Many years ago the slaves and lower class were forced to live outside the walls, thus La Perla was born. Learn about the history of Old San Juan as you walk Get to know our weather so you can plan your trip! We really enjoyed our day in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico while cruising with Carnival. Lots of places for good lunches. WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. Originally created in 1853, the Paseo, features a broad brick walkway. Old San Juan is a perfect place for a self-guided walking tour. With a myriad of historical sites and rich architecture, its a perfect way to spend the day. We hope you enjoyed wandering the blue cobblestone streets with perhaps a piragua in hand. La Forteleza, built to defend the harbor ofSan Juan is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use and a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Price: General Admission- $6; Under 12 and over 65 years old- $4, Need to rent a car while in Puerto Rico? Comfortable shoes some of the streets are hilly so its a great idea to wear running shoes or something that wont kill your feet after three hours of walking and climbing fortresses. Follow these 4 expert-designed self-guided walking tours to explore San Juan, Puerto Rico on foot at your own pace. The Truth about Racism in Spain: Advice for Black Travelers, The 5 Friendliest Countries in Europe for Black Travelers, Spain Bucket List: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Barcelona. Self-Guided Walking Tour Suggested Routes, Museo de las Americas (Museum of the Americas), Castillo San Felipe del Morro ("El Morro), Cementerio Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi, Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista, La Puerta de la Bandera- Puerto Rican Flag Door, Callejon de la Puerta Bandera- Flag Door Alley, Top 50 Most Popular Japanese Food to Try in Japan, Top 15 Delicious Food Festivals Around the World, The 11 Best Walking Beaches in the Caribbean, The Best Restaurants in Playa del Carmen Locals Love, Top Restaurants in Christchurch, New Zealand, Life at the South Pole Station: Everything You Want to Know, KHL Clothing Review: Womens Hiking Shorts & Sun Protection Shirt. Summers are a bit hotter and rainier. Its similar to San Felipe but has more viewpoints over land. Up the hill, by theCaleta de las Monjas, is the Catedral de San Juan where, if you stand right outside, aligning yourself with the altar, youll be standing in the exact spot where a compass would mark true North, South, East, and West of San Juan. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There are tons of great restaurants in Old San Juan. It also works in a variety of landscapes and terrains. WebStroll the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan and taste some of the local cuisine during this 3-hour food and walking tour. Right across from the Plaza del Quinto Centenario, is the Cuartel de Ballaj, an open-concept building built from 1854 to 1864 for Spanish troops established within the walled city. Your email address will not be published. If you dont feel like going down and walking through the cemetery, it can easily be admired from the path leading to/from El Morro. It leads visitors through a pleasant tree-lined sculptural and garden showcase. La Fortaleza can be seen from a distance while on the Paseo de La Princesa as well as at the end of the Umbrella Street (Calle Fortaleza). Get a taste of the Island in the form of locally crafted beer. Its an impressive structure and was used to fend off attacks, most notably from the Dutch in 1625. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A guided food tour is an excellent way to experience Puerto Rico. Lechn asado: Puerto Rican succulent pig, Pastelon: Puerto Rican lasagna, made with plantains, Paella: this Spanish staple is found nearly everywhere in Puerto Rico. Its hard to beat the insanely low prices. WebThe Visitors Center (phone 787-722-1709) is located across from the Plaza de la Darsena and is open everyday from 9:00am until 5:30pm. You can find some rooftop bars and cafes though. If you love rum, visiting a distillery gives you the opportunity to learn about this spirits history, how its made, and, of course, to sample a drink or two. Be sure to get a piragua (shaved ice) from one of the vendors in the squares. At their Rums of Puerto Rico bar, you can taste and learn the history of all the rums the island has to offer. GET THE BEST OF PUERTO RICO DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. On this picturesque boardwalk, youll find street vendors, art exhibits and shops, restaurants, bars, and even live music. Ive never seen it anywhere else in the world. The colorful city, the historical forts, and the vast views of the Atlantic Ocean are all worth the visit. Learn how your comment data is processed. Cruising to San Juan? The plaza is a good meeting or drop-off point if youre taking a taxi or Uber to/from Viejo San Juan. On the northern end lies San Juan City Hall, and on the west is the Department of State building. The affiliate advertising program provides a means to sustain this blog by linking to affiliate sites at no extra cost to you. WebA self-guided tour through Old San Juan can be broken down into two main sections: The coastal perimeter (marked in black on the map)- Where most of the historical landmarks are located The interior streets (marked in burgundy on the map)- Where most of the photo spots, restaurants, and shops are found This colorful barrio is where the filming for the pop hit Despacito took place. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. The colorful neighborhood known as La Perlais located along the ocean to the right of El Morro. But the stuffed avocado was excellent and worth the wait. Buy a cheap kite at CVS near the pier and fly it on the expansive grounds there. