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Why?  Travel to San Juan to experience one of the Caribbean's busiest and most tourist-friendly capitals. No holiday in San Juan is complete without exploring the atmospheric old city, with its restored Spanish colonial buildings that line the cobblestone streets. Here tourists can absob the culture of the 'olde world', which still exists despite the hordes of visitors, many of whom are disgorged from cruise ships that call daily at this busy port.

When?  High season for a holiday in San Juan is from December to April, when 'snowbirds' come from the north to enjoy the ever-hot tropical climate. Those on a budget will find it cheaper to travel to San Juan out of season (in July, August and September), although Puerto Rico is at risk of hurricanes between June and November.

Who for?  A holiday in San Juan is for those who enjoy the frenetic pace of a city, within close proximity to idyllic tropical beaches. The city provides the best of both worlds for holidaymakers of all ages.

More Info:  To decide whether a holiday in San Juan will suit you, and to plan the trip, consult our San Juan travel guide, which is packed with detailed information on all aspects of visiting the city, from accessing major attractions to airport facilities.

Overview

The capital city of Puerto Rico, San Juan is one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean and a third of all Puerto Ricans live here. Nearly every visitor to the island arrives at San Juan, many on cruise liners. The port is the largest home-based cruise port in the world, hosting 28 vessels and with more being added to the list each year.

San Juan is divided into three distinct districts: Old San Juan, the historic walled city; the beach and resort area; and the outlying suburbs. Tourists are concerned mainly with Old San Juan, the site of most restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and the beaches. The old city is linked to the new by the largely residential Puerta de Tierra area, and a series of modern highways leading to the Condado beach front, which is reminiscent of Florida's Miami Beach with its high-rise hotels and apartment blocks.

It is not only tourism that keeps the financial mills grinding in San Juan. The city is an important centre for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling, and the manufacturing of cement, pharmaceuticals, metal products and tobacco products. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle there are numerous attractions in San Juan to amuse, entertain and interest the many tourists, and the city is a perfect base for exploring the rest of what this small Caribbean island has to offer.