San Juan

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico on the northern coast, spreading across a peninsula and adjacent mainland districts connected by bridges and coastal roads. Inside the walled zone, colonial houses with wrought-iron balconies stand beside cobbled plazas, while newer sections contain residential and commercial areas along wider avenues.

Spanish settlers founded the settlement in 1521 and built defensive works such as El Morro to protect the harbor from seaborne raids. The city passed briefly under American administration after the war in 1898 and later became the political and economic center of the territory.

Street vendors serve fried fish and stuffed pastries in the older neighborhoods, while salsa and reggaeton rhythms drift from open doorways. Locals often gather along waterfront promenades to watch the sunset or play dominoes at shaded tables.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport handles direct flights from many US cities, and American citizens do not need a passport. Many sights lie within walking distance inside the historic district, though bus routes and taxis serve more distant neighborhoods.

Escambrón Marine Park brings together an urban beach with coral reefs, allowing swimming and snorkeling near the built-up waterfront. Visitors often notice iguanas climbing and basking among the stones of Castillo de San Cristóbal, an unexpected wildlife encounter amid the fortress architecture.

Location: Puerto Rico

Inception: 1521

Capital city: San Juan

Elevation above the sea: 34 m

Part of: Northern Coast

Shares border with: Carolina, Guaynabo, Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Trujillo Alto

Website: https://sanjuan.pr

GPS coordinates: 18.46528,-66.11667

Latest update: December 2, 2025 22:54