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San Juan

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and its largest city, with 342,000 (2020) inhabitants in the municipality and 2,203,000 in the metropolitan area. Founded in 1521 by the Spanish conquistadors, San Juan is the oldest city under the jurisdiction of the United States. San Juan is located in the north-east coast of Puerto Rico and features distinctly centuries-old architecture, such as Spanish military forts built from the 1540s to 1800s, an active harbor, and a very active economic area in the Hato Rey and Santurce districts. San Juan has magnificent beaches, hotels, plazas, historic sites, and museums.

Districts
San Juan is divisible into three geographical regions, from North to South:
 * Isleta de San Juan - The small island on which the city was first settled and founded in 1521.
 * Old San Juan - Occupying the western portion of the Isleta de San Juan, this is the oldest district of the city, home to many tourist attractions such as restaurants, bars, stores, art galleries and museums. The San Juan National Historic Site, part of the National Park Service and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, includes historic castles such as El Morro, San Cristobal and La Fortaleza, home of the Governor of Puerto Rico.
 * Puerta de Tierra - Occupying the eastern portion of the Isleta de San Juan, this district hosts a large number of Puerto Rico's territorial government buildings such as El Captiolio (the capitol building). Although not as charming as Old San Juan, this is a very historic area with a number of monuments, museums, parks, hotels and beaches. This is also the entry point into the Isleta de San Juan from the rest of the city of San Juan and the main island of Puerto Rico. There is an area in Puerta de Tierra which is not recommended for tourists: Puerta de Tierra "barrio", a poverty-stricken, illegal drugs-infested area where caution should be taken at all times, if visited at all.
 * Santurce - One of the most densely populated areas not only of San Juan but of Puerto Rico. Located on a peninsula to the southeast of Old San Juan, it is home to numerous hotels, museums, restaurants, the nightlife district of La Placita, and the largest and most popular beaches in San Juan.
 * El Condado - Immediately east of Isleta de San Juan, home to the popular El Condado Beach. This middle-to-upscale beachside neighborhood has many hotels, stores and restaurants along its main throughway of Ashford Avenue. Most visitors come for the beaches, restaurants and the nightlife.
 * Miramar - Separated from El Condado by the Condado Lagoon. Although mostly a residential area, this area hosts numerous restaurants and nightlife.
 * International Convention Center District - Formerly known and often still referred to as Isla Grande, it hosts Puerto Rico's largest convention center, hotels, restaurants, a cinema, and a majestic fountain that plays traditional Puerto Rican music and classical music. Various cruise ship docks along with San Juan's secondary airport, Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport with flights to Vieques and Culebra, are also located in this district.
 * Ocean Park - East of El Condado, home to Ocean Park Beach, the largest beach in the municipality. The area is mostly residential but the stretch along Loiza Street has been largely gentrified in the last decade and now hosts a large number of restaurants, bars and clubs.
 * Río Piedras - The southernmost part of the city, comprising the majority of its population and land area. Home to the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico. Prior to 1951 it was a separate municipality.
 * Hato Rey - Location of the city's main business district, hosting important sports and event venues such as the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Roberto Clemente Coliseum, and the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico (El Choliseo). Also home of Plaza las Americas, the largest mall in the Caribbean, with vast opportunities for shopping, dining and movie theaters.

Location
San Juan has one of the best harbors in the Caribbean in a strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean. The city celebrated its 5th century anniversary in 2008 from the founding of Caparra, and in 2021, it celebrated its 500th anniversary of its official founding in its current location at the Isleta de San Juan. The city has a land area of about.

Climate
San Juan is a tropical city with winter temperatures typically ranging in the low 80s°F (21-24°C) during the day, and low 70s°F at night. Summer temperatures are generally in the high 80s°F (29-32°C) during the day, and high 70s (25-28°C) at night. Summer does include high humidity. The city has a tendency to receive rain and thunderstorms from April to November in the afternoon. San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico can be hit by hurricanes or tropical storms from July to November.

Culture
San Juan is a Latin American city with Spanish-based culture, mixed with African traditions and Taíno culture. Museums of modern art exist abroad. The citizens of San Juan are very festive, as on the rest of the island. San Juan has bars and discotheques all-around the city, from Old San Juan to the southern part of the city that stay open until 3 or 4AM. San Juan has become very modernized as of late, with its first Metro line (called Tren Urbano) and buses. Like most large cities, however, there is a small population of vagrants and beggars lining the streets.

San Juan is the financial capital of Puerto Rico. There are facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, and pharmaceuticals.

Old San Juan
Founded in 1509, San Juan became a walled city protected by multiple forts. It guarded an important entrance into the Spanish Main, and withstood multiple attacks by the British and Dutch (some partially successful). It was considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies. Due to its military significance, the government kept the growing population within the city walls until 1897, when a few bastions were demolished. The forts were bombarded from US naval ships during the Spanish–American War (1898). Much of the district is intact architecturally, including the impressive fortifications.

Many tourists are caught unaware by the sun exposure received from walking around the sites of this tropical city. Sunblock is available at many stores in town. Wear good walking shoes to deal with the hills and cobblestone streets. Around the perimeter of the district the trade winds make it surprisingly comfortable, but along the interior streets it get much hotter, with closely spaced, multi-story buildings cutting off any breeze. Brief showers are quite common, so watch your step, the cobblestones can get quite slippery.

Old San Juan is a common stop for cruise ships, yet it is definitely not a beach resort. It is a real town within a city, where people work and live. Men typically wear collared shirts and long pants, and businessmen wear suits. Women tend to wear skirts or dresses and often high heeled shoes. Although visitors are expected to dress more casually; a collared shirt, shorts with pockets and belt, and shoes are minimally appropriate for adults at most attractions.

Get in
Today the port of San Juan annually accommodates nearly 1.4 million passengers in cruise ship travel alone, making it the third busiest cruise port in the world, according to the Cruise Industry Statistical Review published in 2000. The busiest docks are on the south side of the area near a large city bus station. Another pier adjacent to the old Pan American airport handles mostly Royal Caribbean cruise ships for beginning or ending their cruises; it must be reached by car or taxi. Otherwise, all cruise ships dock at Old San Juan.

You may arrive at San Juan/Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, then take a $20 cab ride to your pier. If cruising, you should reach San Juan at least a day before the cruise ship embarks to ensure you make it despite any airline troubles. This also provides time for sightseeing in Old San Juan, near your hotel, etc.

There is also ferry service from across the harbor. Although one can easily drive to Old San Juan, it is not easy to drive or park within the district due to the narrow streets.

For those staying at major hotels outside Old San Juan, day tours can usually be arranged with the concierge. During busy times, drivers may refuse those with significant luggage. For just getting around, you might also consider the city bus to and from Old San Juan (see same subject for "San Juan".)

By ferry
Ferries del Caribe operates an international passenger and vehicle service from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The overnight journey requires Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative documentation and there are strict rules regarding vehicle transportation. Fares payable in USD.

By plane
San Juan is served by Airlines that fly here include Air Canada, American, Avianca, Condor, Copa, Delta, Frontier, Iberia, InterCaribbean, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United and domestic airline Vieques Air Link.

Most travelers opt to rent a car here or take a taxi (fixed fares of $15-25 to most points in the city, plus an extra $1 per luggage item). If you have more time than money, you can take public bus B-40 to Río Piedras and connect onward to your destination in the city with another local bus or elsewhere on the island with a público (best only attempted in the morning). Correct change is necessary. No dollar bills accepted.

This airport also gets flights from the Dominican Republic and some eastern Caribbean islands.

Private air charter
Charter flights are available at both Luis Muñoz Marín International and Luis Ribas Dominicci. Air charter companies such as Puerto Rico Jet Charter offer private flights on aircraft ranging from single & twin-engine propellor planes to luxury Gulfstreams and business jets. The majority of these flights originate from the South Florida area, where aircraft rentals are plentiful and economical.

Get around
For those staying in Old San Juan, organized bus/van day-trips to other sights in Puerto Rico can be arranged through most hotels.

Some cabs wait at the end of the El Morro esplanade footpath. There are usually many, many cabs standing at the southwest corner of Plaza Colón.

By car
Getting around various parts of the city, the rest of the island, and to and from the airport, will be much more convenient with a car. Though some road signs may be in Spanish, on the plus side driving is almost a universal language, and with this being an American territory, the road sign shapes are going to be as familiar to you - if you are used to American road signs. And after all, when you see the word norte sitting above a numbered-road sign enough times, it won't take you long to realize that means north. However, a car could entail parking fees as you travel around to your destinations so you will need to budget for that, and if you go to Old San Juan, parking will be quite difficult.

If you think you can handle San Juan drivers and have a good road map in hand, you may want to rent a car to drive to the attractions in the city. Keep in mind that in Old San Juan and in the hotels especially, parking is rarely free. There is free parking at the Puerta de Tierra beach, however, and most of Puerta de Tierra's attractions are either on the beach or within walking distance. If you decide to drive anywhere in San Juan, however, read the main San Juan article on driving around the city and brace yourself for some very close encounters on the road!

Old San Juan is primarily made up of one-way cobblestone roads, and parking is practically non-existent. If you must drive, try to drive and park along Calle de Norzagaray or any other streets on the northern side, and park there if you can. It is near the main attractions and the trolley system which can take you into Old San Juan and out back to your car when you are done.

By public transportation
While the bus system is disorganized and unpredictable, it's affordable, and bus drivers are by and large helpful at getting tourists to their destination. In Puerta de Tierra, stations for nearly all the bus lines are within walking distance from the hotels and are marked clearly with the word "Parada" on the sign. Going to Old San Juan is easy, and the last stop in Old San Juan is actually outside of the bus station roughly at the corner of Calle Juan Antonio Coretejas and Paseo Covadonga (PR38).

Leaving Old San Juan, make sure to board either of the Metrobuses or the Sagrado Corazón a San Juan M3 (the first line inside the bus station) line to be dropped off by the hotels, right before the bridge. Do not take the "ME" line as that is the express line that bypasses the local stops by hotels such as the Hilton Caribe. If you are worried you might miss your stop, tell the driver where you are going and he will let you know when you arrive at your stop that you should get off.

