Are you going on a cruise with a stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico? Are you wondering what things to do in Puerto Rico during your day in port? The San Juan Cruise Port is great because there is so much to explore near the cruise port. If you stay close to the port, you can easily walk historic Old San Juan once you exit your cruise ship. Want adventure? Go ziplining, ride an ATV, or explore a tropical rainforest. Discover the historic, colorful Spanish Colonial buildings in Old San Juan and the many things to do in Puerto Rico during your day in port. Read this cruise guide to help you prepare for your day at the San Juan Cruise Port.
Navigating the San Juan Cruise Port
The San Juan Cruise Port is considered one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean. Once you get off your cruise ship at the San Juan Cruise Port, you are within steps of exploring Old San Juan. Cruise ships in San Juan dock at the Old San Juan Piers in the historic district. When you exit the security point on the piers to explore Old San Juan, you are essentially in Old San Juan. You can easily explore this beautiful, historic city on your own, or you can book a tour.
If you cruise to San Juan and it is exceptionally busy with cruise ships, the ship’s captain could decide to dock at the Pan American Pier instead of the Old San Juan Cruise Piers. If you dock at the Pan American Pier for the day, you will need to take a taxi or Uber to explore Historic Old San Juan. Docking at the Pan American Pier does not happen often; it only happens occasionally if needed. Most cruises will dock at the Old San Juan historic district of the San Juan Cruise Port.
Cruise Excursions in San Juan, Puerto Rico
There are many shore excursions for cruise passengers in San Juan. You can tour Old San Juan, visit the only tropical rainforest in the United States, go rum-tasting, or go ziplining. If you want to experience local culture, do a culinary experience in Old San Juan or go on an excursion to Loiza and Piñones. You can purchase an excursion through the cruise line, a third party like Viator or Get Your Guide, or wait until you get to San Juan and do a tour through a local.
You can also choose not to do an excursion and explore San Juan on your own. Regardless of your choice, always remember to be mindful of the all-aboard time so you make it back to the ship on time. Whether you want to explore San Juan on your own or book an excursion, here are some of the top things to do when visiting the San Juan Cruise Port.
Explore Old San Juan
Exploring Viejo San Juan or Old San Juan from the cruise port is very easy. There are many shops, historic landmarks, museums, and places to eat. As you walk around historic Old San Juan, the first thing you will notice are the colorful buildings along San Juan’s cobblestone streets. The colorful buildings and the town’s cobblestone streets contribute to Old San Juan’s charm. Here are some ways you can explore this historic Puerto Rican district.
Old San Juan on Your Own
Exploring Old San Juan on your own from the cruise port is incredibly easy. This historic city has so many things to see, including the colorful, colonial Spanish buildings. If you like learning about the history of places you visit, there are museums you can visit, such as the Museum of San Juan or the Museum of the Americas. You can also visit the San Juan National Historic Site, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and Castillo San Cristobal.
While walking around, you will find many great places to shop and grab a bite to eat. There are countless shops where you can find locally made souvenirs to take home. If you would like to try some of the local cuisine, there are many restaurants that offer local dishes.
As you walk around Old San Juan, you will also find many spots for Instagrammable pictures. Two popular spots include Puerta de la Bandera and Umbrella Street on Calle de la Fortaleza.
One thing to keep in mind is that Old San Juan has narrow cobblestone streets and sidewalks. If you are mobility impaired, this could pose a problem, and you may have some difficulties getting around in some areas of Old San Juan.
Do a Walking Tour of Old San Juan
If you would rather do a tour of Old San Juan, you can sign up for a walking tour. On a Walking Tour, you will visit the main highlights and historic sights around Old San Juan. While many walking tours take you to similar places, some tours also take you to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. One of San Juan’s historic forts.
