by L K. J

Created on: January 13, 2008   Last Updated: February 21, 2008

San Juan, Puerto Rico is simply the ultimate travel destination for history buffs and thrill seekers alike.

With old picturesque buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and the most developed corporate sector in the Caribbean, this is certainly a city of contrasts.

As the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan ( sahn- hwan) is situated along the northeast coast, east of Bayamon and west of Carolina. It is home to the LMM International Airport and the San Juan sea port- the center of all shipping in the Caribbean. There are three distinct areas in the city: Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort area, and other outlying communities like Ro Piedras, Hato Rey, Puerta de Tierra, and Santurce.

You ask "What's there to see in San Juan?" , and the answer is, "What's there not to see?!"

There is more than enough eye fodder in this amazing city to keep every eager visitor highly engaged and entertained. We're talking ancient neighborhoods like Old San Juan- 400 years old with streets paved in shiny blue adoquine cobblestones ; huge, towering fortresses and former military strongholds like ' El Morro' , ' La Fortaleza' or ' Castillo de San Cristobal'; historic buildings and relics like Catedral de San Juan' , ' Iglesia de San Jose' or ' Capilla del Cristo' all built in the 16th century and still standing strong.

San Juan also houses a most impressive museum district with tons of ancient and contemporary memorabilia and auspicious squares like ' Plaza de San Jose', ' Plaza de Armas' or 'Munoz Rivera park'- these are sweet spots with ancient and modern sculptures, wide walkways, landscaped gardens and more. Great for romantic and leisurely walks, morning or evening jogs and bird-watching .

There is also an energetic nightlife here with local restaurants serving local and international cuisine, casinos, sports bars and clubs, art houses and theaters.

When your adventurous alter ego kicks in and your interest switches to nature and the wild, there are fascinating theme parks in the island to visit. With expert help and guided tours you get to go hiking, cave exploring, camping , backpacking , rain forest or waterfall excursions, biking , horse-back riding and even kayaking. To see and do it all, you need at least 2 days and they will be well worth it.

After you're done with sight-seeing and the 'walk down memory lane', you want to get a taste of the ocean life, so head on out to any of San Juan's magnificent beaches like Condado , Ocean Park or Isla Verda and you better come revved up- there is so much to do and enjoy there!

You can go surfing, cliff diving, snorkeling, sailing, night-reef or shore diving, treasure hunting in old ship wrecks, water sports, offshore or deep water fishing. There are all kinds of activities and great fun to be had by all.

Obviously you need some kind of means to get to these exciting places. No problemo, San Juan has a well developed public transport system with a metro light rail connecting to 16 stations, a daily bus service with 30 different routes and a daily ferry service across the San Juan Bay, serving Old San Juan and the municipality of Catano.

Of course the other regular modes of transport are available like rental cars, taxis and limos, but be forewarned , the traffic in San Juan can be brutal so bring a cross-word puzzle or your favorite Cds, tons of patience and your sense of humor and you'll be OK.

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