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Travel and Lifestyle

Shades Of Summr

12-05-2025T17:01:01Z

Travel and Lifestyle
Travel and Lifestyle

Shades Of Summr

09-05-2025T00:01:09Z

Are you planning on spending one day in San Juan Puerto Rico from the cruise port and still need an itinerary? Then you are in the right spot! San Juan is a cultural hub and the capital city of Puerto Rico and a magnet for millions of cruise tourists each year. Although you could easily spend a couple of days wandering around the cobblestone streets of San Juan and sipping on Pina Coladas you could see most highlights in just a day. As an avid cruiser myself I know exactly where to start to make the most out of your shore day! In this article we will go over the main highlights of San Juan: from activities to cultural gems like historic buildings and landmarks and the best restaurants for an amazing cruise itinerary. Lets get to it! One Day in Puerto Rico Cruise Itinerary: at a Glance ☀️ Morning: Puerto Rican Breakfast at Pinkys Castillo San Felipe del Morro ☀️ Late Morning: The Charming Streets of San Juan ☀️ Lunch: Don Tako ☀️ Afternoon: Playa Condado OR El Yunque National Forest ☀️ Late Afternoon: Plaza Las Américas ☀️ Evening: Dinner and Sunset The San Juan Cruise Port San Juan (Puerto Rico) has two main cruise terminals: the Old San Juan Terminal and the Pan American Terminal. Make sure to check which one youll be arriving at before planning your day. 🛳️ Old San Juan Terminal 🛳️ Pan American Terminal Best Day Trips and Shore Excursions From San Juan If my Puerto Rico Itinerary did not sound as enticing – or you simply dont want to organize transportation yourself – then Ive got the solution! I have made you a short overview of my favorite shore excursions from the San Juan cruise port: San Juan Highlights: Private Driving Tour The Old The New and The Now The Updated San Juan City Tour El Yunque Rainforest and Waterfall Guided Tour Puerto Rico Jet Snorkel with Turtles and Videos in San Juan Morning: Breakfast and Castillo San Felipe del Morro If you only have a day in San Juan you should hit the ground running in the morning. First lets grab breakfast. San Juan has no lack of coffee shops and breakfast restaurants. It can be a bit tough to identify the right spot especially if you have limited time. We recommend Pinkys one of the top-rated breakfast restaurants in San Juan. They serve incredible Puerto Rican breakfast including the famous fluffy banana pancakes. Castillo San Felipe del Morro Before the sun gets too strong in the afternoon visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro also known as El Morro. The 16th-century fortification was built along the Atlantic Ocean and it is the best place to learn the history of Puerto Rico. The fort was built by the Spanish to defend San Juan from pirates and European rivals who saw the island as a key point for their expansion into the New World. You can easily spend a few hours exploring El Morros tunnels barracks and overlooks. I love that it has breathtaking views of the ocean. The El Morro Lawn around the fortress is a great spot to watch locals fly their kites or have a quick picnic. PRO TIP: The ticket to this fort costs $ 10. But if you have a National Parks Pass you can get in for free because El Morro is managed by the National Park Service! 🚶‍♀️ How to Get There From Old San Juan El Morro is at the far northwest corner of Old San Juan. If youre near the cruise piers or Plaza Colón its about a 15–20 minute walk. Heres how you can go: Late Morning: The Streets of San Juan After seeing the stunning castle well get to my favorite part of our Puerto Rico itinerary: the cute and colorful streets of San Juan. Wandering around the cotton candy-colored streets of San Juan is a must for any visitor! I recommend starting at Plaza Colón a small square on the eastern side of Old San Juan. From here you can walk west and check the main highlights of San Juan off your bucket list. Besides colorful buildings one of the key architectural landmarks of Old San Juan is La Fortaleza the governors mansion. Make sure to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Calle Fortaleza (Umbrella Street) which is famous for its floating colorful umbrellas. Plaza de Armas a historic square with a scenic fountain and statues. La Perla Neighborhood A cant-miss spot in San Juan is La Perla so make sure to hop by there. It is a quirky neighborhood overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. La Perla became famous after it was featured in the music video for the Despacito song by Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi. It sits right outside the city walls and you can access it from Calle Norzagaray. The best entrance to La Perla is located in front of the Museum San Juan from where you can begin your tour of the area and visit highlights like Colectivo Perlarte and Malecon. Lunch Now that youve gotten some great pics for your Instagram its time for lunch. We suggest a stop at Don Tako a casual Tex-Mex place that gets a lot of praise for its creative take on familiar Mexican staples. They serve margaritas and a variety of tacos