It's about a mile walk from one fort to the other, and the stroll alone is breathtaking, with pastel houses on one side and an arresting blue sea on the other. Legend has it that soldiers would randomly disappear as they stood watch in this sentry box. This is basically El Morro’s overlooked little sister, but San Cristobal is cool too! It’s the largest European fortification in the Americas and features the infamous Devil's Guerite (Garita del Diablo). With its strategic location overlooking the San Juan Bay, El Morro defended this port city from 1539 to as recently as WWII.Įntry into El Morro costs just $10-save your ticket, because it also includes entry to “that other fort,” Castillo San Cristobal, within 24 hours of purchase. To the west, the 16th-century Castillo San Felipe del Morro (commonly known as El Morro) is undoubtedly one of the most well-known attractions in Puerto Rico. Let’s do the touristy-but-can’t-miss stuff first, shall we? Two gigantic citadels front San Juan’s northern face.

Visit some of the oldest forts in the Americas Whether you’re here for the day or staying for an entire week, here are the best things to do in San Juan. It’s a mosaic of ever-evolving neighborhoods, from the cosmopolitan Miami vibes of Condado to the hipster bars and street art of Santurce. Also of historical import: The piña colada was invented here.īut San Juan is more than just charming old stuff and tourist shops. Take a walking tour around Old San Juan to get the full effect. You don’t have to squint too hard to see that rich history around you: The pastel-colored Spanish Colonial buildings and narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town are protected by 17th-century fortresses and a 15-foot-thick zigzagging wall. Established in 1521, this is the oldest European-founded settlement in the US and the second-oldest in the Americas. That said, at the top of any Puerto Rico itinerary should be San Juan, the thriving capital city where the majority of the island’s visitors disembark. There’s enough to see and do in Puerto Rico to keep you busy for weeks. A trip here is a 3-for-1 bargain of Caribbean beaches, tropical rainforests, and splendid mountainscapes-with the rare added bonus of not one but three bioluminescent bays.

Come to this sunny, vibrant island to experience the surreal sensation of technically still being in the United States (same dollar, same president, no need for a passport) while also being in an entirely different country (gas by the liter, roads by the kilometer, Spanish by the earful). In a jewel-strewn Caribbean sea, what’s the case for coming to Puerto Rico, you ask? Excellent question.

Running away by robert andrew powell