San Juan is full of character — a colorful and proud medley of Taíno, African and European influences. At its heart is the much-loved medieval neighborhood of Viejo San Juan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where, by day, locals stroll along the cobbled streets and, at night, dance across them until the early hours.
San Juan is a city with a vibrant culture and beautiful people. Here are seven things to do in Puerto Rico that will allow you to truly see what Puerto Rico has to offer its' visitors.
Water Fun
Beaches are as varied as the crowds who flock to enjoy the sun, sea and sand that make San Juan such an attractive vacation destination. Each stretch of sand is magnificent in its own right here, with plenty to keep visitors of all ages entertained. Condado Beach and Isla Verde are among the most popular beaches in San Juan but be sure to explore all of your beach options while visiting San Juan!
An Old Spanish Fort
Castillo San Cristobal is a 500-year-old Spanish fort that was erected to protect the Spanish interest in their New World colony. This fort was the largest that the Spanish built in the New World as it was six stories tall and took up 27 acres of real estate on the tip of the island overlooking the ocean.
Festivals
Puerto Rico is an island that knows how to party, and they know how to do it well. Some festivals are going on every month all year long. There are even festivals and celebrations that go on all year. These festivals are highlighted with parades, music, food, drinks, and dancing. They are a convergence of Puerto Rican culture. The best months for these festivals are December and January, and daytime is the best time to experience them. At night, they tend to get a lot more crowded and rowdier.
Great Drinks
Puerto Rico is considered to be the King of Rum, and they embrace the moniker. There are amazing innovative mixologists all over the island that are using Puerto Rican rum and native fruits (like passion fruits, mangoes, papayas, and more) to create a perfect taste of Puerto Rico. Many of these mixologists also compete internationally, so they are a lot of fun to watch work.
The Food
The "Dining Capital of the Caribbean," this is the way that many Puerto Ricans refer to their homeland. Their cuisine is a harmonious blend of Taino (the native people of Puerto Rico), American, and Spanish cuisines. These different influences combine to generate amazing dishes like mofongo (mashed plantains) and Arroz con gandules y Lechon (rice with pigeon peas and pork).
Bacardi Rum Factory
The Bacardi Factory in Puerto Rico is the largest in the world as this factory can bottle up to 100,000 bottles a day. Aside from just touring the factory itself, you can also go on a tasting tour. This tour allows visitors to learn all about the rum, the bottling process, and the different flavors and tastes that Bacardi manufactures. It is an integral part of Puerto Rico, and it is a lot of fun.
Old San Juan
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, and Old San Juan is the colonial remnants of San Juan's days as a Spanish colonial city. Old San Juan is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere. The brightly colored buildings and cobblestone streets give it an old-world feel at your fingertips. You can go on guided tours to learn about the over 500 years of history of this area of the city. Aside from colonial history, there is fantastic food and bars all over so that you can make a whole day out of your visit to Old San Juan.
Are you ready to experience Puerto Rico for yourself? Drop us a line, we'd love to help!
Kommentare