Bienvenidos!
San Juan, Puerto Rico
​​"Founded" in 1521 by Ponce de León, San Juan is the oldest city on US territory. It is made up of several unique neighborhoods, each bustling with culture, entertainment, shopping and leisure activities.
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While we have provided some information on four of those neighborhoods (below), excellent day-trips can be made to some of the island's top attractions: east to El Yunque rainforest; or west to the RÃo Camuy Cave Park and the striking Arecibo Observatory.
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​Old San Juan​
San Juan is best known for this beautifully restored historic district. Old San Juan is situated on a rocky peninsula that is guarded by twenty-feet thick walls that jut out into the crashing Atlantic surf. A must-see-site while in Old San Juan is El Morro Fort, or officially, the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro.
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​On the blue cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, you will travel back 500 years in time. Old San Juan is a seven-block museum, but also a living neighborhood with plenty of places to eat great food, drink a tasty beverage, and take in the sights and sounds. ​(A group day-trip to visit Old San Juan and El Morro is planned for Friday the 29th. Please see the itinerary page for more info.)
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Condado
​​Along with Old San Juan, resort-filled Condado is the most popular neighborhood for visitors thanks to its excellent beachfront and the fine boutiques of Avenida Ashford (Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo​)​. Sophisticated bistros and restaurants draw lively crowds at night. We recommend Pikayo (Jon brought Leona here the day he proposed). ​​
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There's plenty more to explore: further east is up-and-coming Santurce, with its numerous art galleries and trendy nightclubs, and there's perhaps no place as timelessly chic as the Plaza de Mercado de Santurce (near Calle Canals and Av. Ponce de León). The traditional food market is a great place to buy tropical fruits and vegetables, and there's a bunch more oddities, such as old Puerto Rican music recordings, herbs, and religious artifacts involving santerÃa.
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This neighborhood is a swirl of activity from early in the day through late evening. On Thursday and Friday nights, large crowds gather as the streets are blocked off from traffic. Several spots have live music. It's a favorite after-work spot for locals and a lot of fun. Just join the crowd and meander from one spot to the next. Seafood fritters, chicken kebabs, and meat turnovers are sold from street vendors, and there is music everywhere.
Isla Verd​e
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Isla Verde is the fancy resort strip of San Juan. What draws the crowds to this neighborhood? Isla Verde means "Green Island," but it's the lovely crescent of beachfront that commands center stage, and it is here that you'll find some of the island's hippest, hottest, and most exclusive hotels.​
Puerta de Tierra
​​Just east of Old San Juan is Puerta de Tierra. It is actually considered a sub-barrio of Old San Juan. There's not much to note about this small area other than to point out that the Caribe Hilton (wedding site) is located here.
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Map of San Juan
For a better view, click the map!
