Fortaleza
Otherwise known as Umbrella Street, Calle de la Fortaleza is one of the most photographed locations in San Juan. During the year it has a vibrant umbrella ceiling hanging over it. The umbrellas look as though their floating in the sky, providing an exhilarating charm to the street. During the holiday season, it’s decorated with stunning shining lights, embellished with illuminated aglow turtle doves. It’s indeed a magical sight to behold.
This street is located in Old San Juan, a close trip from the other landmarks available to see in the area, making it an easy stop!
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
The 19th century saw the founding of this unusual cemetery. Given their intense fear of the afterlife, the Spaniards constructed it outside the city gates. Being near the sea was thought to represent the beginning of eternity. The noblest Puerto Ricans were buried here. The cemetery is a vast area of land decorated with marble caskets, and enchanting statues sculpted from stone, blessing the souls and bodies of the deceased.
Walking through this cemetery was a truly honoring experience. Seeing the culture and traditions of the Puerto Ricans, and their respect for their lost loved ones was a grounding sight.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
This majestic castle, also known as El Morro, is one of the biggest defenses the Spanish built in the Caribbean during the 16th century. This castle, which consists of six staggered stories with barracks, dungeons, and storerooms, was built to defend the city against attacks by sea. Due to its innovative Y-shape, the castle kept the city of San Juan safe for years! Now, the building has been restored to its full potential. Anyone can go visit this beautiful fort.
Our experience here was amazing! The building's architecture and compartments made for a wonderful sightseeing experience. Walking through the different rooms and learning more about the history of the fort was so worth it. Inside, you can see models of the canons used, secret rooms, and lookout spots. Along with all this, you can read about the history of the island, and discover how Puerto Rico escaped the Spanish and landed in the American’s hands. This wonderfully crafted castle is a spectacular place to visit in San Juan.
Catedral de San Juan
The Catedral overlooking San Juan is Puerto Ricos grandest religious building. It is also the second oldest church in the western hemisphere and the oldest church on U.S. soil. Though the building you see today is not the original, due to a hurricane demolishing it. The current structure dates back to 1540. The original being from the 1520’s when the Spanish colonization on the island was at its beginning.
The Catedral alone was a wonderful sight to see. Especially after a long walk to the building, its height gave everyone shade as they sat along the steps before the entrance. The inside was jaw-dropping with its high ceilings painted to show an illusion of balconies in the sky. But we can't forget about the highlights of the course. Them being the stained glass windows that brought the ever-lasting sunlight inside, the tomb of Ponce de Leon, and the mummy of St. Pio. It is definitely a sight to see when visiting San Juan!
Other sights in Old San Juan
Old San Juan is filled with immense culture, and with that comes many landmarks and buildings. We enjoyed spending time strolling through the streets and seeing what we could discover. First off, there were many painted and crafted murals throughout the streets, which added an artistic aesthetic to the town!
There were also several monuments scattered throughout the city, ranging from simple pieces of art to statues honoring the traditions of Puerto Rico.
Lastly, the town itself! The roads are laid with bricks and mortar and the buildings tower in a range of colors, preserving the history of the city.
El Yunque Rainforest
The majority of El Yunque National Forest's beauty and natural delights may be seen in Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park, which is tucked away in its foothills. The Mameyes River flows directly through the property, providing a magnificent backdrop for the majority of the tours, which follow the river and occasionally even cross it. The Adventure Park is a great destination for all those nature lovers out there. Filled with things that will get your heart pumping such as go-karts, ATV/UTV, mountain bikes, and horseback riding. And you can't forget about the zip lines that take you over the magnificent green sight that the rainforest has to offer.
We only got to do one of the activities, which was UTV riding. This was a very memorable experience as we got to explore the rainforest. Even though there was sand all over us by the end of the trip. We also got to stop for food and drinks in the middle, which made the ride all the better! It was worth it to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the mountains and rivers that Puerto Rico was home to.
Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay - Isla de Vieques
Now, this is the epic highlight of traveling to Puerto Rico! Vieques is a small island right off the coast of Rico. It's about a 45-minute journey by ferry or sailboat. The island itself has a friendly cozy feel, which small streets lined with houses and shops. What Vieques is known for, however, is the Bioluminescent Beach located in Mosquito Bay! Otherwise known as the bio bay, this small beach is popular for its glow. The water is home to bioluminescent creatures illuminating the bay in a soft blue glow.
