Travelling to San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico, is an excellent idea for those who want to visit beautiful beaches, taste delicious Caribbean cuisine and have fun at different attractions. In the city with beautiful historic buildings and modern environments, the natives are very welcoming and there is fun all day long, that is, no chance of staying at the hotel with nothing to do.

Attractions and Landmarks

San Juan is a city with varied attractions, which appeal to all types of visitors. I will highlight below these unique places, take a look:

Old San Juan neighbourhood

There is a San Juan attraction that the traveller needs to tour for an entire day or more. In the charming historic district of the Puerto Rican capital there are beautiful colourful houses with balconies, restaurants and narrow lanes that refer to the historic cities of Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro, or to the mining towns like Diamantina and Ouro Preto.

Getting to know the sights of the locality means having the opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of Puerto Rico in the most enchanting and fun way. For instance, you can book a tour of this first-rate open-air museum on your calendar.

San Cristobal Castle (El Morro)

Rising almost 150 feet above sea level, the Castillo de San Cristóbal is a massive structure that occupies most of the northeast edge of Old San Juan. San Cristóbal was over 200 years newer than El Morro, Puerto Rico’s military stalwart at the time. However, the fort has seen its share of battles. For instance, it fired the first Spanish shot of the Spanish-American War. During World War II, the U.S. added fortifications to its outer walls. After all, it has stood the tests of time and war. It faces the Atlantic Ocean and is the right attraction for visitors who love centuries-old structures and breathtaking landscapes.

Colombo Square

Colombo Square, named after Cristovão Colombo, is located in the central region of San Juan. Surrounded by buildings that illustrate architectural grandeur, it is also close to many bars and restaurants that give light to the liveliest aspects of the region.

Camuy River Cave Park

Without a doubt this is the most exciting natural attraction you can visit in San Juan, that is, about an hour from the city. The Rio Camuy Cave Park covers more than 100 hectares land. It includes a beautiful set of caves framed thousands of years ago by an underground river. Be sure to get to know this scenario that has been open for visitation since 1987.

Must try: Old San Juan Sunset Cruise or Catamaran and Snorkel to Deserted Icacos Island

Entertainment and Food

Puerto Rican food is certainly one of the most attractive spots in the archipelago. The dishes are a fusion of Spanish, African and Taíno spices (named after the Indians who inhabited the islands). The most common spices are yuka (a type of manioc), green plantains, corn, beans, pork, fish and seafood.

El Union Coffee

They call themselves the 7th best coffee shop in Elyu. El union offers super chill ambience, comfort food such as grilled cheese. The s’mores and freshly baked cookies skillet along with really good cold brew latte, are the perfect to start or end your San Juan experience. Must try: Cold brew latte and Cold Brew Mocha.

The Coffee Library

If you’re a true blue coffee aficionado, Coffee Library offers different kinds of coffee, from Vietnamese to Turkish coffee, name it, they have it! Plus they offer a nice set of meal good for any time of the day. 3 things you must try: Beef Phò, Crispy Kare Kare and Grilled Pork Chops.

Restaurante Boronía

The Boronía serves very traditional dishes typical of the “Puerto Rican mother” such as rice with octopus and mofongo with shrimp filling.

Parrot Club

Typical Puerto Rican food with fish and seafood, always with a gourmet touch; there is also the option of artisan hamburgers.

The Parrot drink – made with frozen orange and passion fruit, liqueur and rum – is great for those who like citrus flavours.

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Fun things to do in Saint Lucia

As a travel enthusiast who has visited Saint Lucia a couple of times, I can authoritatively say that the small island is one of the most beautiful tourist destination in the Caribbean.  Lush mountains, crescent-shaped beaches with shady palms, rain forests, small fishing villages, waterfalls, reefs, and geothermal attractions are just some of Saint Lucia’s many attractions.

Pitons

The most stunning views of Saint Lucia feature the iconic twin peaks of the Pitons on the south. A trip to Saint Lucia cannot possibly be complete without a journey to marvel at the most recognizable heritage site on the island. The two striking green-sided duo of the Pitons –Gros Piton (2,619ft) and the steeper Petit Piton (2,461ft) offer a perfect opportunity for photography and hiking. We had a lot of fun scaling the distinctive peaks while enjoying the panoramic views of the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans.  However, climbing the Gros Piton is pretty intense and takes approximately 4-5 hours. You simply cannot tire of the Pitons’ beauty when you visit Saint Lucia.

Endless blue waters

Ready for more action after a day of mountain climbing? I recommend you visit some of Saint Lucia’s many gorgeous beaches for exciting activities. The island offers incredibly soft sand and outstanding clear water.

For instance, the most popular beach you’ll want to visit is Reduit Beach. Adjacent to Rodney Bay, Reduit beach is a nice place to try waterskiing and windsurfing. In addition to that, the beach is dotted with restaurants offering glorious sunsets.

Located in the stunning grounds overlooking Pitons Bay, Sugar Beach is a place where you’ll lose yourself and forget about your worries within no time. The beautiful white-sand beach boasts some lovely waters.

Marigot Bay

In other words, if you’re looking for a romantic getaway, Marigot Bay offers a more secluded getaway. Anse Chastanet Beach offers plenty of snorkelling and diving opportunities for visitors who may want to discover the underwater world.No matter where you’re staying; you can find a perfect beach nearby.

Botanical gardens

Saint Lucia is best known for its stunning botanical gardens. We spent a couple of hours exploring the various beautiful plants with a very informative guide. Some of the best botanical gardens you’ll want to visit include Mamiku Gardens, Diamond Botanical Gardens, and La Tille Falls and Garden. In other words, walking through the stunning gardens, you’ll witness many tropical plants and fruits that you never knew existed.

Must try: Majestic Gros Piton Hike or Snorkelling Adventure

Festivals and entertainment

Saint Lucia offers plenty of opportunities to partake in local festivals and entertainment. For instance, one of the most popular celebrations is the St. Lucia Carnival that takes place in June. The festival is marked by colourful decorations, street parties, and celebrations.

Great food

A visit to Saint Lucia trip is not complete without tasting the delicious food that this small island offers.  Some of the foods you must try in Saint Lucia include tuna, grilled Mahi, snapper, lobsters, and lambi.

In addition to the above, for a real local treat, be sure to try callaloo soup, breadfruit, green figs, and saltfish. The Beacon Restaurant offers authentic St. Lucia cuisine -from St.Lucian-style macaroni to green fig and salt dish.

If you’re a traveller looking for a destination with plenty of things to do, I recommend you try Saint Lucia.

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