If you are going to Condado, you will need to board the B-21 going out over the bridge. It will take you right to Ashford Ave. To go to Isla Verde from the Puerta de Tierra hotels, you will need to walk to the other side of the large white residential building that has aqua blue accents. On the other side there is a bus stop going outbound that is served by the A5 bus. This bus will take you along Condado and the several residential areas after it to Isla Verde.

The A5 and B8 lines go through the Southern part of Puerta de Tierra, which can appear slummish in some areas. If you have accidentally gotten on one of these buses while trying to go back to your hotel, stay on the bus instead of getting off in a potentially rough area. Tell the driver where you want to go and he will drop you off at the closest stop. You should see the white building with aqua blue windows and patio fences, and on the other side of that is the other set of bus stops and the sidewalk that leads back the hotel.

The buses stop running at about 9PM. There is no designated time at which the bus will arrive at a certain stop. The information at the main bus stations will tell you that the Metrobuses come every 10 minutes, the A routes come every 15, B every 20, C every 30, but this is a very rough estimate. Bus fare is 75 cents, with reduced or free fare during holiday times.

Buses do not go into Old San Juan, and one walk across the cobblestone roads will show you why. However, they do serve a major bus station on the harbor side of the area, near one of the major cruise ship piers. There is a free, often-running trolley that takes people around the forts, museums, and the center of Old San Juan. Trolley stops are marked with yellow banners that show an illustration of a trolley and a number that indicates which stop it is. You can get on or off at any designated stop, and the trolley driver will help you find your stop if you aren't sure. If you're feeling a bit warm in the midday heat, hop on a white trolley which is open on the sides to catch a nice breeze while speeding to your destination. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, when cruise ships bring in hundreds of tourists, the trolley is often completely full and does not pick up new passengers. Try to go early.

By bus
If you're planning on staying in and around a general area of San Juan and have plenty of time, you may be able to get by on public buses. The system is inexpensive at only $0.75 a ride (Apr 2017), and will eventually take you near to where you want to go. To ride the bus, first find a stop for the correct routes (see below for some ones useful to tourists). The bus stops are marked "PARADA". When you see your bus coming, be sure to wave/flag it down otherwise it may just pass you by! When the door opens, toss your $0.75 into the fare box near the driver. Only coins are accepted on board so stock up on those quarters! ($0.05 and $0.10 coins are also accepted.) Then, pull the cord to get off at your destination.

Be patient. Although some bus schedules (even ones posted at the bus stops themselves) say that buses arrive every 15 minutes, service can be infrequent and very unpredictable; you may wait anywhere from 10 to 90 minutes for a bus to arrive. You may find that bus routes directly to and from places of interest around San Juan do not exist, and that a transfer with additional waiting times are involved. Rush hour buses may be very full. Further, buses generally may stop running around 8PM, and may not be extremely safe after dark.

There is not any direct bus route from the airport to Condado or Old San Juan. Also, keep in mind, if you are planning to get back to the airport by bus, some bus drivers may not let you board the bus with carry-on baggage. You may want to plan in advance to take a taxi back to the airport if your hotel has no shuttle. Carrying baggage on the city bus tends to be less of an issue when you head from the airport.

In Old San Juan, there is a large bus terminal near the harbor front that serves as the terminus of many buses. If you take public transit, you will probably end your day waiting here. To get around Old San Juan, there is a free trolley bus - look out for the numbered signs. Traffic in and around Old San Juan gets very heavy: you are not guaranteed a quick trip.

 * Useful routes
 * B-21 connects Condado, the convention center, Old San Juan, and the Sagrado Corazon Tren Urbano station. Most buses on this route are fairly new.
 * A-5 connects Isla Verde to Old San Juan via Mirimar.

Check with Urbano AMA (Spanish only) to inquire about routes and times. There is also a large, on-the-wall bus map at the ferry terminal in Old San Juan.

There are no public buses connecting San Juan to the rest of the island. There are vans that are like group taxis with specific routes called guaguas. You can inquire about trips outside of San Juan at the guagua terminal in Río Piedras. But keep in mind, guaguas may make multiple stops to maximize revenue, and it could take ages to get you to where you are going on the island.
 * Outside of San Juan

By ferry
The Cataño Ferry (La Lancha de Cataño) is a public ferry serving Old San Juan and Cataño. It crosses San Juan Bay every 15-30 minutes.

By taxi
Taxis can be found hanging around hotels and the east end of Calle de la Fortaleza in Old San Juan.

Set rates have been established for travel between San Juan's major tourist zones. As of January 2015, rates are as follows:

More fixed rates (like LMM Airport to Cataño, or Airport to Ponce) are available on the cab website.

The cabbie should use the meter when not using one of the fixed rates. The meter an initial charge of $1.75, a charge of $0.10 per 1/19 mile and $0.10 for every 25 seconds of waiting.

You may also incur some other charges (perhaps even on set rates):

Tolls are paid by the passenger. A 10-15% tip is expected but not required. For any issues with cabs, contact the Tourist Transportation Department at +1 787-999-2100 ext. 4502 M-F 7:30AM-4:30PM.

Around Puerta de Tierra, it is only necessary to hail a cab if you are going to Old San Juan or Condado. The taxis are at their most useful at night, as the buses stop running at around 9PM. Puerto Rico does have a set fare for taxi rides between districts, and going from Puerta de Tierra to either Condado or Old San Juan is almost always $12. Tipping cab drivers is customary, but do not tip if they charge more than $12, which is illegal! Taxis are also the best way to get to the airport, and from Puerta de Tierra it is about a $20-25 ride, depending on how many bags you have or where you want to be let off.

It is always a good idea to first ask your hotel front desk about the price of a taxi ride, then confirm that price with the actual driver before getting inside the cab, although cab drivers mostly follow the rules, and you are much more likely to be overcharged coming out of the outlying areas than going in.

It is $20 to go within Old San Juan by taxi, and this option may be best if you are not practically dressed or not in comfortable walking shoes, or traveling as someone or with someone who cannot walk long distances easily.

By train
San Juan is served by a single rapid transit rail line called "Tren Urbano" (Urban Train). The train starts about a mile south of Condado in southern Santurce with the station of Sagrado Corazón. It then continues south through Hato Rey, Río Piedras before leaving San Juan proper to the west for the suburbs of Guaynabo and Bayamón. Unfortunately, it does not connect any of the most of popular tourist locations like Old San Juan, El Condado or the airport, so the line is unlikely to be of use to most visitors.

If you do want to give it a spin, some ways to access the system are:
 * Taking the Acua Expreso ferry (temporarily discontinued) from Old San Juan to the financial district, where you'll find the "Hato Rey" station right next to the ferry dock, or
 * Taking the B-21 bus to the station Sagrado Corazon, or
 * Walking from Condado to the station Sagrado Corazon (not recommended at night)

The stations are very large and seem to have English speaking attendants. They have fare-purchase machines like New York City (in both English and Spanish) that give you a fare card. Save your fare card because you need to swipe it to exit! Rides were $1.50 each way regardless of distance, including a 1-hour bus transfer period. There are discounted fares for students, children and elderly people on both the buses and the train, though your US mainland ID showing you are either old or a student does not seem to work to get you a discounted ticket.

By walking
If you are not afraid of a walk, you may be inclined to walk between various points of interest in San Juan. This can be a good way to see the cityscape and the places that tourists do not always go. Watch for traffic. Tourist areas in San Juan are interspersed with areas that are a bit rough. Be alert and you should be fine, but before planning any long walk, you might want to search for information about areas in San Juan to avoid as a tourist.

There is not much to see in Puerta de Tierra and many residential areas of Puerta de Tierra are becoming more and more run-down, so it is probably not a good idea to do any intensive exploring on foot. Still, alongside the beach, the Avenida Munoz Rivera is a road with a sidewalk that gives active tourists a 25-minute straight walk into Old San Juan. Even more active tourists who know very well the lay of the land can walk to Condado, but the streets are very busy and it is easy to get lost, so this method is not recommended for most people.

Walking along the beach in Puerta de Tierra is safe, and will lead you straight into Old San Juan. The views are nice, of both the water and the two forts you will see once you reach the center of town. Also safe is walking through the Luis Munoz Rivera Park, which has many wide concrete walkways and provides a nice alternative for joggers to the hotel fitness rooms.

The attractions of Old San Juan are within walking distance of each other, although the climate and topography can make this impractical to walk between them. Even if the locals wear nice shoes or sandals, you should wear comfortable walking shoes, as you will scale a few hills and a lot of cobblestone while getting around. Mid-late afternoon temperatures may make walking a bit oppressive, with tall, crowded buildings blocking the breeze. Alternatives to avoid the humidity and tropical sun include going early as stores open (typically 10AM on weekdays) or catching the free trolley winding throughout the area, with opportunities to get off at marked stops wherever desired. The trolley tends to stay very full on afternoons when cruise ships are in.

Even within the pedestrian metropolis that is Old San Juan, cars will speed through intersections, so use the same amount of caution as you do in other parts of San Juan and wait for cars to stop for you. Do not try to stop traffic unless it is urgent that you cross the street, and if you must then make sure you have made eye contact with the driver and there is no possibility that the car behind it can bypass him from the side and proceed across the intersection. Sidewalks are very narrow and sometimes may have grooves or tripping hazards, so be careful.

While definitely part of Old San Juan's charm, the identical-looking architecture of Old San Juan's buildings can be a nuisance to tourists trying to use landmarks or memory to find something. Don't wait to get to Old San Juan to get a map, get one beforehand and study it so you know what streets take you to your destination and what streets don't. Don't try to use landmarks until you are used to navigating the city, especially since the heat and tiredness from walking can wear you out more quickly than you think. If you get lost or confused, find a bench and pull out your map, which should be readily available to you. Locals will also try to respond to simple requests for help. Don't try to walk yourself back into familiar territory. If you are trying to find a specific museum or restaurant that is not one of the major ones, memorize the address and street. If you know exactly where you are and where you are going, you should find navigating Old San Juan on foot very easy and enjoyable.

La Perla, the tiny oceanside neighborhood over the North Wall and Norzagaray Street, is best experienced from the El Morro Fort Lawn/Cemetery tunnel entrance. This sleepy neighborhood coexists quietly in the bustling shadow of Old San Juan, and is home to surfers, artists and tourism workers. Breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and true community pride are the accolades of this fascinating area that seems to be frozen in time.

