WebJoin a mini getaway in Old San Juan on this guided walking food tour through a 500-year old Spanish colonial city. To fully explore the attractions on this street, youll need about 2 hours if you were to visit both museums. might not use our travel credit card benefits at all this year. 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. Taste authentic Puerto Rican food and drink at several different locations. I only admired it from the outside, but youre free to walk in and have a look around. Theres so much to explore inside the fortress, from barracks and batteries to panoramic views of the bay. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It depends on how many cars are parked and how crowded the city is, but rest assured there will be no shortage of photo ops on the streets of Old San Juan. It really reminded me of the beautiful ancient forts in Malta. But the stuffed avocado was excellent and worth the wait. Although there are always groups of people hanging out, the area is so spread out that youll have no problem finding space for yourself away from others. The affiliate advertising program provides a means to sustain this blog by linking to affiliate sites at no extra cost to you. 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. At the very end of La Forteleza Street, is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. In the Isla Grande region you will find a lot of new hotels (this is where we stayed) and a huge mall that has DJs every night in a common courtyard. Puerto Rico's cocktail scene is a fuego (on fire), literally, at Gallo Negro in San Juan. At this build-your-own-bowl eatery, patrons can choose from a wide and delicious selection of bases, protein, sauces, and toppings. Built in 1854 for the Spanish troops and their families. Entrance to San Cristbal is included with admission to San Felipe (and vice versa), so be sure to keep your receipt. Consider this about future travel: Now may be the time to reassess, with this comprehensive breakdown of travel credit card options. Travel back in time to another era without sacrificing modern comforts. 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. This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. Your email address will not be published. Old San Juan is a perfect place for a self-guided walking tour. Rogativa means procession. This main avenue leads and cuts all the way across until it dies at the western city wall so, if youre ever lost in Old San Juan, reset to San Francisco street and youll find your way This time, youll find the way to lunch! Address: 209 C. de San Francisco, San Juan, Your email address will not be published. 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. Founded by the Spanish in 1521, its a walking museum. Getting to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico When you visit, you'll find that spirit in yourself, too. Wear comfortable shoes..the cobblestones are very uneven. Its hard to beat the insanely low prices. 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. This walking tour takes you through Old San Juans historic buildings and architectural monuments. Follow the walkway as it bears to the right. I would recommend taking some time to explore all that is there. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. Old San Juan Walking Tour | One Day Puerto Rico Itinerary. Welcome to Old San Juan Calle Marina This tour begins at Calle Marina which is where the cruise ships dock. The flan was also to die for. The peak tourist season runs from December to May. A great starting point is the Plaza del Quinto Centenario at the north side of the city. 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! 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El Morros presence domineers over everything in nearby site. At the bottom of Calle Sol, youll seeLa Rogativastatue,made by Lindsay Daenout of bronze. This self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan will help you hit all the main sites and areas in just a few hours. This means cute balconies and colorful facades. In 2021, the umbrellas were replaced by a large banner with the Puerto Rican flags design. free walking tour of old san juan, Old San Juan, San Juan, self guided walking tour app, self guided walking tour from cruise ship, Self guided walking tour old san juan map, tourist map old san juan tour, Walking tour. I even filmed a Facebook Live from a boat in the Atlantic Ocean using my Teppy. 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. Given the uncertainty around future travel, globetrotters (myself included!) This modern square was built in 1992 to honor the 500-year anniversary of Colombus first voyage to the Americas. Its San Juans oldest house and contains many artifacts from the colonial days of the city. This self-guided tour takes you to a variety of the island's farms, tasting rooms and restaurants. All rights reserved. Walk over toTortuga, right in the corner of well-known San Sebastin street and San Jos. This sweet fruit-flavored ice is a nice treat on a hot day. Tostones and amarillos: deep fried green plantains and ripe plantains, respectively. Great deal on a sunset sail in San Juan Bay: https://www.partner.viator.com/en/75397/tours/San-Juan/Old-San-Juan-Harbor-sails/d903-6013P7. The roast, though slightly different from an espresso, brings out all the complex flavors of the Arabica beans without burning off its fragrances. Slip-on comfortable shoes. 