Michael and I took a long weekend trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico and it was the perfect little Caribbean getaway! We took the first flight out Thursday AM and returned Sunday evening. Since it was just a short trip, we decided to maximize our time and stay in Old San Juan. There are SOO many other parts of Puerto Rico to explore, and if we had more time we would’ve 100%!
Because Puerto Rico is a US territory, visiting the country is extremely easy for American citizens. That is correct, you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico! With it being in the Caribbean, it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but it also has so much more. It has delicious food, the culture, and an incredibly hot nightlife scene, just to name a few.
What to expect
Language: English and Spanish are the two most widely spoken languages in Puerto Rico. However, don’t plan for locals to speak perfect English as they much prefer Spanish.
Currency: The official currency of Puerto Rico is the United States Dollar (USD)
Safety: The beautiful island of Puerto Rico is considered safe to visit, especially in the larger cities that are popular with tourists. You might run into pickpocketing, just be safe and be aware of your surroundings.
When to visit
Temperatures on the coast of Puerto Rico average 85 F, so it makes for the perfect year-round destination. That being said, some times are better than others to visit.
December through May are peak seasons. Hurricanes are common in the tropics, and Puerto Rico has had its share of hurricanes. Hurricane season lasts from June through November so check the forecast before your vacation to avoid a serious natural disaster. However, it’s the cheapest time to visit! We visited in the peak of hurricane season (September) and had no weather issues at all. We were tracking storms the few days leading up to our trip to make sure we’d be safe!
Where To Stay
For just a long weekend in Puerto Rico, we wanted to stay in the heart of Old San Juan. It is where all the action is, restaurants, nightlife, and culture. We decided on Hotel El Convento and it was AMAZING! Not only was it stunning, had a rooftop pool, 3 restaurants, complimentary wine and cheese happy hour, it was the absolute perfect location. We could walk anywhere in under 10 minutes. I highly highly recommend this hotel in Old San Juan.
Another perk of this hotel is that they partner with Courtyard Marriott Isla Verde which is a beach resort, and you can get access to their beach with chairs and umbrellas. It was only a 15 minute Uber!
What To Do
To sum up Old San Juan in one word: colorful. Some of the best moments were just wandering down the blue cobblestone streets admiring all the colorful buildings. Calle de Luna was my favorite street to walk down!
El Castillo San Felipe del Morro
More commonly known as El Morro. Built in the 1500s as a military structure, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most picturesque destinations in all of Puerto Rico. It opens at 9am and is $10 to enter. I recommend going first thing in the morning before the crowds, and frankly there was no shade. Your ticket will automatically give you access to the other fort in OSJ – Castillo San Cristóbal, without having to pay a separate entrance fee (and vice versa).
Sunset Walk & Taste Tour with The Spoon Experience
Hands down our favorite activity we did all weekend. Y’all know that I love doing food tours when I travel, so I knew I needed too find on in OSJ! We had a lovely experience during ours.
Visit local, independently owned restaurants and sample both traditional and modern Puerto Rican fare! With 7 food tastings and 2 cocktails – it was the greatest evening. We learned about the culture, history, and most importantly the food of Puerto Rico.
Some of the food we had:
- Chocolate Mallorca and Chocolate Martini
- Traditional Pork with rice and beans and fresh fruit juice
- Passionfruit ceviche and watermelon mojito
- Mofongo
Casa Bacardí Mixology Class
Puerto Rico is known for their Rum, and Bacardí is from San Juan. Take a 20 minute uber or a ferry to the beautiful grounds of Casa Bacardí.
They offer tours, tastings, but we opted for the mixology class. Discover the secrets of the famed rum as you peek behind-the-scenes on a distillery tour, enjoy a welcome cocktail, then, under the guidance of a mixologist, learn to make classic cocktails. We made a mojito and a Pina colada. It was SO FUN! Our guide was a blast and the whole group was lively and ready to have a good time!
If you are looking for more rum tastings check out a local distillery Ron Del Barrilito.
Where To Eat
Breakfast/Brunch
Cafetería Mallorca – A small hole in the wall breakfast diner, serving the traditional Mallorca. Mallorca bread is Puerto Rican sweet rolls. They are plump, fluffy, buttery rolls dusted with powdered sugar. Traditionally stuffed with ham and cheese, you can get it anyway you’d like though.
Chocobar Cortes – Chocolate Cortés is a 4th generation, family-owned, Caribbean, bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing company. Everything on their menu has chocolate incorporated. Their infamous chocolate grilled cheese was tasty, but order the croquettes and you will thank me later! Wash it all down with a chocolate martini.
Lunch/Dinner
Deaverdura – Looking for traditional PR food? Look no further. This place has it all. The best part is that they have no paper menus, the servers will talk and see what you may be interested in and go from there. It is very popular and only has a few tables, so try to get their earlier than later. The mashed yuca was to die for!
DesHistoria Birra Y Empanadas – the name says it all. If you are looking for empanadas, this is the place. Note: they open at 3pm.
El Asador – Bold statement but their lobster/seafood risotto was the best thing I ate all trip. It was heavenly. This is a great seafood restaurant if you are looking for a nice dinner. The aesthetics are great too!
Where To Drink
The nightlife in Old San Juan is electric. It is definitely a cocktail city. But we had so much fun bar hopping and trying all the spots! Calle de San Sebastian is known as the nightlife street as it is lined with bars and a good time!
La Factoría – This is hands downs the number 1 spot you need to check out in OSJ. 6 speakeasy bars in one unmarked building. Each bar has its own menu and vibe and you go through doors, closets, and curtains to reach the next one. Their signature drink is their lavender mule. To find it, it is on the corner of San Sebastian and San José street. It is voted one of the best bars on North America!
El Batey – The oldest bar in the Caribbean! This super old, dive bar is a must try for a drink. Their special is $5 – Medalla beer and a shot of rum.
Al Fresco Wine Bar – A wine rooftoop with great views of the city. They have a great happy hour from 4-7pm every day!
Bar Catedral Roof Top – A hidden rooftop overlooking the main cathedral of OSJ. This was a great place to grab a mojito and watch the sunset.
The Cannon Club – Super old school piano bars with beautiful courtyards and ornate decor.
La Taberna Lúpulo – A great craft local beer bar
La Barrachina – Birthplace of the Pina colada! Stop by this beautiful tropical oasis to try the original Pina colada. Note: skip the food and just opt for the cocktail.
We had such a good time exploring Old San Juan!
Glad to see you enjoying the islands, hope you had a really great time!
Love, Grandpa Bob and Kathy