Exploring San Juan's Street Art, Rainforests and Castles
Puerto Rico has so much to offer: blissful beaches at every turn, plenty of cultural tourism and El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the US. It's an ideal spot to visit, especially for American travelers, since it's so easy to get to from the US and super-affordable. You can often find amazing flight deals and award availability to the island, too, making it the perfect place to cash in some hotel points, as there are many hotels with loyalty programs scattered throughout the island. Here's a look at the best art, hikes and castles in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and where to find them.
For starters, history buffs — or anyone who loves a good castle — can enjoy not one, but two giant stone fortresses perched overlooking the deep blue sea: the Castillo San Felipe del Morro (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Castillo de San Cristóbal. Both castles date back to the 1500s, when Spanish settlers arrived to colonize the island. A $5 ticket is valid for seven days and includes entrance to both sites, but if you don't feel like exploring the interiors, strolling around the walls at dusk is a lovely way to enjoy the sunset.
Simply wandering through the streets of Old San Juan is a great activity for pretty much anyone. The hilly, cobblestone streets are lined with colorful buildings, and the sounds of salsa wafting in and out of bars complete with warm, pleasant evening temperatures set the scene for a truly enjoyable walk. If you want to enjoy the sights but need to take a load off your feet, a free trolley also operates between 9:00am and 6:00pm, stopping at various points around the city. If you pick up a city map at the tourism office or your hotel, you'll see that all the trolley stops are marked along the way and you can hop on and hop off as you wish.
Of course, there are plenty of nearby beaches that you can spend your day lounging on, the closest and most popular being Condado, a great place to watch the local boogie boarders do their thing. Ocean Park, another nearby beach, pictured below, is great for families and has much calmer waves.
Daytime temperatures can get really hot, so if you aren't at the beach, it may be best to head indoors for a bit and check out one of San Juan's many museums, like Casa Blanca, a restored home perched over the sea that was once built for Ponce de León. The Museo del Niño (Children's Museum) is a lively, bright space perfect for families, and the Museo del Arte has a varied permanent collection featuring works ranging from the 17th century to the present-day. Visit the art district of Santurce — the street art you'll see along Fernandez Juncos Avenue (bus stop 22) is creative and inspiring. Foodies should check out the Flavors of San Juan Food & Culture Tour, where they can sample some of the island's most famous dishes. For a real treat, stop by the Bacardí Distillery and end your historic rum factory visit with a stiff mojito or mixology class.
There are plenty of convenient escapes from the city as well. Anyone seeking a short hike or a picturesque drive should visit El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the US. If you'd prefer to skip an organized tour, you can always rent a car and drive up through the forest on your own.
There are several hikes you can do, most of which are well-marked with easy-to-follow trails. The most popular is the Big Tree Trail hike to La Mina Falls, which is a moderate-level 30-minute hike along a paved trail. Non-hikers can check out the Yokahu Observation Tower for incredible views of the tropical treetops.
The Humacao Nature Reserve, located about 90 minutes from San Juan by car, is a one-stop shop for nature, beaches and a little exercise.
You can walk or rent bikes and enjoy the palm-tree covered trails, visit the beach, hike up to an old bunker or paddle kayaks through the lagoon. Keep an eye out for the giant iguanas that frequent the park, which probably won't mess with you, but I wouldn't get too close.
Finally, your trip wouldn't be complete without a kayaking tour through bioluminescent bay, located in Fajardo about an hour from Old San Juan. Although it can be rather touristy since you can only visit the bay with a guided kayak tour, seeing the water glow when dinoflagellates light up the water is a special experience — just be prepared to kayak in almost-complete darkness on the way back!
What are some of your favorite things to do in Puerto Rico? Tell us about them below.
All images are courtesy of the author except where otherwise noted.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.