We stopped for a photo along the way to El Morro, it's a nice little moment along the walk. The…read morefountain itself is really eye catching...bronze figures coming out of the water that represent Puerto Rico's Taíno, African, and Spanish roots. The whole area along Paseo de la Princesa is a pretty walk, especially with the ocean nearby and the breeze coming through. It's a great photo op on the way to El Morro. Quick, scenic, and worth the pause before continuing on.

It truly is a beautiful sculpture and fountain when seen walking along Paseo de la Princesa in Old…read moreSan Juan. According to the plaque in front of the fountain, "This group of sculptures symbolizes the roots that gave birth to Puerto Rico's cultural heritage." Think of it as a ship arriving by sea through the city's harbor. The horse at the bow is pulling an island with a Goddess who is serving as the tallest mast on the ship. That island is Puerto Rico. There are sculptures around her that represent Puerto Rico's close family heritage, welcoming spirit, music, and dance. The dolphins represent the Puerto Rican character. It's a mixture of all of these rooted qualities that make it such a beautiful and vibrant country. The fountain is a great sight to see even on an overcast day. The Puerto Rican and American flags are in the background with the ocean view and seawall. But, this is only the end of the promenade and the beginning of more to come. Don't just stop at the fountain. The Paseo de la Princesa continues as you walk along it's path to the right in the direction of El Morro. It's a walk along the fortress wall that leads you to the San Juan Gate and Paseo del Morro. The sounds and views are amazing! It was all a very memorable experience.

It's a historic square shaded by trees and sculptures. My husband was the first to remember this…read morelandmark from previous visits. All I initially saw was El Convento since it brings back more memories of mom & dad. They stayed there during one of their trips back to the island and loved it. Another special place on the other side of it is the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. The square also connects you to the San Juan Gate via Caleta de San Juan. It was a great place to stop for a break and to soak in the public artwork of the city. Jorge Zeno's animal sculptures are very creative. It somewhat feels like a whimsy take on Taino art. There are penguins on an ark, a cat with a giraffe neck, and a rooster in the shape of a moon. How could I have forgotten about this little hidden gem? I remember walking through it in the past, but I don't remember the sculptures. They were totally noticed this time around. The art, garden, pigeons, trees, and pathway all blend in to form one cute little greenspace. A great way to enjoy a little shade on a hot day in Viejo San Juan.

Discovering the Monumento Histórico Cueva María de la Cruz in Loíza, Puerto Rico felt like stepping…read moreinto history tucked right into nature. The space itself is small but really impactful. It's a natural cave that's been turned into a historical site, and what stands out most is how it connects the land to the island's Taíno heritage & Afro-Puerto Rican history. Caves like this were once significant to the Taíno people for shelter & spiritual use, and you can feel that sense of ancient connection to the land when you're inside. @ the same time,the site is rooted in Loíza's Afro-Puerto Rican identity, a community shaped by descendants of Africans brought to the island during colonization.You don't just look @ exhibits:you're actually inside part of the story, which makes the experience feel more personal & grounded. Over generations, those influences blended w/ Indigenous & Spanish cultures, forming the rich cultural identity Loíza is known for today. Just a quick history lesson that helps all this info click together. Inside,there's a simple but meaningful collection of artifacts & displays that help explain the cultural importance of the site. It's not flashy or overwhelming, but that's part of its charm. It feels respectful & intentional, like the focus is on preserving history rather than turning it into a tourist attraction. What I appreciated most was the atmosphere. It's quiet, slightly cool inside the cave, & there's this natural stillness that makes you slow down and take everything in. It feels like a place that asks you to listen more than look. It was a short visit but a memorable 1 for me.It gives you a deeper appreciation for Loíza's cultural roots & the ppl. who have shaped the area over time. It's the kind of stop that stays w/ you because of its meaning more than its size.

We stopped by while exploring Loíza to learn more about the area's history and culture. The cave…read moreisn't as large as some of the other caves in Puerto Rico, but it's still interesting to see, especially knowing its archaeological significance. That said, it's actually pretty small; there are no bats, underground rivers/bodies of water, and it takes about 10 minutes to walk through the cave and surrounding grounds. The property is well maintained, the setting is peaceful, and I appreciated the Taíno carvings on the stones throughout the site. If you're interested in Puerto Rico's Indigenous roots/Taíno history it's worth stopping by. I'd recommend checking ahead for tours or cultural activities, as those seem to add a lot more depth to the experience. Overall, it's a nice stop if you're looking for something different from the usual beaches and city attractions, just keep your expectations realistic about the size of the cave itself.

