Cruises to Puerto Rico take you to one of the most exciting ports of call in the Caribbean, San Juan. There you’ll find a bustling city as well as tropical terrain and remote beaches.
There are also cruise ships that use San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a departure port and sail around the Caribbean before returning to San Juan. Many of the itineraries focus on the Southern Caribbean like the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao), and these cruises from Puerto Rico are often a great choice for cruisers who want extra days in port since you won’t need to spend time at sea sailing between Florida (where most Caribbean cruises embark from) and the islands of the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico is home to gorgeous buildings, scenic coastline, impressive fortresses, and even a rainforest. This variety of scenery and attractions make it a fun and interesting place for visitors of all ages to explore.
San Juan is flanked by two imposing forts: Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Both forts helped secure Puerto Rico from threats, and were even used for military purposes as recently as World War II. These days, they serve an educational purpose and are open for the public to explore.
The Old Town area of San Juan, aptly called Old San Juan, is a can’t miss neighborhood to explore while in port or before cruises from San Juan embark. Old San Juan has cobblestoned streets lined by colorful buildings and romantic architecture.
See where explorer Ponce de Leon lived in Puerto Rico with a tour of his family home at La Casa Blanca, which also happens to be one of the oldest buildings in Puerto Rico. La Casa Blanca is set up to reflect the 16th century and you’ll learn about life on Puerto Rico during that time.
The cruise port for Puerto Rico is San Juan, which is also the island’s capital city and home to many of its top attractions and historic sites. San Juan also serves as the embarkation port for cruises from Puerto Rico; these itineraries often sail to other islands in the Southern Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean.
The best shore excursions to do before cruises from San Juan embark or during ports of call in Puerto Rico are ones that highlight the culture of the island as well as its lovely nature.
San Juan is flanked by two imposing forts: Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Both forts helped secure Puerto Rico from threats, and were even used for military purposes as recently as World War II. These days, they serve an educational purpose and are open for the public to explore.
Puerto Rico isn’t just colorful cities and historic forts. It is also home to natural wonders. One of the top things to do is to take a shore excursion to El Yunque National Forest and do a nature walk to see native plants and animals. If you want to get your adrenaline up, you can also zipline above the trees.
Rum drinks are a popular libation in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico is no exception. To learn more about how rum is made in Puerto Rico and to try some of the world’s most popular rum, take a distillery tour at the Bacardi Rum Factory located in San Juan.
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Dance and music is an important part of life on Puerto Rico. One of the most popular dance styles on the island is salsa. Learn the art of salsa dancing in a city that takes it to a thrilling art form. While in Puerto Rico, you can enjoy some tapas at a restaurant with live music or even head to a local dance club to try (or just watch) some salsa dancing.
Another part of the culture that is a focal point for visitors in Puerto Rico is the cuisine, which focuses on seafood and hearty tapas. You also won’t want to miss out on trying the mofongo, a popular dish in Puerto Rico that is based around a fried plantain mixed together with chicken or seafood and other local spices.
Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean so expect tropical weather when you go – meaning pack lots of light clothing and have a light rain jacket or poncho to keep in you daypack in case you get caught in a tropical rain shower – luckily, they’re usually quite short and soon the sun is out again.
Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, U.S Dollars are accepted. Credit cards are also widely accepted.
