13 Fascinating Things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico
The city of San Juan, Puerto Rico is definitely a place “rich” in a large number of ways, as I rediscovered when visited back in February. There is unparalleled beauty to be found at every turn. Wander the cobblestone streets and wonderful architectural marvels of Old San Juan. Then, drive through the green hills and jungles that make up the country. There are a great many riches to fill your mind.
It was my fourth trip to this American commonwealth, and my boyfriend’s first. We found an abundance of interesting things to explore. There are so many things to do in San Juan. So much history and culture to discover, food to try and the architecture to see. There’s even some adventures to be had. There is no shortage of experiences waiting to be explored in this tropical wonderland.
Check Out this Video on the Best Things To Do in San Juan:
1. La Fortaleza
The most wonderful of the things to do in San Juan also happens to be a place that encourages wandering. In Old San Juan, we followed the cobblestones along the hills and awed at incredibly colorful architecture that lights up the streets.
Inevitably we found ourselves at the gates of the marvelous governor’s palace at the end of Fortaleza Street. The intricate 19th century colonial design built in stunning blue amazed every bit of me. It definitely stands out as one of the defining structures in Old San Juan.
2. Umbrella Project
To get to La Fortaleza, just follow the umbrellas. We accidentally bumped into this multicolored installation that hang over the street. It was initiated by Governer Ricardo Rossello after the hurricanes tore through Puerto Rico.
He meant them as a sign of hope and inspiration, inviting everyone to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico and bring life back to its streets. Walking under them it is genuinely inspiring, and they provide great cover from the flash-rains that pass over San Juan. Bumping into this instillation was one of my most favorite things to do in San Juan.
3. El Morro
The Castillo del San Felipe del Morro is one is one of the architectural staples that make up Old San Juan. Nicknamed El Morro, it was rightfully dubbed a UNESCO heritage site in 1983, This military masterpiece served as the protector of Puerto Rico for the better part of the 16th to 19th centuries.
I was amazed by the carefully thought out blueprint that creates almost an impenetrable labyrinth of tunnels, cannon stations, plateaus, barracks, and housing areas. It managed to withstand attacks from the British and Dutch. It truly is this city’s greatest champion!
4. Iguanas
I am not generally a reptile person, but I bumped into this guy scaling the edge of a fort wall. I could not resist stopping for a photo shoot. We called him Ego the Iguana. He and his band of friends roam freely on the grounds of San Juan’s forts. We were able to get pretty close without spooking them, but I would not touch them. They may or may not try to whip you with their tails.
5. Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Taking a short stroll along the cliffs from El Morro, you will find Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery. It was masterfully constructed in 1863 and is the resting place for many prominent Puerto Rican figures.
Inhabitants include actors, musicians, politicians, and other wealth members of society. We found it filled to the brim with intricate tombstones and mausoleums that are truly works of art. Build by the Spaniards, it is believed that it faces the Atlantic Ocean as a symbol of the soul’s journey into the afterlife.
6. Street Art
One of the most wonderful things to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico is explore the abundance of pride found painted outside their walls. Puerto Ricans make no secret of how proud they are of their culture. The wide range of bold art plastered all over the streets of San Juan says exactly that. Colorful and bright they stand as symbols of nationalism and an identity, making them unique to any other Caribbean island.
7. Condado & the Lagoon
A short ride over from Old San Juan is the sub-barrio of Condado. There you will find a beach-facing strip home to condos, hotels, and a couple of casinos to satisfy gambling urges. We found the redeeming qualities of this area to be the beach and watching manatees in the lagoon.
Otherwise, basically feels like a place built for tourists. (Right down to the food). You won’t really get an authentic Puerto Rico feel here. That being said, it’s by far the most “glamorous” part of the island. We did see a handful of high end restaurants and stores like Cartier to complete the 5th Avenue feel.
8. Condado Beach
Puerto Rico basically has beach weather most days of the year. That makes beach bumming a preferred pass-time of the things to do in San Juan. The great thing is that all beaches are public. I found Condado Beach to be generally calmer than a lot of the other local beaches. Mostly residents of the hotels and condos venture out to the beach here.
It’s not a “party beach” like you will find in many other places on the island. I loved that I could basically park my towel anywhere on the silky sand and go twirl around in the waves. There are also many options for water sports. Jet-skiing, parasailing, and paddle boarding are among the recreations available to fill your day.
9. Effects of Hurricanes
Puerto Rico is an insanely beautiful island. Despite that, I found the remnants of Hurricanes Irma and Maria are still seen in many places. Abandoned houses stand among the rebuilt high-risers as tributary monuments to the pain and suffering felt by so many.
It was a dark time not so long ago. Most of the island has been restored after the hurricanes ripped though the land. However, it’s still very sad to see such beautiful properties ruined in their wake. Sometimes, island life isn’t exactly all it’s cracked up to be. Still…I will always take sand over snow.
10. Orocovis
We drove about an hour and a half’s drive from San Juan to the municipality of Orocovis, located in central Puerto Rico. Highly recommend this as one of the things to do in San Juan. The mountainous region is vast and beautiful, stretching for miles on windy roads around the hills.
We got strangely lucky when our GPS malfunctioned. It sent us to the doorstep of a wonderful old man who lets us take pictures of his incredible view. The main roads are mostly easy to drive. That being said, when going off route the roads can get treacherous and steep quickly. Regardless, the views alone are worth the day trip.
11. Toro Verde Zip Lining
The zip lining course at Toro Verde Ecological Park is one of the most scenic zip line courses I’ve ever done. Located in the hilltops of the Orocovis region, it was hands down our favorite of the things to do in San Juan.
There are so many shades of green that light up the mountains that it’s impossible to count. I flew weightlessly from one cable to another, and when the adrenaline kicked in and everything felt more vivid. The views were absolutely stellar. If you ever fantasized about what it feels like to be a bird, brave the “Beast”.
They strapped me into a hammock so I was looking down 853 ft while flying 65 mph. I’ve never felt anything like it, but it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. Check out my YouTube video for more on this.
12. Food Culture
One thing Puerto Rico is in abundance of is great food. You will find many places that serve “chain food” (like Denny’s), but eating at them would be a mistake. Embracing the food culture is one of the most important things to do in San Juan. We found that the local places not on Trip Advisor turned out to be some of the best food we ever ate.
There are so many different types of tropical produce, such as plantains, avocado, and passion fruit. Mofongo is an absolute must try and my personal favorite. It’s mashed fried plantains with salt and garlic and topped with just about anything. Try a papa riena, or carne (beef) in a variety of ways – guidaso, molida , asado. All of them will leave you wanting more.
13. The Piña Colada
If you’re going to visit one food “staple” in Old San Juan, make it Barrachina Restaurant. This place is high on my things to do in San Juan list. I had such a great experience because of the wonderful ambiance and extremely good food. Besides that it boasts the invention of the Piña Colada, a rum based pineapple and coconut drink popular in Puerto Rico.
It’s such an amazing drink that they literally make it by the bucket-load every day. We sat in the courtyard of a 19th century colonial building . While we sipped our drinks under the lovely umbrellas a guitarist came to serenade us. Then we stuffed our faces with some of the best mofongo on the island. (P.s. One order is good for 2 people – the portions are huge). It’s a great place to unwind after a day of wandering.
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