There is more to San Juan, than just Old San Juan. Here are 28 things to do in the San Juan Metro Area:
1. Beaches
There are several beaches in the San Juan Metro Area. Here are a few to check out:
Carolina Public Beach
Escambron Beach – Located between Condado and Old San Juan, close to the Normandie Hotel.
Ocean Park Beach
Coqui note: Public beaches are closed Monday and Tuesday during the winter season
2. Bridge Diving
I’m not recommending this, but it’s very popular with the young locals. Every weekend you will find groups of youngsters all along the bridge that connects Condado to San Juan (currently this is a temporary structure). They line up to dive into the warm waters and compete to see who can produce the most spectacular dives.
3. Caparra Museum
Small museum and the remains of the first settlement in Puerto Rico. Established by Ponce de Leon.
Hwy 2, km 6.4. Guaynabo.
Open weekdays 8am – 4pm.
787-781-4795
4. Casa Bacardi
Rum distillery. – tours are available, but the tour is not of the actual distillery, more of a museum / replica of the distillery.
Catano
Open daily 9am-4-30pm (Sundays 10am – 3:30pm).
Website: www.casabacardi.org
787-788-8400
5. Casino’s
See if Lady Luck is Smiling on You. Casino’s are located in the following hotels; Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel, Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino, San Juan Marriott Resort, Diamond Plaza Hotel and Casino, Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, El San Juan Hotel and Casino, Courtyard by Marriott, Intercontinental San Juan, Embassy Suites and the Best Western San Juan Airport Hotel (useful if you have a layover)
https://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/2008/02/check-out-a-casino-in-puerto-rico/
6. Deep Sea Fishing at Club Nautica Marina
From here you can charter a boat at search for the famous blue marlins that are caught in the waters around Puerto Rico
7. Galaxy Lanes – Ten Pin Bowling
32 lane bowling alley located in Plaza Las Americas
Plaza Las Americas
8. Heineken Jazz Festival
Yearly event towards the end of May beginning of June. Usually takes place at the Tito Puente Amphitheater. One of the most prestigous jazz festivals in the Caribbean.
9. History of the Bible Museum
This is not quite what the name suggests. This 13-story building includes an aquarium, dinosaur exhibit, ice-skating rink, mini-golf, small amusement rides, video games, and a pizza parlor. A great place to take the kids if the weather is not cooperating.
All inclusive pass is $20
Closed Monday and Tuesdays
Located on Rd 26 (just past the San Juan airport)
Website: www.museohistoricodelabiblia.com
787-969-0985
10. Isla Grande Airport
Offers flights to the islands of Culebra / Vieques
Close to the Puerto Rico Convention Center and the Pan American Cruise Ship Pier
11. Le Lo lai Show
Local music and dance show
Fridays at Alambiqu Beach, Isla Verde (Carolina)
Saturdays at Plaza Ventana al Mar on Ashford Ave in Condado
787-721-2400 ext 2715
12. Luis A Ferre Performing Arts Center
The place to go for opera, drama, ballet, classical and popular music.
Ponce de Leon Avenue., Santurce.
Tel: 787-724-4747
13. Luis A. Ferre Science Park
A large family park. Plenty to see and do at this park for all the family. In the park you will find a planetarium, physics museum, aerospace museum with NASA rockets, transportation museum with antique cars, and a zoo
Comerio Ave. Bayamon.
Wednesday – Friday 9am – 4pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am – 6pm. Road 167
787-740-6868
14. Luis Munoz Marin Foundation
House and gardens of Puerto Rico’s first governor.
Road 877, km 0,4.
Weekdays 8am – 5pm, weekends 10am – 3:30pm
787-755-7979
15. Museum of Art of Puerto Rico
Fixed and visiting exhibitions.
229 De Diego Avenue, santurce.
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 6pm
Website: www.mapr.org (Spanish)
787-997-6277
16. Museum of Contemporary Art
Exhibitions of modern Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin America art. The museum is a former school house.
Website: www.museocontemporaneopr.org (Spanish)
787-977-4030
17. Night Clubs
If you are looking to party the night away, then the San Juan Metro area offers a whole host of options. Among them are:
Brava at the El San Juan, 787-791-2781
Milk Disco and Lounge, 787-405-2475 \
Mijani, 787-722-3522
Blend, 787-977-7777
Club Liquid 787-646-4801
Eternal at the Condado Plaza Hotel 787-721-1000
Plus many more.
18. Pinones Kiosks
Just east of the airport – Roadside food kiosks selling great traditional Puerto Rican food.
Road 187
Pinones
19. Pinones Beach and Boardwalk
Relax on the beach, hit the surf or rent a bike
Road 187
Pinones
20. Plaza del Mercado
Local food market. During the day. Lively entertainment spot at night.
Canals Street, north of Ponce de Leon Avenue
21. Plaza Las Americas
Largest shopping mall in the Caribbean. Anchored by Macy’s, Sears and JC Penny; if you feel the need to shop, then check out Plaza.
22. Puerto Rico Convention Center
Largest convention center in the Caribbean.
Isla Grande
Website: www.prconvention.com
800-875-4765
23. Puerto Rico Islanders
The Puerto Rico Islanders soccer team, play in the US League. During the regular season, you can catch them at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.
Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium
Route 2 and Route 5
Bayamon
Website: www.puertoricoislandersfc.com
24. San Juan Botanical Gardens
These gardens are maintained by the University of Puerto Rico. Here you will find collections of palms, orchids and other vegetation.
Road 847.
Open daily, 8am – 5pm. Hwy 1
Tel: 787-758-9957,
Website: www.upr.clu.edu/jardin/JardiBot.htm (Spanish)
25. San Juan Airport
Major hub for many Caribbean destinations (so layovers in San Juan are fairly common) and the main airport of Puerto Rico. Taxis are readily available from the arrivals terminal and fares to and from the tourist areas are fixed based on starting and ending destinations.
26. Skateboarding at Moisty Skate Park
If you are into skateboarding then check out Moisty Skate Park. For $20 you get 3 hours to skate the 10 vertical ramps of all sizes.
Located on the fifth floor of Santa Rosa Mall.
Closed Monday
Website: www.moistyskatepark.com
27. The Original Canopy Tour at La Marquesa Forest Reserve
Take this zip line tour located just 30 minutes from the heart of San Juan.
Located at the end of Rd. 834
Guaynabo
Website: www.canopytourpr.com
787-789-1598
28. Water Sports at Isla Verde
Whether you are looking to soar high over Isla Verde beach, fly across the waves on a gigantic banana, sail a hobie cat or a gentle kayak ride, you can find them all at San Juan Waterfun
Located on Isla Verde Beach behind ESJ Towers and El San Juan Hotel & Casino
Open daily: 10am – 5pm
Website: www.waterfun-pr.com
This is the second in a series of articles that will cover ideas for the various areas of Puerto Rico. To make sure you don’t miss this series, why not obtain updates in your email or your RSS reader
Photo resources: abnelgonzalez, bitshaker, mysticchildz and mannequin
