Old San Juan
This place is reserved for romance and history. Old San Juan is a stunningly beautiful city that begs to be photographed and explored. Its unique streets and handsome buildings, along with some world-class views of the Atlantic Ocean, deserve to be placed on postcards. Your camera will certainly get a workout here.
This 465-year-old walled neighborhood was once a military stronghold that evolved over the centuries into a charming and captivating residential and commercial city. Today, its seven square blocks are filled with history, shopping and dining. The narrow, hilly streets that snake up, down and all around the neighborhoods are paved with cobblestones of adoquine, a blue stone cast from furnace slag brought over on Spanish ships. The "new" Old San Juan is an undergoing an awesome renaissance. Today, the city includes more than 400 carefully restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. If you haven't been there lately you'll be amazed at how beautiful and spiffed-up its "European-esque" buildings are. Particularly attractive are the many that are freshly painted in alluring crayola colors of lavender, blue, yellow and pink. The Latino music phenomenon has also contributed to a rebirth in a new, fresh "Nuevo Latino" cuisine and interest in the country's quality art, crafts and antiques.
To get the most out of experiencing a bit of the Old World, a leisurely foot tour with comfortable walking shoes is advisable. Leisurely - especially given the narrow, steep streets and frequently heavy traffic. To really do justice to these wonderful old sites, you'll need at least a full day of exploration. But even if you are here for only a few hours there is a wealth of treasures to explore. Most docks are within walking distance just south of the city walls. The attractions of Old San Juan are technically within walking distance of each other; although the weather and topography may make it a bit difficult getting around. If you know exactly where you are and where you are going, you should find navigating Old San Juan on foot very easy and enjoyable. But it is wise to pick up a street map at the Tourist Center. Part of Old San Juan's charm, the identical-looking architecture and streets of Old San Juan, could get you lost or confused… and miss your ship's departure.
HISTORY
In 1493, Christopher Columbus "discovered" Puerto Rico and claimed it for Spain. Actually, Columbus called the whole island San Juan, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Puerto (port) Rico (rich) was the name given to what is known today as the Old San Juan area. It was only later that the names were reversed and the whole island became known as Puerto Rico. The old walled city now called Old San Juan is the city's historical heart and was founded in 1521 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.
GEOGRAPHY
Puerto Rico is an island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic. The island of Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles. The territory is very mountainous (covering 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area.
San Juan (population: 437,745) is the capitol of Puerto Rico and largest city. It lies on the northeastern coast along the Atlantic Ocean, some 1,025 miles (1,650 km) southeast of Miami. The center and oldest part of the city, including the section called Old San Juan, is on a small island at the entrance to San Juan Bay. Several bridges connect this island with the rest of the city.
CLIMATE TIME CURRENCY
Juan is a tropical city, with temperature that ranges in winter from 67˚F to 97˚F (19˚C to 36˚C) in summer. San Juan is normally sunny, but has a tendency to receive rain from April to November in the afternoon. Be also mindful that San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico have the possibility of having tropical systems such as hurricanes from July to November. Cooler temperatures are found inland in the mountains.
ECONOMY
San Juan is the largest processing center of the island and has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling and produces cement, pharmaceuticals, metal products, clothing, and tobacco. The port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. San Juan is the center of Caribbean shipping and is the 2nd largest seaport in the area (after New York City). San Juan is also the country's financial capital, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centers there.
TRANSPORTATION
You can drive in Old San Juan but you are better advised to take public transportation or walk. The streets are very narrow and go up steep hills. Many are one way and parking is hard to find. A couple of free "trolley" buses make two different loops through Old San Juan. Ask for a map of its stops ahead of time at the Tourist Information Center. You can pick up a trolley across from the information booth between cruise piers three and four. You can also catch the trolley along the northern coast between the forts. If you are arriving at Luis Munoz Marin International airport, the taxi charge will be around $16 (4 people) to get to the Old San Juan cruise pier.
If you are departing from the ship and have time before your flight leaves, look for a red "Sightseeing and Tour" kiosk right outside the baggage area. Here you can ask the van driver to take you on a tour of Old San Juan. He will make several stops where you may take photos, shop, and have lunch then drive you to the airport on time for your flight while your baggage stays safely on the van.. Cost is around $22 per person.
