San Juan Cruises, Puerto Rico
From a huge sea-facing fortress, to the colour-splashed old quarter, the Puerto Rican capital is choc-full of colonial character. Explore the narrow streets, and you’ll lose count of the number of jazzy murals and tucked-away squares along the way. It all culminates in a maze-like peninsula beside the Caribbean Sea, which has long sandy beaches stretching down one side, and a smart harbourfront promenade lining up bars and restaurants on the other.
- The city’s most-striking landmark, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, has stood firm on San Juan’s headland for centuries. The fortress was built by the Spanish to protect the port from enemy ships, and was also used as a US military base prior to the First World War.
- Old San Juan is a charming mix of open-air cafés, column-front plazas and brightly coloured townhouses. Many consider this to be the real heart of San Juan, and it certainly has an old-school charm that you won’t find elsewhere.
- Plaza las Americas takes care of the demand for modern retail therapy. It’s the biggest mall in the Caribbean, and you’ll find it right in the middle of San Juan. Among the 300 stores is the world’s largest JC Penney, plus a cinema and a restaurant area.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
Old San Juan walking tour
On this walking tour, a local guide will make sure you cover off all of San Juan old town’s best sights. You’ll enter the old town through San Juan Gate and head straight to La Rogativa Monument, an iconic bronze statue on the waterfront. From here, you’ll have panoramic views of the bay, but you’ll get even better pictures from Fort San Felipe del Morro, which is up next. This 16th-century Spanish fortress was designed to guard the entrance to the bay. Nowadays, it’s a World Heritage Site and you can have a look round its interior before moving on to Plaza del Quinto Centenario – a modern square that commemorates the history of the island. Your guide will then take you to a few religious sites, including the San Jose Church, the San Juan Cathedral and Cristo’s Chapel – they’re all built in different styles, so you can see how architecture in Puerto Rico has progressed through the years. At the end of the tour, your guide will walk you back to the ship.