Trip To San Juan Puerto Rico In February 2018

Lucky you! We went there for 10 days a couple of years ago and stayed in Old San Juan before moving to the middle of the island and then the rainforest. There's loads to do there with a fascinating history. I have a few images in my Puerto Rico Collection and now you have spurred me on to do some more!

~Richard
http://www.reevephotos.com

Sorry, no but don't forget to photograph their tiny little frog, the Coquí. I applied for a job there about 10 years ago and never got over the rejection. It did look like a fine place for a biologist and a photographer to live, at least or a while. Have fun!

I love Puerto Rico! I have been there a couple of times. Stayed in Old San Juan and in a resort east side of Island.

I love the resort....fantastic views and lush vegetation. Orchids every where. Sunrise incredible....

Old san jaun charming and fun. Architecture is stunning.

The Rainforest is a must see...gorgeous...

Enjoy it...you will love it!

OK just got home so I can use a proper keyboard!

Old San Juan is superb - small cobbled streets and great bars and restaurants. There's Poet's Passage for a coffee and Barrachina for the birthplace of Pina Colada. Then stroll around the town to the old forts and through the San Juan Gate to see the feral cats. A trip to Bacardi is good if you like rum too. The manatee center to the edge of San Juan is small, but a nice place to visit too. You will need to book though as it is mainly a rescue/research center
We initially stayed in the Caribe Hilton - wonderful place and opposite the famous (derelict) Hotel Normandie which was built to resemble the ship of the same name. If you want to travel further afield, I would recommend booking in at TJ Ranch near Arecibo for total relaxation away from everything. Nearby is the famous radio telescope and, in complete contrast, the ancient Caguana Ceremonial Park. Also a trip to the hill town of Lares where the revolution started (and ice cream) is worth it.

If you can get south to Ponce, the Museum of Art there is also wonderful.

Finally, the rainforest to the east is beautiful with some lovely waterfalls and spectacular flora.

As I said - lots and lots to do!

~Richard
http://www.reevephotos.com

Wow! What great info y'all are adding here for me! I went ahead and booked my reservations. Going to be staying at The Hyatt Place San Juan/Bayamon. I'll be honest here that I got a superb deal with roundtrip airfare, car rental, hotel accommodations for a song!

So, how close if anyone knows will I be to Old San Juan if I am staying at the Hyatt?

Oh, I am loving what I am reading!

Alessandra, my camera goes everywhere with me and my macro lenses! I hope I can spot that frog you mentioned!

Roberta, that's great you've been several times. I can't wait to see the architecture and the people! I already have the Rainforest on my list of MUST SEE PLACES!

Richard, I am going with my best friend that I have known since college and she will be thrilled to know about the Bacardi place to see. I guess I'll look it up because I don't know if that's a town or the factory!

Like I started out saying...WOW great tips and advice and I thank you for it. Really, I do!

PS: My BF and I are cruisin' to AK in September.

It's the Bacardi Factory on the edge of San Juan - the tour is free and you get a few free drinks too :-)
Don't forget to eat mofongo (a delicious plantain dish) too.
Old San Juan is wonderful - San Felippe Del Morro fort, Castillo de San Cristobal, Parc de Palomas, Paseo del la Princessa with stalls and restaurants, up the hill to one of the world's smallest houses, and many other historical things.

As you have a car you can do some great drives although some of the ones across the island on the tiny mountain roads should be avoided.

Generally though we felt safe as a family with 3 girls travelling everywhere.

Puerto Rico Collection

~Richard
reevephotos.com

Some kids from our High School just came back from a trip to PR and brought back rescue dogs. Check them out at Sato Rescue - https://www.northeastanimalshelter.org/our-programs/sato-rescue/

Maybe bring back a cute puppy like this fellow I got to photograph today - https://pixels.com/featured/cute-puppy-dog-on-a-high-chair-edward-fielding.html

Nicely done, Ed ;-)

~Richard
reevephotos.com

Thanks for the suggestion, Ed. I'm not going on vacation to rescue pups.

Anyone else have suggestions for what to do in SJPR?

Hi CJ;

I've been there 5 times, and I would go there again in a flash. Old San Juan is one of the most vibrant cities in the Caribbean. Lots of history. It is a VERY walkable city, you do not to drive at all; and you will be able to cover almost the entire city just by walking. Or, you can always take the Hop-on-Hop-off tram with multiple stops for free. The old streets are very charming with their blue cobblestones (I have an image in my portfolio with a bit of history on those). Make sure you do not miss the World Heritage Sites in the city - La Fortaleza, the three forts of San Felipe del Morro, San Cristóbal and San Juan de la Cruz. You can easily walk them all in a couple of days. However, if you really like that sort of thing and would like to get a better feel to these sites, you would need about 3-4 hours (at least) per fort for good photographic documentation (I spent about 6 hours at El Morro and the cemetery with over 400 pics)!

And you can definitely follow a large portion of the city along the City Wall and the Bay of San Juan. The main path through the park (Paseo de La Princessa) is a must as it follows the old city wall and leads you to El Morro and the adjacent cemetery (beautiful place to check out). Also, make sure you check out the last City Gate standing by what is called Pigeon's Park (can't remember the name of the street it is on). Do not feed the pigeons as you will be swarmed by them! LOL

Other suggestions - have a "mofongo", one of the local delicacies in the city. And definitely bring lots of camera cards. The photography all over the city is just AMAZING. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to process the over 5,000 images I took in San Juan over the years (yikes - only 3 images in my portfolio)!

Enjoy your trip. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun!

Oh, Hany, thank you so much for all your info! I want to go NOW! So, we don't need a car at all? Even to go to the rainforest or is the Hop On Hop Off all we need? Funny you should say what you did about having enough sms cards as I just went out yesterday and bought 10 more!

I am copying and pasting your advice to me best friend who's going with me. She's a shopper not a photographer, but, I know that she'd be interested in what y'all are clueing me in on!

If you plan on visiting El Yunque National Forest then I would suggest a car as it's not exactly close to San Juan. There may be public transport and that would be fun in of itself, although probably very time consuming. The Hyatt Place San Juan/Bayamon is several miles from Old San Juan itself and about 35+ from El Yunque

~Richard
reevephotos.com

Ah, thanks Richard! Then I think the car is a good idea to have!

CJ; you definitely do not need a car if you want to stay within the city of Old San Juan (where the World Heritage Sites are - the forts; the old city wall; Pigeon's Park; etc.). All of these are accessible either by the Hop-On-Hop-Off tram or by walking the small streets of the city. However, If you plan on visiting Condado Beach, or the Cavernas de Camuy, or the El Yunque National Rainforest, then you definitely need a car. The caverns (highly recommended) are located about 70 miles southwest of San Juan around the Arecibo area (where the shot the opening scenes from the James Bond movie Golden Eye).

Thanks, Hany! I talked to my BF and we think having a car, even if we don't use it everyday, is worth having "just in case!"

I agree with Hany regarding the car. It allows more flexibility.
Arecibo radio telescope and science center is amazing if you're a techie as are the Cavernas de Camuy for the geologist in you, and also Caguana ceremonial Park for ancient civilizations. There's loads to do on the island you will enjoy it! Buy some fruit from the roadside stalls and have fun,

~Richard
http://www.reevephotos.com

If ever I went to PR it would be in honour of a great writer Edgardo Vega Yunque.
I'd lie on the beach under the palms and read his fantastic stories.