It's the cute stone chapel that was built on the city wall near La Fortaleza at the end of Calle…read moredel Cristo in the late 1800s. The legend is that Baltazar Montañez lost control of his horse during a race and they both fell over the wall (or cliff). He was miraculously saved by divine intervention. The chapel was built at that very same spot of the miracle. Another account of the story is that he didn't survive the fall, and that the chapel was built to prevent this type of accident from ever happening again. Maybe the real story is somewhere in between the lines. Did he survive and later succumb to his injuries? Either way, it's a believable part of history which brings people to this chapel looking for miracles. The facade and bell tower make it look even more mysterious, and especially at nighttime. This is my second time visiting it. I've never been inside it. It's usually closed to the public to protect the religious relics inside. Try visiting it in the afternoon on a weekend. You may have a better chance of entering the chapel. Don't forget to visit Pigeon Park while you're there.

The legend says that the chapel of the Cristo de la Salud was erected to honor a miracle…read more Legend has it that for the years 1750 or so, there had been a horse race along the Cristo Street. One of the participants could not stop his horse and fell down the cliff. Don Tomás Mateo Prats, who was Secretary of Government for that time, invoked the Santo Cristo de la Salud and that the young man who fell off the precipice was saved. Thanking the Santo Cristo de la Salud, Don Tomás Mateo Prats ordered to build the chapel. The truth was not that. Studies by Don Adolfo de Hostos confirmed that the young man who fell down the cliff, died. Don Tomás Mateo Prats ordered to erect the Chapel to prevent future tragedies.

We sailed out of this pier in San Juan and had an easy drop off close to porters. The process of…read moredropping off our luggage was super smooth and only took a few minutes. Check-in process was the easiest I've encountered cruising so far. We pre-registered so it was just a matter of showing our boarding pass and we were on board in less than 10 minutes. Our return was very smooth as well. We selected to have our suitcases picked up the night before disembarking. Our suitcases were at our pre-designated labeled area. The only thing that was somewhat hectic was the number of taxi drivers waiting outside and offering their services. Some attempted to discourage us from taking an Uber. Some argued with other drivers trying to convince us to be their passengers. We decided to go with an Uber. Initial price had a surcharge and there was a 15-20 minute wait because traffic was heavy. We waited 15 minutes and the price went down about $24. As a comparison we paid about $15 to be dropped off from the airport. We paid $34 on our return. It was way cheaper than other cities.

It's the homeport of many major cruise lines on Isla Grande. There are views of the San Juan Bay…read moreand a small strip of a runway. Let's call it Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport. I don't know which came first. Was it the airport or the cruise port? It just doesn't feel like a good location for both to coexist. Especially when a very large ship is backing out of the bay and very close to the final approach. Anyway, we arrived past our timed embarkation due to issues with late Uber drivers and last minute cancelations. We finally found a driver who was serious about picking us up for the ride to the pier. I'm thinking the timing of it actually worked out in our favor. The guests debarking from the previous Norwegian Epic cruise were long gone, and the guests who arrived earlier were already onboard. We arrived around 11:45 am coming from Condado. It was only a 15 minute ride. The short line of cars in front of us moved quickly. The drop-off was in front of the security entrance. Our luggage was collected under the tented area near the door. After security, we walked over to the Haven reception area. Honestly, I can't recall if the warehouse was air conditioned or not. We didn't stick around for too long because the check-in process was quick and easy. We were onboard in no time. It was surprisingly a very smooth embarkation. The debarkation process also went smoothly. We had a leisurely breakfast knowing that we'd be the last group leaving the ship due to our late SJU departure time. Before we knew it, we were on the shuttle bus to the airport. I don't really have anything negative to say about it. The port authority and NCL personnel were all helpful and well-organized. Well done!

Like many others mentioned, there's not a lot to see in this museum, and you'll probably be done in…read more30 minutes, but it's also only $5 to enter. There are several rooms to explore what is some really old furniture and information on the architectural features. You can also walk outside and enjoy sea vistas, but the outdoor air is not very well maintained. All in all, it was nice to see the place and learn about its historical significance, but I would prioritize other sites in San Juan.