The types of places you will see on a walking tour include the Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista, La Puerta de San Juan, Paseo de la Princesa, Casa Blanca Museum, and La Rogativa. If you go on a walking tour, wear good walking shoes as you will walk on cobblestone streets and walk uphill in parts of the city. You should also carry a water bottle as San Juan can be hot and humid.
Taste Puerto Rican Cuisine near the San Juan Cruise Port
When visiting Puerto Rico, we recommend tasting some of the local food. You can easily find local cafes and restaurants near the San Juan Cruise Port on your own, or you can book a food tour. Some popular Puerto Rican foods and drinks include mofongo, lechon asado, tostones, local coffee, and the piña colada. Food tours are typically a walking tour in Old San Juan, so you will also learn a little about Puerto Rico’s rich history.
A restaurant that was recommended to us by a local was Deaverdura. You will find a variety of authentic Puerto Rican food served at this Deaverdura. If you want a cool treat, we suggest getting a Piragua from one of the local Piragua street vendors. If you have never had a piragua, it is a frozen treat similar to a snow cone. We got a couple of piraguas while walking around Old San Juan. It was the perfect cold treat to enjoy and helped us cool off in the Puerto Rican heat.
Embrace Puerto Rican Culture When Visiting San Juan
Experiencing Puerto Rican culture is a great thing to do when visiting the San Juan Cruise Port. You can do historical tours in Old San Juan to learn about the role of the Spanish in Puerto Rican history. Alternatively, you can book an excursion to the Puerto Rican coastal town of Loiza. If you choose to visit Loiza, you will learn about the African culture that exists in Puerto Rico. If you explore Puerto Rican culture, you will see art murals, enjoy amazing food, and experience cultural music.
Visit the San Juan National Historic Sites
A popular thing to do in San Juan is to visit the San Juan National Historic Site. The San Juan National Historic Site consists of two Spanish fortresses, Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal. Of the two, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, is the largest fortress most visited by visitors. There is a lot to explore at the fortresses, and there can be a lot of walking. You can take fantastic pictures of the bay and ocean from both fortresses.
Since the Spanish built these fortresses in the 16th century, not all parts of the forts are accessible for those with mobility issues. I also recommend visiting earlier in the day, as the fortresses can get very hot. Since San Juan can be hot and humid, you should also bring extra water. There is a lot of walking, many steps, and a bit of elevation, and you will get hot as you explore El Morro or Castillo San Cristobal. If you forget to take water, there are gift shops where you can buy souvenirs and water. There is a $10 fee to enter the fortresses. If you have a National Parks Pass, you can use that to cover your entrance fee.
Go on a Day Trip to El Yunque National Forest
During your port day in San Juan, you can go on a tour of El Yunque National Forest. You can go hiking at El Yunque, swim in natural pools with a cascading waterfall, and enjoy breathtaking views from El Yunque Peak to the coastline. I loved exploring El Yunque during our trip to Puerto Rico. If you visit on a clear sunny day, you may even see the U.S. Virgin Islands in the distance from Yokahu Tower. A fun fact about El Yunque National Forest is that it is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. This makes visiting El Yunque a great thing to do for nature lovers. Want to learn more about visiting El Yunque? Read our post on Visiting the El Yunque National Forest.
Go Rum Tasting During Your Day in San Juan Cruise Port
Puerto Rico is home to Casa Bacardà Rum. Therefore, doing a rum tasting or cocktail tour in San Juan is a great thing to do during your day in port. You can easily book a tour of Casa Bacardi through their website, the cruise line, or a third party like Viator. Many Bacardi experiences will include either a rum tasting or learning to make a cocktail like a mojito.
You can also find rum tastings in Old San Juan if you rather be within walking distance of the cruise port. Some rum tours in Old San Juan include visiting a few locations, so be prepared to walk the cobblestone streets. Want to visit one of the oldest rum factories in Puerto Rico? Visit Ron del Barrilito to learn about the history of the rum factory, do a rum tasting, purchase rum, or learn to make a delicious cocktail.
