Making the most of San Juan
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Be awake in time for the great sail-in!
Terminal and pier information:
In the heart of Old San Juan, Piers 1 to 6 stand at Marina Street within walking distance of all major sights. Ships using Old San Juan Cruise Piers can use the free trolley into the city centre. Serving larger cruise ships, the Pan American Pier is farther south of Old San Juan in Isla Grande; no hotels are nearby, with the Caribe Hilton the closest, approximately 5 minutes away by car.
Most cruise lines arrange airport-to-pier transport. A taxi costs about 20-25US$ and takes 20 minutes.
Take a printable map with you.
San Juan is Puerto Rico's capital and, at two million, its largest city, with one of the Caribbean's best harbours.
Old San Juan is a popular 7-block area for tourists as well as residents. Its narrow streets are packed with people, so the best way to experience Old San Juan is on foot, avoiding the traffic that otherwise builds up.
Atop a high promontory above the entrance to San Juan Bay stands Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Built through the work of Spanish engineers over more than 250 years, it is one of the largest Caribbean fortifications constructed by Spain.
Castillo de San Cristóbal is considered the largest fortress built in the Americas. Designed to protect San Juan against land attack from the east, it has three levels, an extensive series of outer defences and took over 150 years to complete.
- Pier 1: At 770 feet in length, this modern, two-tiered terminal has pier-side passenger and baggage gangways, elevators, parking and shopping concessions.
- Pier 3: Mainly used by the Royal Caribbean line for transit cruise ships.
- Pier 4: Carnival Cruise Lines manages this modern terminal on the harbour's north shore, with a total length of 1,196 feet.
- Pier 6: A marginal wharf totalling 1,196 feet in length.
- Frontier Pier: A single berth for cruise vessels and conventional ocean carriers handling open storage cargo.
- Pan American Pier: Royal Caribbean International manages this modern, two-tiered passenger terminal, with a marginal wharf 2,000 feet long.
Getting around
Public transport in Puerto Rico is fairly poor: outside San Juan there are no scheduled buses or trains. Taxis are very expensive, although fares are fixed.
Hire cars can cost as little as $30 per day.
If history interests you, both forts are within walking distance, or use the free trolley. Each fort can take several hours to explore. The trolley winds through the area, allowing you to leave at marked stops wherever you want, but it tends to remain full during afternoons when cruise ships are in.
Nearby places
Visit the Bacardi Rum Factory, commonly offered as a ship-sponsored tour but also easy to do independently. Take the ferry from Pier 2, beside the cruise ship dock, to Catano; it departs every half hour, costs $1 round trip for the six-minute crossing, and is followed by a 10-minute bus or taxi ride to the factory.
Arecibo lies about one hour west of San Juan and offers a same-day visit to the Arecibo observatory and Cavernas del Rio Camuy (Camuy River Caverns).
Loiza: Piñones, on Loiza's north coast, is a great place for the beach and some of the best Puerto Rican fried food. It is just minutes from El Condado and Old San Juan.
Fajardo: Las Cabezas de San Juan in eastern Puerto Rico is a natural reserve. On a tour, see the reserve's different types of plants and its lighthouse, which now functions as a small museum, and enjoy the spectacular view. Reservation is required.
Rio Grande: The Caribbean National Rain Forest, or El Yunque, is here—a great place to spend a day with nature, enjoy an awesome view, and walk among trees and small rivers.
Food and shopping
Puerto Rico has maintained lower import tax rates and duty-free VAT rates across the island. Travellers wishing to stock up on wines and spirits, especially Puerto Rican rum, may find it the perfect place, and stores open 7 days a week.
Plaza Las Americas is the Caribbean's largest shopping mall.
Money
Currency: $US.
Staying connected
Spanish and English are Puerto Rico's official languages, but Spanish is unquestionably dominant.
High-speed public wireless internet in public areas—coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and malls—is finally growing and free in most places.
Opening Hours and
Businesses generally open 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Government offices, banks and schools close on public holidays, when museum hours and transport schedules may also change.