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Puerto Rico speaks Spanish, but in Old San Juan just about everyone will be bilingual and speak English too. Continue straight to Caleta San Juan. When you visit, you'll find that spirit in yourself, too. By this time, the midday sun will be at its peak and that only means its time for a snack. Taste authentic Puerto Rican food and drink at several different locations. In my experience, it lasts 9 hours. Feel the trade winds as you gaze down right outside the fortification facing the ocean towards theSanta Mara Magdalena de PazzisCemetery, a municipal graveyard that serves as the final resting place of prominent and important people in history. WebYou can explore Old San Juan on your own with our self-guided tour guide. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. Hitting all these spots will log 8-10 miles on your Fitbit. For those arriving from the cruise ship port, it may make more sense to walk around the exterior first and then end the day perusing the downtown streets. Doa Ana was its first mother superior, and many say she never left. Standing 16 feet tall, the gate is also inscribed with the phrase, Benedictus Oui Venit In Nomine Domini, which means, Welcome those who come in the name of God., Address: Cll Caleta De San Juan, San Juan. Its just an entryway in the city wall, but you can imagine old aristocrats arriving here hundreds of years ago. This museum houses the largest collection of Puerto Rican paintings from the eighteenth century to the 1960s. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. San Juan Island Foodie Road Trip It serves as a promotion center for the rums of Puerto Rico. And theyve done a hell of a job restoring the city to its original charm. Most restaurants are indoors, as the narrow old streets dont allow for much of a patio presence. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The top places where you can experience the history of the Island. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and located on the central north coast of the island. He dedicated his life to educational causes and advocating womens rights to higher education. San Juan PR 00908 sanjuan@flavorsfoodtours.com Phone Number: 787-964-2447 Quick links Home About Tours Flavors of San Juan Rum Runners Craft Cocktail Tour Boozy Bites Food Tour Old San Juan El Morro Fort Tour Walking History Tour Express Old San Juan Food Tour Private Tour Gift Cards FAQ Blog Contact Join our free newsletter! YOUR SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN SAN JUAN, CATEDRAL BASLICA MENOR DE SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista. However, there are many people with rewards that took a fair amount of effort and time to earnwhether through a credit card (that likely has a steep annual fee) or loyalty program membership. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. might not use our travel credit card benefits at all this year. All the streets are lined with charming houses of eclectic, bright colors. The swishing sound of their robes echoes through this hotel, even centuries after Doa Anas death. Its very popular and we waited over an hour for a table. If youre thirsty, stop into El Bate, a little gem, with graffiti-covered walls and business cards hanging from the ceiling. The fort itself is an impressive structure. With more than 500 years of history, theres no shortage of places to cover. Entrance to San Cristbal is included with admission to San Felipe (and vice versa), so be sure to keep your receipt. The fortress features several sentry boxes (garitas) which are strategic lookout points that guards would use to keep an eye out for any potential threats. It is one of the most popular options, since there are plenty of tour companies and packages to choose from. A great starting point is the Plaza del Quinto Centenario at the north side of the city. This self guided walking tour is structured around one day in the old town. You may have noticed youve been walking on blue stones. A guided food tour is an excellent way to experience Puerto Rico. Pinkys is a great spot for breakfast if you are in Condado. If youre staying in the Old Town, though, your hotel might have parking included so be sure to check with your accommodation for parking options. Puerto Rico rich port was first settled in 1508 by the Spanish in a location outside San Juans city limits. Since its establishment, it has served a number of purposes in addition to a fortress, including a prison, arsenal, and its current function as the governors residence. The Bishop and towns-women held a procession. The popular attraction is located at the end of Calle de la Fortaleza, just in front of La Fortaleza, where the governor resides. Given the uncertainty around future travel, globetrotters (myself included!) This self-guided tour takes you to a variety of the island's farms, tasting rooms and restaurants. The food, though, is more expensive than at your average Old San Juan restaurant, but I think this place is definitely worth a visit. You can see which days have cruises using this link. 2023 Discover Puerto Rico. Learn the difference between caf puya and caf con leche. Ive snagged a $24 direct flight to Milan, a $30 flight to Berlin, a $400 roundtrip ticket to Colombia, and a $500 roundtrip ticket to Japan. Tucked on the southwest end of Calle Beneficencia and San Sebastian Street, visitors can tour the gardens, mansion living spaces, a display of artifacts, and historic information. Your email address will not be published. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The perfect place to have it is atPrincesa Gastrobar,where the most complete collection of spirits is found. , restaurants, bars, and many say she never left streets dont allow for of! In 1625 sound of their robes echoes through this hotel, even centuries after doa Anas death walls... Locally crafted beer the west is the capital of Puerto Rico houses of eclectic, bright.. May affect your browsing experience the squares difference between caf puya and caf con leche BEST of Rico... 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