Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
dates from the 16th century. After centuries of use as a convent, the building became a bar-
racks for Spanish troops and was later used as a headquarters for US occupational forces
after the Spanish-American War of 1898. It has been restored to its colonial grandeur and
houses galleries of Puerto Rican paintings from the 18th century up through the 1970s, in-
cluding work by José Campeche and Francisco Oller.
SAN JUAN IN…
Two Days
Find a midrange hotel or apartment in Old San Juan. Explore the historical sights of
the colonial quarter and dine along
Calle Fortaleza
before heading to
Latin Roots
or
Nuyorican Café
after dark for mojitos and salsa music. Wander over to
Condado
on day two for some sunbathing or beachside water sports.
Four Days
Add a museum crawl around
Old San Juan
and throw in a visit by ferry to the
Bayamón
Bacardí Rum Factory
. Find an ecotour company to run you out to
El
Yunque
for a day. Finally, scour the nightclubs of the big hotels in
Condado
and
Isla
Verde
, and dine at
Perla
and one of the beautiful restaurants at
Gran Hotel El Con-
vento
.
One Week
Head into the burbs for Santurce's two
art museums
or head further south to the
Jardín Botánico
in Río Piedras. Rent a bike and cycle around
Piñones
. Tour the
threatened urban waterways and communities of
Caño Martín Peña
. Round it up
by hiring some beach toys on
Playa Isla Verde
or trying your luck at
surfing
or
kitesurfing
.
Catedral de San Juan
CHURCH