The bay is surrounded by Mangrove trees, which form a mud-like substance on their leaves. This sticky mud, along with the shallowness of the bay, makes for the perfect habitat for these bioluminescent creatures. Although it's not possible to reach the bay on your own, there are many activities you can book to visit there! Some of these are boat rides, group swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.
The activity we chose was kayaking! We recommend booking the glass bottom ones since they gave the best views of the glow. First, we were picked up in a shuttle and then taken through a thick grove to finally reach the bay. The water itself looked normal, as the creatures only glow when touched or made contact with. After getting in the kayaks, it only took a few seconds for the magic to start. The sight of the bioluminescent creatures is beyond imaginable. The enchanting and captivating blue-white glow was fascinating. The surrealness of the event is hard to even put into words! Watching the little glowing specks dash underneath the kayak, watching the illuminating glow every time your paddle hits the water, watching your hand sparkle as you try to cup the glow in your hand is a remarkably otherworldly experience!
We had such an amazing time on the bioluminescent water, and would love to visit again! One thing to know is that the glowing creatures will not appear on mobile cameras. Trust me, we tried. We wouldn’t bother trying with a professional camera either, since the only thing you’re allowed to carry onto the kayaks with you is a phone. Our advice would be to just put your phone down and allow yourself to fully experience the magical quality of the bay, It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you can only endure with your eyes. If it isn’t clear already, this island is an absolute must-see and the bio bay is an experience everyone should encounter!
Beaches
Given that it's an island, there are plenty of beaches to visit and relax on in San Juan, Puerto Rico! Here are three that we went to.
Last but not least, we have food! As we all know food is an essential part of survival. So trust that we ate a lot! Here are some restaurants you can dine at, as well as a few special Puerto Rican dishes you have to try! Along with food, comes drinks! Especially Pina Colada, which has two versions of the drink, both originating in Puerto Rico.
Lazy Jacks: We loved dining here! It’s a restaurant/pub and has a very country-style feel. The menu had a variety of oil-fried dishes and meat sandwiches! This restaurant is located on Vieques Island. We ate here before going kayaking in the bio bay and found the food as well as the customer service very excellent!
Triana: This restaurant had a chic and modern feel, and the food was pretty good as well. It’s great for a quick lunch stop rather than a full dining experience. Most of the menu contained seafood, but there were plenty of options as well! Not to mention, the menu was big, providing a huge selection of dishes to choose from! This restaurant is located in Old San Juan.
La Casita: This home-style restaurant has not only a great aesthetic but also delicious food! First off, the building is very well-decorated and incredibly festive! The drinks, especially the Pina Coladas were scrumptious! Although the wait was a bit long, the meals made up for it! We ordered a classic mahí-mahí and chicken chicharron, both of which were especially tasty! You can stop by here when you’re in Old San Juan.
El Champi: This restaurant may be a bit small, but the food is out of this world! The menu is immaculate, consisting of multiple tapas (appetizers) and entrees. We ordered dough fritters, spicy potatoes, and paella de seafood! All the dishes were wonderfully cooked, and the customer service was great! If you’re in Old San Juan, we would definitely recommend dining here!
Empanadas: These are meat-filled, deep-fried pies that can be either sweet or savory. The dough is shaped like a pocket filled with meats or cheeses.
Arepas: A popular street food made with delicious fried bread, and filled with cheese or meats.
Tripletas: This mouth-watering street food is a Puerto Rican-style sandwich, layered with three types of meat and cheese, as well as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and more!
Paella: A classic bowl of seasoned and spiced rice, topped with meat or seafood.
Chicharron: This dish is a platter of cut meat or seafood, usually served with rice and beans!
Mofongo: Frequently hailed as the best Puerto Rican cuisine, it's a mashed dish made of fried green plantains seasoned with garlic, molded to a bowl-like shape. Then, it's stuffed with anything from meat to seafood to vegetables.
Mashed Green Plantains: Similar to mashed potatoes, this circle-shaped mashed and fried plantain snack will make your mouth water!
Piña Coladas: This drink is an icy blend of coconut and pineapple, and is the official drink of Puerto Rico! You can get it with or without rum, and both versions are a great way to cool off after a hot sunny day on the island.
These were our favorite places we visited in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and we hope you can enjoy them too. We had a great time on this island and loved sharing our experiences with you all! Thanks for reading and make sure to subscribe to get notifications on our new posts!
- Saha and Nicky
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