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Why not booking an excursion was the Best Decision I Made on My Caribbean Cruise Stop in San Juan Puerto Rico?
Why not booking an excursion was the Best Decision I Made on My Caribbean Cruise Stop in San Juan Puerto Rico?
I debated for weeks about what to do during our cruise stop in San Juan Puerto Rico. I had been there before and taken the ferry to the Bacardi Factory which was a great experience but I did not want to do that again. It was a pretty short stop with just 6 hours in port. So I started researching what was walking distance, where I could get the best food and where I could shop.
Things you should know:
The port has two terminals — the Old San Juan Terminal (Piers 1–4) and the Pan American Terminal on Isla Grande. Make sure you know where your ship is docked, as the experience is quite different at each one.
The Old San Juan Piers can accommodate up to 7 large cruise ships and are the most convenient since they're within walking distance of Old San Juan. The Pan American Pier is located about a mile southeast and is used more often as a homeport.
If you're docked at the Pan American Pier, you'll need a taxi or a tour to reach Old San Juan — it's about a 10–15 minute ride.
If you're docked at the Old San Juan piers, a free trolley runs throughout the area with stops at major attractions, though it tends to fill up in the afternoons when ships are in.
Rideshares like Uber also work well. A pro tip from fellow cruisers: taxis booked in port can run around $90 for a group of four one-way, while taxis hailed just outside the port area drop to around $23 for the same trip.
We cruise frequently, and this was genuinely one of the best days we've ever had in a cruise port.
What to Do ?
Old San Juan has more than 400 beautifully restored 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings lining cobblestone streets, originally used as ballast for trade ships from Spain. It makes for a beautiful and colorful walk
The two forts — Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo de San Cristóbal — are both within walking distance, and each can take several hours to explore. On this day we decided to explore Castillo San Felipe and it was a great experience.
We stopped at the Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista located at 151 Calle del Cristo, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico Located in the Old San Juan historic district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, it is one of the oldest buildings in both Puerto Rico and the Americas and was definitely worth seeing!
For something a little different, the Bacardi Rum Factory is easy to visit on your own— take the ferry from Pier 2 (it runs every half hour and costs $1 round-trip for a six-minute ride) to Cataño, then a short taxi or bus ride to the factory. We did this on of our stops in San Juan and truly enjoyed the tour and tasting.
Old San Juan is a food lover's paradise. Try Café El Punto for mofongo and piña coladas, Raices for Puerto Rican staples like arroz con gandules and plantains, or Café Manolin if you're short on time. We stopped at Barrachina for a piña coladas but after waiting in line for over 30 minutes, we gave up and went to Cafe Manolin. It's a traditional bar counter and the piña coladas were delish! The churrasco mofongo was also yummy.
Practical Tips:
Puerto Rico's tropical climate means heat and sun are no joke — bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. We went in March and it was hot!
Wear comfortable walking shoes, the cobble stone streets are hard on your feet. Flip flops are probably not a good idea if you plan on walking around.
If you do not have cell phone service, the port offers free Wi-Fi, so you can sort out plans before heading out. ATT was free service like you have in the US
If you are into fake purses and sunglasses, bring cash there were a lot of vendors selling that kind of stuff.
Have questions? Email me: nabetsi@nabetsi.com
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