including fish shrimp chicken and birria. Make sure to try some of those! After you satisfy your cravings you have several options on how to continue your day. Will it be some beach time or adventure? Afternoon: Playa Condado The first option in my Puerto Rico itinerary is to take a quick Uber to Playa Condado. It is approximately 2.7 to 3.3 km (1.7 to 2 miles) from the cruise port to this beach. This is one of the best beaches near Old San Juan. There you can jump in the water and enjoy paddle boarding and jet skiing. Or you can also rent an umbrella and spend some time lounging on the golden-sand beach. As an alternative you can visit Playa Peña. It is located right across from the Capitol Building. That makes it one of the easiest beaches to visit from the cruise port. Alternative: El Yunque National Forest As an alternative you can visit El Yunque National Forest. It is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Park System. You can find this forest less than one hour from Old San Juan by car. Grab a rental or book an Uber for your excursion. Another option is to take a guided tour of El Yunque but if you do that you will have less time in San Juan because guided tours typically take at least a couple of hours. My personal highlights of this park were the La Coca Falls the Yokahu Tower the Juan Diego Falls and the La Mina Trail. Souvenir Shopping at Plaza Las Américas Finally if you want to enjoy shopping in San Juan head to Plaza Las Américas. It is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean so it is definitely worth a visit. You can check out some local boutiques and international chain stores. This is also a great place to pick up Puerto Rican coffee handmade crafts from local vendors and authentic Caribbean rum (if your cruise ship allows it). Evening: Sunset and Dinner You might feel tired in the evening so you can wrap up your day by watching the sunset before heading back to your cruise ship. For a spectacular display of colors head to Paseo de la Princesa. It is a beautiful promenade dating back to 1853. From there youll have some amazing views of the San Juan Bay and plenty of local culture with vendors and street performers. Its a beloved spot for locals and tourists and its usually busy especially around sunset. Enjoy a Typical Puerto Rican Dinner There are many excellent dinner options in San Juan and I suggest trying one of them if your cruise ship is not leaving just yet. If you want a more casual spot take an Uber to Musa Puerto Rico a perfect spot off the beaten path in the Art District of San Juan. They serve a mix of food with Italian Asian and local influences and it has a more relaxed atmosphere. My favorite upscale dining experience you can find at VerdeMesa a Caribbean restaurant in the heart of Old San. VerdeMesa is a busy restaurant so you should make a reservation if you want to visit it. Finally Princesa Cocina Cultura is one of the most famous restaurants in town. It will give you a great taste of real Puerto Rican cuisine with main courses and desserts inspired by old family cookbooks. What Is The Closest Beach To San Juan Cruise Port? Playa Peña is the closest beach to the San Juan Cruise Port. Its just a short walk away located right across from the Capitol Building. This small rocky beach is a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy the Caribbean sea. Escambrón Beach is another great option from the cruise port. Its about a 35-minute scenic walk or a quick taxi ride from the cruise port. There youll have a more elevated beach experience with restrooms lifeguards and snorkeling opportunities Which Currency Do I Need in Puerto Rico? No need to worry about currency in Puerto Rico — you can use U.S. dollars everywhere. Its a U.S. territory so theres no currency exchange needed at all. Most places in San Juan accept credit and debit cards. Especially in tourist areas shops and restaurants near the cruise port you wont need any cash. But its a good idea to have a bit of cash for small purchases like snacks souvenirs or tips. Keep in mind that in some cases a place is cash-only or has a card minimum. Conclusion To sum it up we have spent an amazing day from our cruise ship in this beautiful destination. We have seen a historic fortification from the 16th century beautiful pastel-colored architecture and experienced much of the rich history on the island. From trying a local dessert dish to strolling down Calle del Cristo and along the San Juan Cathedral – Puerto Rico is the perfect place for a shore excursion. In the evening we stopped to buy souvenirs in the artisans corner a place that visitors love. Before ending our day in the popular port of call we must stop by the Parque de las Palomas or the Paseo de la Princesa for sunset. I hope you liked your shore day in Puerto Rico and San Juan – and are ready to head to your next Caribbean destination: Best Things to Do in Bonaire on a Cruise – One Day Itinerary Dominican Republic Cruise Ports – How to Plan Shore Excursions One Day in Aruba From Cruise Ship: Perfect Itinerary One Day in Curacao From Cruise Ship – Itinerary With Map One Day in Cozumel From Cruise Ship: Amazing Itinerary

