{"id":4263,"date":"2021-12-21T08:05:40","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T13:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.plateapr.com\/en\/?p=4263"},"modified":"2022-02-11T15:46:46","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T20:46:46","slug":"cruise-excursions-san-juan-puerto-rico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.plateapr.com\/en\/things-to-do\/cruise-excursions-san-juan-puerto-rico\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Great Port Day Cruise Excursions in Puerto Rico"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Inspiration on what to do during your cruise ship\u2019s port of call in San Juan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bevy of cruise lines include a stop in San Juan on their Caribbean itineraries. Several of them\u2014Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and others\u2014 depart and end in San Juan, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time in port may vary, but is generally from five to eight hours, providing passengers ample time to explore Puerto Rico\u2019s lures. Here are a few cruise excursion ideas for your Puerto Rico port of call, how long to plan for them and helpful tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Historical Tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Tourists enjoying Old San Juan \/ Discover Puerto Rico<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The oldest city in the U.S. and its territories, Old San Juan is replete with historical gems and a convenient cruise excursion in Puerto Rico. It\u2019s home to the first Spanish fortification, La Fortaleza (designated both a San Juan National Historic Site and UNESCO World Heritage site). Constructed between 1533 and 1540, La Fortaleza is the oldest governor\u2019s mansion in the Western Hemisphere. The site includes San Felipe del Morro (El Morro), bastions, powder houses and old city walls. Your entrance receipt also gets you into San Juan\u2019s other notable fortress, San Crist\u00f3bal (and vice versa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also recommend spending time at Casa Blanca Museum, built by Puerto Rico\u2019s first governor, Juan Ponce de Le\u00f3n. The governor died before he could move in, but his family occupied the home for 250 years. A tour reveals a glimpse of the life of modern Puerto Rico\u2019s founding family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other San Juan landmarks to add to your tour: The Capitol, San Juan Cemetery, The Narrow House and the Church of San Jos\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length of time:<\/strong> Up to four hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excursion tips: <\/strong>Wear comfortable clothes\/shoes and sunscreen. Also, bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Break up your tour with lunch at Sophia\u2019s Old San Juan or El Jibarito.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out our article Walk Through Puerto Rico\u2019s History in Old San Juan, a self-guided tour of historic Old San Juan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. El Yunque<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Couple hiking trail at El Yunque \/ Discover Puerto Rico<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A visit to this 28,000-acre natural wonderland is a bucket-list experience for many. It\u2019s no wonder. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System, situated about 45 minutes south of San Juan on the slopes of the Luquillo Mountains. Hundreds of native plant species and almost 200 kinds of wildlife live in this thriving ecosystem, including the coqui frog and one of the planet\u2019s most endangered birds, the Puerto Rican parrot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re doing an El Yunque cruise excursion on your own, visit when it opens at 7:30am. Most tour groups arrive between 9am and 10am, which should provide plenty of time to enjoy it in relative solitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length of time:<\/strong> Up to four hours for a half-day tour. Longer tours can take 6\u201312 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excursion tips: <\/strong>To manage visitor capacity, reservations are now required. You can purchase tickets up to 30 days prior to your visit at Recreation.gov.<\/a>  Bring a rain poncho and wear comfortable, waterproof shoes. Also, pack food and water (unless you\u2019re with a group tour that covers meals and beverages). Don\u2019t forget your sunscreen and bug spray!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Beach Excursions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Isla Verde Beach \/ Discover Puerto Rico<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Convenient to the cruise pier and a quick taxi ride from downtown, Condado Beach and Isla Verde Beach are popular options for cruise passengers. These bustling beaches provide easy access to high-rise hotels, restaurants and shopping, as well as water sports vendors. <\/p>\n\n\n

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