Destinations And Sightseeing

A. Fuerte San Felipe del Morro

El Morro, officially known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, sits atop an elevated promontory overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay. The El Morro is one of the largest forts built by Spanish engineers and was constructed over a period of more than 200 years. The foundations of the fort were laid as early as 1539, but the six-level fort was not finished until 1787.

This enormous structure suffered innumerable attacks from the likes of Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and the Dutch fleet in 1625. In 1898, American ships bombarded the fort during the Spanish-American War, destroying its lighthouse, which was later restored.

The eeriness of dark hidden passages, massive cannons and 60-foot tall walls at the ocean make this fort an extremely popular tourist spot. Visitors can also take leisurely walks on the lawns where soldiers once marched or be witness to a fascinating display of kites.

The fort is open between 9 am and 5 pm from June to November and from 9 am to 6 pm from December to May. A few ranger programs are available at the site that will guide you around the fortification and out onto the picturesque ‘garitas', or lookout towers. El Morro has been included in the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and is also a National Historic Site in the U. S. National Park Service.

B. San Cristobal Fort

The fortification of San Cristobal stands guard in an area that was once the eastern gate to the walled city of Old San Juan. The construction of the fort was commenced in 1634 and was completed in 1790, although the modifications were made well into the 18th century.

The sister fort to El Morro, the San Cristobal Fort, was built to defend the city from sea attacks and also guarded approaches by land. If you are interested in history, enjoy a walk on the ramparts, where Spanish soldiers stood watch over half a millennium ago. The fort offers a panoramic view of the coast from Old San Juan to Condado, a goldmine for photographers. The fort covers a massive 27 acres and is the largest one built by the Spanish in the New World. Guided tours at the fort will show you where the first bombarding of the Spanish-American War took place. The tour will also reveal part of a complex defense system of the fort that was designed by two Irishmen. According to legend, the Garita del Diablo, a sentry box, devoured the militia sent there on guard.

San Cristóbal Fort has been enlisted as UNESCO's World Heritage Site and is also a National Historic Site under the U.S. National Park Service. The fort is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 5 pm from June to November and from 9 am to 6 pm from December to May.

C. San Jose Church

On of the two Gothic Churches in Puerto Rico, the San Jose Church in Old San Juan was constructed in the 1530s. The San Jose Church has the honor of being the first church on the island and is possibly the oldest church in the western hemisphere. Though the original building was destroyed by a hurricane, the current church was renovated during the 1800s. The church was initially a Dominican monastery, with its chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas Aquinas. However the church was renamed by the Jesuits after they took over control in 1865.

A remarkable building, the San Jose Church has impressive Gothic architectural detail. The wooden crucifix at the church was donated during the 16th century by the first governor, Juan Ponce de Leon. The altar at the church dates to the 15th century and was brought from Cadiz in Spain.

The tomb of Jose Campeche, Puerto Rico's most renowned artist, lies at the church. Juan Ponce de Leon was also buried here. However, he was later shifted to a more elegant setting. His coat of arms marks a wall and his statue, cast from the bronze of cannons captured from the British in 1797, is positioned in the middle of a little plaza in front of the church.

The Dominican Convent next door, built in 1523 on the land donated by Ponce de Leon, is also a must see. The convent was used as a barrack and an American military headquarters many years ago. Presently, the convent is the home of the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture and hosts several concerts and exhibitions.

D. The Bacardi Rum Distillery

One of the most popular tourist spots in Puerto Rico, the Bacardi Rum Distillery is the largest in the world and is a fifteen-minute drive from San Juan.

Considered as the ‘Cathedral of Rum', the distillery offers guests an interesting guided tour of its facilities. Enormous fermentation vats and high speed bottling machinery in operation are on display at the distillery. There is also the Bacardi family museum that displays information about the history of the product and the landmarks in its development.

Visitors can sample the world-renowned rum and purchase different Bacardi products at the gift shop. The distillery hosts the annual Bacardi Arts and Crafts Fair, a joyfully crowded, two-day affair that features local artists and artisans and plenty of music. Free, guided tours are available at the distillery and start every 20 minutes, Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 10.30 am and from 12 noon to 4 pm.

E. Arecibo Radio Telescope

Situated amidst the northwest mountains of the island is the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, or Radio Telescope, the largest of its kind and one of the most significant research facilities on the face of the earth.

The enormous dish, larger than a dozen football fields, sits in a sinkhole and is forever aimed at the sky, tuned to detect the slightest sounds emitted by the farthest stars.

Planets beyond our solar system were discovered at this research facility and it is the headquarters for NASA's SETI, the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.

In the Visitors' Center you will see how the gigantic structure is used to study radio emissions from distant galaxies, quasars, pulsars and many other cosmic sources. The exhibits are interactive and contain elaborate information on astronomy and atmospheric science.

It is the remarkable size of the tiled dish that leaves visitors spellbound when they trek their way to the viewing platform and see it sparkling in the sun. The landmark can also be seen from a jetliner flying at a height of 33,000 feet.

F. Caguana Ceremonial Park

When the first Spaniards arrived on the island more than 500 years ago, they encountered thousands of Taíno Indians—the most recent of a series of inhabitants that had populated the Caribbean region for thousands of years. All the Indian cultures shared a ceremonial ballgame—sometimes described as similar to lacrosse or soccer—with their Meso-American cousins.

The Taino Indians inhabited the island before the Spaniards arrived. The Indian cultures shared a ceremonial ball game similar to soccer that was played at several courts around the island. More than 30 such courts can be found at the Caguna Ceremonial Park near Utaudo in the center of the island. The courts are called ‘bateyes' and are believed to be a part of the most revered Taino areas in the West Indies.

Excavation commenced in 1915 and, over the years, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture successfully restored several bateyes. Monoliths and petroglyphs engraved by anonymous hands can be seen among the rocks and stones. Well-informed visitors seek out La Mujer de Caguana, an exceptional petroglyph of a woman with the legs of a frog, wearing an elaborate headdress.

A small museum has on display Indian artifacts, archaeological exhibits and a botanical garden featuring the plants the Taínos harvested for food. The trees that were utilized for building materials, such as mahogany and ausubo can be seen in their natural setting. The park is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm and admission is free.

G. Maunabo Light House

The town of Maunabo boasts one of the best-known attractions in Puerto Rico, the lighthouse at Punta Tuna. Still in operation, the lighthouse was constructed by the Spanish in the late 19th century, shortly before Puerto Rico was handed over to the United States as spoils of the Spanish-American War.

The fresnel lens has been replaced by modern technology. It is the only lighthouse in Puerto Rico that is manned by American Coast Guard personnel.

Visitors can get spectacular views of a magnificent beach, blue waters of the Caribbean, and on the distant horizon, an unclear view of Vieques.