A Day of Castillos in San Juan, Puerto Rico

I climbed up to the higher decks of the Carnival Liberty to take in the scenic view of San Juan. It was a sad morning as our cruise journey had come to an end, but Dave and I had a couple of days to explore the port and recoup from our vacation before traveling home to Ohio.

Retrieving our luggage, we stood at the edge of the dock. Realizing realized our walk was an uphill climb over rugged ballasts, we decided to call a taxi. For an economical fare of $10, we were provided door-to-door service to the Hotel Plaza Las Armas within minutes arriving with our luggage by 11.

After checking into the hotel, we were excited to board the free shuttle to Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, known as El Morro. We noticed that there were two separate shuttles and took a chance by boarding the green one. Although it was a lovely ride through town, we agreed it was the white trolley we should have taken, that drops off passengers to El Morro.

It took us a couple of hours to tour the fort and by the time we had finished we were both hungry and tired. By now it was close to 2 in the afternoon so we finished checking into the hotel and strolled over to Barrachina’s for mofongo. With full stomachs and heavy eyes, we agreed that a well deserved nap would be best before continuing our adventure.

I was surprised to find a burst of energy as we approached the hotel and decided to go it alone. According to the front desk, San Cristobel wasn’t a far walk and the attendant pointed me towards Columbus Square. I spent some time admiring the statue of Columbus and the lovely fountain at the entrance, celebrating the life of the explorer.

Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in 1493. The island measures 100 miles long and 32 miles wide and is a tropical paradise boasting gorgeous beaches, an intriguing rain forest and rugged mountains. I climbed the stairs to admire the commemorative statue of the Columbus and look out into the horizon for stunning views before continuing my way towards the fort.

I passed through Columbus Square and within minutes, found myself climbing a very steep hill to the entrance. Before me was the Castillo San Cristobal where a ramp deposited me at the admissions desk. I purchased my ticket and began exploring the second level of the fort, one of my favorite locations. I admired the scenic views before descending to the lower levels where I found an interesting network of tunnels. I spent a couple of hours here, learning about the soldier’s life on the fort before heading back towards the hotel. For more details about my adventure, you can read about my tour by reading my blog post, “Castillo San Cristobal”.

Retracing my steps, I once again reached Columbus Square. Crossing the street, I could hear the faint sound of sirens and police cars. Soon, a group of cyclists rounded the corner with a swish and I could feel the burst of air that followed after them. Impressed with the number of participants in the race, I sat on the stairs to wait for the crowd to dissipate.

When I arrived back to the hotel, Dave and I agreed that could put off eating for a couple of hours. In the spirit of visiting the Caribbean, we headed back to Marilyn’s Place for a couple of drinks before cashing out a searching for a restaurant. .

Taking our time, we wanted to find a cozy table with a view, most preferably of the coast. About ten minutes into the walk, we found a set of tables and chairs along the wall of the fort with spectacular views. Not yet ready for food, we ordered a couple of pina coladas. It was our last evening to walk along the promenade and the port before returning to our room. Blessed with perfect island temperatures and breathtaking views, it was just another gorgeous day in paradise!

How do you like to wind down your vacation? Do you plan an extra day to take it easy? I would love to hear your advice on the best way to recuperate from your holiday, so please leave a comment below! Many thanks for reading about our last day in San Juan! Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Castillo de San Felipe del Morro
501 Calle Norzagaray
San Juan, PR 00901
Telephone: 787 729 6960

Admission Fee: $7 which includes the Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal and 24 hours are provided to visit both forts
Hours: Open daily from 9AM to 6PM. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Amenities: Gift shop and restrooms
Scenic Views: Gorgeous views from the fort include the harbor and the cemetery as well as the shoreline.
Length of Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Tips for Your Visit: There are several iguanas and feral cats that roam the premises. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and bring plenty of water. (Carts outside sell water).

Castillo San Cristobel
San Juan, PR 00901
Telephone: 787 449 4049

Admission Fee: $7 which includes the Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal and 24 hours are provided to visit both forts
Hours: Open daily from 9AM to 6PM. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Amenities: Gift shop and restrooms
Scenic Views: Gorgeous views from the fort include the harbor and the cemetery as well as the shoreline.
Length of Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Tips for Your Visit: There are several iguanas and feral cats that roam the premises. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and bring plenty of water. (Carts outside sell water). Don’t miss the Dungeon at Castillo San Cristobel!

Where to Stay:

Hotel Plaza de Armas
San Jose Street 202
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Phone: 866 599 6674

Amenities: Non-smoking, free continental breakfast, WiFi, refrigerator and microwave; there is a free trolley nearby at Stop #8

*Hotel was prepaid costing $150 per night. We arranged for a queen sized bed, room without a window, non-smoking and guaranteed late arrival.

Where to Eat:

Restaurant Barrachina
Fortaleza Street 104
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Phone: 787 721 5852

*Order the pina colada (birthplace of the drink) and the chicken mofongo! The restaurant displays a copy of the Discovery Map of Puerto Rico which is what we used to get around. There are detailed maps of Old San Juan, the Condado as well as Isla Verde.

Marilyn’s Place
100 Calle San Francisco
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Telephone: 787 724 0444

What to Eat:

MOFONGO! This is absolutely my favorite dish in San Juan. Mashed fried plantains are smothered with meat and/or vegetables.
Alcappurias are similar to fritters filled with crab, meat or lobster and dipped in a batter made from green bananas.
Arepas de Coco is a bread made from coconut flour stuffed with meat, seafood or vegetables.
Chicharrones de Pollo are usually served as a side dish to mofongo, these tasty pieces of chicken are seasoned with garlic, oregano and achiote.
Chilo Frito is a fried red snapper served with fried plantains or french fries on the side.
Lechon is a suckling pig cooked whole and prepared juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Pastelon: San Juan’s answer to lasagna made with plantains instead of pasta
The Pina Colada was invented at Barrachina in Old San Juan.