Viejo San Juan

From heady salsa to soulful sunsets

Benjamin Boone

It’s an ancient city, with an extraordinary energy. Spend a few hours and you’ll feel revitalized by the sights, scents and sounds.

You’ll find museums, galleries, fortresses, lots of green space - and healthy helpings of Old World charm.

And of course there’s shopping.

Stroll the blue cobbled streets and savor the vibrant cyan, magenta and mango colored facades.

Admire the ornate ironwork on balconies brimming with flowers.

Take a ride on a horse drawn carriage.

Stop at the outdoor kiosk in Plaza de Armas for a quesito and café con leche, and watch the bustle of the capital.

You don’t need to listen for music – it’s everywhere, from heady salsa to soulful serenades.

Settle in to a bench on the Paseo and gaze at the boats plying San Juan Bay or fly a kite on a windy day.

Photo: Sunset on San Juan Bay from a rooftop. virginvoices.com photo by Benjamin Boone

Benjamin Boone writes frequently about destinations for virginvoices.com.