The BEST Things to do in OLD SAN JUAN Puerto Rico | 48 Hrs in San Juan

Trade winds caress your face as you stand atop a 15th-century fortress in a UNESCO City staring out across the ocean lapping at the cliff edges as it has for centuries. Visitors pass by but you just reside in the stillness and friendship of the Iguana basking in the sun at your side. You get hungry and decide to head into the Old San Juan center to a restaurant along Fortaleza street. A wild-haired woman ushers you in, as she shoos two pigeon residents out of her restaurant that has been run by her family for years. You sit down and she hands you a local Medalla beer, you sip it, and realize that all your cares about life at home were washed down with that first sip of your cold beverage.
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For a written detailed guide with an interactive google map, check out my article here: culturetrekking.com/tour-old-...
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Chapters
00:00 Intro & Brief History of San Juan
01:36 Castillo San Cristobal
02:43 15th Century Air Conditioner
04:11 Uber in Old San Juan
04:19 Fortaleza Street in Old San Juan
05:01 Renting a car in Old San Juan
05:23 Grabbing a Decorated Popsicle to Cool Down
06:31 Harassment in Old San Juan (funny)
06:54 Fortaleza Fortress (BEST Instagram spot in Old San Juan)
07:12 Impromptu Dance Party
07:26 Why are Fortaleza Steet Stones BLUE?
07:31 Pigeon Plaza
09:36 Iconic Colored Doors of Puerto Rico
09:53 Cathedral San Juan Bautista
10:36 The Birthplace of Pina Colada
11:21 Food in Puerto Rico
12:11 WARNING!
12:38 Jardin de la Princesa
13:20 Paseo de la Princesa
13:59 Castillo del Morro (attempt #1)
15:32 Street Performers in Old San Juan (El Convento)
16:17 Seeing Wildlife in Old San Juan
16:26 Castle del Morro (attempt #2)
18:58 Plaza Colon
19:12 Colorful streets of Old San Juan
19:21 Street Art in Old San Juan
19:45 Visting La Perla Community
21:31 Plaza del Mercado (Nightlife in Puerto Rico)
#CultureTrekking #OldSanJuan #Thingstodoinsanjuan #SanJuanPuertoRico #puertorico
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[@CultureTrekking]

Would you get that close to an Iguana? What places were your favorite to see in the video?

[@TrekkingPals]

I would not 😂 not a fan of reptiles. Great video 👍

[@amgooder]

Iguanas are native to Central and South America.They were introduced to Puerto Rico through the pet trade. Many were released by irresponsible owners and have now become a pest control issue🙈.

[@CultureTrekking]

@@TrekkingPals 🙏

[@CultureTrekking]

@@amgooder oh no! thats horrible!!!

[@vexy6086]

Everything, your video was beautiful

[@aziz_tika5353]

You really made me wanna visit this beautiful place, im already in Google search looking for flight prices to San Juan. Thanks for the Amazing video

[@CultureTrekking]

Yeah! I’m so glad 🤩

[@NomadicBuff]

love the history and culture!

[@CultureTrekking]

YEAH! So glad! Any parts you felt could have been left out?

[@eliovelazquez]

Espectacular ❤

[@CultureTrekking]

Muchas Gracias

[@marvinaranda6072]

planning a trip to PR and this was one of the best videos i’ve watched for knowing how to get around Old san juan and hitting all the hotspots. thanks for the history lessons too

[@CultureTrekking]

Omg yeah!! Thank you so much! I legit spend hours planning my videos so I’m really glad this is helpful! Genuinely means the world.

[@boylight]

Great video!

[@CultureTrekking]

Thank you! That means A LOT!

[@da3640]

Beautiful place and beautiful smile 😊. Thanks for the tour.

[@CultureTrekking]

Awe thank you that means so much!

[@mariaisa7243]

Thank you for featuring and showing our Island!!! Thank you! Happy you had a great time. Please come back!! Blessings.. Bendiciones....

[@CultureTrekking]

Awe! Thank you! It was beautiful!

[@ednaalejandro1211]

What a great job you did beautiful island best one I seen in a very long time🌹

[@CultureTrekking]

Awe! THANK YOU! That really means A LOT!

[@violetstarla]

This is such a great video. Super informative and beautifully shot. Visiting Puerto Rico next month and this video really surpassed some of the other ones I saw. Cant wait to visit soon. Thanks this video answered a lot of my questions and made my life easier while planning my trip.

[@CultureTrekking]

Thank you 🙏 & Im so so glad! Truly - comments make all the effort I put into these videos worth it. Cheers 🍻 and have an amazing time!

[@amgooder]

Old San Juan a true gem💎 Best time to walk old city, afternoons much cooler. Vibrant yellow slim two story house is the smallest house in the "world" 5 ft wide. Piña Colada in Barrachina has a more🍍flavor they say its how the original one was made.Later coconut milk and creme was added to make today's piña colada.😋

[@CultureTrekking]

AWESOME! Thanks sooooooo much for these additional tips ;)

[@rubyk445]

I love puerto rico ❤

[@CultureTrekking]

Indeed

[@AzulFyre]

I really want to see the old fort but I'll defintely need to plan for December/January. I like that the street to the governors palace has butterfly wings instead of umbrellas. I love iguanas! I wouldn't touch them but I wouldn't be bothered if they got close.

