3 Days in San Juan, Puerto Rico

You’re likely to arrive either the night before or in the morning of day one, so after you’ve checked into your hotel in Old San Juan, venture over to enjoy pastries (or sandwiches if you’re hungrier) & a coffee at Cuatros Sombras. This café prides itself on farm-to-cup coffee grown following traditions that began in 1856. Their coffee is medium but rich with hints of chocolate, cajeta and spices.

Afterward, venture along the Paseo de la Princesa bayside promenade. Explore the highlights of Old San Juan by visiting such sites as:

• Castillo San Felipe del Morro: a citadel dating back to the 16th century.

• Puerta de San Juan: the 17th-century main entry gate into the walled city.

• La Fortaleza: 16th-century mansion that’s the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico.

• Casa Blanca: built in 1521 for Puerto Rico’s first governor Juan Ponce de León; and many more!

If walking isn’t your thing, check out the Old San Juan Trolley (which runs off-and-on, so check out operations online before visiting) or book a private tour.

Afterward, take in a late lunch or early dinner at an Old San Juan staple Café Manolin. You can’t go wrong with their all-day breakfast or sandwiches (I’m a breakfast sandwich lover, and their Cheese, Egg and Bacon Sandwich was heaven!). If you’re looking for something more local & traditional, check out their mofongo or rice & beans (both of which they’re known for).

Make sure to save room for dessert, especially if you’re a chocolate lover! Head over to Chocobar Cortés for a sweet tooth craving, with delicious churros, delectable chocolate croissants and fluffy waffles or french toast! You can also enjoy their Happy Hour offerings with a Choco Martini or Chocolada.

I would suggest taking a day trip out of San Juan to explore a taste of what the island has to offer. Depending on what you’re interested in, there are three guided tour options I’d suggest looking into.

El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque Rainforest is over 28,000 square acres with 25 miles of year-round hiking trails. From wildlife to lush foliage, ziplines over the canopies to horseback riding, there are options depending on how leisurely or adventurous you want to spend your day. There are also opportunities to hike to different waterfalls, slide down natural rock waterslides or even cliff dive into the lakes.

Culebra Island

Nearby, Culebra Island offers ocean lovers the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive in crystal clear waters. You’ll get up close and personal with live coral, tropical fish, stingrays, sea turtles and more! Spend time lounging back and sunbathing on its many pristine beaches as well.

Arenales Caves

Arenales Caves is an alternative option for nature lovers. You’ll get to hike through rivers, visit underground caves and swim in hidden bright aqua-green spring waters.

Once you settle back into San Juan, have a more relaxed evening and head over to enjoy dinner at Princesa Cocina Cultura. Surrounded by trees & vegetation, this beautiful restaurant continues the day’s theme into the evening by bringing the outdoors inside! What makes this gastrobar so special is their collection of menu items selected from six Puerto Rican cookbooks dating back to the 1850s. Their fish dishes were so fresh & delicious that it’s hard to recommend anything else!

On your final day, start it at the Hotel El Convento (if you aren’t staying there already) and have breakfast at Patio Del Nispero. The hotel’s origins date back to the 17th century, when it was a Carmelite convent. This restaurant is located in their beautiful courtyard! Their breakfast menu is hallmarked by eggs benedict options and a Montecristo sandwich, along with a delicious French toast on offer!

Spend the late morning at the Museo de las Americas, located inside the historic Cuartel de Ballajá. There are temporary exhibitions on offer in addition to its three permanent collections: Folk Arts in the Americas, Our African Heritage, & Conquest and Colonization. The museum’s collection is made up majorly of Puerto Rican artists with over 1,000 works spanning paintings, sculptures, photographs and more.

In the early afternoon, head over to the Bacardi Rum Distillery! You can choose from a mixology class to a tour & tasting. I enjoyed the latter on a small group tour. While it was great to see how the rum was made, it was great to taste different rum offerings – some I’d never even heard of before! Most know rum as a mixer, but there are absolutely delicious sipping rums made to be enjoyed on their own that are smooth, rich & deeply flavored.

To cap off your trip to San Juan, head to Marmalade for a five-star culinary experience! Their multi-course dinner and optional wine pairing was a delight and truly some of the best food I’ve had on my travels. We started with their ceviche & paella, with the fresh fish of the ceviche being such a highlight! Next course, we had their lobster risotto and truffle rigatoni (which is handmade, and the parmesan-truffle sauce just makes this dish). For the entree, we got the Pacific sea bass and beef tenderloin, where we split these for a surf-and-turf dinner that was absolutely delicious. For dessert, we capped it off with a miso caramel creme brulee & a chocolate-rich dessert they call the Choco-L8 (I couldn’t get enough of the creme brulee personally).