Go on a Snorkel Adventure
Want to go snorkeling during your day in San Juan? You can book a snorkel tour that will take you to a snorkel spot a short distance from the San Juan Cruise Port. During this snorkeling excursion, you will see turtles and tropical fish like the Blue Tang. Most snorkel tours near the San Juan Cruise Port are about an hour long. Additionally, snorkel tours will typically provide all the needed equipment. As with any snorkel excursion, the amount of sea life you see will depend on ocean conditions.
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Enjoy the Adventurous Side of San Juan, Puerto Rico
There are a few adventurous things to do in Puerto Rico during your day at the port of San Juan. You can book these shore excursions through the cruise line or a third party like Viator or Get Your Guide. You can go horseback riding, ride an ATV or jet ski, or zipline through a forest canopy.
Go Horseback Riding
Do you like riding horses, or have you ever wanted to try horseback riding? Well, you can book an excursion to go horseback riding while visiting Puerto Rico. You can go horseback riding at Hacienda Campo Rico. While horseback riding, you will tour the beautiful estate through various trails leading to meadows and rolling hills and see some wildlife.
Go Ziplining Through the Forest
If you are a bit of a thrill seeker, go ziplining. Depending on how you book your zipline tour, you can have multiple options for tour providers. Overall, you will zipline through a forest canopy through the various tour providers. Depending on the tour company, you can zipline across five to nine ziplines through lush rainforests. Some ziplining tours also include the possibility of rappelling down a waterfall. If you are not interested in rappelling down a waterfall, then you can book a zipline tour that ends at a hilltop Mojito Bar.
Jetski in San Juan Bay
A fun way to experience San Juan is to do a jetski tour in San Juan Bay. On this tour, you will experience Old San Juan, El Morro, and Castillo San Cristobal while riding a jet ski along the coast. Jet Skiing in San Juan Bay is a unique way of viewing the Capital of Puerto Rico. You can enjoy the historic buildings of Old San Juan while also looking out at the modern buildings of New San Juan. Jetski tours can last between 30 minutes to an hour. Additionally, anyone who wants to drive the jet ski must have a valid driver’s license.
Do an ATV Tour
Another great thrill-seeking excursion you can do is to drive an ATV on a Hacienda. You will tour the estate and most likely ride through some muddy trails along the way. As you drive the ATV, you will learn about the centuries of history of the Hacienda, including the Spanish sugarcane plantation. After riding the ATVs, you will get the chance to visit the Mojito Bar at the top of a hill. Something to keep in mind, however, is that in order to drive the ATV, you will need a valid driver’s license.
Best Beaches Near San Juan Cruise Port
Sometimes, you just want to take it slow and enjoy a day on the beach. Like with many cruise ports, there are beaches near the port. You will need to get a taxi or Uber to get to most of the beaches, but the beaches are anywhere from a 10 to 20-minute drive from the cruise port. If you prefer a beach day in San Juan, Puerto Rico, visit one of these beaches.
Balneario del Escambrón and Playa Escambrón, Escambron Beach
Both Balneario del Escambron and Escambron Beach are the closest beaches to the San Juan Cruise Port. Of the two, Balneario del Escambron has a bigger beach area. Escambron Beach is on the opposite side of the park, which separates both locations, and is by the Caribe Hilton Hotel. Due to how close these beaches are to the cruise port and a couple of hotels, they can get crowded. These two beach areas are about a 10 to 15-minute drive from the port, depending on traffic.
La Playita del Condado
A great family-friendly beach is La Playita del Condado. La Playita del Condado is a small beach adjacent to Condado Lagoon, with calm waters and a tidal pool. The calm waters make this beach a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling. From La Playita del Condado, you can see Fortin San Geronimo next to the Caribe Hilton Hotel. On the beach, there are umbrellas and lounge chairs you can rent. There are also several places nearby to eat, and you can find some local food vendors selling food and drinks on the beach. La Playita del Condado is outside of the Old San Juan area and about a 10-minute drive from the cruise port.
