Having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, one of my favorite things to do is explore the island, especially San Juan. San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is filled with so many places to explore and plenty of delicious food to try. Here are what I consider the ten top things to do if you visit San Juan:
1. Visit El Morro
El Morro is a Spanish fort that was built in the 16th century, when Puerto Rico was under Spanish rule. It was used to protect the city from enemies and pirates arriving by sea. It is now considered a National Historic Site and is open for visitors, so go and enjoy a beautiful view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean!
2. Enjoy a piña colada, at the place they were created!
If you’re like me and you love this tropical and delicious concoction of blended pineapple and coconut, you should definitely stop by Barrachina. The first ever piña colada was created at this restaurant, and they even have a plaque in front of it officially naming it the birthplace of the piña colada.
3. Go scuba diving at El Escambrón
If you’re a fan of the ocean and want to explore the beautiful reefs beneath it, you should definitely go scuba diving at El Escambrón. Here, you can schedule a scuba tour, where instructors can guide you and show you the colorful corals and aquatic life that live and thrive beneath the surface.
4. Buy a piragua
A piragua is like a snow cone; it consists of shaved ice that can be topped with many different flavored syrups including coconut, pineapple, strawberry, guava, and my all time favorite: passionfruit. Old San Juan is filled with piragua vendors so you can easily buy one for around $1 to help keep you cool while you’re exploring the city.
5. Fly kites by El Morro
This is definitely a Puerto Rican tradition you cannot miss out on! The lawn by El Morro is always filled with children flying their kites. I have very fond memories of doing this during my childhood. Since El Morro is located by the coast, it is always windy, making this lawn perfect for kite flying any time of the year!
6. Enjoy the local food!
There are so many restaurants in San Juan where you can enjoy the local foods. Puerto Rican cuisine is most famously known for its delicious rice, beans, plantains, yucca, mofongo and so much more. One of my favorite restaurants that serves authentic Puerto Rican food is called Raíces, located in Old San Juan. (PS. Their steak stuffed mofongo is to die for!)
7. Find this door, and take a picture in front of it
Near the famous San Sebastián St. you can find this gem: a door with the Puerto Rican flag painted on it in black and white. This door has become an icon of San Juan in the last couple of years and now you can always find people taking pictures in front of it.
8. Go shopping at Plaza las Américas
If you love shopping, you have to stop by Plaza Las Américas. It is the largest mall in the Caribbean and the second largest in Latin America! The shopping mall consists of three floors with over 300 stores, including shops such as Abercrombie, American Eagle, Sephora, Zara, and many more.
9. Eat a paleta
If you’re looking for yet another way to keep cool during the warm weather, buy a paleta. A paleta is a popsicle and it also comes in various refreshing flavors. My favorite paleta is the strawberry flavored one from a place called “Señor Paleta” in Tetuan St.
10. Explore nightlife at La Placita
If you’re looking to have a fun night with friends on the weekend, The Placita is the place to be, with its energetic and lively atmosphere.The Placita is a place where you can enjoy good food, drinks, and music, since it’s packed with many restaurants, bars, and clubs. If you want to have a chill night, you can go grab a bite with friends or, if you’re looking for something a little more exciting, you can dance salsa till dawn.
There are also so many other things you can do in Puerto Rico outside of San Juan, such as visiting the Bacardi Rum Factory, ziplining at Toro Verde, visiting El Yunque National Rainforest, kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, etc. Whether you’re exploring the island of Puerto Rico or the city of San Juan, you can never run out of things to do.
Sources:
http://puertorico.com.pr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/El-Morro-Puerto-Rico11.jpg
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/ee/e5/5e/barrachina.jpg
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/11/fc/05/6d/escambron-beach-guided.jpg
https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/urbanist/2018/06/06/restaurants/piragua.w710.h473.jpg
https://planbtour.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/img_2399.jpg
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/8c/15/da/real-fruit-paletas-yum.jpg