San Juan is a unique port. On our cruise we were there for a short period of time; 5PM till Midnight, so it was difficult to see much. Next time, we will be better prepared and use our time wisely, I think there are two distinct ways to approach San Juan. One is to study and appreciate the history behind what's there. The other is to just run amok as a tourist, like we usually do, going with the crowd.
Both have thier advantages
From a tourist view, I had heard that San Juan was a dangerous place. I had even heard that you should not get off the ship here. I can see that , at night. But during the day, along with a couple thousand other cruise passengers, I felt safe. At the end of the pier you turn left and run right into a visitors center (good refrigerator magnets there) that can provide information and maps. We chose to just go with the flow of the crowd as they seemed to know where they were going. I guess they thought the same thing because we eventually wound up nowhere. I saw a ship-sponsored walking tour and we kinda tagged along just out of you-should-be-paying-for-this distance.
A resident of Puerto Rico sent me this honest, heads-up information that I think you need to read:
"The truth is our Island has a lot of political and economic problems due to the fact that we are a US commonwealth and things tend to get VEERRRYYY politically complicated! I would just a appreciate if people stopped giving it a bad rep because that's exactly why we have it, the tourism is very low and our economy suffers from it. (not because it's ugly or dirty but because it's VERY expensive compared to the other Caribbean islands since we're US government) So because of these financial and political problems our crime rate is a bit high and things aren't as clean as other places. Let me point out though that this is mainly San Juan. Tourists rarely go to other parts of the island which are REALLY beautiful, ironically thanks to the lack of tourists. The beaches on the west side of the island are amazing, just like the ones in Aruba, Bahamas, etc. The San Juan Metropolitan area is too packed to be clean. (there's about 4 million people in PR and most of them live there!). There's also a lot of other things beside beaches, in the northwest we have the worlds third largest subterranean underground river cavern thingies with very pretty rocks and streams and stuff. Another thing recommend a tour in the Caribbean's largest rain forest "El Yunque" don't settle for the normal tour (if it has the name "La Coca Falls" on it don't take it, they're ripping you off) though because it's nice but not the best. There's a bunch of paths you can take, my favorites are a waterfalls (the 'big pretty one that I forgot it's name but I remember the hike is down the mountain' one) and the top of the mountain. If you go with the top you'll love it as well, it's misty and full of beautiful vegetation, once at the top you'll see one of two things: a cloudy mist or the island (or a big part of it, but not all)(on a clear day). It WILL rain, but it's nice, pure, magical rain!
Anyway, our Puerto Rico shouldn't be judged by San Juan, we that live in other parts are not so proud of it (although those that love the metropolitan think it's the best thing) we definitely prefer the West, where I live. Best beaches: in towns called Cabo Rojo and Isabela or in close by small Island/towns like Culebra.
Our tourism company is currently trying to develop the West side as a tourist attraction (I don't know if that's a good thing but hopefully with good planning they'll manage too keep it beautiful) specially for cruises. They're calling it Porta di Sol (Entrance of the Sun, ore something close in translation).
In sum, PR is just like almost every country (even USA), we have our good and our bad, but you can't generalize over the bad. I don't know who decided San Juan should be the place where cruises arrive because its definitely not he best (like I said too many people). The only thing I recommend is "El Morro", the old Spanish fort, it's very historic and impressive)"
...if anyone might have a question about the island that you can't answer you can email me and I'll do the best I can to help out. I can recommend a lot of things you'll enjoy. About the port thing...you're right, I don't understand why they do that about arriving late...I guess you can enjoy it more when the ship leaves and arrives at San Juan, that way you can arrive at the island early (or leave late) and you'll be able to do something. All I can say is Puerto Rico has A LOT to see and do, especially for tourists since we tend to take for granted everything we have (like the beautiful sunsets, flora, beaches...) because it's always there. Like from my house, I have this amazing view of Anasco valley and the ocean, and I hardly ever sit down to look at it!
I was looking at it and I found something that reminded me of an interesting fact/story; fact-did you know piña colada was invented in PR, there's a bar in Old San Juan which is the original place it was invented and they give free samples, it's delicious! story-I LOVE pina coladas and I ordered one in Princess on my 1st cruise...eeeeewwwww!!! I don't know if it's just Princess or the rest of the world that makes pina colada that way, but if you guys can drink that you HAVE to taste ours with Bacardi (Puerto Rican Rum).
Anyway, this web site is really good: http://www.gotopuertorico.com/index.php?language=english You just chose what you want to know about (beaches, nature, sports, fun,etc) and it gives you all kinds of information including directions from the airport, history,etc.) and amazing pictures of the island. I think this is the best site and I really recommend it to learn more about the island.
Well, i hope this helps, feel free to quote me and to write back if you need more stuff.
M. Victoria Badillo Rodz.
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The big deal here is history. Here's a rundown:
San Juan is a major port and tourist resort of the West Indies and is the oldest city under the U.S flag. The metropolitan area known as San Juan has 3 distinct areas: Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort area, and other outlying communities, the most important: Río Piedras, Hato Rey, Puerta de Tierra, and Santurce. Río Piedras was founded in 1714 but became incorporated into San Juan in 1951. Pretty boring huh?
Well let me muddle through the rest of it.
During the early 16th century, San Juan was the point of departure of Spanish expeditions to charter or settle unknown parts of the New World. Its fortifications repulsed the English navigator Sir Francis Drake in 1595, as well as later attacks.
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In the 20th century the city expanded beyond its walled confines, known as Old San Juan, to incorporate suburban Miramar, Santurce, Condado, Hato Rey and Río Piedras.
San Juan is the largest processing center of the island, the metropolitan area has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling and produces cement, pharmaceuticals (medications, not drugs) , metal products clothing, and tobacco. The port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. San Juan is the country's financial capital, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centers there. San Juan is center of Caribbean shipping and is touted as the 2nd largest sea port in the area (after New York City). Not sure I believe that one. |
An island on the periphery of the "New World" empire, Puerto Rico served as a Spanish fortress designed to protect Spain's American holdings.
San Juan National Historic Site, includes forts, bastions, powder houses, wall and El Cañuelo Fort, also called San Juan de la Cruz?defensive fortifications that once surrounded the old, colonial portion of San Juan, Puerto Rico. El Cañuelo Fort is located at Isla de Cabras at the western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay. Sections of the massive sandstone walls, dating to the 1630s, remain; so, too, do the San Cristóboal and San Felipe del Morro forts.
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