Day 1 in San Juan

Welcome to San Juan! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check-in and head out to explore! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the historical walled city of Old San Juan, wander down the charming narrow cobblestone streets, and take in the stunning Spanish colonial architecture, the vibrant colored buildings, and the striking monuments and cultural landmarks. Visit Plaza de Armas situated in front of the San Juan City Hall, here you will find many authentic restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy lunch while soaking up the authentic atmosphere.

Old San Juan is decorated with shaded plazas and bustling public squares, it is also one of the best neighborhoods in the city for shopping. Other must-see sights include Capilla del Cristo, the statue of La Rogativa, Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, the San Juan Cathedral. Be sure to wander down Fortaleza Street, the famed street where the iconic colorful umbrellas that hang above the street are sometimes on display.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro or El Morro Fortress and Castillo San Cristobal Castle are two of San Juan`s most important citadels and landmarks that dominate the city. Sitting high up these two impressive ancient 16th-century fortresses were built by the Spanish to protect the city, by sea, and by land back in the 16th century. Explore the ancient city walls, tunnels, and dungeons, and see the authentic cannons still on display.

The Black Puerto Rican Flag Mural is a sight not to be missed. It was painted on an authentic wooden door in Old San Juan by a local artist and originally featured the original colors of the flag. However, in 2016 the flag painted black and white to symbolize social resistance, and today is an iconic image of the city.

San Juan boasts a plethora of magnificent museums, check out Casa Blanca Museum, set in a Spanish colonial home which was built for Ponce de Leon, take a journey into Puerto Rico`s captivating history with fascinating informative displays.

Take the `Night Tales of San Juan` evening tour, a fun two-hour jaunt through the city streets at night. See the beautiful buildings and architecture lit up, the tour is filled with historical anecdotes, ghost stories, and folklore. San Juan`s streets are simply magical at night.

After a busy day of exploring make your way down to the beach or one of the charming waterfront promenades to enjoy sunset and sundowners. Head to La Placita de Santurce, a bustling plaza filled with traditional restaurants serving up delicious authentic Puerto Rican cuisine including Mofongo! This is a marketplace by day and a street party by night featuring live music and a fun authentic outdoor atmosphere.

Day 2 in San Juan

San Juan boasts some of the best and most picturesque beaches in the country, the main line up is Condado Beach, Ocean Park Beach, and Escambron. Choose a spectacular stretch of soft white sand to set up camp for the morning and relax, unwind, and soak up the sand, sun, and seas.

Condado is a lavish beach resort neighborhood known as the `Riviera of the Caribbean` and for its laid back vibe and features the Condado Lagoon. El Escambron is a Blue Flag beach featuring plenty of fun water sport activities including jet-skiing, snorkeling, banana boat rides and stand up paddleboarding.

There are some idyllic offshore islands found off the coast of San Juan that can easily be reached via a ferry ride, Culebra and Vieques Island are both breathtaking destinations and the perfect place to spend your day on the white sand picture-perfect beaches lapped by gorgeous turquoise waters. Visit Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island, it has been recognized as one of the best beaches in the entire world.

There are plenty of beachside options for dining and shopping, find a location to get some lunch, it could be anything from a beachside food truck, a smoothie shop, juice bars, or a beachfront restaurant with a view. Either way, enjoy lunch with the sea breeze in your hair and the sun on your face while soaking in the stunning surroundings.

Visit the Candado Vanderbilt hotel and spa to enjoy a little `me time`. The Vanderbilt boasts the only hammam (a Turkish style bath) in the Caribbean. Treat yourself to a relaxing afternoon filled with pampering and melt your worries away.

Do some shopping, San Juan is a shopping paradise filled with an abundance of shopping opportunities. Condado`s main shopping area can be found along the upscale Avenida Ashford is the equivalent to Rodeo Drive with beautiful boutiques, and luxury designer shops including Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. Fortaleza and Cristo Streets in Old San Juan offer some of the best shopping in the city and where high-quality Jewelers in the city can be found. The Plaza Las Americas, San Juan`s mega mall and the largest mall in the Caribbean, situated in the heart of the financial district. The mall boasts over 300 stores selling anything and everything along with a variety of dining options, a full Cineplex, bowling, and art galleries. The modern glitzy complex is beautifully decorated with fountains, sculptures, and architecture.

Head to one of Isla Verde`s rooftop lounges for some fancy cocktails and breathtaking views of a stunning San Juan sunset. San Juan offers endless gastrointestinal options including pescatarian places, traditional restaurants dishing up the famed mofongo, and eclectic joints. There is some exceptional chef-driven dining experiences found throughout the city, food tours, street food, and adventurous eateries serving up traditional Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine.

