Is San Juan Walkable From Cruise Port?

Royal Caribbean ships are planning to target San Juan as both a home port and a port of call in 2021. The city is also featured on Caribbean itineraries from premium lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Viking, and Windstar Cruises. Old San Juan, a short San Juan National Historic Site, offers a variety of attractions and experiences, including ancient sites, story-worthy streets, and free golf carts called Garita Carts.

San Juan is a popular cruise port on Eastern Caribbean itineraries, known for its financial, cultural, and tourism hub. It is a great place for beach lovers and offers a delightful journey filled with historic charm and scenic views. The main port is located in Old San Juan, while the Pan Am port is by the Convention center and Isla Grnade Airport, which are not walkable.

Old San Juan is safe, walkable, and full of attractions and experiences, including history, art, food, and beaches. The pier is a 10-15 minute ride into Old San Juan, and the only thing within reasonable walking distance is the regional Isla Grande Airport and Puerto Rico Convention Center.

The San Juan Cruise Port Guide provides tips on making the most of your time during your stop in San Juan, including attractions, walking tours, driving private tours, free trolleys, bicycle rentals, and taxis. The port is also within walking distance to many things, including Uber and the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

In summary, San Juan is a popular cruise port in Puerto Rico, known for its stunning views, convenient cruise piers, and warm vibes.

Can you walk from San Juan cruise port?

The Old San Juan Port is just steps away from the cobblestone streets of Puerto Rico’s oldest and most historic city.

Better yet, Old San Juan is safe, walkable, and full of attractions and experiences – from history and art to food and beaches – making it an ideal destination for in-port excursions.

We know you will only have a few hours to explore — unless you plan to extend your stay, of course! — so we’ve rounded up some of the best things to see, do, and eat within walking distance of the cruise port in San Juan.

El Morro, located 20 minutes from the port, is one of San Juan’s most iconic and historic landmarks.

Can you walk from San Juan Cruise Port to El Morro?

We know you will only have a few hours to explore — unless you plan to extend your stay, of course! — so we’ve rounded up some of the best things to see, do, and eat within walking distance of the cruise port in San Juan.

El Morro, located 20 minutes from the port, is one of San Juan’s most iconic and historic landmarks.

If You’re a History Buff. The oldest European-founded city in the Americas, Old San Juan is the Island’s heart of history and culture. Once you’ve arrived at the Old San Juan Port, take a left to head east towards the iconic Castillo San Felipe del Morro, better known as El Morro. The walk to the fort takes about 20 minutes, so you’ll have time to get your land legs back while basking in vibrant culture and unique architecture in this beautiful old city.

The Spanish built El Morro in the 16th century to protect the city, but now stands as a captivating fortress ripe for exploration. Before going back towards downtown, stop by the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, the final resting place of many of the Island’s most prominent leaders. (Fun fact: The Spanish built the cemetery so it would stay outside the city walls because they feared the afterlife!)

How long does it take to walk around San Juan?

Explore this 3.1-mile out-and-back trail near La Perla, Northern Region. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 11 min to complete. This is a very popular area for road biking, running, and walking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Where can I walk from San Juan cruise port?

If You’re a Beachgoer. Located about a 30-minute walk (or quick ride) from the Old San Juan Port, Playa El Escambrón is the ideal spot for a beach day in San Juan. On your walk to the beach, stop by one of the several coffee shops and bakeries you’ll find along the way, like Pilao Bakery-Cafe and Placita’s Cafe.

Playa El Escambrón is popular among families seeking a day of fun in the sun close to the city. Lined with golden sand and tall palm trees, the beach’s calm waters, which are protected by coral reefs, make it a hot spot for snorkeling and diving. Try Scuba Diving offers snorkeling and scuba-diving tours for all levels along the reefs surrounding Playa El Escarmbrón. Their 1.5-hour excursions include fundamentals, a shallow dive to help you get comfortable, and an hour of underwater play in the ocean.

After you’ve had your fill of water adventures, take the pedestrian-friendly bridge over to Luis Muñoz Rivera Park. This urban park features magnificent foliage, a playground area, and various sculptures by local artists. You can grab a bite to go from nearby food vendors and local restaurants, then have a quiet picnic before heading back to port.

Can you walk to the fort in San Juan from the cruise port?

You can either walk though the city, or on the outside to one of San Juan’s historic gates- which has a few ways to get up there, or ALL the way around on the water until it puts you on the side of the fort. So it really depends on what you think nice is. We did the walk along the water to the El Morro fort.

There are a couple of ways you can go about this: San Cristobal is the closest to the piers and the largest (as in the amount of land it occupies) of the two. It has two entrances/exits; one is on the lower part through the parking lot (once you reach the corner where the fort stands, walk to the right to see the lot). The other (older) gate is on what essentially is the mid level where the main plaza is. To get here you keep walking straight uphill (and a quite taxing one it might be) instead of turning right at the corner.

