amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Simply amazing. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; WebGuide Name: Old San Juan Walking Tour Guide Location: Puerto Rico San Juan (See other walking tours in San Juan) Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing) # of Attractions: 10 Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles Author: leticia Sight(s) Featured in This Guide: I would recommend their, , a signature Puerto Rican dish consisting of mashed plantains, and. 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. 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. What I love most about Booking.com is the variety of properties you can find, from luxury apartments to treehouses to university housing. Getting to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico And its not just about the food, either. Get to know the people that showcase Puerto Ricos culture through its gastronomy. Now that youve had breakfast, step out of the colonial headquarters where youll come upon the majestic castle ofSan Felipe del Morro, simply known asEl Morro, a smashing fortress at the north-west tip of Old San Juan that carries over 500 years of Puerto Rican stories. They wont be that much more expensive than staying outside the Old Town in one of the major brand hotels, but there are definitely more options and larger hotels outside. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Squandering up a little over atChocobar Corts, a delicious lunch, dessert, and cocktails await. Where to stay in Old San Juan: Old San Juan Guest House, El Colonial Adults Only, Casa Sol Bed and Breakfast, Fortel Hostel. If youre combing a visit to Old San Juan with other destinations around Puerto Rico, its beneficial to have a car. Castillo San Felipe del Morro (also known as El Morro for short) is the islands trademark fortification built at the tip of the San Juan Bay. It is one of the most popular options, since there are plenty of tour companies and packages to choose from. Cards are accepted just about everywhere and its really not necessary to carry any cash, other than for parking lots and street vendors. Check out the map below for the points of interest youll need to hit on this self guided walking tour of Old San Juan. The peak tourist season runs from December to May. I explain how to avoid cruise days in a section below. Travel back in time to another era without sacrificing modern comforts. Its the perfect place to start your self guided walking tour of Old San Juan. Quick tip: turn off the device when youre not using it so that the battery can last longer. ubsequently, the British gave up the attack, thinking the women were Spanish army reinforcements. Its right outside the old city walls and only $3 per day. Next time, Ill wear some tennis shoes. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. It has remained an American territory now for over 100 years. National Historic Landmark La Fortaleza (The Fortress) was built in the mid-1500s for military defense. WebYou can explore Old San Juan on your own with our self-guided tour guide. Puerto Rico operates sort of like a state, but its not. If you plan to visit the cemetery it can be accessed by walking on Calle Norzagaray. The colorful neighborhood known as La Perlais located along the ocean to the right of El Morro. The affiliate advertising program provides a means to sustain this blog by linking to affiliate sites at no extra cost to you. I stumbled upon this mural without prior research as I was so immersed in the beautiful rainbow buildings in the neighboring streets. Paseo de la Princesa is a beautiful promenade lined with fountains, lamp posts, and trees all accompanied with stunning views of the San Juan Bay. WebSelf-Guided Walking Tours to Explore San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thank you for your support and for helping me keep this blog up! A favorite restaurant among us cruise ship crew members is the Stuffed Avocado Shop. The Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is the final resting place of many of Puerto Ricos most prominent natives and residents. Whether you want to play or get away, you'll find the perfect spot in Puerto Rico. The ideal time might be late spring to early summer. Items to bring with you There are a lot of domestic flights into San Juan and a few international flights. Its a historical landmark that was previously used to protect the city during colonial times. Its worth noting that the hanging decor changes periodically, so you might not always see vibrant umbrellas. Its San Juans oldest house and contains many artifacts from the colonial days of the city. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. So do yourself a favor and plan around the cruises. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In the dungeon, you can see some of the prisoner drawings on the walls. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The fort itself is an impressive structure. As you keep pacing down the blue cobblestone roads, youll find yourself in Sol street, where Casa Blanca, former residence-now-museum of the descendants of Ponce de Len, is located. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. Unlike most travel websites, you won't be overwhelmed with ads on here. Its hard to beat the insanely low prices. 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. 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). Address: Calle Norzagaray & Route 25R (Avenida Luis Muoz Rivera). With more than 500 years of history, theres no shortage of places to cover. Make no mistake, Old San Juan can get pretty crowded. The Spanish Secretary of Government, Don Mateo Pratts, cried out, Christ of Good Health, save him! The young rider, lived, miraculously saved! 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. 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. Ive never seen it anywhere else in the world. The best beaches in Puerto Rico are well outside of San Juan. The clay is from different locations of the Americas, signifying the origins of the people. The two fortresses worked like a charm and Spain held on to Puerto Rico until it was surrendered to the United States in 1898. If youre into museums, or trying to beat the heat for a bit, pop into Musea de las Americas to learn a little bit about colonial life in Puerto Rico and see some artifacts from those days. Consult the Discover Puerto Rico website for more information. Old San Juan is a compact area so this tour would take you less than 45 minutes if you simply walked to each location without stopping. 