The city pulsates after dark and offers some of the nightlife capitals in the entire Caribbean with bars, lounges, and nightclubs serving up world-class drinks, casinos for gambling the night away. Isla Verde, Condado, and Old San Juan are some of the most happening neighborhoods for a night on the town. La Factoria is found in Old San Juan, one of the top 50 bars in the world, Puerto Rico is home of the pina colada and the city where Bacardi is made.

Day 3 in San Juan

Wake up early today and grab a hearty breakfast in the city and some supplies for a picnic later before heading out for an adventurous day.

Head out to El Yunque National Forest today, situated about 25 miles east of the city, a sprawling 28,000-acre tropical rainforest offering tons of outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, and ATV’s. A morning visit here is great when the luscious forest is awakening, it is a fantastic and one of a kind location for nature lovers and eco-tourists. Stop into the El Portal Tropical Forest Center first and pick up maps and check out the information on the forest. Check out the area near Angelito trail, also see the Yokahu Tower and its panoramic views over the forest, La Coca Falls, and Juan Diego Creek.

The Carabali Rainforest Adventure Park is a ranch where visitors can partake in ATV rides, horseback riding, Mountain biking and so much more. Pick your favorite activity and head out to explore the verdant forest. Go hiking through the numerous trails which also vary in difficulty, there is a 30-minute uphill hike to the spectacular La Mina waterfall where you can swim in the waterfalls. Enjoy your picnic and soak up the stunning natural scenic surroundings.

Not far from El Yunque is Luquillo Beach where you can find a natural water rock slide called Las Paylas. The smooth rock slides you downhill through rivers on a thrilling ride. Luquillo is known as `La Capital del Sol` (sun capital) and `La Riviera de Puerto Rico` (Puerto Rico`s riviera), the beach is lined by majestic coconut palms swaying in the ocean breeze and stretches for just over a mile. The beachside Luquillo Kiosks are a must when visiting this beach, serving up delicious cuisine with breathtaking scenery, grab some food and refreshment and enjoy the surroundings.

For the evening, head to the Bioluminescent Bays, there are only five of these fascinating bays in the world and three of them are found in Puerto Rico. Mosquito Bay located in Vieques, Laguna Grande in tin Fajardo, and La Parguera in Lajas. Laguna Grande is the most popular bay and the closest to San Juan, dinoflagellates are tiny microorganisms that cause these bays to light up with a bright blue-green glow when they are touched. This is a simply spectacular sight to see in person, the dinoflagellates illuminate the waters with every splash or movement and can best be seen during a new moon when the sky is darker. Most tours of the bioluminescent bays are on kayaks, a magical journey through the shimmering waters is a once in a lifetime experience.

Day 4 in San Juan

Start your day with a superb cup of Puerto Rican coffee and a delicious breakfast in Old San Juan, wander around and explore the many historical sights here and do some shopping. Head out to some of the many fascinating museum's San Juan has to offer. Museo de las Americas is a must, with an impressive presentation of the cultural developments of the Americas, browse through four permanent exhibits displaying integrated art, history, and anthropology with audiovisual highlights and guides.

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is another great museum found in the Santurce neighborhood, one of the largest art museums in the entire Caribbean. The museum is housed in a grand neoclassical building boasting 18 exhibition halls displaying local artists such as Jose Campeche, and Francisco Oller`s collections in the form of paintings, sculptures, carvings, posters, and more. There are some fantastic hands-on exhibitions here for children and a beautiful sculpture garden spread over 2.5 acres. Stroll through the winding pathways that lead you through immaculate lawns and gardens decorated by over 100,000 vibrant plants and 16 sculptures.

Santurce is a great place to explore, the charming streets here are filled with colorful street art and the Santurce Food Trucks have plenty of delicious dining options to choose from.

In the afternoon, head to the Bacardi House distillery and take a fascinating historical tour. Casa Bacardi is home to the iconic rum brand that started in Cuba and moved to different parts of the Caribbean over time, it is still owned by the Bacardi family. There are a variety of different tours providing you with information on how Bacardi came to existence and how the rum is made, you can sample a handful of different rums on your tour and receive a certificate validating you as a knowledgeable Bacardi taster.

Head to the Old Fortress walls this evening to catch your last iconic San Juan sunset, the fortresses and old walls of Old San Juan are captivating under the different colored skies. Wander around until you find the perfect eatery and sample another mouthwatering meal. Calle Loiza is a famed street in Santurce known for its great bar hopping. There are many local bars serving up a wide selection of authentic beers and cocktails accompanied by live music, salsa classes and so much more.

Additional Days in San Juan

If you are able to spend additional days in San Juan, visit the small town of Rico in the northwestern portion of Puerto Rico known as a surfers paradise with spectacular sunsets. Or visit Ponce, Puerto Rico`s second-largest city with a plethora of things to do and attractions to see such as Parque de Bombas (a historic fire station) and La Guancha boardwalk.

Your Last Day in San Juan

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.