How to Spend 2 Days in San Juan

With two days to spend in the Puerto Rican capital, you’ll be able to tour the colonial old city, explore otherworldly bioluminescent bays, and head farther afield to experience Puerto Rico’s rain forests. Here are some suggestions for how to spend your 48 hours in San Juan.

Day 1: Classic San Juan

**Morning:**Start your day early with an orientation of the city. Whether you opt for a walking, biking, or Segway tour, you’ll get to see the cobbled streets of Old San Juan, St. John’s Cathedral, Ponce de León Square, and fortifications that make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some tours include a visit to the Museo de las Américas or the Santurce arts district.

**Afternoon:**This afternoon, get a behind-the-scenes look at the distillery producing one of the world’s most famous rum brands, Bacardi. Sip a rum cocktail while touring the Casa Bacardi facilities to learn more about the company’s history and distillation, fermentation, and bottling processes. Pick up a bottle or two to take home with you.

**Night:**Puerto Rico is home to beautiful examples of a rare natural phenomenon: bioluminescent bays. Head out late afternoon to visit La Parguera for an evening cruising, snorkeling, or kayaking in the bay. After dark, the water will begin to glow as tiny plankton called dinoflagellates light up. It’s a magical experience you can have in few other places on the planet.

Day 2: Caribbean Paradise

**Morning:**This morning, get an early start for a visit to the only tropical rain forest in the United States, El Yunque National Forest. While most tours to the area last an entire day, it’s possible to make a morning visit to see some of the trails, waterfalls, and 240 species of plants and animals that live in this habitat.

**Afternoon:**If you opted for a half-day visit to El Yunque (or if you’d rather stick to the coast), spend the rest of your day snorkeling, sailing, Snubaing, or stand-up paddleboarding in the warm Caribbean waters just off the coast of San Juan.

**Night:**For your last night in Puerto Rico, kick back and relax aboard a leisurely sunset sail through Old San Juan Harbor. Opt for an old-fashioned schooner or modern catamaran as you glide pas El Morro Fortress, La Fortaleza, and Paseo la Princesa, all illuminated as day fades to night.