This is where you would exit to walk over to El Morro fort. It’s about a mile walk with some incline until you get near el Morro. Once there you can do two things: make your way down to the lowest level and return to the pier using the seaside walkway at the base of the fort that leads to Paseo de la Princesa and on to the pier or once you’re done inside, exit the same way you entered the fort and make your way downhill through the city and take some of the sights and culture in.

You can also do it the other way around and enter through the lower level and walk over to San Cristobal which puts you much closer to the ships once you’re all tired from all the walking. Either way, I don’t recommend the trolleys unless you have mobility issues since getting a seat on one can sometimes be an exercise of extreme patience and consumes precious sightseeing time.

Is San Juan a safe place to walk around?

You may be wondering about safety in San Juan, following Hurricane Maria. It’s been two years since the hurricane made landfall, and the island has bounced back. In most places, the buildings and roads are restored, and San Juan is generally regarded as a safe destination for tourism. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, subject to U.S. laws. Officer presence is noticeable, especiallyin the walking historic district of Old San Juan.

Just like any destination you visit, it’s always a good idea to take typical precautions like securing valuables in your hotel safe, being wary of isolated streets or of walking alone at night, and locking your rental car.

Is it easy to walk around Old San Juan?

Old San Juan is incredibly walkable, so you can definitely plan to explore many sites on foot if you like, but there are also free golf carts around called Garita Carts on a circuit of the city making it easier to get around. You can also find taxis or Uber if there’s something you want to see that’s too far to walk.

Shopping. If you’re looking to do some shopping, Old San Juan features a mix of classic cruise port stops such as Diamonds International, Pandora, Piranha Joe, Cariloha, and traditional souvenir shops, some outlet stores including Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, and Sunglass Hut, along with local boutiques and eclectic shops. Fortaleza Street is where much of the shopping is concentrated but there are many shops worth visiting scattered around the old city.

For artisan products and more unique souvenirs visit Mundo Taíno, Seven Seas, Puerto Rico Arts and Crafts, The Poet’s Passage, Mi Pequeño San Juan, and the Artisan Corner.

For food-themed souvenirs visit Spicy Caribbee Spice Shop where they sell hot sauces, jams, spice mixes, and homemade sofrito. For panama hats and curious antiques stop by Olé or El Galpón.

Is it safe to walk around San Juan?

Avoid walking alone in poorly lit, unknown neighborhoods.

If you’re walking at night, it’s best to travel with a friend or in a group, and have a well-known route planned to get to your destination.

It’s very unlikely that you’ll be caught in the wrong place at the right time, but you can make it even less likely by limiting your alcohol intake, keeping your belongings close, and walking mindfully.

Is San Juan safe for solo travelers?. Yes, San Juan is safe for solo travelers of any gender.

How far is the cruise ship from San Juan Puerto Rico?

The San Juan Cruise Port is the busiest cruise port in the Caribbean. This major Puerto Rico cruise port has two embarkation terminals: one nicely situated in Old San Juan and another just a 10-minute drive from the city center. The majority of cruise ships dock in the Old San Juan Terminal, though a handful of ships use the Pan American terminal.

Read on for our breakdown of the San Juan Cruise Port, including address information, cruise line terminals, directions, services and more. Also, be sure to check out Cruise Critic’s ranked cruise deals from San Juan Cruise Port and see what tips, tricks and secret advice our Cruise Critic members have to say about cruises from this Puerto Rico cruise port.

Old San Juan TerminalPaseo Gilberto Concepcion de GraciaSan Juan, Puerto Rico 00901.

How do I get to Old Town San Juan from Cruise Port?

Getting Around from Pan American Pier:. You will have to take a taxi or book a tour in order to visit the historic Old San Juan and other tourist districts in San Juan. The pier is a 10-15 minute ride into Old San Juan. The only thing within reasonable walking distance is the regional Isla Grande Airport, Puerto Rico Convention Center, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, and the Hyatt House Hotel.

Closest Hotels to Pan American Pier:. The most convenient hotels to stay at near the Pan American Pier terminals are the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, Aloft San Juan,Hyatt House, and Hyatt Place.

Pan American Pier Facts:. The Pan American Pier has two modern two-tiered passenger terminals (I & II), located in Isla Grande, next to the Isla Grande Airport and near the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Two mega-ships can dock at the Pan American Pier terminals. Depending on your cruise line and cruise ship traffic, your ship may arrive and dock here for the day and will most likely embark from here if San Juan is the home departure port.

Is San Juan a walkable city?

San Juan is extremely walkable, so if you’re planning on only staying in the area, you won’t really need to take a cab depending on where you’re staying and the places you want to visit.

Restaurants, fast food, bars, clubs, casinos, hospitals, and pharmacies are within walking distance in Carolina and central San Juan.

When you get further away from the coast you can still walk around, but you might need to take public transit or a cab to see the sights.

How do you get around Old San Juan without a car?

Ridesharing is also available in San Juan via Uber. In Old San Juan, there’s no better way to explore the forts and streets than on your own two feet. Walking will be more of a problem if you want to get to and from the resort areas; depending on the time of day, you can use the city bus.