San Juan, Puerto Rico- What to Expect

San Juan, a gorgeous cultural city with soft sand beaches and a vibe that could easily make it the best decision you’ve ever taken.  Lined with beachfront luxury hotels, historic forts, colonial architecture, fine dining, museums, and much more, San Juan is the birthplace of the very famous pina colada and till date prides itself over every pour.

Here are a few things that come in handy while planning your trip to this beautiful city:

1. The Winter Months Last through Dec to March with an average high of 32.7°C and an average low of 20°C.
2. An Average meal for one person costs about 16.06$ in a non-expensive restaurant.
3. A Pint of Domestic Drought Beer costs about 2.68$ on an average.
4. A Litre of gas Costs 1.04$.
5. A monthly Travel pass on regular rates would cost around 58.18$.
6. The monthly rent of a 1BHK a little off the City Centre is about 677.37$.

Main Attractions:

1. Showcasing nearly 500 years of heritage, the streets of Old San Juan are windows to the rich Porto-Rican past, with majestic forts and Spanish colonial construction sets the scene. This World Cultural Heritage Site is the second oldest town in the Americas and the oldest city under the US flag. The seven-square-block area contains more than 400 magnificently refurbished 16th- and 17th-century colonial structures, many of which contain shops, restaurants, museums, hotels, and other public buildings.
2. Protecting the entrance to San Juan Bay, the fort of Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, commonly referred to as El Morro, is dramatically rested above the sea on a point of land projecting out into the ocean. A named National Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, El Morro was built in 1539, with continuing construction for 250 years, and is one of the most comprehensive Spanish forts in the Caribbean. Much construction took place between the 1760s and 1780s when many of the present walls were added.
3. While El Morro gets all the fame, Castillo de San Cristóbal is equally captivating and well worth a visit. San Cristobal is bigger than El Morro and is the largest for the Spanish ever built in the New World. Spread over 27 acres, it features five independent units connected by moat and tunnel, each intended to be self-sufficient should the others fall. The fort was built between 1634 and 1790 to guard the eastern gate to what is today, Old San Juan. It was designed to defend against a land invasion, making it quite distinct from El Morro, which was built to defend against attacks by sea.
4. Set along the coast, adjacent to El Morro, and high above the ocean, is the beautiful San Juan Cemetery. distinguished for its elaborate tombstones; statues; and a circular, red-domed Neoclassical chapel committed to Mary Magdalene, the cemetery is a tranquil place. Set on a hillside above the sea, it also has beautiful scenes out to the ocean and towards El Morro. The graves are all above ground, similar to those observed in New Orleans. The chapel in the cemetery dates to the 19th century, and many of Puerto Rico’s earliest settlers are buried here. From El Morro, there are great stretches looking back to the cemetery in the distance
5. The San Juan Cathedral, established in 1540, is known for being one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas and one of the oldest buildings in San Juan. The interior, with its black-and-white checkered tile floor and yellow décor, is surprisingly ornate and cheery. The body of the great Spanish explorer, Ponce de León lays here in a marble grave since 1913, and San Pío, a Roman Catholic martyr, since 1862. The cathedral still holds regular services, and tours are available.
6. The Museo de las Americas, in Old San Juan, traverses the story of Puerto Rico, with a focus on the art, the ethnic groups, and the colonization of the country. Permanent displays offer a solid survey of the country’s past, but passing presentations round out the experience, with all kinds of exciting themes that may include anything from modern art to traditional systems. This museum is a good place to start before beginning a tour of the country’s cultural and historic sites.
7.  The Condado district lies on a piece of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Laguna Condado. The district was originally developed as San Juan’s first tourist district in the 1950s, creating a mini Miami Beach on the doorsteps of the city. The main axis of the town is Avenida Ashford, along which stand a number of luxury hotels and resorts. Condado offers a broad selection of accommodations and facilities in all price ranges. In the eastern area of the district is Ocean Park, a one-mile-wide beach encompassing residential homes and beach retreats. The white-sand beach is clean and very popular with locals. There are no facilities or change rooms here. Condado is also home to the huge Convention Center, with shopping, theatres, restaurants, and space for festivals and exhibitions.
8. La Fortaleza was completed in 1540 as a defence against the Carib Indians and other foreign invaders. La Fortaleza is the oldest governor’s mansion still used as such in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 150 governors having lived or stayed here. The building itself has undergone many changes in its long history. The result is a blend of 16th-century military construction with the refinements of the 19th century.
9. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is one of the highlights of San Juan and is a notable player in the Caribbean cultural scene. The structure, which was inaugurated in 2000, was constructed around a 1920’s hospital building. The older portion of the construction displays the museum’s permanent holdings and is the first thing guests see as they enter. The newer portion is a five-story structure carrying a multi-story atrium, a theatre with seating for up to 400 people, a sculpture garden, and a popular restaurant. There are also other rooms available for workshops and exhibitions. In total, the museum contains more than 130,000 feet of space used to display an excellent permanent collection and host temporary exhibitions.
10. Dominican friars built the Iglesia de San José in 1532, making it one of the earliest examples of Spanish Gothic architecture in the Americas. Unlike the San Juan Cathedral, this church is small, with a simple façade, but the vaulted interior gives it an atmospheric feel. For almost 300 years, the Spanish adventurer Ponce de León was buried here until his body was shifted to the San Juan Cathedral in 1913. The 18th-century Puerto Rican artist, José Campeche, is buried here.