It is considered in the Caribbean to be quite rude to take someone's picture without permission. Privacy is precious in a small community. Ask first, and receive a wonderful smile to warm up your photo memories!

Talk

 * See also: Spanish phrasebook

Spanish is the dominant language in San Juan and throughout Puerto Rico. English is also very widely spoken and understood (approximately one-third of the population speaks English "very well" or better according to the 2000 U.S. Census). Most businesses within the tourist areas of the city are fully fluent in English and those businesses tend to hire employees who are bilingual, thus speaking English very well. In addition, English is widely taught in high schools, with most students understanding some basic English. As a visitor, be prepared to use some high school level Spanish to drivers to communicate about luggage, restaurants, or anything not a normal tourist spot.

Puerta de Tierra
There is not much to see in Puerta de Tierra, but there are a few things of interest for the traveler looking around this area
 * Casa de Espana, 9 Av. de la Constitución. Walking distance from Old San Juan, this house is literally something to see, as the average tourist cannot go in unless they are involved with one of the many events hosted there. Still, the building, which gets its name from its original purpose as a community center for local Spanish citizens, is worth a look for its architectural accents and 'old world' look. It is closer to Old San Juan than the hotels of Puerta de Tierra, but it is on the bus line.
 * Ateneo de Puerto Rico, just west of next to Casa de España. Founded in 1876, it is the largest repository for national theater in Puerto Rico. Art contests and classes are held here as well. Hours are M-Sa 9AM to 5PM. +1 787-721-3877.
 * Fuerte San Jerónimo is a small fort in the entrance to what is known today as Condado, Puerto Rico lagoon in San Juan. The fort defended San Juan from attacks by Sir Francis Drake in 1595, Sir George Clifford "Earl of Cumberland" in 1598 and Sir Ralph Abercromby.

Other Museums

 * Museo de Arte (Museum of Art), 299 Av. José de Diego, Santurce. Open Tu and Th-Sa 10AM-5PM; W 10AM-8PM; Su 11AM-6PM. Puerto Rico's most important gallery, which opened in 2000 and was constructed at a cost of $55 million, is a state-of-the-art showcase for the island nation's rich cultural heritage. Admission is $12 for adults.

Do

Check out the beaches in Condado and Isla Verde.

A popular point of interest is Old San Juan, a 7-block area that has become popular for tourists and residents. The narrow streets of old San Juan are packed with people so it is recommended to experience Old San Juan by foot in order to avoid too much traffic. You can take a taxi for less than $20 from most hotels but for $0.75 you can also take the B21 bus which picks up from many locations near the hotels and is very easy to use.

Check out the parks in San Juan.

 * Central Park is the park to visit if you're looking for traditional activities such as jogging, tennis, baseball, etc.
 * La Marquesa Canopy Tour - About 30 minutes outside of San Juan in Guaynabo you can tour the La Marquesa Forest Reserve via zip line. It is a low impact experience suitable for people of all ages. Those who are up for extreme adventure travel may find this a little too easy.
 * Munoz Rivera Park, Av. Ponce de León. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. By the ocean, it has beautiful trees and landscaping. A great place to tour by foot.
 * Parque de las Palomas overlooks La Princesa Jail. From this park you are able to see a great view of the mountains, harbor and the city.
 * The Casino of Puerto Rico is a large building with a chandelier and an open ballroom, built before World War I.
 * The Teatro Tapia, +1 787 721-0169 or +1 787 721-0180. Built in 1832, this is one of the oldest theaters in the Western Hemisphere. This building, which was named after Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, has been remodeled twice, once in 1949 and once in 1987.  Plays, ballets, and other concerts and events are held here.

There are a few things to do in Puerta de Tierra that don't have anything to do with what is in your hotel. There is a large park, a nice beach, and several smaller walkways to take short walks on.

 * Parque Luis Munoz Rivera
 * Parque del Tercer Milenio. Encompassing most of the beach and park area of Puerta de Tierra, this park also holds an athletic club with a track and plenty of field area for outdoor napping or picnics on the beach.  The Balneario el Escambrón is the most accessible area of the beach to hotel guests, being a 5 minute leisurely walk from the hotels themselves.  Once on the beach, there are great distant views of not only the San Cristobal fort, but El Morro as well, if there is no fog.  Closer in and right next to the Kiosko Escambrón, a snack bar often playing loud salsa and serving up drinks to locals, is a lookout point that faces the water, where romantic couples often go to privately make out and gaze off into the ocean.
 * Centro de Bellas Artes, Ave. Ponce De León Pda. 22 1/2, is the largest fine arts center in the Caribbean. Concerts, plays, and operas are hosted here.
 * San Sebastian Festival, annually in January, the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, full of activities, parades, food and live music. It began as a neighborhood event for Saint Sebastian; now it's the Festival de la Calle San Sebastian - celebrating the street, rather than the Saint. It is pleasant, if insanely crowded early in the afternoon, with artisans and families, but after dark the artisans flee and it's jam packed with drunken teenagers. Remarkably crime free, except for rocking cars, and the predictable outcome of 10,000 people drinking for 8 hours in a 6-block narrow street with no facilities.
 * San Sebastian Festival, annually in January, the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, full of activities, parades, food and live music. It began as a neighborhood event for Saint Sebastian; now it's the Festival de la Calle San Sebastian - celebrating the street, rather than the Saint. It is pleasant, if insanely crowded early in the afternoon, with artisans and families, but after dark the artisans flee and it's jam packed with drunken teenagers. Remarkably crime free, except for rocking cars, and the predictable outcome of 10,000 people drinking for 8 hours in a 6-block narrow street with no facilities.

Work
Employment opportunities in Puerto Rico are to be found in the varying sectors of the territory's economy; key among these are education, financial services, government (municipal, territorial & federal), pharmaceutical and tourism. Proficiency in both Spanish and English are among the key skills required by local employers.

Employers in Puerto Rico are required to verify the eligibility of prospective workers to accept employment in the United States.

Buy

 * Plaza las Américas, "The Center of it All", biggest mall in the Caribbean, containing more than 300 stores anchored by the world's largest JC Penney, plus Macy's, Lacoste, American Eagle, A|X and Sears. It has a movie theater and restaurants such as Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Margarita's and Tierra del Fuego. If you need or want to visit a good example of a modern, enclosed mall from the U.S. mainland, this won't disappoint.
 * Plaza las Américas, "The Center of it All", biggest mall in the Caribbean, containing more than 300 stores anchored by the world's largest JC Penney, plus Macy's, Lacoste, American Eagle, A|X and Sears. It has a movie theater and restaurants such as Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Margarita's and Tierra del Fuego. If you need or want to visit a good example of a modern, enclosed mall from the U.S. mainland, this won't disappoint.
 * Plaza las Américas, "The Center of it All", biggest mall in the Caribbean, containing more than 300 stores anchored by the world's largest JC Penney, plus Macy's, Lacoste, American Eagle, A|X and Sears. It has a movie theater and restaurants such as Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Margarita's and Tierra del Fuego. If you need or want to visit a good example of a modern, enclosed mall from the U.S. mainland, this won't disappoint.

Río Piedras

 * There are several bookstores near the University of Puerto Rico along the Avenue Ponce de Lyon.
 * There is a pedestrian-only shopping street near the Río Piedras station of the Tren Urbano. Just get off, and you should see shopping that no tourist has ever seen before! (look on Google Maps for "Calle José de Diego, Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico").

Isla Verde
Several tourist and fine stores line the main street of the area. Puebla is a block off of the main street and facing the airport. It offers everything you'd expect of a modern supermarket.

Puerta de Tierra
Make sure you do all of your souvenir and clothes shopping in other parts of town before coming to Puerta de Tierra. If you are buying groceries, your options are slim as well. Try to do grocery shopping in other parts of town if you want any food beyond snacks. There are two options near the hotel for snacks, toiletries, and practicalities. In the Hilton, there is Caribe Sundries, which by far has the best selection of toiletries and painkillers. There is also another convenience store called Mini Mercado, which is open 24 hours and has a decent selection of food and exactly one variety of shampoo and conditioner each, for those of you who can't make it to the Hilton. It is easy to find at night; the windows are lined with green neon lights. When buying in Puerta de Tierra, (or anywhere in San Juan), look for locally made snacks and products to save a little money.

If you are desperate to shop and have a little bit of extra money, there are stores in the Hilton, although they are expensive and mainly sell jewelry and designer clothes.

Old San Juan
Shopping in Old San Juan is diverse, with retailers scattered among many narrow streets. Stores include many fine jewelers, arts, crafts and mercantile shops, two drug stores, and a few branded "outlets", e.g., Coach, genuine with good prices, but discontinued styles. You'll also find numerous cafes and a few fine restaurants. You'll find a well-stocked Walgreens (pharmacy services pending) at the corner of a large square in the central area, and a large CVS (with pharmacy services) opposite the cross-bay ferry terminal. For walkers, the humidity and tropical sun may make the mid-late afternoon temperatures a bit oppressive. Alternatives include going early as stores open (typically 10AM on weekdays) or catching a free trolley winding throughout the area, with opportunities to get off at marked stops wherever desired. The trolley tends to stay very full on afternoons when cruise ships are in.

Puerto Rican rums, other hard liquor, beer and wine are sold at good prices at the grocery store just down the street from Walgreens.

Eat

 * Margarita's, Several locations including 3rd level at Plaza las Américas and 1013 Ave. Roosevelt, +1 787-792-0283. A traditional Mexican food restaurants.
 * Tierra del Fuego, 3rd Level at Plaza las Américas, +1 787-294-7019. One of the best Argentinean restaurants where you will be able to savor a tender, juicy cut of meat prepared by chefs and cooks who work together with a warm staff of waiters and hostesses.
 * UVVA Restaurant, +1 787 727-3302, 1 Calle Tapia, Ocean Park. International creative cuisine by Chef Jose Vicente is served from 8AM-11PM. The ambiance is elegant and casual.

Isla Verde
Several major hotels have their own restaurants serving most if not all meals; if breakfast is not included in the room rate, prices can be substantial.

