One block away from Hotel El Convento is the Americas second oldest cathedral, Catedral Baslica Metropolitana de San Juan Bautista, also known in English as theMetropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist. Exploring Old San Juan with a Guide You may also book a number of walking tours, the tour guides do an excellent job, and you will visit places, and hear stories with historical details you would miss with a self-guided tour. A great starting point is the Plaza del Quinto Centenario at the north side of the city. Address: C. de San Francisco & Calle San Jos. El Morros presence domineers over everything in nearby site. The plaza is a good meeting or drop-off point if youre taking a taxi or Uber to/from Viejo San Juan. Address: Calle Tiburcio Reyes + Calle Lucila Silva + Calle San Miguel + Calle Bajada Matadero. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. We were there on a summer day with no cruises and felt like we had the city to ourselves! In 1992, to honor the 500 year anniversary of Columbus first voyage to the Americas, artist Jaime Suarez created this totem with clay. Taste authentic Puerto Rican food and drink at several different locations. Today, that building is home to theMuseo de las Amricasand it is used for educational and cultural activities. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". WebJoin a mini getaway in Old San Juan on this guided walking food tour through a 500-year old Spanish colonial city. Look out toward the ocean and you will see El Morro Fort in the distance. These small Milagros, decorate the walls. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. There are quite a few scattered around the US. San Juan Island Foodie Road Trip You may have noticed youve been walking on blue stones. And its not just about the food, either. Plaza de Armas is one of the citys main plazas. Unbelievably delicious! 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. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. It should be noted that this fort is brilliantly constructed with a number of different units. Your email address will not be published. And theyve done a hell of a job restoring the city to its original charm. They can join the army and go to war and die for the country, yet cant vote for president. There are a lot of domestic flights into San Juan and a few international flights. amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "travel accessories"; Visit the original jail cells located in the back courtyard. You can see which days have cruises using this link. El Convento Hotel is on the diagonal corner of the cathedral. The largest cruise ships can hold thousands of people. Castillo de San Cristbal is El Morros sister fortress that was build to protect the city from land attacks. Youd think with the GDP of Puerto Rico being lower than US states that things would be a bit cheaper but thats not the case. Hitting all these spots will log 8-10 miles on your Fitbit. Address: 209 C. de San Francisco, San Juan, Your email address will not be published. It is a US territory instead, which means that US federal laws still apply, such as federal minimum wage and social security taxes, but citizens who live in Puerto Rico have no representation in the federal government. Be sure to get a piragua (shaved ice) from one of the vendors in the squares. If you get outside of San Juan then you start running into places where the locals dont speak English. Summers are a bit hotter and rainier. Losing the opportunity of a free hotel room or flight upgrade isnt the worst problem to have right now. WebStroll the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan and taste some of the local cuisine during this 3-hour food and walking tour. Next time, Ill wear some tennis shoes. Ive never seen it anywhere else in the world. WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. A trip to San Juan should be combined with a beach vacation to Puerto Rico or a hike through the jungles of El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system. This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. Lots of places for good lunches. Its full of colorful houses and right on the water, but you can tell the residents are not quite as rich as those inside the wall by one walk through the village. Along with being an educator, lawyer, philosopher, sociologist, and writer. With your local guide, hear about the history of this 16th-century colonial city, pausing to duck into coffee shops and cafes. A self-guided tour through Old San Juan can be broken down into two main sections: If you want to hit all the locations listed on this free Old San Juan walking tour, I recommend breaking down your route into the two sections like I did and doing one after the other (in any order). Now may be the time to reassess, with this comprehensive breakdown of travel credit card options. While that might pale in comparison to some of the European gothic cathedrals, its still nearly 500 years old, dating back to 1540. Bursting with brightly painted houses and flowers, its a favorite of mine. Visitors can learn about the indigenous, African, and European influences that shaped the Americas into the multi-faceted countries that they are today due to colonization and modern development. What you see today is the result of painstaking restoration of the old buildings that has taken place over the last 80 years. Lechn asado: Puerto Rican succulent pig, Pastelon: Puerto Rican lasagna, made with plantains, Paella: this Spanish staple is found nearly everywhere in Puerto Rico. The sculptures represent the affirmation of life. If you have time (and enough energy), I definitely recommend spending a good half hour wandering through the area. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Puerto Rico operates sort of like a state, but its not. Sip a rum cocktail and taste traditional Puerto Rican food at 4 stops during the walk. WebOld San Juan Walk & Taste Tour Adults $ 129 Kids (3-12) $ 109 Non-Participant Kids (under 3) Free Quick Details Category: Food Tour When: Daily 10 a.m. AST Duration: Approximately three (3.25) hours Group Size: 12 guests maximum Meeting Point: Old San Juan near El Morro Fort (exact meeting point provided with booking confirmation) All rights reserved. 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. Doa Ana was its first mother superior, and many say she never left. The old city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Outlet shops, Puerto Rican handcrafts, unique souvenirs, high-quality jewelry, and artwork can be found here. The Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista is the oldest church in the United States and the second oldest church in the Americas. Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico was a Spanish conquistador. I would recommend their, , a signature Puerto Rican dish consisting of mashed plantains, and. Because the building is still an active government building, those interested in looking inside can only do so through official guided tours. The self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan has come to an end. Whether youre visiting San Juan on a cruise or spending a few days in Puerto Rico, an Old San Juan walking tour should be at the top of your list of things to do! Many years ago the slaves and lower class were forced to live outside the walls, thus La Perla was born. In those months its very possible to have a day where three cruises stop at San Juan. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. The buildings are nearly all colonial-era Spanish architecture. Fun fact: the statue is located right in front of the church where he is buried, and it is pointing towardsCaparra, where Mr. Fountain of Youth wanted to establish the city. It was also seriously damaged by hurricane Maria in 2017. Walk to San Sebastian Street and turn right on Calle Sol. might not use our travel credit card benefits at all this year. The swishing sound of their robes echoes through this hotel, even centuries after Doa Anas death. This museum houses the largest collection of Puerto Rican paintings from the eighteenth century to the 1960s. 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 also create your own self-guided walk to visit Puerto Rico has transformed into a foodie paradise over the years, incorporating different influences and traditions to create exciting dishes and cocktails. Continue following the pathway and view the sculpture of Queen Isabella in a courtyard shaded by a stately ficus tree. Mofongo: the most Puerto Rican dish of them all. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The roast, though slightly different from an espresso, brings out all the complex flavors of the Arabica beans without burning off its fragrances. On weekends youll see families flying kites on the lawn. Make no mistake, Old San Juan can get pretty crowded. Its hard to beat the prices! Continue walking towards Plaza de Hostos. amzn_assoc_linkid = "af170056b2997eee2b8bfdf11a632ccc"; Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin Taste authentic Puerto Rican food and drink at several different locations. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; Lots of places for good lunches. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Privacy Policy | GDPR FAQ | Accessibility, Five Unique Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Puerto Rico, Top Beachside Accommodations in Puerto Rico, Historic Hotels and Resorts in Puerto Rico, Now that youve had breakfast, step out of the colonial headquarters where youll come upon the majestic castle ofSan Felipe del Morro, simply known as, Right there at San Sebastin street, the very path that hosts the brightest and biggest festival on the island, is, Visit the Rum Distilleries of Puerto Rico, Plan Your Getaway in Rum-soaked Puerto Rico, A Guide to Breweries & Beer in Puerto Rico, Order Your Coffee like a Local in Puerto Rico. The beautiful courtyard is definitely a sight to take in! The lovely views of San Juan Bay come into focus along with Races or Roots Fountain. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. There, you can grab your sweet and refreshing frozen treat and take a break to enjoy the view at the Bastin, a resting stop that used to be a defensive system of San Juan. If youre not a part of one of these cruises then I highly recommend planning your trip to San Juan on a day where no cruise ships dock at the port. Or check out all the listings on booking.com to find another great option! Sip a rum cocktail and taste traditional Puerto Rican food at 4 stops during the walk. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. About 500 cruise ships visit San Juan every year, and the vast majority visit between November and March. Cristo and Forteleza Streets are the main shopping areas. 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