I was 11 years old when I first visited this house. I remember the beautiful garden and the very…read moresmall 16th century bed displayed in one of the rooms. We were told it was the type of bed used during the times of Spanish Conquistadors. After all, the house was originally built (a wooden structure) for Juan Ponce de Leon. Although, he never got to live in it. His descendents lived in the rebuilt stone structure for 250 years until they sold it to the Spanish government. It was then transitioned to the US Military after the Treaty of Paris (1898). It became a museum in 1974. Today, it's also an event space for weddings and celebrations. I have to be honest. I was a little disappointed during this last visit. The garden and pathways are not being maintained regularly. I wanted to step down into the area overlooking the ocean, but there wasn't a clear enough pathway due to overgrown shrubs. I was fully prepared to pay the $5 admission fee to go inside, but decided not to after seeing the condition of the public garden in the front and back of the house. We visited on a Saturday, so it's not like it was some off day for lawn services. It's a highly anticipated touristy day. Looking back at it, we probably should have paid the fee and given an extra donation for a clearer path to the ocean view. I've read that the money is needed for restorations of this historical safe haven. Don't let this review discourage you. Just pick a day to visit before or after a wedding or garden event. Then you'll be sure to see it at its best. Because... why would you have your wedding here otherwise?

San juan fort has a dramatic view of history set against a very beautiful scenic backdrop…read more The darkened walls , showing aging and signifying many stories, are a stark contrast to the pristine blue waters of the Atlantic Bay on one side and the San Juan Bay on the other. It is soo postcard'ish. Managed by the Unesco World Heritage site, It is a ticketed costing about $10 per visitor. It spans almost 500 years of military history, and the city kind of has developed around it through the time. I would guess first came the fort, then the city as this is right in the heart of San Juan. It does get hot. It has soo much ground to cover and interesting things to see and read about, without a hat and cooling glasses it would be difficult to keep up. You will catch a lot of people crowding time to tike at the little places of shadow to catch a breath and a sip of water before they continue- that reminds me, carry a water bottle. It is known to be the oldest European - designed defense system featuring multi level ramps probably to drag the equipment, but today, that helps people with strollers. Definitely recommend a visit.

This square shaped fort is situated at the Western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay to provide…read moreearly warning and protect the city from invaders. It was the smallest fort in the harbor defense system. The fort has a storied history. It was originally built between 1608 and 1610 and was made of wood. It burned to the ground in 1625 during a Dutch attack. However, the Spaniards replaced it with a stone fort between 1630 and 1660. Additionally, the U.S. Navy bombarded the fort in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, but the fort survived. This is a historical fort that is managed by the US Parks Service. They charge admission, but the military members get free admission. The fort has four levels and a lot of stairs. The fort is well maintained and has cannons, view posts, and rooms set up as if they were back in the time the fort was in operation. They have a church, bunk room, artillery/battery storage. The tour of the fort is self guided and there are a bunch of informational placards to help you along your way. The fort is very well maintained. I really enjoyed my visit. I will note that there is a lot of walking involved in touring this site, so wear some comfortable shoes. You can get a wonderful view of the bay from teh fort and some awesome photos as well. I spent about an hour to an hour and a half here. It was part of my self paced tour of the city's attractions. I recommend putting this place on the top of your list when visiting San Juan. Fun Fact: Originally, the fort was completely surrounded by water. The only way to get there was by boat. In the early 1800's, iThe fort was used to isolate the city's residents that were sick from infectious diseases like leprosy and cholera. The fort area was made into a penninsula in 1943 when the US Corps of Engineers dredged the entrance of the San Juan bay to allow large war ships and submarines access to the port. The dredged material was used to fill and connect the fort to the mainland.

This plaza is near the Governor's Mansion and the Big Red Door. I pasted by this place on my way to…read morethe Fort. This plaza was dedicated in 1971 and is currently fenced of by barricades. A Rogativa is a large procession of people making a plea to God for help. The center piece of this Plaza is a statue titled "La Rogativa", which Is a bronze statue that depicts 4 figures, a bishop and three women that marched through the streets singing hymns, carrying torches and bells, and praying for their city's deliverance. The British mistook that gesture as evidence of the arrival of reinforcements and abandoned the city promptly. The piece is the work of Lindsay Daen and appears to be a bit worn. But considering its age, the brutal San Juan climate, and it close proximity to the bay, I guess that is to be expected. There is not much to this plaza area, especially since it is blocked ok. It was pretty much a walk-by attraction for me. I was not there longer than 5 minutes. I think this spot should still be part of visitors walking tours and I love the story behind it (gave it a bouns star). Fun Fact: The artist apparently buried toys under the statue after his child died at a young age

We stopped by here after visiting Fuente Raíces on our way to El Morro. The bronze sculpture sits…read moreright by the city wall near the San Juan Gate and has some beautiful views overlooking the bay. What makes it even more interesting is the story behind it; it commemorates the 1797 procession led by the Bishop and local women that reportedly convinced an invading British fleet that military reinforcements had arrived. Between the history, the scenery, and the location, it's an easy stop while walking by.