Excursions in San Juan

[waterbugohio]

OK, I need some suggestions for San Juan.

 

We will arrive the night before our cruise and just do dinner and stay around the hotel.

 

Then we will have Saturday morning till about noon or one. We will also have the day the ship returns till about 1:00 (our flight out is at 3:30)

 

So we were planning on just taking a taxi into Old San Juan saturday morning, checking our bags at bacarrina (sp) and just walking around on our own and then on the day of return doing a ship excursion that ends at the airport.

 

Well, now the excursion are finally up on the RCI site and the only ship excursion is a walking tour of Old San Juan. Which is basically what we will do on our own.

 

Does anyone have another suggestion for either the day we leave or the day we return. Will only have about 4 hours each time, but don't want to repeat what we have already done.

[rainforestgirl]

Since you don't have a ton of time either day, you have to stay pretty close by.

 

Sure- at least one of those days, do your own walking tour of OSJ. Since it is a Saturday, all the museums are open along with all the usual sights.

I have a walking tour that you can read through, then pick and chose what sights you would like to see.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/old-san-juan-basic-info/

I could (and have done it many times) spend days on end just exploring OSJ. It is a really nice place.

 

For other options outside OSJ, you can go to Pinones. It is a nice nature boardwalk where you can walk or rent bikes. It go for about 11 km, past the beaches and through mangroves.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/pinones-mangrove-forest-nature-boardwalk-waterfront-fun/

 

Another option would be to go to the Botanical Garden. Don't think a garden with rows of flowers, more of a nature walk through tropical trees and plantings.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/passing-some-time-in-the-botanical-garden-jardin-botanico/

 

It is not a must see, but it is an option, so I will through it out there:

Bacardi tour:

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/bacardi-rum-factory-a-tour-free-drinks/

 

You can always go to the beaches.... but by the end of a cruise, you might be beached out!

 

If I think of other things, I will post again.

[Aviator of the Seas]

If you're into art and museums, you might want to see the Puerto Rico Art Museum. It's an easy 10 minute drive from Old San Juan. Great collection and beautiful gardens:

 

http://www.mapr.org/

 

You might also like to visit the largest mall in the Caribbean, Plaza Las Americas. 15 minutes from Old San Juan. Easy taxi access. Excellent stores and restaurants:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Las_Am%C3%A9ricas