On the south side of the "Avenida", small malls and parking areas variably hold small restaurants offering traditional Puerto Rican food, and several branded fast food outlets. This includes the Espana Bakery...on the south side of the highway (west end of Isla Verde). It has been in existence for over 30 years easily the best place to get "pastelitos" of many types, Spanish style soup (Fabada Austriana or Caldo Gallego - both versions of hearty bean and ham or sausage soups), sandwiches and "cafecito" the local coffee drink offered any time of the day or night.

Mi Casita is a similar family restaurant for Puerto Rican dining. At Plazoneta De Isla Verde (phone (787) 791-1777, toward the East end of the "Avenida"), it serves tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners at attractive prices, with many items substituted across generous entrees. The plazonetta (strip mall) also offers Church's Fried Chicken, Burger King and other franchises for easy recognition from the "Avenida". If you are driving, charges for secure parking can be offset by receipts from businesses within.

El Condado
Grocery stores

Puerta de Tierra
In Puerta de Tierra, there are little to no options for eating out. If you are visiting another part of San Juan, try to eat in that area before coming back to the hotel. If your room has a mini bar, try stocking it with some bottled drinks and snacks from a mini-mart, in case you get hungry while still in the area. For breakfast, your best bet is either to eat in your hotel or to eat at your destination for the day. Along the beach, there are kiosks in small, green buildings that sell a few bottled drinks and occasionally some food, but I wouldn't depend on it.

 * El Hamburger, 402 Avenida Munoz Rivera. This loud burger pit is packed at dinnertime with local families and beach-goers sipping beers and munching on freshly grilled burgers. The hamburgers come with a slice of Swiss or American cheese and a separate plate of toppings so you can decorate your burger to your liking. There is counter service and table service, but little English is spoken so order at the counter where you can point to your choice if you would like to order something other than "el hamburger." $3-7 per person.

Old San Juan
Unlike in most U.S. States, Puerto Rican laws make it easy for restaurants to sell alcohol. Even modest lunch counters will offer beer, wine, and some mixed drinks. Tipping is customary. There are restaurants which cater to tourists, particularly tapas bars and Latin "fusion" restaurants, but look at the menu before going in to make sure prices are in a comfortable range.
 * La Mallorca, Calle San Francisco 300 (east of Tanca). Called "the Platonic ideal of a diner" by the New York Times, this local cafe is operated by the owners of La Bombonera and has the same time-warp atmosphere. Serves breakfast and lunch. The Mallorca pastry and the sandwiches are recommended. Superlative coffee. Sandwiches around $5, mains under $10.
 * El Meson Sandwiches at the intersection of C. San Francisco and C. San Jose, has a large selection (including many vegetarian items) at very reasonable prices.
 * Mojito's, Calle Recinto Sur 323. Despite the Cubanesque name and its location on the cruise ship trail, this restaurant serves up big portions of no-nonsense pork, rice and beans local fare at reasonable prices. Try the chuletas (pork chops). Mains from $10.
 * Mojito's, Calle Recinto Sur 323. Despite the Cubanesque name and its location on the cruise ship trail, this restaurant serves up big portions of no-nonsense pork, rice and beans local fare at reasonable prices. Try the chuletas (pork chops). Mains from $10.

Drink
There is a public ordinance which bans drinking alcoholic beverages on the street. Although this is rarely enforced, it is recommended to consume all alcoholic beverages inside the establishments. This local ordinance is relaxed during the San Sebastian Festival, when drinking in public areas is allowed within the cordoned area of the festival if using plastic containers: no cans or bottles.

 * El Patio de Sam, Calle San Sebastián, Old San Juan. One of the most popular late-night joints with a good selection of beers. Live entertainment is presented here M-Sa. Open daily noon to 1AM.
 * Shannon's Irish Pub, Marginal Martínez Nadal, Guaynabo. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.
 * Shannon's Irish Pub, Marginal Martínez Nadal, Guaynabo. Daily 11:30AM-1AM (closes at 2:30AM F-Sa). A sports bar with TV monitors and high-energy rock 'n' roll.

Puerta de Tierra
In Puerta de Tierra, you are pretty much restricted to the lounges in your hotel for drinking options, as there are no other bars in this part of town, and even if there were, it is not safe to wander around the southern end at night.

Sleep
San Juan has a wide range of accommodation, but few budget options of any kind. European-style youth hostels do not exist in the city. Colonial-style city hotels are clustered in Old San Juan, while the big beachfront resorts are mostly out in El Condado and Isla Verde. These hotels are listed in the district articles.

You'll be looking at $100/night for even a basic hotel room, and well north of $300 for a five-star resort. However, discounts are available in summer (low) season. Costs to stay at resorts or near beaches may include "resort fees"; those fees are often substantial and not mentioned until late in the booking process...on-line or by agent.

Although Old San Juan is almost entirely surrounded by water, no hotels have beach access. There are a few modern chain hotels near the cruise ship docks, some with casinos. Hotels within the city walls tend to be more colorful.

Budget
There are a number of vacation apartments which are walking distance to the beach, comfortable with fully equipped kitchen for saving money meals. You can find these individually-owned apartments in either condos in front of the beach in Isla verde or in areas in Ocean Park and Condado walking distance to beach.

You might not have the daily housekeeping service but this option is good to receive a more authentic stay rather than in the sterile unchanging hotel. These accommodations can vary from $50-80

Mid-range

 * Hosteria del Mar, 1 Calle Tapia, (Ocean Park), +1 787 727-3302 or +1 800-742-4276.
 * Posada Colonial apartments: Ocean Park/Condado area, minutes from the beach ($70 night complete and private apartment)
 * Posada Colonial apartments: Ocean Park/Condado area, minutes from the beach ($70 night complete and private apartment)

Isla Verde
The area holds many excellent hotels and condominiums; some of the latter offer units for rent. Hotels on the beach often charge higher rates than others. Hotels near the airport usually insulate rooms effectively against the noise of aircraft landing and taking off. Nearly all are within walking distance of the above range of restaurants, from fast food to island specialties. These properties are in a high-demand tourist area. As with many similar areas around the world, some properties here may charge resort fees which can be substantial.

Stay safe
Use common sense when going around. The tourist areas, like the Old City, Condado, and Isla Verde tend to be very safe. There is a wonderfully visible, 24-hour police presence in the Old City.

Use caution when riding a bicycle around the city as roads are often crowded and some are unpaved. Be sure to pay attention to the roadway on which you are riding and the traffic.

Pedestrians need to use similar caution in Old San Juan. While traffic usually is slower, the streets are narrow, and sidewalks very narrow, sometimes crowded, with occasional trip hazards.

Ave. Fernandez Juncos is a major road running across the southern waterfront of Puerta de Tierra. Many buses, including a metrobus line, run through this part of the city before entering the bridge to Condado and beyond. While it is safe to ride through this part of town in the day time, it is not at any time of day safe to explore, as this is a run-down area where poverty and drug trafficking can be easily found. At night, it is probably best to take the B-21 bus back to the hotel from Old San Juan which does not go on this street.

Many of the roads that tourists use in Puerta de Tierra are high traffic roads, and the problems that pedestrians face during the daytime while sharing roads with vehicles are magnified at night. Use common sense, and if you feel like you may come to a place where you are not easily seen or there is no sidewalk, walk on lit paths that will show your presence to drivers.

Old San Juan is quite safe. However, it is not advisable to go out alone late at night, unless you have a friend or guide to escort you. If you are traveling by bus, understand that buses that service stations in many of the outlying hotel areas stop running at around 9 or 10PM, and the exact time of the last bus is never sure. If you plan on being out at night in Old San Juan and you are taking the bus in, bring enough money for a taxi in case you stay out too late. Make sure you confirm with your hotel the price you should pay to get back, as cab drivers in Old San Juan are probably the most likely to add a dollar or so to the set fare. Many of the major resort hotels in the area have casinos, lounges, and discos with live music and restaurants which are mostly open until 3-4AM, along with taxis lining the entrance to take people back to their rooms when you're done.

Go next

 * Arecibo - You can go see the Arecibo observatory and Cavernas del Rio Camuy (Camuy River Caverns) in the same day. Arecibo is about one hour west of San Juan.
 * Loíza - On the north coast of Loiza you will find Piñones, a great place to go to the beach and eat some of the best Puerto Rican fried food. Just minutes away from El Condado and Old San Juan.
 * Fajardo - In eastern Puerto Rico a nice trip to make is Las Cabezas de San Juan, a natural reserve, you will have a tour around the place where they will show you the different types of plants in the reserve and then the lighthouse which now serves as a small museum, the place has a spectacular view. Reservation is required.
 * Río Grande - The Caribbean National Rain Forest or El Yunque is here, a great place to spend the day with nature, enjoying an awesome view and walking between trees and small rivers. There are many different trails, the La Mina trail affords hikers to swim in a waterfall towards the middle of the trail.

title: San Juan


text:
San Juan (Bolivia)

San Juan is a town in Bolivia. It is south of the Salar de Uyuni.

See
A local museum and cemetery, Bs. 10 for both, can kill some time.

Sleep
San Juan (3,660 m) has many basic accommodations without heating. Cots and blankets are provided. Some have heated showers for Bs. 5.

 * Hospedaje Max is opposite Hostal Magica. At Max you can get a recent and decent double room with private bathroom (hot water on request) for Bs. 80 per night. Nice and warm and with electricity for about two hours a day.

 * Magica de San Juan, San Juan - has a pub and fireplace. Doubles from US$40 per night.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: San Juan (Bolivia)


text:
San Juan (city, Argentina)

San Juan is the capital city of San Juan province, in the central-west Cuyo region of Argentina, about 150 km north of Mendoza. The province has a large Triassic period fossil record, believed to be one of the largest in the world. See the Dinosaur Museum near Parque de Mayo.

Understand
San Juan is in a fertile valley surrounded by rocky mountains. Sixty-five percent of agricultural production is related to wine production. After the earthquake of 1944, San Juan completely changed, with new, wide, tree-lined avenues irrigated by small channels. The San Juan River has been dammed upstream to provide a regular source of water for irrigation and electrical power to the region at the Quebrada de Ullum Dam. A much larger Punta Negra Dam was built upstream from the Ullum Dam. San Juan is the birthplace in 1811 of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, former President and writer, famous for his struggle for public education.

