While cruising aboard the MSC World America, we had a port stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
And what a wonderful place to spend the day!
One of the things I enjoyed most was how easily you could go from exploring centuries of history to wandering through colorful streets, enjoying local food and finding a beautiful spot along the water.
San Juan has a little bit of everything, and you certainly don't have to spend your entire day rushing from one attraction to the next to enjoy it.
A Little History Along the Way
Old San Juan is full of history, and one of its most recognizable landmarks is Castillo San Felipe del Morro, better known as El Morro.
Construction began in 1539, and over the centuries it grew into the impressive fortress overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay.
Between the old fortifications, colorful colonial buildings and cobblestone streets, there's plenty to explore. And honestly, just wandering around and taking it all in is part of the experience.
We decided to take a taxi tour, which gave us an opportunity to see the historical areas of Old San Juan along with parts of newer San Juan without trying to cover everything on foot.
We even stopped near the beach and lagoon area by the bridge connecting the older and newer parts of the city.
It was a nice change of scenery and another side of San Juan worth seeing.
And Of Course, We Had to Try the Local Food
One of our stops was an open-air fresh market, where we enjoyed a Puerto Rican empanada.
Delicious!
Those are some of my favorite travel moments. Not necessarily the big attractions, but the little stops where you get to experience a bit of everyday life and try something local.
And then there was the piña colada.
Did you know San Juan has a little disagreement over where the piña colada was invented?
Barrachina, in Old San Juan, claims its bartender created the drink in 1963. The Caribe Hilton has its own claim dating back to 1954.
I'm not getting in the middle of that argument.
But I will tell you the piña colada at Barrachina was absolutely delicious and worth stopping for!
More Than Just a Cruise Port
One thing I appreciate about San Juan is how accessible it is for U.S. travelers.
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so U.S. citizens traveling directly between the mainland and Puerto Rico don't need a passport. U.S. dollars are used, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
If you're visiting on a cruise, comfortable walking shoes and water are a good idea. The old streets can be uneven, and the Caribbean heat is no joke.
A taxi tour can also be a great option if you want to see more of the city without spending your entire port day walking.
Just be mindful of your ship's all-aboard time, especially when arranging independent transportation or excursions.
But here's something else I took away from our visit.
San Juan deserves more than a few hours.
There's enough history, food, culture and beautiful scenery that I could easily see spending several days exploring beyond the cruise port.
Sometimes a port stop gives you just enough of a destination to know you'd like to come back.
And San Juan is certainly one of those places.
Make new memories with all your favorite people.