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 Did you marvel at the 15-foot thick gate? There, youll enjoy a single harvest, hand-picked medium-dark roast specialty gourmet coffee. Its similar to San Felipe but has more viewpoints over land. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; WebOld San Juan small-group food tour. Prices are in line with any large American city, and tipping is expected like anywhere else in the US. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; This self-guided tour takes you to a variety of the island's farms, tasting rooms and restaurants. It leads visitors through a pleasant tree-lined sculptural and garden showcase. A collection of bronze sculptures sit along the outside of the city walls called Crecimiento. These are the creation of Carmen Ins Blondet in 1996. Lastly, if you want to try the original pina colada, head over to Barrachina, where the drink was invented by bartender Ramon Portas Mingot in 1963. The website also has a flexible cancellation policy, which is great if things come up or you change your mind. Its a long walk, about 3/4 of a mile, but worth it for the fantastic views and photo ops (plus a little walk didnt hurt after indulging in such a big meal). Consult the Discover Puerto Rico website for more information. If youre combing a visit to Old San Juan with other destinations around Puerto Rico, its beneficial to have a car. Community leaders have been making efforts toward the growth and development of what has for generations been one of the most underserved and economically disadvantaged sectors of San Juan. Its not big and will only take a few minutes. In the dungeon, you can see some of the prisoner drawings on the walls. This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. The old city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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. The cemeterys location by the water was chosen as a way to symbolize a persons spirit crossing over to the afterlife. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. Bacardi Rum Factory where you can embark on a tou, In 1992, to honor the 500 year anniversary of Columbus first voyage to the Americas, artist Jaime Suarez created this, from different locations of the Americas, signifying the origins of the people, parking garage, located underneath the Plaza del Quinto Centenario. Hitting all these spots will log 8-10 miles on your Fitbit. Items to bring with you 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. Fortifications were built over the years and helped fend off numerous attacks, especially from the Dutch, French and English. 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. WebOld San Juan Historic Sites. Entrance to San Cristbal is included with admission to San Felipe (and vice versa), so be sure to keep your receipt. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. Summers are a bit hotter and rainier. Originally created in 1853, the Paseo, features a broad brick walkway. Continue to the Bacardi Factory by taxi. Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. If no one is at the window, just knock loudly or call out a greeting. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. A Carmelite convent in the past, the popular ghost story revolves about Doa Ana de Lansos y Menndez de Valdez, the founder. Meander toward San Juans most beautiful promenade, El Paseo de la Princesa. Old San Juan is full of small boutique hotels and holiday rentals instead, which adds to the charm. We really enjoyed our day in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico while cruising with Carnival. Easy self guided tour Review of Old San Juan Reviewed February 6, 2019 Do some homework before you go and try to map out a route, or go to the tourist info building to get directions and the lay of the landplenty of historical buildings to see and lots to look at. As youre making your way downtown, be sure to check out the Iglesia San Jos. Looking across the bay youll see a few wind turbines spinning. 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. 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. Giethoorn, Netherlands is it Really Worth Visiting? They represent the cause of pain for the pilgrim. Youll have a great time if you follow this Old San Juan self guided walking tour! A National Historic Site, completed in 1589, El Morro Fort is a stunning six-level fortress. There have been numerous sightings of ghosts in the guest rooms over the years at El Convento Hotel. 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) On the other side of Old San Juan lies another Spanish fort, Castillo de San Cristbal. And you absolutely do not want to be in town when three cruise ships are docked. Insure your trip to San Juan with travel insurance. Across the street from La Rogativa, theres a sign that says limbers.. Boulevards and Byways is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates, and Partner Viator Programs. Soak up the sun, ride the waves, explore underwater life, and find your favorite beach. Its the perfect place to start your self guided walking tour of Old San Juan. 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. Its on par with smaller US cities in terms of the cost of everything. Puerto Rico speaks Spanish, but in Old San Juan just about everyone will be bilingual and speak English too. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. The top places where you can experience the history of the Island. This sweet fruit-flavored ice is a nice treat on a hot day. 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. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. Wear comfortable shoes..the cobblestones are very uneven. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. Within the old town consider the 352 Guest House Hotel Boutique or the Casa Sol bed and Breakfast. Its $10 per person to enter unless you have the NPS Interagency Pass or another yearly pass. In the dungeon, you can see some of the prisoner drawings on the walls. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Booking.com is my go-to website for booking discounted accommodations around the world. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. Yet another popular Instagram photo location is also of the Puerto Rican flag on a door, but this time in an alley at the end of Calle Imperial. By making a purchase through one of the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The colorful city, the historical forts, and the vast views of the Atlantic Ocean are all worth the visit. Bursting with brightly painted houses and flowers, its a favorite of mine. There, take notice of the granite and clay Ttem, a 40 feet tall tower meant to symbolize the origin of the New World. Get a quote from Discover Cars here. Old San Juan is a perfect place for a self-guided walking tour. 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. Required fields are marked *. In 2021, the umbrellas were replaced by a large banner with the Puerto Rican flags design. We are here to provide you with all the highly detailed information you need to have the perfect vacation. 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. It was last used for military purposes during WW2 and since then has been solely a tourist site. WebJoin a mini getaway in Old San Juan on this guided walking food tour through a 500-year old Spanish colonial city. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What did you think of the stunning architecture? 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. Admire the citys beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. 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 lunch, we continued our self-guided tour to Paseo de la Princesa and around the city wall along a trail called Paseo del Morro. We hope you enjoyed wandering the blue cobblestone streets with perhaps a piragua in hand. A guided food tour is an excellent way to experience Puerto Rico. This walking tour immerses visitors in the history, culture, and natural beauty of Old San Juan. If you really want to see some amazing sand and water, take a day cruise to Icacos Beach on Cayo Icacos, a small island northwest of mainland Puerto Rico. 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. There is also a bar serving cheap pia coladas. El Morros presence domineers over everything in nearby site. WebA walking culinary tour of Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas, will give you just that. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; There are quite a few scattered around the US. Buy a cheap kite at CVS near the pier and fly it on the expansive grounds there. 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