Winter is mild, generally between 1° C and 18° C, while summers are hot and dry, between 25° C and 40° C.

 * San Juan Tourism website

Get in
San Juan lies on National Route 40 with Mendoza 168 km to the south and La Rioja 449 km to the north. National Route 20 leads to San Luis 323 km. Córdoba 585 km, Catamarca 623 km and Buenos Aires 1110 km.

Get around
The city centre is green and walkable, supplemented by an urban transport system of buses, a taxi service and remises.

Plaza 25 de Mayo is the centre and the two blocks north and east of it on Tucumán and Rivadavia towards Plaza Aberastain are somewhat pedestrianised, pleasant, with trees. Some other streets around that are also fairly quiet, but Libertador San Martín Avenue (RP7/RP14 running east and west two blocks north of Plaza 25 de Mayo) and Santa Fe (running west one block south of Plaza 25 de Mayo) are both more busy with multiple bus lines. A ring road had reduced traffic through the centre.

See

 * San Guillermo National Park and Provincial Reserve .jpg
 * Juan Victoria Auditorium Center
 * El Leoncito National Park. An internationally recognized Observatory
 * San Guillermo National Park and Provincial Reserve. Habitat of vicuñas and guanacos
 * San José de Jáchal – Iglesianos Valley
 * Cuesta del viento Dam
 * Alcázar Hill
 * El Leoncito National Park. An internationally recognized Observatory
 * San Guillermo National Park and Provincial Reserve. Habitat of vicuñas and guanacos
 * San José de Jáchal – Iglesianos Valley
 * Cuesta del viento Dam
 * Alcázar Hill

Do
Tourism here is centered around wine production and degustation, as well as the extraordinary rock formations in places like the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, also called the Valle de la Luna, 330 km from the city, and the Quebrada de Ullum Dam. The province has a large Triassic period fossil record, believed to be one of the largest in the world. See museum in centre near Parque de Mayo.

There is also the celebrated Mariano Gambier Archeology museum at La Laja, Albardón county, some 25 km from the center of the city. It concerns itself with the many cultures that inhabited San Juan from Pre-History till the arrival of the Spaniards in 1560. It has a priceless collection of Indian artifacts, cave paintings and other elements of agriculture and life in the Tulum valley from the last 8500 years. A curiosity is the Difunta Correa sanctuary. An unofficial popular saint, not recognized by the Catholic Church, for which some people in Argentina and Chile feel a great devotion. Sometimes crowds of 200,000 have been claimed. 64 km away from San Juan, on route 141.

Buy
Tabletas Sanjuaninas are the local version of alfajor (a national candy in Argentina). They can be purchased in local panaderias (bakeries) and some souvenir shops. They usually come in two varieties: with Dulce de Leche (milk caramel) or Dulce de Alcayote (a jam made of a local fruit).

Go next

 * Ischigualasto Provincial Park aka Moon Valley
 * Barreal: a village up against the Andes Cordillera

title: San Juan (city, Argentina)


text:
San Juan (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called San Juan:

Argentina

 * San Juan (city, Argentina) - the capital of San Juan (province, Argentina)
 * San Juan (province, Argentina) - in the Cuyo region

Guatemala

 * San Juan (Guatemala) (San Juan La Laguna) - a town on Lake Atitlán

Nicaragua

 * San Juan del Sur - a port on the Pacific coast
 * San Juan del Norte - a port on the mouth of the Rio San Juan, ironically a bit to the South of San Juan del Sur
 * Rio San Juan department - named for the eponymous river, covering much of the south of the country

Philippines

 * San Juan (Batangas), a town in eastern Batangas.
 * San Juan (Metro Manila), commonly known as San Juan City
 * San Juan (Siquijor), a popular tourist area in the small island province of Siquijor

Puerto Rico

 * San Juan - the capital and largest city
 * Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan) - see San Juan/Old San Juan

United States of America

 * San Juan (New Mexico)
 * San Juan (Texas)
 * San Juan Capistrano - a city in Orange County, Southern California
 * San Juan County (Colorado)
 * San Juan County (New Mexico)
 * San Juan County (Utah)
 * San Juan Islands - a region in Washington (state)
 * San Juan Island - the largest island of the San Juan Islands
 * San Juan County (Washington) (which has no article of its own)

title: San Juan (disambiguation)


text:
San Juan (Guatemala)

San Juan La Laguna is a town on Lake Atitl%C3%A1n. It doesn't have nearly as many tourists as other towns around the lake, and so it is a much quieter, more relaxed place to stay.

Get in
Lanchas from Panajachel heading to San Pedro la Laguna will take you to the dock in San Juan if you ask. A tuk-tuk from San Pedro should cost no more than Q5, and just walking it is fairly quick (~2 km). Alternatively, the pickups and buses servicing the towns around the lake can get you to San Juan as well.

Get around
The town is small enough to easily walk to any part of it within 10 minutes.

Buy
A few stores sell textiles woven by local women's cooperatives, some using natural dyes such as carrot, achote (a red seed used for cooking), etc. The profits support the local women and their families.

There are also several art galleries. Check out the works of Silvestre (scattered among several galleries and shops), whose surreal paintings often show his critical view on politics.

Eat
A few comedores with cheap food are scattered around the center of town. There is a restaurant with nice lake views down towards the dock (take the first right as you walk up from the dock and it will be on your right). Hotel Maya has a fancier (and slightly more expensive) menu in its "eco"-themed restaurant.

Try the chocofrutas that some of the small shops sell for Q2-5. Don't get ripped of at the fancy and touristy chocolate stores.

Sleep

 * Hospedaje Estrella Del Lago is fairly inexpensive with a nice location overlooking the lake. It is right off of the road leading to the dock.
 * Hotel Pa Muelle ("At the Dock") sits right above Hospedaje Estrella Del Lago and has clean, comfortable rooms with fantastic sunrise views of the lake. It's set on a well-manicured lawn with a garden and is run by a friendly and helpful local couple.

Go next
Lanchas arrive infrequently at the town's dock, so it is advisable to take a tuk-tuk to the Panajachel dock in San Pedro to catch a more frequent departure there back to Panajachel.

title: San Juan (Guatemala)


text:
San Juan (La Union)

San Juan is a city in La Union.

Understand
There is not much to see and to do here for an average tourist, except surfing. The two most touristic areas are both some kilometers outside of San Juan:

 * Urbiztondo There are several resorts in this area with rooms, restaurants and surf lessons. Resorts are quite pricey. Prices for surboards are usually about ₱200 per hour, surf lessons also amount to ₱200 per hour (Feb 2010). The swell is usually slightly better than in Montemar. The water can get very crowded, especially on weekends where you may count more than 70 surfers along the short beach.
 * Montemar Is less developed, fewer resorts and you have all the water for yourself. Bring your own board or choose one of the resorts that rent out boards. Resorts do cost less here on average compared to Urbiztondo. Prices for boards are about ₱120 per hour. Surf lessons are not available here.

Get in
The best way to get here is by bus from Manila. Take one of the many bus lines bound to La Union. Tell the bus driver to drop you at San Juan - Sebay (Urbiztondo) or San Juan - Montemar. Both are well known stops among the bus drivers. San Juan Center has nothing to offer related to surfing.

Do

 * Surf Along with Siargao, San Juan is one of the places to learn surfing in the Philippines. Experienced surfers used to Hawaiian swells will yawn but San Juan has a reliable swell that is great for beginners and intermediates. Surfing Season is from November to April with reliable waves until end of January. Later there may be week-long periods without even the most minimal swell.

title: San Juan (La Union)


text:
San Juan (province, Argentina)

San Juan is a province in the Cuyo region of Argentina. It has a population of 818,234 (2022 census).

Cities

 * – the provincial captial

Other destinations

 * aka the Moon Valley
 * – a village up against the Andes Cordillera

Understand
This province has an area of, within which stands out a mountainous relief with sparse vegetation, fertile oases, turbulent rivers from the Andean snowmelt, mountains and important paleontological sites.

Economically, agriculture is a key industry, standing out with the wine industry, being the second producer in Argentina and in South America. A good variety of fruits and vegetables are also produced that are produced in the fertile valleys irrigated by artificial channels at the foot of the Andes.

Because of the arid, steppe-like character of the province, most of the population lives concentrated in a few oasis valleys. Over 80% live in Gran San Juan (approx. 450,000 inhabitants), the metropolitan area around San Juan in the Tulum oasis. Other important cities are Caucete in the east of the province (38,000 inhabitants) and San José de Jáchal (11,000 inhabitants) in the north.

Get in
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport is the main way to enter via air. It receives flights from Buenos Aires on a daily basis.

National Route 40 follows a south-north route through the province between the region of Media Agua in the south and the province of La Rioja in the north.

In the west of the province, National Road 149 (which also has a north–south route) connects National Route 7 in the town of Uspallata in Mendoza to National Route 150 in the locality of Las Flores within San Juan.

The province is also crossed by National Route 20 which runs from Córdoba to San Juan.

See and do
San Juan is known for its modern architecture – the kind not found in other Argentine cities, with wide tree-lined streets, hardwood parks, plazas and walkways, in the middle of the desert of San Juan, earning it the nickname of 'city oasis'.

Ischigualasto Provincial Park or Valle de la Luna (lit. Moon Valley) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its moon-like landscape.

Eat and drink
As in all of Argentina, rich roasts, empanadas, locros are popular, but the chacinados stand out in San Juan, as it's a tradition to raise pigs in this province.

There's a good Syrah variety of red wine in San Juan, you can drink red wine – the most outstanding varietal among those most produced in the province for weather reasons and sparkling wines produced in cellars come from the San Juan mountains.

title: San Juan (province, Argentina)


text:
San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano is a city in Orange County in Southern California.

Get in
San Juan Capistrano sits between Los Angeles and San Diego along the California coast. It is easy to reach by car by taking the I-5 to the Ortega Highway (State Route 74) interchange. Better yet, is in the center of the historic downtown area, across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano. The station is served by Amtrak via its Pacific Surfliner line, and Metrolink's Orange County and Inland Empire lines.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance.

During the summer, two trolleys on 20-minute frequencies run in a continuous loop from downtown San Juan Capistrano (La Zanja Street) to a Dana Point trolley service stop at Stonehill Drive and Del Obispo Street. The Dana Point Trolley also connects to a Laguna Beach Trolley. Trolley rides are free.