[@CultureTrekking]

Yes, definitely DO NOT go in the summer - it is so hot even the locals admit they struggle

[@YoramKaldes]

Hi, may I ask what camera are you using and what other accessories (gimble and such)? Are you satisfied with it?

[@CultureTrekking]

Hi Roy! So I use several different cameras based on my level of energy (legit am told by friends they get exhausted traveling with me, lol, oops) - as well as the type of activity I'm doing. Here are a few videos on the kind of gear I use and for each situation. For Choosing Camera Gear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGLRpYSii5ifms0 For Travel Accessories for Filming: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaGpnGekpJamgJI

[@kennethmercado9158]

It's actually a myth that the gold dried up. The tainos just didn't tell the Spaniards where all the deposits were. To this day, there is still gold on the island as well as sulver,copper and other deposits.

[@CultureTrekking]

Very cool to know - thanks

[@margaritareyes9959]

La época mas agradable para viajar es en diciembre. Es mucho mas fresca.

[@CultureTrekking]

¡Qué bueno saberlo! Apuesto a que las iglesias se ven increíbles allí durante la Navidad :) La próxima vez que venga a Puerto Rico definitivamente será en diciembre. Oh good to know! I bet the churches look amazing there during Christmas :) Next time I come to Puerto Rico will definitely be in December.

[@robertstumpf6402]

Just a note… the Panama Canal wasn’t built until after the Americans took over PR.

[@CultureTrekking]

Ooof - well shoot 😅 thanks for letting me know about that

[@judithrodriguez7765]

Planning to go but solo need to get away from my crazy life. Want to stay at OSJ being that I am going solo I do not want to do a B&b. Plus I do not want to spend a fortune do you have any recommendations?

[@CultureTrekking]

My “go to” is always Booking.com (bit.ly/3DIjNuR) because I can pull up a map, see where it’s located, prices laid out for easy comparison, and it has all the amenities and reviews clearly laid out. I stayed at the Sheraton Casino/Hotel and if it wasn’t where my conference was - I wouldn’t have stayed there honestly. Puerto Rico is expensive :-/

[@brookD1980]

Great video? Did you go solo? I’m 42 female planning on going in February on a solo trip.

[@CultureTrekking]

I went by myself but met up with some friends- in Old San Juan I felt completely safe

[@lostandfound6870]

Tahini…..

[@CultureTrekking]

Tahini sauce?

[@amyt2400]

No. You mentioned “Tahini Indians.” The Taino (Ty-ee-no) are an important part of Puerto Rican History. Some might feel strongly that this should’ve been edited out. Puerto Rican people are very committed to having their history taught correctly - as it stands, it’s not widely disseminated or taught in schools. This is where vloggers can make a hugely positive impact. 🇵🇷

[@richardhernandez3267]

The natives to Puerto Rico were Taino’s not tahini

[@JERios-wv8lx]

Years ago, before the Internet, i lived in Old San Juan, so I used to walk around without being afraid of appearing in KZbin Videos, ha, ha, ha. Note: Those big green iguanas aren't native to Puerto Rico.....In the 90's pet shops used to import them from South America to sell them as pets. However, when people realized these reptiles grew too big, they release them and quickly multiplied themselves. The sad reality is they are now a plague, to the point they have become a real nuisance to farmers as they eat the crops.

[@CultureTrekking]

Yeah, between ring cameras and social media no one can “hide” so I just embrace it all now lol 😂- I didn’t know that about the Iguanas! Crazy!

[@amyt2400]

Believe it or not. Some food shacks by the beach are now offering “Iguana Empanadas”, and yes, it’s legal in the US to eat them. I saw a traveler eat one on KZbin! He said it tasted like chicken.

[@sneakerquickpreviews]

Do not go to La Perla! I understand you went on your own and made it out fine but do not send people to La Perla.

[@CultureTrekking]

Sorry if you were afraid or had a bad experience- I did suggest getting a guide for sure

[@sneakerquickpreviews]

@@CultureTrekking Afraid? I am from Puerto Rico, even natives know not to go there. Telling none natives to go and walk around is dangerous. Plus you said your guide was a chicken.

[@amyt2400]

@Figure Hunter Collection Sage advice. Oddly, an “I ❤️ La Perla” monument has been recently been erected by one of the La Perla entrances, It’s in a walled area. A quick google search about travelers who’ve been shot and killed there is the best deterrent. Travelers should also be aware that the community there DOES NOT WANT VISITORS.

[@MyKeeP81]

yes la perla is much better but it is not what you would call good

[@leener33gmail]

I was wondering about this. Everything I've read has warned me away from La Perla and especially from going to La Perla and filming/taking photos.

[@vexy6086]

It is a majestic island , Puerto Rico was colonized by the spaniel in the 14 hundreds is over 500 years old to be exact 524 years old with the oldest city in the new continent

[@CultureTrekking]

So amazing