2 days ago
Puerto Rico in a Week: Old San Juan, Santurce, and the Stops We’d Repeat
Puerto Rico in a Week: Old San Juan, Santurce, and the Stops We’d Repeat
A last-minute holiday trip turned into one of our favorite Puerto Rico itineraries yet. This was our fifth visit to the island, and instead of trying to see everything, we split the trip between Old San Juan and Santurce, rented a car only when it made sense, and focused on the experiences we genuinely love repeating.
In this episode, we share the practical decisions that made this trip work, what we’d do differently next time, and the places we keep returning to — from winter baseball and rum tours to beach days, food favorites, and one surprisingly great seasonal fast-food discovery.
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Trip Strategy That Worked
Split Your Stay
Old San Juan
- Walkable
- High energy day and night
- Best explored without a car
Santurce
- Arts, museums, nightlife
- Good base for driving day trips
- Neighborhood choice matters more than you might expect
Rental Car Tip That Saved Hundreds
Instead of renting directly at the airport, we took a short Uber ride to an off-airport rental location and saved a significant amount of money. This strategy works in many destinations, not just Puerto Rico.
What We Did
Old San Juan Favorites
Paseo de la Princesa Christmas Lights
- Walk-through light displays
- Food vendors and crafts
- A lively extension of the holiday season well into January
- One of the best ways to discover places you would normally walk past
- Includes historical context plus bar and restaurant stops
- A memorable stop from the rum tour
- Known for live piano and excellent mojitos
- Famous cocktail bar with multiple hidden rooms
- Salsa and nightlife atmosphere later in the evening
Ferry to Cataño + Bacardí
If you want to visit Bacardí while staying in Old San Juan, the ferry provides an easy and scenic route across the bay.
Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League
One of the most unexpectedly fun nights of the trip.
- Affordable tickets
- Strong local energy
- Runs roughly November through January
- Leads into the Caribbean Series
Even if you are not a huge baseball fan, this is a great cultural experience.
Santurce Experiences
- Farmers market during the day
- Turns into a nightlife hub in the evening
- Excellent introduction to Puerto Rican art and history
- Large sculpture garden and park area
Sunset Salsa Class at Ocean Park Beach
- Beautiful location
- Consider smaller or private classes if you want more instruction time
El Yunque National Forest
- Short but steep
- Moderate difficulty with significant elevation gain
- Worth it for the views
We also saw progress being made on trails closed since Hurricane Maria, which was encouraging.
Luquillo Beach (Returned Three Times)
Why we love it:
- Protected cove with safer swimming conditions in winter
- Excellent food kiosks
- Easy to spend several hours relaxing here
Glass-Bottom Kayak Tour (Condado Lagoon)
- Early morning tours provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities
- We saw rays, turtles, puffer fish, and iguanas
Ron del Barrilito Distillery
- Heritage tour offers strong historical insight
- Great option if you enjoy rum and want a smaller-scale production experience
Where We Ate and Drank
Old San Juan
El Viejo Almacén
Argentinian steakhouse we return to every visit
Favorite order: meat platter for two
Orabori Empanadas
Casual, affordable, and excellent quick lunch option
Cafetería Mallorca
Historic café known for coffee and traditional pastries
Tip: Arrive early on cruise ship days
El Vino Crudo
Natural wine bar with standout creative dishes
Higher price point but memorable meal
Chocobar Cortés
Chocolate-inspired breakfast and brunch dishes plus excellent drinks
La Madre
Reliable modern Mexican restaurant with great margaritas
Café Cola’o
Small shop serving excellent Puerto Rican coffee at surprisingly reasonable prices
Condado / Isla Verde Area
Barista Squared
Specialty Puerto Rican coffee in a more resort-oriented area
Cayo Blanco
Excellent Puerto Rican cuisine
Standout dish: churrasco steak
Unexpected Favorite
Seasonal Coquito Frosty
A holiday drink inspired by Puerto Rico’s traditional coconut holiday beverage. Surprisingly good and widely available during the Christmas season.
Wine Break: Why Some Cheap Bottles Are Worth Saving
We opened a 2018 Bordeaux purchased for around $15 and aged at home. After several years, it drank like a much more expensive bottle. A simple storage space and tracking app can make aging wine accessible and affordable.
Where We Stayed
Old San Juan
Vacation rental on Calle San Francisco
A quieter area that still allows easy walking access to major sites.
What We Would Do Differently Next Time
- Stay closer to Santurce’s museum or arts district
- Consider spending more time in Luquillo or Fajardo
- Look for smaller group salsa classes
Planning Takeaway
Puerto Rico works extremely well when you:
- Combine Old San Juan with one additional base
- Rent a car strategically instead of the entire trip
- Balance cultural activities with relaxed beach days
Want More Trip Details?
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