Playa Condado, Condado Beach
A popular beach for visitors to Puerto Rico is Condado Beach. Condado Beach is located about a 10-minute drive from the San Juan Cruise Port. Playa Condado is within walking distance of many restaurants and shopping due to the beachfront hotels. This is a great beach to relax and enjoy the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore. Condado Beach can have strong currents compared to other beaches, so it is not the best swim beach. Nevertheless, Condado Beach is a great beach to visit if you want to soak up the sun and listen to the waves.
Playa Isla Verde, Isla Verde Beach
Isla Verde Beach is about a 12 to 20-minute drive from the cruise port, depending on traffic. This is a terrific beach to visit for a beach day. Playa Isla Verde incorporates three beach areas. El Alambique Beach, Pine Grove Beach, and Carolina Public Beach. During our time in Puerto Rico, we spent time on all three sections of Isla Verde Beach. We swam in the water and rented lounge chairs and an umbrella while sipping mojitos.
The busiest section of the beach is El Alambique, which is due to the number of hotels nearby, but there is a lot of space. If you want a quieter beach day, consider the Pine Grove Beach or Carolina Beach section. If you want to rent an umbrella and lounge chairs you will find several areas along Isla Verde Beach to do so. You can also find some restaurants and bars along the beach.
Which Cruise Lines Stop in San Juan
The majority of major cruise companies have cruise stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You can find a port call in San Juan on many cruise itineraries for Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and many other cruise lines. Since many of the cruise lines stop in San Juan, cruise passenger volumes vary depending on the time of year.
The San Juan Cruise Port has the ability to accommodate smaller cruise ships to some of the largest cruise ships. The size of the cruise ships visiting will also affect cruise passenger volume during your visit. During peak cruise season, January through April, three to four cruise ships can easily be docked at the Old San Juan Piers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the Old San Juan Cruise Port
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions by cruisers visiting the San Juan Cruise Port. We hope these help you prepare for your day in port.
The best time to cruise to San Juan is during the dry season, which is from December through April. This time also corresponds with the high season for cruising. The weather will be great during this time, and there should not be much rain.Â
Cruising to San Juan from May through November is the wet season when you are more likely to experience rain. The wet season is also hurricane season in the Caribbean. So, there is the possibility of a change in itinerary if there is a hurricane near Puerto Rico.
Cruise ships dock in Old San Juan for about 8 to 12 hours, depending on the cruise line. You should verify the amount of time you will be in port by checking your itinerary during your cruise. As always, be aware of the all-aboard time so your cruise ship does not leave without you.
Yes, it is safe to explore Old San Juan on your own. Old San Juan is a very walkable historic city, with many things to see near the port. As with any place, you should always be aware of your surroundings. We felt safe every time we walked around and explored Old San Juan.
Yes, Uber is widely available in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Yes, there are taxis in Old San Juan. Puerto Rico regulates taxi services, especially in the tourist zones like Old San Juan. The cost can be a fixed rate depending on where you need the taxi to take you. Outside of the tourist zones, taxi costs are metered.
Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, the currency used is the US dollar. If you live in the United States, you will not have any problems with the currency during your visit. Also, most places accept major credit cards.
The primary language spoken in Puerto Rico is Spanish. However, since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, English is also widely spoken.
Yes, in my opinion, cruising to the San Juan Cruise Port is worth it. You can experience a lot of culture, visit historic forts, or just have a relaxing beach day during your visit. The area near the cruise port is easy to explore, and there are many places to relax and have a meal.
Enjoy Your Day Visiting San Juan Cruise Port
We hope you enjoy your day visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, on your cruise. The San Juan Cruise Port is a great port to visit and experience Puerto Rican culture. From the history and vibrant culture to the adventurous things to do in San Juan, you will have a fantastic day visiting the San Juan Cruise Port. Happy cruising!
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