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 With your local guide, hear about the history of this 16th-century colonial city, pausing to duck into coffee shops and cafes. Wear comfortable shoes..the cobblestones are very uneven. From the marina head west, the water will be on your left, to Calle Comercio toward Plaza Darsenas. Many years ago the slaves and lower class were forced to live outside the walls, thus La Perla was born. 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. Food tours is the best way to try several of the great restaurants in Old San Juan. Castillo de San Cristbal is El Morros sister fortress that was build to protect the city from land attacks. A guided food tour is an excellent way to experience Puerto Rico. This is especially true on days when cruise ships dock at the port. While that might pale in comparison to some of the European gothic cathedrals, its still nearly 500 years old, dating back to 1540. Is there really a better way to get to know a new destination than through its history andfood? Walk to San Sebastian Street and turn right on Calle Sol. Now may be the time to reassess, with this comprehensive breakdown of travel credit card options. Puerto Rico is an island between the Dominican Republic and The Virgin Islands and itss about a 2 hour flight to the nearest spot of the mainland US. WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. Its just an entryway in the city wall, but you can imagine old aristocrats arriving here hundreds of years ago. This colorful barrio is where the filming for the pop hit Despacito took place. These days Old San Juan is mainly a tourist destination. How to use this map: Click on the faded star next to the title to save this map, and click the square in the top left of the map before the title to view location details. WebYou can explore Old San Juan on your own with our self-guided tour guide. The food, though, is more expensive than at your average Old San Juan restaurant, but I think this place is definitely worth a visit. If you make this walking and tasting tour withSpoon,you can ask to try their garbanzada de mero, a grouper and chickpea stew that showcases the very base of every Puerto Rican dish, thesofrito. If youre curious what San Juan would have turned into had the Dutch taken over, then be sure to check out my complete guide to Amsterdam! This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. These small Milagros, decorate the walls. They can join the army and go to war and die for the country, yet cant vote for president. The vast green lawn that leads up to the forts entrance is the perfect location for a picnic, sunbathing session, or just a short break during your walking tour. A street thats really a staircase. Boulevards and Byways is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates, and Partner Viator Programs. This walking tour immerses visitors in the history, culture, and natural beauty of Old San Juan. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. Plaza de Armas is one of the citys main plazas. Get to know our weather so you can plan your trip! A Self-guided Walking Tour of Old San Juan. They are truly local and are ready to make you feel like one. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I only admired it from the outside, but youre free to walk in and have a look around. This building served as theprison from 1837 to 1960. This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. WebYOUR SELF GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN SAN JUAN The Old Town is not large but there is a lot to see and do. Walk down Calle Beneficencia and pass thePlaza de la Beneficencia. You can reasonably expect San Juan to be hot, humid and sunny. Mofongo: the most Puerto Rican dish of them all. They are the only bean-to-bar manufacturer in the Caribbean, and they celebrate it by making chocolate the star of almost every dish. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. Built in 1521, Casa Blanca, built for Juan Ponce de Leon and his family, is the oldest house on the island. through the underground tunnel to reach the cemeterys entrance. Make a stop and grab a refreshing rum cocktail or a bite to eat. He led a European expedition for gold, traveled to the southeast coast of the United States, and explored a small island to be later named, Puerto Rico. After you have your information and maps, head outside and enjoy the Bahia de San Juan (San Juan Bay). One of the best decisions I ever made was taking myself on a self-guided walking tour of Viejo San Juan. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. La Forteleza, built to defend the harbor ofSan Juan is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use and a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. Old San Juan is one of the most picturesque cities in the Americas. A guided food tour is an excellent way to experience Puerto Rico. A cup of garbanzada,a traditional Puerto Rican chickpea stew. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. WebSan Juan Island's agricultural history is still visible in its landscape, dotted with weather-worn barns and farmhouses, fields of hay, cattle, horses and market gardens. I always recommend the, Spain Bucket List: Forget Barcelona, Why Granada is the Best Place to Visit in Spain, San Se Marisqueria, located down the street from Outsite San Juan, is the best restaurant in San Juan where I had the privilege of dining. An immense red gate or La Puerta de San Juan, built between 1634 and 1638 turned the city of San Juan into an impregnable fortress with its 15 feet thick walls. We hope that adds - pun intended - to your experience. Losing the opportunity of a free hotel room or flight upgrade isnt the worst problem to have right now. After you have your information and maps, head outside and enjoy the Bahia de San Juan (San Juan Bay). 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. 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And for helping me keep this blog by linking to affiliate sites at no extra cost you... Theres no shortage of places to cover by GDPR cookie consent plugin anniversary of Colombus voyage! Culinary tour of Old San Juan to be hot, humid and sunny map for.

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