Only a week after our Germany trip, we headed to Puerto Rico for a destination wedding. Ryan was a best man in our friend's wedding in San Juan so we decided to head down a few days early to sight see and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
To get to Old San Juan from our hotel, the La Concha Resort, we jumped on the metro bus 53 which only cost $0.75 for one ticket. Bus 53 is key to remember as it is most convenient to reach Old San Juan from many of the resorts and hotels. Taxis are expensive in Puerto Rico so if you are trying to save a few $$, check out the bus schedule to get around San Juan. Its clean and easy to use even with a stroller.
Once you step into Old San Juan, history comes alive with the colorful architecture, bold culture and cobblestone streets.
Our first stop was for a late breakfast at the highly rated and locally loved coffee shop, Caficultura. They serve breakfast all day and make a mean and beautiful cup of coffee. Caficultura is located in a picturesque square and is in a great location to begin your day of sightseeing. We had a latte and their coconut french toast with pineapple jam and it was beyond amazing. I'd be lying if I said I didn't eat every crumb on my plate.
With our bellies full and Milena ready for a nap, we decided to walk to Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) to let her sleep and to experience the vibrant colors of San Juan. The city is very walkable, even with a stroller, and it was nice to feel more like a local than a tourist.
After about a 20 minute walk, a El Morro came in to view and it was breathtaking. The 16th century citadel is surrounded by a scenic, green field and historic buildings. We opted to do a self-guided tour since we were short on time and were able to get a lot of information of the history of El Morro from the museum's exhibit stands.
El Morro is a beautiful sight to see and is one of the most iconic images of Puerto Rico.
We spent about 45 minutes at El Morro before a large storm rolled in so we decided to head to our next stop before we were caught in a down pour. However, as soon as we hit the streets a heavy rain began and cut our sight seeing tour short.
We jumped on the free trolley offered by the city which is a convenient way to get around Old San Juan. Marked trolley signs are placed throughout the town and you can simply jump on or off to get to your destination.
Although our tour ended early, our day in Old San Juan was one we will not forget. San Juan is a charming city filled with history and culture and is a great destination for traveling families. Milena was such a trooper and her favorite part of the day? Running in mama's arms through a down pour!
