Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Juan
POP 395,000
Includes »
Why Go?
Established in 1521, San Juan is the second-oldest European-founded settlement in the
Americas and the oldest under US jurisdiction. Shoehorned onto a tiny islet that guards the
entrance to San Juan harbor, the atmospheric old town juxtaposes historical authenticity with
pulsating modern energy in a seven-square-block grid of streets that was inaugurated almost
a century before the
Mayflower
laid anchor in present-day Massachusetts.
Beyond its timeworn 15ft-thick walls, San Juan is far more than a dizzying collection
of well-polished colonial artifacts - it's also a mosaic of ever-evolving neighborhoods.
There's seen-it-all Condado, where Cuba's 24-hour gambling party got washed up in the
early 1960s; tranquil Ocean Park with its gated villas and strategically located B&Bs; gritty
Santurce, relaunched with art galleries after a two-decades-long depression; and swanky Isla
Verde, awash with luxurious resort hotels and kitsch casinos.
When to Go
There's no shortage of attractive festivals in San Juan, from the revelrous street party of
Festival San Sebastián in mid-January to the citywide celebration of its namesake saint on
the week preceding June 24. The SoFo Culinary Festival doesn't have fixed dates, but takes
place in late fall and mid-summer. In late July, the nearby town of Loíza Aldea hosts its Fi-
esta de Santiago, a religious and Afro-Caribbean cultural festival renowned for its colorful
masks and exceptional music.
From December through to May, the weather is at its best - highs in the mid-80s, lows in
the high 70s and little humidity.
