A Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Juan, Puerto Rico
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico is a beautiful Caribbean city that is divided into many different areas. During my visit, I mostly spent my time walking around Old San Juan. My walking tour began by taking an Uber to El Morro, San Juan’s historic fort. From El Morro, I then walked through Old San Juan to the San Cristobal Fort. Finally, my walk took me past the capitol building, as I then followed the coast back to the modern part of San Juan and my hotel. I walked close to 10 miles and felt like I was able to see a lot of the city.
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Juan - Table of Contents
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A Self-Guided Tour of San Juan - El Morro Area
Following a self-guided tour of El Morro, I spent a few minutes walking the beautiful grounds of the fort. Once my fort visit was completed, I headed towards Old San Juan. If you would like to read more about my visit to El Morro, you can click HERE.
A Self-Guided Tour of San Juan - Old San Juan
Old San Juan is where I spent most of my self-guided walking tour. I enjoyed getting lost in the winding, colorful streets that felt like going back in time. If you would like to read more about my visit to Old San Juan, you can do so by clicking HERE.
A Self-Guided Tour of San Juan - San Cristobal
After getting lost in the winding streets of Old San Juan, I eventually found my way to the San Cristobal Fort. In the picture below, you can see El Morro off in the distance, as well as Old San Juan behind the coast. It is easy to walk to San Cristobal following the coastal highway, but I recommend cutting through Old San Juan even though it will take slightly longer. You can read more about my visit to San Cristobal by clicking HERE.
A Self-Guided Tour of San Juan - Puerto Rican Capitol Building
After San Cristobal, since the weather was so pleasant, I decided to walk back to my hotel. There were plenty of sights to see along the way. One highlight was Puerto Rico’s Capitol Building. Although Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, it still has its own governor and government building. The building itself looked a little out of place as I felt like it belonged in Washington DC and not a tropical island in the Caribbean.
Near the capital building, there are bronze statues of many American presidents. I chose to walk down the sidewalk and tried to identify each statue without reading the sign.
A Self-Guided Tour of San Juan - Other Areas
After passing by a few churches, and an interesting sculpture of a sea horse, I made it back to the costal highway, which I could follow back to my hotel. I enjoyed seeing a baseball diamond on my walk but was disappointed that there was no one playing.
Animals Seen During My Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Juan
Some other highlights of walking around involved seeing wildlife everywhere. Throughout my walks I saw numerous iguanas and lizards. At one point, I was super excited because I thought I had spotted a baby panther, but it turned out to be a common house cat.
Walking Tours of San Juan
I typically prefer to explore on my own and take a self-guided walking tour. If you prefer to take a guided tour, I have linked four options below. Please note, that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of May 2023.
 Old San Juan Walking Tour - $41.00 Discover the beauty of Old San Juan with writer David Rodríguez, author of The Rise and Fall of the Great Barbate. Tour Old San Juan's most important historic sites, learn about Puerto Rican culture, and experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present of Puerto Rico. |
 Walking Tour of Old San Juan - $71.00 Do you want to explore and learn about Old San Juan, the historical city? With this 4-hour guided tour, you get what you are looking for. You will see lots of interesting historical places and buildings while your guide shares a unique and insightful perspective on the culture and history of Old San Juan. Guaranteed you will return home with lots of knowledge — a great add on to your Puerto Rican adventure! |
 Private Walking Tour of San Juan - $140.00 Experience the best of Old Town on a private walking tour, where you will learn about the island's history through to today. Dive into the best of San Juan on a private guided tour of Old Town, with the best local coffee and local snack included along the way. San Juan enjoys a cultural mix of colourful Latin culture and European charm with ocean views, stone roads and steep hills. During your private tour of San Juan your guide will introduce you to the friendly locals and give you insider tips for exploring the island. |
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