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SAN JUAN The capital of

SAN JUAN The capital of the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico offers an intriguing mix of colonial treasures, stunning scenery, and fascinating culture and history, combined with a laid-back tempo Although Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493, San Juan was not officially founded until 1521 by its first governor, Juan Ponce de León, who named it the City of Puerto Rico (Rich Port). The city quickly became Spain’s most important military outpost in the Caribbean. It is the second-oldest European-established capital city in the Americas. Following a period of rapid industrial development after World War II, San Juan emerged as a leading economic, cultural and tourism hub in Central America. Today, the historic area within the City Wall, or La Muralla, is known as El Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan). The entire presentday city has a population of nearly 400,000, but within the greater metropolitan area, more than 2 million people live or work, making it a vibrant and bustling community. MUST-SEES Old San Juan is a beautiful part of the city with famous adoquín (a blue stone) paved streets. History lovers are sure to enjoy this area. Particularly of note are the old City Wall and forts, including the spectacular Fort San Felipe del Morro, an engineering masterwork standing watch at the entrance to San Juan Bay since the 16th century. It is well known for its distinctive garitas, overhanging turrets that have become a symbol of San Juan. Also worth seeing is Fort San Cristóbal. Both are open to the public and offer museums and the option for exploration. Much of Old San Clockwise, from above: Caribbean sunset; a small waterfall in El Yunque national rainforest; vibrant houses on San Justo Street; a stunning Puerto Rican beach 78 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE 2019

CITY GUIDE Juan is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also see the second-oldest cathedral in the Americas, the graceful and beautiful Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. Head to Isla Verde for a hub of bustling nightlife and a busy, active beach that is full of street performers and activities. Or check out the Condado district for a gorgeous treelined oceanfront. Right between Condado and Isla Verde is Ocean Park, a small, quiet beach, great for relaxing. San Juan is home to a wide range of fantastic museums. The Museum of Contemporary Art is a neoclassical building with a large selection of art focused on Latin American and Caribbean artists. The Puerto Rico art museum houses a huge collection of Latin American art and tells the history of the area. Elsewhere there are museums dedicated to a wide range of interesting aspects of Puerto Rican culture, from books to Pablo Casals to Bacardi rum. SHOPPING The modern area known as New San Juan is where you will find the majority of the city’s shopping and restaurant districts, paired with traditional stores and cafés, mostly serving Hispanic food with a Caribbean twist. Many stores sell handmade ceramic coquí—a local frog that has become an emblem of sorts of Puerto Rico. Bacardi is, of course, everywhere, but do try some of the other locally produced rums—Don Q and Palo Viejo are both excellent choices. And then head to the Cigar House to purchase some fine cigars. The Plaza Las Américas is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, with every imaginable US chain store, including (allegedly) the world’s largest JCPenney and Sears outlets. This is not all standard, though, with shops unique to Puerto Rico selling watches and other jewelry, plus bamboo clothing, great for keeping cool in the heat. EATING Stop off during the day for a coffee and churro in one of the city’s many cafés. Try Alto Grande coffee, cultivated in the mountains since 1839. A lot of restaurants have Spanish words even on their English menus, as they are idiomatic: “comida criolla” indicates dishes are house specialties, often from age-old recipes. Plátanos are plantains, part of the banana family, and are used widely in both sweet and savory dishes. Go online: Watch a video of the West Indies Explorer cruise at voc.com/videos EXPLORE MORE 2019 VIKING.COM 79