Buy
The historical downtown area along Camino Capistrano adjacent to the mission is lined with small shops.

Eat
San Juan Capistrano is known for its wide variety of fine dining. Skip the fast food joints by the highway. There are half a dozen fine restaurants within 200 yards of the rail station.

Drink
There are a few bars south of the Mission

Go next
Head southwest 5 miles to Dana Point or San Clemente to relax by the beach.

Head inland on Ortega Highway to go hiking in natural California wildernesses.

The Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train heads up and down the coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara

title: San Juan Capistrano


text:
San Juan Chamula

San Juan Chamula, usually referred to as simply Chamula, is a small town in the mountainous jungles of Chiapas in southern Mexico. Chamula is the main town of the indigenous Tzotzil people (a Maya civilization who are sometimes also called the Chamula). The town feels a world apart from the rest of Mexico. Chamula is fiercely independent, they grudgingly accept the presence of outsiders, and they maintain a strong local government with its own police force that generally does not accept help from state or federal authorities.

Understand
Most Chamulas wear traditional garments. Women wear heavy black skirts that are made from naturally tinned wool, men wear white vests also from wool. The economic status can be seen from the garments; heavy thick skirts and pure white vests indicate wealth whereas thin skirts and spotty vests are worn by the poor. Though some Chamulas have attained some level of prosperity, the vast majority is very poor.

The Chamula people have a very distinct culture. Most visibly, their religion, though considered Catholicism, is a blend of Christianity and Mayan traditions. Their main place of worship is the church of San Juan Chamula. If you get to know Chamulas a little more you might also witness some baffling features in their everyday life and value system: they have taken law into their own hands and sometimes use force to bring people to justice. At the same time you may find families who see children foremost as an economic burden or people who are willing to sell their children like some commodity not showing any emotional connection towards their children as they are making an offer to do so. Be mindful of local customs and be aware that locals will often object to being photographed.

Get in
There are colectivos to Chamula leaving all day from the zocalo (town square) in San Cristóbal de las Casas. The one-way fare for the colectivos is M$22. Although you do not need to go with a tour -- it takes about 20 minutes in a colectivo -- taking a guided tour does help give you context for what you see in the villages, and with a good guide you really get a feel for daily Maya life that you could never gain alone.

Most of the agencies in San Cristóbal offer half-day tours to Chamula and Zinacantán that leave at 09:30.

Local taxis in San Cristobal will take you to Chamula for about M$120 (negotiate the price with the driver before getting in the cab). The ride takes 15-20 minutes.

Get around
It is easy to walk anywhere in San Juan de Chamula.

Buy
There is a big market in front of the church -- you can buy locally made handicrafts of wool. The local Chamula make purses, skirts, dolls, etc. The town is extremely poor and it would be helpful if you supported the community and purchased some of their handmade goods.

Drink
Tzotzil communities invented pox, a distilled spirit common in Chiapas. Typically 80 to 100 proof (40-50% alcohol), pox is made from a blend of corn, wheat bran, and sugar cane or piloncillo. It's sometimes described as a cross between rum and whiskey. According to local traditions, drinking pox can help you see the underworld.

Sleep
There are no lodging options in San Juan Chamula. Virtually all visitors come on a day trip from San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Stay safe
Rule of Law is not really upheld in the Chamula area. Although there have been no major incidents involving tourists, take into account that issues are often resolved by force. (One could argue that this anarchic system has been established in response to the centuries of negligence and despise by the government and society; quite contrary to the response of the Zapatista movement though.) This is to some extent facilitated by the fact that San Juan Chamula has its own police force and that regular police or military are not allowed inside the village.

In the past there have been numerous incidents (e.g., in late 2015, people who went to collect a payment for a car were burned alive; also in late 2015, the entire hospital was taken for ransom when a child died after extreme negligence from its family; in mid 2016 a group of people including the mayor was fatally shot on the town square). Since crimes usually go unpunished, the area is also notorious for car theft and said to house drug labs.

However, the community appears to have a huge interest in you coming to their town and markets which has apparently kept tourists safe from any harm.

Go next

 * The nearby village of Zinacantan is another traditional Tzotzil indigenous community.
 * Tuxtla Gutierrez
 * San Cristóbal de las Casas
 * Chiapa de Corzo
 * Ocosingo

title: San Juan Chamula


text:
San Juan Del Norte

San Juan del Norte is a small town and municipality in Rio San Juan department of Nicaragua.

Understand
San Juan de Nicaragua (a.k.a. San Juan del Norte or Greytown) is a small port town of 1500 people, on the Caribbean coast of (south-east) Nicaragua. It has a long history as a port town but its glory days are long over. Back in the middle of the 19th century its strategic location at the mouth of the Rio San Juan made it the starting point of one of the only feasible transcontinental crossings of the Americas. Cornelius Vanderbilt invested here and people such as Mark Twain have passed through and written about it. But after the USA built a railroad to California in 1869, the town slowly fell into a slumber from which it seems to not have awaken until now. However as the jungle just out of town and the fish in the river might draw an adventurous traveller, the Nicaraguan government decided to do something and has built an airport which makes the ride in a small lancha from San Carlos a thing of the past. The airport replaces it with a smooth scenic flight across half the country with views of Ometepe and the river.

Get in
Despite being connected by land to the rest of Nicaragua, there is no form of overland transport short of you hiking through the jungle.

By plane
There is an airport with regular flights to and from Managua via San Carlos. For more see La Costeña's website.

By boat
You can get there from San Carlos with a 6-hour boat (fast one, slow one 11 hr) which leaves San Carlos Tu Th F at 06:00.

You can reach San Juan del Norte from Bluefields once a week as well. This boat leaves San Juan del Norte for Bluefields on W 08:00. However, this schedule is very liable to change, as the boat is the same one that connects Bluefields and Big Corn Island and may be down for maintenance or out of order without prior notice.

There are plans are to connect San Juan del Norte with Puerto Limon and Tortuguero in Costa Rica.

Get around
The town is entirely walkable and everywhere, where you can't walk you will have to take a boat.

See

 * The river
 * The Caribbean sea
 * Wildlife in the Indio Maiz national reserve
 * The cemetery and ruins of old Greytown

You can also visit the indigenous Rama living in the Indigo Maiz.

Do
San Juan del Norte is popular with fishing tourists.

Eat
If you like seafood, you're in luck, almost all restaurants offer at least one variety of camarones (shrimp) or fish. A Caribbean specialty that can be had here is rondon. Try it.

Sleep
There are some cheap family hostelitos around C$150.

Go next

 * The Indio Maiz national park.
 * Going to Costa Rica from here is not a feasible option as there are no border crossing facilities. If you want to go south, you can only do so about 200 km west in San Carlos where you can cross the border legally.
 * Bluefields: there is a boat that may or may not leave once a week. They don't have a website, so come with a backup plan if the boat does not go when you want it to.

title: San Juan Del Norte


text:
San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a port on the Pacific coast of southwestern Nicaragua. It's probably the best base for surfers to explore the surrounding beaches.

By road
From Rivas take a taxi or the bus (C$25) directly to San Juan del Sur. It is about a 1 hour ride. "Colectivo" taxis cost C$35 (córdobas) per person, no matter how full the taxi is. However, that means the driver might try to fill up the taxi before leaving. Taxi drivers are honest as to whether it is a colectivo or not. The easiest place to find taxis from Rivas is from the bus terminal.

Beware of a potential scam where someone at the station may intercept you saying the bus only goes to San Juan Norte, and that you should pay much more for a more direct ride to SJDS.

In Rivas, there are buses south (to the Costa Rican border), and north to Managua.

By boat
San Juan del Sur is a relatively frequent stopping point for cruise ships in the area and often the only stop in Nicaragua.

On foot
Walk. The town is small. There are also constant offers of "Taxi, Sir?". Some hotels have shuttle service to other beaches, or call Carlos Rivera taxis private phone +505 86180261. There are a number of beaches north and south of town. Shuttles or pangas can be arranged through surf shops, or rent an ATV (roads are dirt and frequently in bad condition).

By motorcycle
If you're thinking about making San Juan Del Sur your home base for exploring the surrounding area, a motorcycle can be a great choice. Motorcycles also mean you can arrive at and depart from any of the nearby beaches whenever you want without having to time your day around the group shuttles. Note that while the roads in the town itself are decent, and the major north/south highway you'll take to most nearby beaches is great, a lot of the side roads are not. Some of the beaches can be a bit harrowing to get to with flooded out dirt roads, extremely steep terrain, and interactions with fully loaded beach shuttles. These are all doable even for those who have never ridden a motorcycle (manual transmission or otherwise) before, though not without some risk. Also no need to get a surfboard mount, just rent surfboards at the beaches. Many of those roads would be nightmarish with a surfboard strapped to your bike.

The brighter side is that traffic is pretty reasonable within the city center itself. The main road into town is usually clear but does sometimes back up, usually when all the beach goers and residents return home for the day.

See
There are many brightly colored houses which land on every tourist's camera but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to San Juan del Sur's beauty. The waterfront is a joy and small boats bob at anchor in the harbor as pelicans swoop down to perch on their bows. The walk up to the cross overlooking the harbor is an arduous 20-minute trek, but the vistas of the harbor are spectacular. A zip-line canopy tour can get you up into the treetops, and spider monkeys and other natural life abound in the region. There are dozens of spectacular remote beaches both north and south of downtown where pounding surf and dramatic rock formations await the intrepid shutterbug.

Do
Hang out, talk, drink, eat. It is very laid-back here. Move a bit and you might find a good beach to surf.

Rent bicycles and explore the smaller beaches to the south and north. They cost $5 per day to rent, but are not in very good condition.

Learn Spanish in the local Spanish schools in town, Spanish Ya and Nica Spanish. All of them with very competitive prices and good experience in organizing the Spanish programs.

Take a day trip water taxi to Playa Madera, north of San Juan de Sur for US$8. Sign up at the stand in front of Hotel Estrella. It leaves about 10AM and returns at 4PM. The boat ride is about half an hour. Playa Madera can also be accessed via taxi, that costs around US$10-$15 for two people. The drive can be difficult, and you may encounter hills where your cab driver will ask you to get out and walk up the hill. In addition to the beaches to the north of San Jan del Sur, there are some great beaches to the south (including Playa del Coco), which are less accessible but afford more privacy.

