San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital, is a city where cobblestone streets lead to centuries-old forts and pastel-colored buildings overlook the Atlantic. The district of Old San Juan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Spanish colonial architecture and thick stone walls that once defended the city from pirates and naval attacks. Two historic forts, Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal, still stand guard and welcome visitors with panoramic views and underground tunnels once used by Spanish troops.

San Juan’s cultural life is visible in its music, festivals, and daily street life. The city hosts regular events such as La Campechada, which celebrates Puerto Rican art and literature with live performances and open-air exhibits. In neighborhoods like Santurce, urban murals stretch across building walls, and galleries like Museo de Arte Contemporáneo feature work by local and international artists. Plazas fill with domino players and vendors selling piraguas, shaved ice flavored with tropical syrups, a tradition dating back over a century.

Natural experiences are only minutes away from the historic center. Condado Beach and Ocean Park offer stretches of sand and swimmable waves, popular with both locals and visitors. A short drive from San Juan leads to Piñones, a coastal area known for its boardwalk, mangrove trails, and roadside kiosks serving alcapurrias and bacalaítos. Travelers interested in kayaking under a glowing sky can visit Laguna Grande in nearby Fajardo, one of the world’s few bioluminescent bays, where microscopic organisms light up the water at night with each paddle stroke.