{Trip Report} Old San Juan

Hey there, friends, and happy Monday. I hope you had a fabulous weekend! It was cold and rainy here, so I holed up in my closet, and stuffed more bags for donation than I care to admit. Now that I have so much more room, too bad I can’t go on a shopping spree like one of you lucky ducks! Yep, the winner of the $1,000 Nordstrom gift card was announced….go here to see if it’s you! Thanks so much to everyone for entering.

Writing these Trip Report posts is always a bit of a Catch 22 for me. I love going through the photos, and savoring all the memories, but it also signifies the trip is over, and I have a hard time with that part. This backwards thinking is probably why I’ve yet to do the final reports on our Italy trip last Spring…some places are too special to let go. Our trip to Puerto Rico definitely falls into that ‘special’ category.

Hi Sugarplum | Trip Report: Old San Juan

San Juan is a bustling, energetic, cosmopolitan city on the water, with a Miami-vibe. But Old San Juan, is a small, quaint, historic town, consisting of 400 restored buildings from the 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial period. This walkable area in San Juan is steeped in history, with an old-world and romantic European charm.

Cats are everywhere, and are a part of the Old San Juan experience. Some say these cats are descendants of the original cats that arrived on the Spanish ships to settle on the island. There is a volunteer organization that provides food, water, and neutering for all the cats on the island.

Cowboy-hat-wearing iguanas are another story.

Every Saturday, the courtyard of Museo de San Juan is transformed into a community farmers market, where locals and visitors shop for the freshest local produce and traditional handicrafts.

Bright colors and Spanish influence are everywhere…from the flowers, architecture, and tile-work.

The Spanish fortress, El Morro, sits at the tip of the island peninsula, and is really cool to explore. Every weekend, the skies surrounding it are dotted with kites, thanks to the constant coastal breezes. You can sit and watch, or pick up a $5 kite from a local street vendor.

This picturesque cemetery is a 200-year-old burial ground, tucked between the ruins of the El Morro fortress and the Atlantic Ocean.

We captured this cool shot of El Morro from the plane…you can see how large, and imposing, it must have looked to ships trying to invade the island all those years ago.

Just before dusk is the perfect time to visit the fortress, as the area and surrounding water take on a peaceful peachy glow.

{Where We Stayed}

Hotel Casa Blanca

This hotel is full of character, and is ideally located. It’s in the heart of Old San Juan, but sits on a pedestrian-only street, so it was very quiet. It’s 4-stories tall, with no elevator, but has a 2-room suite which was perfect for sleeping four people. There is a cafe, but we always ventured out. The staff is extremely nice and helpful.

Old San Juan is a quick, $20 taxi ride from the airport, and no car is necessary for exploring the immediate area.

If your budget allows, El Convento is the place to stay. It’s an old convent, with the rooms circling a charming open-air courtyard. If you don’t stay here, definitely stop in for a drink on their patio.

View from room’s balcony

{Where We Ate}

There is no shortage of restaurants in Old San Juan, but we sought out local favorites, that serve authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, at affordable prices. Puerto Rican cuisine is a flavorful blend of Cuban, Spanish, African, and American influences.

Cafe Mallorca

This casual diner-style spot, was one block over from the hotel, and packed with locals for breakfast. The mallorca is the sweet roll on the bottom shelf…you can eat it alone with powdered sugar (divine), or heated with meats and cheese inside.

Cafe Mallorca

El Jibarito

We were the only tourists here, and it was well worth the wait for a table. The chicken stew and flank steak were to-die, and don’t miss the flan for dessert.

Cafe Puerto Rico

This cozy spot is oozing with Puerto Rican ambiance, and has the food to match. The soups are incredible, and they serve some of the best Mofongo in town. It’s a dish of lightly-fried sweet plantains, and topped with your choice of meat stew.

Cafe Puerto Rico

Caficultura

We hit this little breakfast spot on the way out of town, and I’m still dreaming about it. It was, hands-down, the best cafe con leche I’ve ever had. Ever. Puerto Rico knows their coffee, and this barrista was an artist!

Caficultura

Many people view San Juan as a layover stop to the Caribbean, or just a cruise port, but we found it to be as charming a town as most we’ve seen in Europe. We spent one full day, and two nights in Old San Juan, and it was perfect. It was an easy flight (on Southwest Airlines…who knew?!), no passports or currency exchange is needed since it’s an American territory, most everyone speaks English, and they are the nicest people we’ve ever encountered traveling.

Seriously, so nice that even the kids kept saying, ‘Everyone is so nice!’ Even our phones worked with no roaming or international plans. It’s like the excitement of leaving the country, without the hassle and expense of leaving the country.

This island is packed with fun things to do, so stay tuned for the next Trip Reports! Up next…the rainforest!

Have you been to Puerto Rico? What areas would you like to see? Live your own 5-star vacation story in Puerto Rico. Make sure to like SeePuertoRico.com on Facebook and follow @PRTourismCo on Twitter for tons of great trip ideas and information.