Colors of Old San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Viejo San Juan truly vibrates with the pulse of the Caribbean. Pedestrians and traffic fill the streets and sidewalks at almost all hours. Music and the smells of food waft through the air. Spanish Colonial homes painted in vibrant colors, narrow cobblestone streets, shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, people, traffic — overwhelming and strikingly beautiful at the same time, a feast for all the senses.

The 7-square block Old City on the edge of San Juan Harbor was settled in 1521, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas.  Many of Old San Juan’s narrow streets are paved with adoquines, blue-glazed brick brought over on Spanish galleons as ballast. Walls and stone fortresses protected the city from invaders: San Felipe del Morro was completed in 1589, and Castillo de San Cristóbal was completed in 1771.

You’ll find an endless variety of food and drink in Old San Juan. A couple places I recommend: Café Puerto Rico has great Mojitos and food — I had chicken with rice (Arroz con Pollo) on one visit, and fried pork chunks with rice and onions on another. And at Restaurante Raíces, I had Mofongo (mashed green plantains) stuffed with Churrasco steak. To drink, a tamarind frappe (kind of like a Slurpee, but with tamarind fruit) with rum. Incredible!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Adoquines – paving brick from Spanish galleons
Cafe Puerto Rico
Arroz con Pollo at Cafe Puerto Rico
Mofongo stuffed with churrasco steak – Restaurante Raices
Restaurante Raices

25 comments

  1. Was at the El Batey bar looking at the blue brick streets when I googled this site. Love old San Juan and recommend it to all. Thanks for the pictures and info on the bricks.

  2. Was at the El Batey bar looking at the blue brick streets when I googled this site. Love old San Juan and recommend it to all. Thanks for the pictures and info on the bricks.

  3. We we’re just there for my granddaughters all three graduation this we’re nice to take them since there never been there,and optimise the trip,well let me tell u they loved it.

    1. Hey Ali, glad you liked the post. Just a question, where did you find the link? I had a lot of traffic to this post yesterday and I’m wondering why; or who posted the link on their FB page.
      Thanks!
      glen

  4. Old San Juan reminds me a lot like Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. It doesn’t appear to be too crowded though , is this the case?

    1. Actually, Federico, Old San Juan is VERY crowded. I took most of these pictures on a Sunday morning when it was fairly quiet. Normally, there is lots of traffic and lots of people in the streets!

  5. I was extremely bummed when PR was taken off the itinerary for my upcoming cruise. I was really looking forward to checking out Old San Juan and the Bio Bay.

  6. AHHH, I can’t believe we were both in San Juan at the same time and had no idea each other were there. You got some incredible pictures here. Great job! This was my first trip to Puerto Rico, and I have to say that I was absolutely blown away. I was there on a press trip, and I’m seriously contemplating trying to get back this summer to bring my wife. Amazing place, and you did a great job capturing Old San Juan.

    1. Hey Adam, it’s pretty amazing we were both there at the same time and didn’t know it. I love Old San Juan, this is the second time I’ve been there with my wife, and we’ll go again.

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