The oldest city in the United States – San Juan – has embarked on a year of festivities marking its 500th anniversary. Special activities and events lasting through next June will mark the milestone in the colourful Puerto Rican capital, founded in 1521.

Famous for its blue cobblestone streets and multi-coloured buildings, not to mention the impressive fortress El Morro, which juts out into the Atlantic from San Juan Bay, Old San Juan was built by the Spaniards, having been originally settled by Ponce de Leon following the island’s discovery by Europeans on Columbus’ second voyage to the New World in 1493.

Today, the historic district is a feast for history buffs and explorers alike, with ancient fortifications, towering walls, open plazas, and hidden patios that are a ticket to travel in time – and which are set to be the backdrop for an ongoing series of concerts, festivals, tours, and more throughout the winter.

Visitors can refer to a dedicated section of Discover Puerto Rico’s website for updates on the full calendar of events.

Among them, the Museum of San Juan has inaugurated two special exhibits: ‘Image, Art and Devotion: San Juan 500 Years’ and ‘The City in Time: Five Centuries of Artistic Representation of San Juan’.

The city has also created a new walking tour of Old San Juan that allows visitors to travel back to the 16th century and visit the most emblematic places of the oldest city in the United States and its territories. The two-and-a-half-hour tour takes groups up to 20 people at 9 and 10 a.m., and 1 and 2:00 p.m. respectively.

Events will include Puerto Rico’s longest Christmas celebration, a “Welcome to 2022,” the San Sebastián Street festival in January 2022, and a regatta in the summer of 2022 to close the months-long festivities. Additional events will be announced throughout the year.

Puerto Rico

Long a favourite destination for Canadians, not least as an important departure point for Caribbean cruises (and pre- or post-cruises stopovers), the island of Puerto Rico is rich in festivals, traditions, art, music, and gastronomy – and boasts renowned beaches, a central mountain region, and a natural rainforest that lend themselves to myriad outdoor activities such as hiking, ziplining, and surf boarding. Golf is a popular, if more manicured, pastime, and coffee aficionados have ample options to discover local farms and brews.

Old San Juan

Any visit to Puerto Rico begins in capital, where Old San Juan exemplifies Puerto Rico’s status as a true melting pot of cultures, according to Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean.

“Through its 500 years, the city tells the story of an evolving and resilient people,” he says, adding that visitors can feel the history of the city come to life through its historic structures, objects, monuments, and landmarks that “hold traces of the past frozen in time.”

Other aspects of a visit include:

AROUND THE ISLAND

El Yunque Rainforest: Located in Río Grande, about 45 minutes from San Juan, visitors can spend a day (or half-day) in the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, which boasts hiking trails, scenic views, waterfalls, and petroglyphs made by Taínos (the island’s indigenous people). Tours explore the history and biology of the area, including the more than 240 species of plants, such as tree orchids, giant ferns and wildflowers, and animals that thrive in the habitat, especially the native coquí frog. Tours usually include several stops at picture-perfect spots as well as a chance to try authentic Puerto Rican cuisine.

Cueva Ventana and Cueva del Indio: Visitors can have a day full of close encounters with wildlife while exploring two of Puerto Rico’s most important caves: Cueva Ventana and Cueva del Indio. Located in the northside town of Arecibo, 45 minutes from San Juan, this day trip takes participants into the caves and shows their diverse ecosystems and the formation of the stalagmites and stalactites found in the caves. Situated on top of a limestone cliff, Cueva Ventana offers a beautiful window to breathtaking views overlooking the Río Grande de Arecibo valley, while Cueva del Indio offers an ocean-front location and ancient Taíno wall carvings. Some tours also offer add-on options for hiking and other nearby activities. Round-trip hotel transportation, admission fees, light refreshments, and necessary equipment are included.

Puerto Rico’s second-oldest town: While there is evidence of its existence as early as the 16th century, San Germán was officially established in 1573, making it the second-oldest city in Puerto Rico (behind San Juan). Today the area preserves its nostalgic appeal, with cobblestone streets, neoclassical architecture, and two meticulously maintained plazas. The entire Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the southwest of the Island, it is a two-hour drive from San Juan.

‘Pearl of the South’: Picture-perfect Ponce is also known as the ‘museum city’ for its expansive arts and culture scene. Eight miles off the coast is Caha de Muertos island, a vibrant nature reserve with stunning beaches, hiking trails, a lighthouse, and a cave.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL

Porta Caribe (South): Lola Eclectic Cuisine, located in the Ponce Plaza Hotel and Casino offers dishes that bring together Puerto Rican, Spanish, and international influences in unique and tasty combinations. For more traditional fare, there’s the oceanfront Restaurante El Balcón del Capitán or Restaurante El Roble in Salinos. Visitors must try mojo isleño, a rich tomato-based sauce with slow-cooked onions, peppers, and olives which was invented in the town.

Porta del Este (East): Along the east coast, there are currently three ‘mesones gastronómicos’: Daniel’s Seafood in Humacao is a casual oceanfront eatery that receives everything from snapper to giant lobsters from local fishermen. For a more upscale option, Pasión por el Fogón in Fajardo serves dishes that skew more international in their preparation. Finally, there’s Star Fish Restaurant in the Fajardo Inn, where the presentation of the food rivals the flavours.

Porta del Sol (West): Head to the west coast for beautiful sunsets and great dining. In Mayagüez, stop by Hacienda Latina for daily lunch specials or creative criollo dishes for dinner. Further south in Lajas, in the hotel Villa Parguera, the Aquamarina Restaurant specializes in seafood, and with a gorgeous view of the Caribbean Sea. An off-the-beaten-track option is SaGra Kitchen Bar in the tiny town of Sabana Grande where on weekends they play live music and karaoke.

Central Mountain Range: Morovis is home to the renowned mesones gastronómicos Casa Bavaria, a beer garden with a German and Puerto Rican food menu that specializes in sausages, from the local longaniza to bratwurst, which can be paired with a diverse selection of beers.

COVID-19

San Juan’s anniversary celebrations come just in time for the full re-opening of tourism to the island with Discover Puerto Rico director of leisure sales Francisco Blanch telling a trade audience via webinar last week that “We’re ready to welcome you with open arms.”

Blanch qualified his statement by pointing out the current protocols require visitors to the US territory to be fully vaccinated or have a negative PCR or antigen test result. The latest arrival and local safety protocols are detailed on the Discover Puerto Rico website.

Puerto Rico also has one of the highest vaccination rates in the United States and its territories with over 85% of eligible residents having had at least one dose and over 75% fully vaccinated.