There is a light house that no longer resembles a light house. But the point is not the destination, rather the journey. The view of the coast and the bay of San Jan de Sur is amazing. To get there, pass through the small port entrance, find the overseer of the property where the light house is and convince him you won't take pictures of anything. If he lets you pass, keep your promise.

 * Beach Front Rentals in San Juan Del Sur offers ATV guided tours through the mountains and to the beaches. If you'd rather go by sea try their 2008 3-seater waverunners. If you have kids, pull them along on their tubes. What a blast! You may contact them at 568-2030. Across from the Eskimo Ice cream.

Buy
This is a small town. There are increasingly more and more shops, and a market area that is aimed both at locals and at tourists with increasingly "American" prices. There's an English bookstore with a café in it, wide range of all kinds of different books, just ask your way around, it's not hard to find. T-shirts of varying quality saying something along the lines of Surfing San Juan del Sur are sold at many touristy places.

Eat
There are a string of open air cafe/restaurants along the waterfront. They serve excellent fresh seafood. You get local breakfast offers in the market where there's a few little Sodas in a row.

Drink
You are in Nicaragua, so drink Flor De Caña if you like rum. Drink Victoria or Toña if you prefer cervezas bien frias.

Sleep
Rates more than triple during semana santa (easter week) and accommodations quickly book out. If you want to (or have to) come during this peak time it is wise to have reservations. For most of the rest of the year (maybe excluding Christmas and New Year's) you can reasonably expect to get a room upon arrival after two or three tries.

Go next
Possible destinations from San Juan del Sur include:
 * Isla de Ometepe - island with two volcanoes
 * Popoyo
 * Playa Madera - remote beach
 * San Jose (Costa Rica) - the Costa Rican capital

To leave, head to the market to get a bus or taxi to Rivas. From there buses go either up to the North (Granada, Managua) or south to Costa Rica. Some of the beaches are only accessible by water taxi. Your surf-rental-shop or hotel should be able to point you in the right direction or arrange things for you.

title: San Juan del Sur


text:
San Juan Island

San Juan Island is in the San Juan Islands region of Washington State. It contains the county seat for San Juan County, which covers all of the San Juan Islands.

Cities

 * - county seat for San Juan County

Understand
As early as 1845 the Hudson's Bay Company, based at Fort Victoria, had posted a notice of possession on San Juan Island. In 1851 it established a salmon-curing station there and, two years later, a sheep ranch called Belle Vue Farm. About the same time, the Territorial Legislature of Oregon (which then included the present State of Washington) declared San Juan Island to be within its territorial limits, and in January 1853 incorporated it into Island County. In March 1853, Washington Territory having been created, San Juan Island was attached to Whatcom, its northernmost county.

By 1859 there were about 18 Americans on San Juan Island. They were settled on redemption claims which they expected the U.S. Government to recognize as valid, but which the British considered illegal. That crisis came on June 15, 1859, when an American settler named Lyman Cutlar shot and killed a pig belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company because it was rooting in his garden. When British authorities threatened to arrest Cutlar, American citizens drew up a petition requesting U.S. military protection. The subsequent military buildup caused each side to keep adding more military to the island. When word of the crisis reached Washington, officials there were shocked that the simple action of an irate farmer had grown into an explosive international incident. President James Buchanan sent Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, commanding general of the U.S. Army, to investigate and try to contain the affair. He was able to get both sides, the British and the American to agree to joint military occupation until the issue could be settled.

San Juan Island remained under joint military occupation for the next 12 years. In 1871, when Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Washington, the San Juan question was referred to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany for settlement. The kaiser referred the issue to a three-man arbitration commission who met for nearly a year in Geneva. On October 21, 1872, the commission, through the kaiser, ruled in favor of the United States, establishing the boundary line through Haro Strait. Thus the San Juan Islands became American possessions and the final boundary between Canada and the United States was set.

Many of San Juan Island's roads trace sheep runs cut by Hudson's Bay Company workers. They were led, in part, by Fort Victoria Chief Factor and colonial Gov. James Douglas, from 1853 to 1859. Many of the workers were Cowichan Indians from Vancouver Island.

Get in
Most people arrive via Washington State ferry from Anacortes. Some arrive via ferry from Sidney, on Vancouver Island, BC. A few arrive via small plane or their own boat.

See

 * [[Image:Orcas7.jpg|thumb|Lime Kiln Point]]
 * San Juan Islands Sculpture Park in Roche Harbor displays more than 150 creative outdoor sculpture works. Self guided trails wind through the artwork and dogs are welcome.
 * San Juan Islands Sculpture Park in Roche Harbor displays more than 150 creative outdoor sculpture works. Self guided trails wind through the artwork and dogs are welcome.

Do
Wildlife is a major attraction, with the area a prime location for viewing orcas, seals, eagles, and other marine wildlife. The San Juan Islands are also home to 300 species of birds.

title: San Juan Island


text:
San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are a scattering of forested islands in the serene waters to the north of Puget Sound in Washington state, adjacent to Canada's Vancouver Island. Ferries, private boats, kayaks, and Orca (whales) criss-cross the waters, while float planes and bald eagles soar overhead. The islands are largely rural, with a few small towns on some of the islands. The year-round population is small, but swarms of summer visitors come to for the scenery and outdoor life, and a lucky and wealthy few have vacation homes tucked into the islands.

Regions
There are 176 islands that are large enough to be named. The four largest — Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw Islands — are served by ferry from the Washington mainland and Vancouver Island BC, and are the most heavily visited by tourists.

Cities

 * is the largest populated area on Orcas Island.
 * , the main city on San Juan Island, the most populous of the San Juan Islands, and the county seat of San Juan County.
 * , town built around the ferry terminal on Orcas Island.
 * , on the northwest corner of San Juan Island, is the number two town and a bustling yachting harbor. It has floatplane service to Seattle.

Other destinations

 * , with Eastsound Village, Orcas Village, and Mount Constitution
 * , with the towns of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor

Understand
There are about 700 islands and reefs between Vancouver Island to the west and the mainland to the east. The sea border in the Haro Strait divides them into the Southern Gulf Islands of Canada to the west, and the San Juan Islands of the United States to the east. To the south lies the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, and to north is the Strait of Georgia and the US-Canada boundary on the 49th parallel. Various rocks, reefs, and other parts of the islands are protected as San Juan Islands National Monument.

Hugely popular during the summer months with long days and even longer ferry lines. Travelers in the know also visit the islands in their off seasons when crowds are at their least and prices at hotels are frequently cheaper.

For our purposes, this article covers the US islands only, which exactly consist of San Juan County, Washington. Fidalgo Island to the east is treated as part of the mainland. It and the Puget Sound islands to the south are covered in the Puget Sound region's article.

Climate
Like the rest of western Washington, San Juan Islands are best visited during the summer. While the sun shines up to 18 hours a day with barely any rain, expect cooler weather compared to the mainland as the surrounding seas cools the warm air. Average summertime temperatures are around.

The seas however are what makes the island a touch milder in winter than the mainland. The islands can sometimes get lucky enough not to get much rain while the mainland is soaked, thanks to the Olympic Mountains way in the south that blocks the precipitation. The issue that the island faces however, is more with the winds than the rain, where it can sometimes howl and cause problems, especially in the areas exposed to the waters and no surrounding high terrain. These can typically come after a rainstorm or ahead of a dry and chilly weather.

By ferry
For security and immigration processing when traveling between the US and Canada, a 60-minute advance arrival is strongly suggested for vehicle traffic. Walk on passengers must arrive 30 minutes in advance. Vehicle reservations are recommended. Please speak with Washington State Dept of Transportation Information Agents in Seattle at or reserve online. Passports are required to enter either country. Reservations are accepted on the Sidney–Friday Harbor–Anacortes and Anacortes–San Juan Islands routes. Once on board a departing ferry you may not get back off the ferry without permission from the captain. The ferries only serve Lopez, San Juan, Shaw and Orcas Islands. For the other islands a private boat or seaplane is required.

From Anacortes

 * Washington State Ferries offers ferries to Shaw, Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Islands from Anacortes, which is about 1½ hours north of Seattle. If traveling on weekends, be prepared for long waits for the ferries. A 60-minute advance arrival is recommended for vehicle traffic. A 1-hour advance arrival is advised for the 8:30AM International sailing. For the afternoon sailings, a 90-minute advance arrival is advised. Passengers should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sailing.

Equally distanced between Seattle to the south and Vancouver, B.C. to the north (approximately 85 miles from each), Anacortes rests on the waters of the Pacific Ocean on beautiful Fidalgo Island: 2100 Ferry Terminal Road Suite A, Anacortes, WA 98221

 * From the North, Take I-5 South, Take exit 230, Merge right onto Goldenrod Rd., At first light, turn left onto Highway 20 W, Follow Highway 20W to Anacortes, Once you reach Anacortes merge right onto Commercial Avenue to reach the central business district. Take a left at 12th St and follow signs to the ferry terminal.
 * From the South, Take I-5 North, Take exit 230, At first light take a left onto Highway 20 W, Follow Highway 20 W to Anacortes, Once you reach Anacortes merge right onto Commercial Avenue to reach the central business district. Take a left at 12th St and follow signs to the ferry terminal.

From Sidney BC

 * 2499 Ocean Avenue (Physical), Sidney, BC V8L1T3
 * Sidney/Anacortes ferry Terminal from Victoria. The Sidney/Anacortes Terminal is 25 km (18 miles) north of downtown Victoria. There are two exits off Highway 17 Northbound to the Sidney/Anacortes Ferry Terminal: Amity Drive and Beacon Avenue. When taking the Amity Drive exit, turn left at Lochside Drive. After 3 km (2 miles) turn right at Ocean Avenue. The ferry terminal entrance will be on the right. For the Beacon exit, take a right off the highway on to Beacon Ave and then turn right at Fifth Street. Turn left at Ocean Avenue, and the ferry terminal entrance is located on the right.
 * Southbound on Highway 17 from Swartz Bay. Turn left at Beacon Avenue. Turn right at Fifth Street and then turn left at Ocean Avenue. The Sidney/Anacortes Terminal will be on the right.
 * Sidney/Anacortes Ferry Terminal from north/mid-Vancouver Island. Travel southbound towards Victoria on Island Highway 1 (Trans Canada Hwy). Follow the (Ferries/Airport/Sidney) exit signs. Turn left at McKenzie Avenue. Follow McKenzie Avenue 2 km (1.4 miles), and then take the (Sidney/Ferries/Airport) exit right onto Pat Bay Highway 17 North. Travel 17 km (11 miles) towards Sidney. Follow the Anacortes/San Juan Island highway signs.

