San Juan and Culebra
Description:
This trip allowed us enough time to take in San Juan, including Old San Juan, on a modest budget. Getting out to Culebra was definitely worth it, it's completely different from the city. You have to work travel time into a Culebra trip, so just going for the day isn't really feasible. Two nights was perfect.
Author: Melanie
Day 1 - San Juan
We arrived in the afternoon and headed right to the beach. Pinkys is just a few blocks down away, so we took a break from the sun to eat, and went back to watch the sunset. For dinner we ate at Kasalta's, a Cuban bakery very close by--great Spanish wine, tapas, and desserts!
1
Numero Uno
Location:
view in google maps1 Calle Santa Ana
Ocean Park
00911 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1 787 726 50102
Pinkys
Location:
view in google maps51 Maria Moczo, Ocean Park, Santurce, between Calle Loiza and Calle McLeary on the way to the gated entrance of Ocean Park.
00901 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
1 787 727 33473
Ocean Park/Punta Las Marías Beach
Location:
view in google mapsEast of Condado
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 2 - San Juan
Today we headed into Old San Juan. We walked to Ashford Ave. and caught the bus to Old San Juan ($.75 but we waited a while). We hit some of the big historic attractions, and had a casual lunch at Bombonera. This was a gallery night, so we spent the evening on San Sebastian checking the artisan crafts and street party. The galleries are open to about 9, and are scattered around--we found them by asking.
1
Bombonera (La)
Location:
view in google mapsCalle San Francisco 259
00901 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
787 722 06582
Museo de Nuestra Raíz Africana
Location:
view in google mapsCasa de los Contrafuertes
Plaza San José
00901 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1 787 724 4294 / +1 787 724 41843
Fort San Felipe del Morro
Location:
view in google maps501 Norzagaray
00901 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1787 729 69604
Plazuela de la Rogativa
Location:
view in google mapsCaleta Las Monjas
Old San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
5
Galeria Botello
Location:
00901 San Juan,Phone:
+1 787 723 99876
Catedral de San Juan
Location:
view in google maps153 Calle Cristo
Old San Juan
00901 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1 787 722 08617
Gallery Nights in Old San Juan
Location:
view in google mapsSan Sebastian street and vaious gallery locations, Old San Juan
901 San Juan,
Day 3 - Puerto Rico
Headed to Culebra. To get to Culebra you can do a few things--plane, or rent a car or take a publico to Fajardo and take the ferry over. The publico is the cheapest option, but we would have spent most of the day in transit. Rental cars here are not outrageous, and good deals can be had. There is a car ferry to the island, but we didn't plan well enough for that, so unfortunately had to rent a car to park it for 2 days. We camped out at Flamenco beach (brought our own tents). It's a beautiful beach, with public restrooms and hardly any other campers! $20 a night to pitch the tent. There are taxis from the ferry that take you to Flamenco. We rented bikes for $10 a day to get around. There are a few stores on the island, but the selection is limited, so bring your own provisions.
1
Culebra
Location:
view in google mapsIsland-wide
Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1 787 721 2400 (Tourist Office)Day 5 - San Juan
On the way back to San Juan we stopped at El Yunque and did the waterfall hike, an easy hour and half. At night we explored Condado a bit more, mostly restaurants.
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Parque Laguna del Condado (Condado Lagoon)
Location:
view in google mapsDos Hermanos Bridge
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
+1 787 763 06133
The Greenhouse
Location:
view in google mapsDiamond Palace Hotel
1200 Ashford Ave.Diamond Palace Hotel
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone:
1 787 725 4036