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Welcome to Old San
Juan Puerto Rico from the Paradise
Islands website. The
cruise port is a major embarkation
point for many cruise lines
operating in the
Caribbean. Passengers
will often transfer
from the
airport to the cruise
ships and never
actually see the
island. Driving through the
modern part of the city
is similar to any
metropolitan area in the
USA. The older part of
the city is just a short taxi
ride from the port and
it's a fascinating
town to explore on foot. |
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Located on a
small island called the
"Isleta de San Juan"
which is just 47 square
miles and
is connected to the
Puerto Rico mainland by
a causeway and a couple
of bridges. Most of the
Government buildings and
historical sites are
within the old walled
city. It has a wealth of
colonial buildings
dating from the 16th and
17th centuries within
narrow cobbled streets. |
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There are
two historic forts in
Old San Juan; Fort San
Felipe del Morro (built
in the 16th century) which
is at the north-western
tip of the walled city
and the furthest to
walk; and Fort San
Cristobal (built in the
17th century) in the
north-eastern corner of
the city. Between
the two forts is the
ornate cemetery called
the "Cementerio
de Santa Maria Magdalena
de Pazzi" which is
located just outside the
city walls and can be
viewed from above on the
grassy common ground at
El Morro (see photo
below).
(The
road running between the
two forts along the
northern edge of the
city (Boulevard del
Valle / Calle Norzagaray) has a small
shanty town which is a
'no go' area for tourists
which is not always safe
between the city wall
and the sea). |
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There is a pleasant
walkway running under
the city wall on the
south-western part called the Passeo de El Morro (see
top photo). For the
walkway from the dock
area follow the Passeo
de la Princesa which
leads to the Princesa
fountain. The walkway
then runs alongside the edge
of the sea with a few
shady areas to stop and
rest and finishes at the
Philipe Fort at the
far end. The fort is
open to the public and
there is a museum
providing an insight
into the history of old
San Juan.
Part of
the historic town is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site together
with with
parts of Old Havana (in the
Republic of Cuba);
Willemstad (in
Curacao) and
historic
Bridgetown (in
Barbados). |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and
cruise
guide to Old San Juan Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. All text and images are
Copyright
Paradise Islands
org. All photographs on this website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the islands tourist boards. |
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Rain Forest |
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Map |
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Cruise Port Guide |
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The Baths
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West Coast
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Willemstad
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Necker
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BVI |
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Marigot Bay
St Lucia |
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