Even those limited to a quick visit find it easy to fall under the beguiling spells of Old San Juan’s cobblestone streets, pastel-painted colonial buildings and grand fortresses.
-Nate Cavalieri
San Juan is one of the most desirable destinations for US tourists: beautiful beaches, charming historical neighborhoods, and no passport needed! If you only have 3 days in San Juan, let us help you with your itinerary:
Day 1
Spend your first day exploring the winding colorful streets of Old San Juan.
Have a taxi drop you off at Castillo de San Cristobal, a historical fort built to protect against land based attacks on San Juan. Stroll through the old stone walkways and dark tunnels while you take in excellent views of old San Juan and the ocean. The entrance fee is cheap (around $5). Don’t forget to be careful during your photo opts! I almost fell 100ft into the ocean…
Walk through the streets of Old San Juan and grab some lunch before heading to one of San Juan’s most popular attractions, Castillo San Felipe del Morro. We recommend trying Puerto Ricos signature dish, Mufongo, a fried plantain-based dish typically filled with chicken, shrimp, beef, or vegetables. If you have time, stop Barrachina, the house where the Pina Colada was first invented.
About a 15-20 minute walk from San Cristobal, you will stumble upon the lawn of El Morro. El Morro was built to guard the entrance to the San Juan Bay, and to defend San Juan from seaborne enemies. Get there before 6pm if you wish to tour the inside. If not, the outside of El Morro is still beautiful during sunset, with plenty of people and kites flooding the lawn.
After the sun goes down, check out some of the great bars in San Juan. We started off our night by grabbing wine and cheese at Al Fresco Rooftop Terrace. If you’re a night owl, head to La Factoria for craft cocktails, or La Taberna Lupulo for a great beer selection. There are also a few great salsa dancing bars. However, I would avoid the ones that cruise ship tourists frequent.
Day 2
Take a day trip to Fijardo for an adventure.
Grab a smoothie in the morning to cure your hangover and rent a car for the day. About a half hour drive from San Juan, lays El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US.
El Yunque is filled with plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic towers. Hike up the winding stone pathway through the jungle to Torre Britton for the best view of the park. If your hungry, empanadas are available at stands throughout the park. Spend a few hours here before heading to Fajardo.
Fajardo is about 20 minutes from El Yunque and is home to one of the few Bioluminescent Lagoons in the world. Bio Bay is famous for it’s water luminescence which is triggered by plankton that is able to generate an emerald green illumination when the water touched. Sign up for the night kayaking Bio Bay tour (which does get filled up) for a once in a lifetime experience. Book tickets here.
Day 3
Relax on one of San Juan’s beautiful beaches.
I stayed at Isla Verde, a long wide beach in the nearby town of Carolina with a lot of restaurants and cafes along the shoreline. However, there are also plenty of other great options (Escambron, Condado, La Pena etc.) This is a good article to decide which beach is best for you.
I spent half my day sun bathing, and the other half hanging out at numerous beach bars, my favorite being El Alambique.
At night, try some of Puerto Ricos traditional tapas at Platos.
Do you have any other suggestions for 3 days in San Juan Puerto Rico? Let us know below!
You’ve really captured all the esatseinls in this subject area, haven’t you?