After stepping off a flight to San Juan most travellers are left bewildered by the abundance of activities the capital of Puerto Rico has to offer. During the day outdoor enthusiasts can hike the rain forest and surf the waves, while at the night the city is transformed into one of the nightlife capitals of the Caribbean.
As a side trip, travellers booking flights to San Juan should plan to spend a few extra days exploring the coastal town of Guánica and the Caribbean National Forest, El Yunque, then on the way back to San Juan stop for a picnic or a quick dip in the country’s best-known beach, Luquillo.
For sightseeing, Old San Juan, the original city founded in 1521, has a wealth of well-cared-for 16th and 17th-century architecture, built by the Spanish colonists. Still partially surrounded by the wall built in 1633 and paved with the stones used as ballast on Spanish ships, the old city features tree-shaded squares, monuments, open-air cafes, and shops, as well as private homes with their wrought-iron railings on balconies filled with pots of tropical plants.
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Peak Season:
Mid-December to mid-April is the busiest — and most expensive — time of the year. Throughout the island, but especially in San Juan, prices are considerably higher during this period.
Off Season:
Summer and autumn are quieter and less expensive times to take cheap flights to San Juan. And there are two annual events for music lovers. The Pablo Casals Festival takes place in early June. The Festival of Puerto Rican Music is held in November, with venues in both San Juan and elsewhere on the island.
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Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU)
Distance: 9 miles east of San Juan
Drive time: 25 mins
Some hotels provide free shuttle service; check before you go. Otherwise, the best options for getting into town are rental cars and “publicos” — public vans. A number of rental companies are available at the airport. And there is a terminal for publicos there.
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- One venue for Puerto Rico's Latino chic is surprising — the Museo de Arte. Some Puerto Ricans come to the art museum at least once a week, and not just for its fine collection of Puerto Rican art. They also come for productions in the 400-seat theatre. And trendy locals can be seen strolling the museum’s lovely five-acre garden.
- San Juan has done a great job of adapting old buildings to new uses. La Princesa, for centuries one of the most feared prisons in the Caribbean, now houses the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. It features an exhibit of art by Puerto Ricans, which is free to the public.
- Another example of reuse is the 19th-century insane asylum, the Antiguo Manicomio Insular, which is now the home of the Puerto Rican Academy of Fine Arts, with its lovely courtyard fountains surrounded by elegant iron fences.
- One of the largest cave systems in the world is Camuy Caverns. Visitors explore the cave by trolley and on foot, over ramps and bridges. You can walk down the 205 steps into the Spiral Sinkhole and view the petroglyphs etched in the wall of Cathedral Cave by ancient Tainos, Puerto Rico’s original inhabitants.
- In addition to the beaches, Puerto Rico has many golf courses and tennis courts. There is some good bicycling as long as you avoid the main streets and roads. For biking, walking, or jogging, check out the boardwalk at Parque Lineal Marti Coli, with a stretch of nearly two miles along Cano de Martin Pena; eventually, the total length will be nearly 12 miles, from the old city to Rio Piedras.
- For spectacular natural beauty, visit El Yunque, a cool, semi-tropical rain forest in the mountains at the eastern end of the island. The rain descends in rocky rivers with many waterfalls and pools. At higher elevations, the water is clean enough for drinking and swimming. You will find unique plants and animals, including the lovely endangered emerald green Puerto Rican Parrot.
- When booking flights to San Juan remember that it can be hard to find information about it online, as very few attractions are on the internet. Be sure you have an up-to-date guidebook.
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