What to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico next week?

by philg

Folks:

I need to be in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, August 11 (next week) for business. I’m staying in the Caribe Hilton. I could fly in mid-day on August 10th and depart late on August 12th and/or fly in a day early on August 9th. What would be some fun things to do in San Juan? Given that I will be sitting on a plane for at least four hours in each direction, I don’t want to do any activities that involve significant travel time.

If any readers would like to meet up at the Hilton, I would be delighted to talk over coffee on the afternoon of the 10th or the morning of the 12th (email philg@mit.edu).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Note that I’ve been to San Juan back in 2002 and spent a couple of days wandering around Old San Juan. I’ve also been to the Arecibo telescope and the rain forest.]

8 thoughts on “What to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico next week?”

  2. Go see the bioluminescent bays – either the one in Mosquito Bay in the island of Vieques or the one near Farjado.

  3. I second the bioluminescent bays. That was unique and something for you to do in the evening

  4. Go to the Rio Piedras market in San Juan and buy all the fresh tropical fruits you can find. I’m not sure what’s in season, but you should be able to find some fruits that you can’t get in Boston.

    There are some orchards in the southwest with even more diversity, but you mentioned not wanting to travel much.

  5. If you go to the market in Rio Piedras, bear in mind that you cannot bring any sort of fruits or vegetables out of the island, for fear that they may contain insects or other pests. The USDA will check your baggage when you leave, and they are very serious about that stuff.

    There are some excellent limestone caves in Camuey that you should check out. As for the bioluminescent bay, by all means go. Make sure you go on a moonless night. Some of the tours have kayaking, and others will let you go swimming in the lagoon.

  6. too bad you already saw the Observatory. I would have been happy to give you a tour here at Arecibo

  7. you could rent a plane and fly to culebra for the day. the beaches and snorkeling are amazing and the approach to the airport is pretty exciting (you basically fly between 2 hills and then suddenly turn left and dive towards the runway 🙂

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