Port of San Juan Information for Cruisers

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Port of San Juan, PR

During the early 16th century, San Juan was the point of departure of Spanish expeditions to charter or settle unknown parts of the New World. Its fortifications repulsed the English navigator Sir Francis Drake in 1595, as well as later attacks.

San Juan is the largest processing center of the island and the port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. San Juan is the country's financial capital, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centers there. San Juan is the center of Caribbean shipping and is the 2nd largest sea port in the area (after New York City).

Old San Juan occupies the western end of a rocky islet at the mouth of San Juan Bay. During the 20th century, the main population centers surged well beyond the walls of the old city and onto Puerto Rico's main island, and merged with the existing settlements east and south of Old San Juan. As a result, the city is now composed of a variety of neighborhoods.

Terminal Information

Location

San Juan Cruise Terminal
#1 1 La Puntilla Street, Room 214
San Juan, PR 00901

Cruise ships arrive at one of the eight piers located on the northern and eastern side of the bay; located south of Old San Juan and the San Juan island. The short distance between the Airport and the cruise ship docks (7 miles) makes the docks a prime location for cruise companies.

Things to do and see

Shopping

Business hours usually are, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM weekdays. Most stores are open Saturdays, and all of the larger towns have shopping malls that are open evenings and Sundays. The Plaza Carolina Mall has over 200 stores to choose from. Traditional & popular crafts include santos (small, wooden figures of saints and religious scenes); mundillo (intricate, handmade bobbin lace); and vejigantes  (island masks made of paper mache or coconut).

There are no customs duties on articles bought in Puerto Rico and taken to the U.S. mainland.

Take the walking tour of Old San Juan

Begin at La Casita which is the yellow building that overlooks San Juan Bay located in Plaza de la Dársena. You will find the Puerto Rico Tourism Company Information Center. Take a guided tour or grab a map and take the tour on your own. Map here

San Cristóbal Fort

Construction on the fort was begun in 1634 and finished in the late 1700's.

San Juan Cathedral

Built in the 1520's, the Cathedral is an authentic New World example of medieval architecture. The Cathedral has been rebuilt a number of times due to hurricanes. Open 8:30am - 4pm.

Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park

Stone monoliths and petroglyphs dating from 800 A.D.

El Morro

Six-level fortress built in the mid 1500's offering spectacular views of San Juan Bay. National historic site. Open 9 - 5pm.

El Yunque Rainforest

The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system.

Camuy Caves

The island's oldest natural wonder and site of one of the longest underground river systems in the world.

Tapia Theater

Built in 1832 and one of the oldest theaters in the Western Hemisphere. Still used as an entertainment venue.

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