12-05-2025T17:01:01Z

Are you wondering if Moab Utah is worth visiting? Then you are in the right spot. I have recently returned from my trip to Moab and while I thought it was an incredibly cool place it was also overrun and touristy. Especially the famous Arches National Park left me a little disappointed. If you are on the verge of planning your vacation to Moab and still need some reasons to go – or not to go – this post is for you. Ill give you a totally honest review of my holiday in Moab and discuss whether you should visit or not! Lets get to it! Is Moab Worth Visiting? In Short If you are here for a quick answer this is it: yes Moab is absolutely worth visiting! Moab is mostly famous for its proximity to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. But funnily enough these were not my highlights of the trip at all. Arches National Park was extremely crowded and touristy and most of the arches were not as pretty as Instagram wants you to believe. Canyonlands National Park was stunning but quite a drive away from Moab itself which made it less accessible. What really made my time in Moab was the underrated local hikes to stunning natural arches and the beautiful old town center. Also the drives there were beyond scenic! The main downside to visiting Moab is that it is super busy but I feel like you can get around that by traveling off-season. To sum it up Moab is totally worth visiting if you know when to go and what to do (to avoid the masses of tourists). Check my 5 days in Moab itinerary for a great plan for your vacation! 15 Upsides of Visiting Moab Utah 1. Incredible Scenery (Even Outside the National Parks) Moab is one of those places that doesnt look real and people keep accusing me of photoshopping all my pictures – when in reality the place is just stunning. Moab has dramatic cliffs layered canyons and beautiful red rocks glowing at golden hour. However it also has tons of natural arches some of which can be found even outside Arches National Park. You could probably stumble out of your hotel room and find yourself next to one of the most photogenic routes in the Southwest or staring down at colorful salt pans in the desert. 2. Arches National Park Is Right There Talking about stunning arches one of the coolest National Parks in the US is right at your fingertips in Moab. Youll find over 2000 natural stone arches here. The park is easy to explore and super accessible from town. Besides the famous Delicate Arch there are lots of other amazing arches in the park. Landscape Arch is super long and skinny—it looks like it could break at any moment. Double Arch is huge and has two arches joined together (as the name already promises). The Windows made up of the North and South Windows are easy to reach and really beautiful especially at sunrise. I will not lie I thought Arches was way too crowded and touristy – I would not recommend going in the main season. 3. Locals Are Super Friendly In our experience the locals in all of Utah are really friendly and Moab was no exception. Despite all the masses of tourists that trek to Moab every year the locals did not seem as fed up with them as in other places. People are eager to point you in the right direction give you travel tips and have a small chat! 4. Canyonlands National Park Is Just As Cool as Arches Canyonlands National Park is a bit of a drive away from Moab and its absolutely stunning. Its full of deep canyons (Utahs version of the Grand Canyon) plenty of rock formations and stunning desert views. The park is split into four main areas: Island in the Sky The Needles The Maze and the rivers that run through it. Island in the Sky is the easiest to visit so I suggest you start there. It has short trails and amazing accessible viewpoints. Of course the famous Mesa Arch is here too! The Needles is great if you like hiking so put that on your list if you are feeling extra sporty. 5. Adventures Available at Every Corner Ever since we moved to the US we have learned that the Americans are into all sorts of adventures. And Moab definitely has a lot to offer in that regard. Visitors can go rafting on the Colorado River off-roading and mountain biking through the incredible landscape as well as rock climbing and hiking. You can either bring your bike or vehicle of choice on your road trip or simply rent one there. Companies can be found on every corner. 6. Instagrammable and Photogenic Moab is one of the most Instagrammable places I have been to in the Southwest US. The landscape here is a photographers dream. I am especially obsessed with the impressive cliffs along the Potash road which frame the Colorado River – and make for excellent pics. You can wake early for sunrise over the Mesa Arch or chase the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park. Whether you want to update your Instagram or just get pretty pics for your family album Moab is the place to be. 7. Incredible Hiking Trails As a big hiker myself I was so excited to check out all the fabulous trails in the Moab area. And they did not disappoint. From short walks to day hikes Moab has something for everyone. You must check out the Windows Loop or Devils Garden Trail in Arches for the best views. But dont skip out on the lesser-known local trails like Corona Arch Trail Grandstaff Canyon and the Mill Creek Waterfall Trail. They all have something different yet stunning to offer. 