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. There are quite a few scattered around the US. 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. Cards are accepted just about everywhere and its really not necessary to carry any cash, other than for parking lots and street vendors. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. You can choose your own order of precedence, but hitting them in the order I have given below will make for happy feet. Make a stop and grab a refreshing rum cocktail or a bite to eat. Outside of the old town I like the Hyatt House or the Hyatt Place. 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 budget three hours to give you enough time to take in the sites, tour the historic buildings, and enjoy the food. It should be noted that this fort is brilliantly constructed with a number of different units. through the underground tunnel to reach the cemeterys entrance. A bust of Eugenio Mara de Hostos stands proudly. 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. Simply amazing. We hope that adds - pun intended - to your experience. Brought over on Spanish ships, they are adoquin, cast from furnace slag, and used as ballast on the ships. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. Walk down Calle Beneficencia and pass thePlaza de la Beneficencia. From here, you can see the cruise ships in port. The ideal time might be late spring to early summer. Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin Down that beautiful and narrow alley is the Puerta de San Juan, the main entrance to the walled city during its Spanish colonial ruling. You can also create your own self-guided walk to visit Parque Isla Verde contains the airport and a long stretch of beach, as well as many 4 and 5-star hotels. Enjoy skip-the-line benefits as you visit must-see restaurants and the food scene around the city. Subsequently, the British gave up the attack, thinking the women were Spanish army reinforcements. You can also create your own self-guided walk to visit 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! Old San Juans most notable attraction is almost certainly Castillo San Felipe del Moro, the citys original fort. And theyve done a hell of a job restoring the city to its original charm. Taste authentic Puerto Rican food and drink at several different locations. Visit the original jail cells located in the back courtyard. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. GET THE BEST OF PUERTO RICO DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. 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. Taste your way through three restaurants and sip on a rum cocktail along the way. Ive been using Skyscanner since I studied abroad in Spain back in 2012. Where to stay in Old San Juan: Old San Juan Guest House, El Colonial Adults Only, Casa Sol Bed and Breakfast, Fortel Hostel. Continue walking towards the left and you will see a plaza with a totem pole or El Totem Telurico. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. With your local guide, hear about the history of this 16th-century colonial city, pausing to duck into coffee shops and cafes. Hitting all these spots will log 8-10 miles on your Fitbit. Losing the opportunity of a free hotel room or flight upgrade isnt the worst problem to have right now. In 1898 the United States did what the Dutch never could and took Puerto Rico, thus ending the Spanish-American war. Castillo de San Cristbal is El Morros sister fortress that was build to protect the city from land attacks. Flan: a vanilla custard cake. Around the corner from La Forteleza, youll see the Capilla del Santo Cristo. Go through the underground tunnel to reach the cemeterys entrance. 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. Puerto Rico operates sort of like a state, but its not. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 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. There, take notice of the granite and clay Ttem, a 40 feet tall tower meant to symbolize the origin of the New World. Probably not. Also lots of walking tours. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". With more than 500 years of history, theres no shortage of places to cover. Theyre reasons enough for exploring this city and embarking on a self-guided walking tour of Old San Juan. Old San Juan is a perfect place for a self-guided walking tour. Be sure to get a piragua (shaved ice) from one of the vendors in the squares. All the ingredients are fresh and the love behind the elaboration is real. Old San Juan is the historic part of town, on a peninsula that juts out into the Caribbean Sea. The menu of 1919 focuses on farm-to-table dishes prepared with the freshest organic and local ingredients. Must-See restaurants and the love behind the elaboration is real affiliate sites at no extra cost you... Build to protect the city from land attacks welcome to Old San is! 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