San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Barbara February 08, 2025

One of my favourite places in the Caribbean is San Juan, Puerto Rico. I was so happy to see that it was one of our ports of call on this sailing.

Old San Juan was founded in 1521 and is one of the oldest European-established settlements in the Americas. It was strategically built on a small island to provide defense, with the imposing fortresses of El Morro and San Cristóbal standing guard against any invaders. Over centuries, the area evolved into the cultural hub that it is today, blending Spanish colonial architecture with Caribbean influences. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing Puerto Rico's rich history.

When cruising into San Juan, the port is right in Old San Juan. This is a great location as it means passengers can step off the ship and immediately be in the middle of the vibrant atmosphere of the Old Town. Everything is within walking distance.

Our plan for the day was to wander along the cobblestone streets and enjoy the sights and sounds. As it turns out, Old San Juan was very lively as it was a National Holiday.

El Morro

We walked to the other side of Old San Juan where El Morro sits on a hill over-looking the Atlantic Ocean. We opted for seeing it from the outside as our time was limited, and, more importantly, it was lunch time and we were getting hungry.

El Morro, or Castillo San Felipe del Morro, dates back to the late 16th century and is one of Puerto Rico's most iconic landmarks.

Seeing it from the outside is still incredible.. Walking the perimeter and seeing the fortress standing majestically on the edge of the cliff was breathtaking. Its stone walls and towering watchtowers were quite imposing.

Parque de las Palomas

Parque de las Palomas, or Pigeon Park, is a charming, lively spot in Old San Juan. It was on our must-see list for the day. It is located on the wall of the Old City, offering panoramic views of the bay and the cruise port. More than the stunning views, however, is the large population of pigeons that reside there.

We decided to take our lives in our own hands and purchase some bird food, causing the pigeons to swarm. We were very fortunate to escape with our lives, and our clothing intact - free of any bird excrement.

Shopping

We couldn't resist the incredible shopping in Old San Juan. There's no shortage of jewelry stores that cater to the cruise passengers, as well as several of the well-known American stores. There are many local artisan shops to peruse (usually my kind of stores). I won't confess to anything that may, or may not have been purchased on that day.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Old San Juan. As always, when we sailed away, passed El Morro, and headed into the Atlantic, I felt a bit sad to leave. But one thing is for sure – I’ll be back.