By boat
The San Juan Islands are one of the most popular areas for cruising on small craft in the North America. Most towns are built around their harbors and offer a wide variety of supplies, restaurants, hotels and various services geared towards boaters and usually within walking distance of marinas. Even the less populated islands will oftentimes have a public dock or a variety of public buoys for visiting boaters. Check individual island and city listings for more specifics. If interested in cruising to the islands, there are charter companies in both Anacortes and Bellingham. The Waggoner Cruising Guide is a great resource for these waters.

When arriving from Canada or other foreign countries there are only a handful of ports including Roche Harbor, Friday Harbor, Anacortes and Bellingham that are official U.S. ports-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. The Cardinal Rule is touch land at customs dock before any other stops, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. Besides a passport for everyone on board, you will need your boat's license number and User Fee Decal number.

Customs enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country and these guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.

By car
Bringing a car on the ferry is a popular option for exploring the remote areas of the main islands, but car rentals are also available in such areas as Eastsound. Other smaller islands may have unimproved county roads, but due to their remote locations and lack of ferry service these roads often serve as foot trails, and you are more likely to see someone traveling by horse than car. The lines for loading cars onto Washington State Ferries can be notoriously brutal during peak season and weekends. It is not unusual to wait in line for many hours and missing the last ferry can mean a desperate search for unplanned accommodations to spend an unplanned night on the islands so plan accordingly.

By ferry
The four largest Islands— Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw are connected by Washington State Ferries. Water Taxi services can transport to the small islands such as Blakely, Decatur and Henry Islands.

By boat
The San Juan Islands are the most popular sailing charter area in the Pacific Northwest and one of the most popular destinations for cruising on small craft in the United States. Small towns and harbors are geared towards visiting boaters and many of the areas most scenic and remote areas can only be reached by boat. The area waters are reasonably protected even in storms off the Pacific, but due to the many underwater hazards some boating experience is helpful. Many charter companies include a day of training in the charter package. See Waggoner Cruising Guide for more detailed navigational and recreational information.

By bike
The winding paved roads of the main islands are ideal for exploring by bike and bike rentals are available near many areas in the San Juan Islands; however, the smaller more remote islands often do not have paved roads, making traveling by bike more of a challenge. Bicyclists have priority boarding on Washington State Ferries, so bikes can bypass the sometimes ridiculously long car lines and walk right onto the ferries.

By sea kayak
Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the San Juan Islands miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and excellent opportunities to view wildlife, making the San Juan Islands one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Some camping areas in the various state parks in the area are only open to people powered vessels.

By foot
Exploring on foot is perhaps the most rewarding way to view the islands. Many trails dot the various islands and state parks giving travelers an insightful view of their surroundings. Outside of the four main islands cars are more of an impractical luxury item rather than a means of transport. Many of the dirt roads see far more foot traffic than car traffic and basically serve as wide foot trails.

See

 * Orcas Island has an amazing view atop Mt. Constitution of the Cascade Mountain Range and the Olympic Mountain Range. There is a near 360 degree view from a stone tower built by the public works of the Roosevelt era (a cell phone tower makes it less than 360 degrees, but still worth it). Gene Hackman, Miller of the skiing films fame, Oakley Sunglass owner all have vacation homes here. It is a paradise and home to some 3500 people. In the spring the J Pod Orca whales are in the area.
 * San Juan Island National Historical Park — here in 1859 the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over a dead pig.

Eat

 * Fresh Seafood including fish (especially salmon), Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels and clams are readily available. If you're foraging for yourself, make sure there's no red tide.

Drink
Few, if any, American regions can challenge the Pacific North West's love of coffee. According to a group of industry market researchers, there were an amazing 1,640 coffee shops in the Puget Sound region in 2011, ranking it the most popular coffee region in the country and the San Juan Islands are no exception to the rule. Coffee shops are frequent and popular and even small harbors with perhaps one store will still be expected to have some espresso options.

Microbreweries and beer in general are a Northwest specialty, and the area has many to offer for beer enthusiasts. The larger brewers, like Redhook and Pyramid, distribute their products regionally or nationally like their coffee cousins, while other brews can only be found in local stores or bars (some notable brewers don't bottle their product). Ask your servers for local beer recommendations and search out regional microbrews in stores.

Animal safety
Though many of the animals in the Puget Sound area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Be aware of rules for keeping a distance from Orca whales and other marine animals while boating: regulations for killer whales require that boaters stay 200 yards away & keep path of the whales clear. These new U.S. regulations apply to all vessels (with some exceptions) in inland waters of Washington.

Don't disturb resting seal pups, keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline. Report harassment or sightings of injured/stranded marine mammals by calling the NOAA Fisheries hotline at >. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Puget Sound seal pups make it through their first year so please help to protect their health. NOAA recommends at least a 100-yard buffer around seals.

Cell phones
Many visitors are surprised by their monthly phone bills after returning from the San Juan Islands. Due to their close proximity to Canada it is possible to get a better signal from a Canadian cell phone provider and depending on your phone's settings could add foreign roaming charges to your bill. Roche Harbor and north San Juan Island are notorious for having better Canadian service. Check your phone's settings before using and be wary of your cell phone provider's roaming charges. Many of the islands are remote enough that cell phones simply won't work, so don't plan on being dependent on them, especially in the outer islands.

Petty crime
With so many people visiting the San Juan Islands each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables, especially when parking your car at a trail head, marina or ferry terminal when you may be away from your car for a while. It would also be advisable to carry anything of value out of sight.

Go next

 * Port Angeles - Connected by Port Angeles Boat Haven and charter flights from Fairchild International Airport
 * Port Townsend
 * Sequim - Connected by John Wayne Marina and Sequim Valley Airport
 * Seattle Beautiful city almost surrounded by water and mountains.
 * Victoria (British Columbia) Just across the border by Washington state ferries, Victoria is a nice little piece of England famous for the spectacular Buchart gardens.

title: San Juan Islands


text:
Sankt Augustin

Sankt Augustin is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Get in
Getting to Sankt Augustin is quite easy, as its infrastructure of traffic is excellent.

By train
Sankt Augustin is connected to Siegburg and Bonn by the tram 66 "Telekom Express" which runs each 10 minutes. Limited service in the early morning, late evening, or the weekend. The tramline offers several stops within the city limits. To visit the city centre use the exits "Kloster" or "Markt". Traveltime from Siegburg is less than five minutes, from Bonn around 15.

Towards Sankt Augustin Menden (2 km western of Sankt Augustin's centre) some regional train service (RE 8 "Rhein-Erft-Express" and RB 27 "Rhein-Erft-Bahn") is offered from direction Mönchengladbach via Cologne (incl. direct service from the airport) and Koblenz via Bonn-Beuel.

Next train station offering long distance connections is Siegburg/Bonn located in Siegburg approximately 2 km or two tram stops (Line 66) from Sankt Augustin's centre.

The station Siegburg/Bonn is a stop of Germany's nationwide ICE high speed train network (ICE line 42, 43, 49 and 79 "ICE International") with splendid national and international connections.

Regional service offered is RE 9 "Rhein-Sieg-Express" (Aachen-Cologne-Siegen) and S 12 (Düren-Cologne-Au). Be aware that there is no direct regional service between Cologne-Bonn-Airport and Siegburg/Bonn and you have to change either in Spich, Troisdorf or Porz-Wahn.

By car
Going to Sankt Augustin by car is even easier than by train.

You will find it at the motorway A 3 at the connection "Bonn / Siegburg" to the A 560. Here you should change to the motorway 560 and choose the exit (Niederpleis for Niederpleis and Buisdorf, Sankt Augustin for Ort and Mülldorf or Siegburg for Menden) you want, as the motorway passes Sankt Augustin in the north.

The motorway A59 passes Sankt Augustin in the west. The exits Bonn Villich (connection to the B 56 "Sankt Augustiner Straße" ) and Bonn Pützchen are just a minute from Sankt Augustin Hangelar.

Closest exit for Sankt Augustin Meindorf is the exit Bonn Beuel at the motorway A 565 passing Sankt Augustin in the northwest.

From Bonn centre you may use the B 56. Just travel over the Kenedy-Bridge and follow the road running parallel to tram 66.

And of course there are regional roads connecting Sankt Augustin and all the other surrounding towns.

By bus
Sankt Augustin can be reached by bus from all surrounding towns and cities. Just go to the main bus stop of your destination town and have a look on the timetable of the busses. For example you can go by the bus 508 from Troisdorf, by the line 529 from Hennef and by the line 512 from Königswinter-Ittenbach.

By plane
Hangelar Airfield located in Sankt Augustin Hangelar is a small airfield for private and sport planes.

To the terminals of Cologne-Bonn-Airport "Konrad Adenauer" - located in the south east of Cologne - it is approx. 12 km. At the Airport use either an ICE in direction Frankfurt or regional service via Porz-Wahn or Troisdorf to Siegburg. At Siegburg use the tram 66. In addition there is a direct regional service between Cologne-Bonn-Airport and the train station in Sankt Augustin Menden.

From Frankfurt's Rhein-Main-Airport ICE-Service is offered to Siegburg twice per hour. Lufthansa AirRail-Service in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn is offered once per hour. The train takes around 40 minutes.

Get around
Sankt Augustin consists of eight parts, which have once been independent villages, so that you'll find one centre in each part of Sankt Augustin, but no real city centre. The eight are Meindorf, Menden, Mülldorf, Niederpleis and Buisdorf in the north, Ort in the centre and Hangelar and Birlinghoven in the south.

Eat

 * Grillspezialitäten (Persian/Iranian), Bonner Str. 77

Go next

 * Troisdorf
 * Siegburg
 * Hennef
 * Bonn

title: Sankt Augustin