8. Perfect Destination For a Road Trip Due to Moabs fantastic location in Southern Utah it is a great place to stop on a Southwest USA Road Trip. You can combine a visit with Salt Lake City Las Vegas Bryce Canyon or even Telluride and Denver. Monument Valley and Zion National Park are also only a few hours drive away. The city is perfectly equipped to handle all the road-trippers there is plenty of parking and camping space available. 9. Charming Moab Downtown After a long hike you can go unwind in town which is super cute! I loved to browse cute shops and local art galleries sip a cold beer at a microbrewery or grab a bite at a farm-to-table café. Downtown Moab is filled with lovely restaurants stores and spas which is perfect for a relaxed evening. 10. Dinosaur Tracks Fossils and Petroglyphs Moab is also worth visiting because of all the relics of ancient times. You can see dinosaur tracks fossils and petroglyphs right out in nature. There are several spots near Moab where you can see real dinosaur footprints. One of the easiest is the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. You can also see actual fossils especially at places like Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail. Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings made by Indigenous people. The Birthing Scene Petroglyph and the ones near Courthouse Wash or Potash Road are my favorites. 11. Moab Is Family-Friendly Moab is a great place for families because theres so much to do for all ages. The national parks have easy hikes with big payoffs that especially children can enjoy without too much strain. There are also fun learning spots like the Moab Giants Dinosaur Park where kids can see life-sized dinosaurs and play outside. Plus there are safe spots to swim or splash in the river gentle river rafting trips and lots of space to just run around and explore. 12. Great Weather in Spring and Fall Spring and fall are the best times to visit Moab. The weather is just right—not too hot not too cold. In spring everything starts to bloom. The days are warm usually in the 60s to 80s°F. Its perfect for hiking biking and taking photos. We visited Moab in the fall and we absolutely loved the season. The summer crowds leave the air feels fresh and the red rocks glow even more with the golden light. Moab is worth visiting year-round but in summer you definitely have some challenges. 13. Moab is Drone-Friendly If you are a passionate drone pilot like me youll be happy to hear that there are plenty of flying opportunities in the area. Apart from the National Parks you can find lots of cool places to fly. I loved flying along the Potash Road over the Corona Arch and the Salt Pans. You can even fly in the Dead Horse Point State Park during certain times and if you have a valid drone license. Most (interesting) places in the Southwest USA are No-Drone-Zones so this was a happy surprise to me. 14. Moab Has a Laid-Back Vibe I never really understood when people are talking about the vibe of a place but Moab definitely has one. For one reason or another I felt extremely relaxed and laid-back during our time in Moab. Everyone was in a good mood people were friendly and cheerful. There is nothing pretentious about Moab (something I really hate in a destination) and you can simply enjoy yourself and the beautiful nature here. 15. Moab is Relatively Cheap Since we arrived in Moab after a week in Kanab most prices did feel rather elevated. But in comparison to other popular places in the Southwest like Sedona Las Vegas Telluride or Page it is still relatively cheap there. Moab is totally affordable if you book in advance. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Moab and it was definitely not expensive. Restaurant prices range from cheap to expensive since there are lots of different options! 5 Downsides of Visiting Moab Moab Gets Crowded Especially in spring and fall the most popular trails and parks can feel packed. When we arrived at Arches National Park there was a huge line of campers and cars trying to get into the park. Most of the trailheads were super crowded too there was barely any parking available. Sadly this factor dampened our experience in Arches a little. We felt like they let way too many people in there and that definitely took away from the experience. Try to go off-season and outside of school holidays. Summer Is Extremely Hot Temperatures often hover above 100°F in summer in Moab. This makes it hard (and even dangerous) to hike during the day. June July and August are not great for a trip. Sadly there is not much shade! Most trails are totally exposed to the sun. Youll need sunscreen hats and lots of water to stay safe. We arrived at the beginning of fall in September and we were still sweating buckets every day on our hikes. If you can accept some colder weather (and cheaper prices) you might want to aim for December January or February for your visit. Everything Is Kinda Orange and Sandy After about 4 weeks of travel through the Southwest USA it was no big surprise to us that the landscape around Moab was also gonna be orange and sandy. While the nature here is incredibly beautiful there is not a lot of greenery to be found. Also you can already get used to having tons of orange sand on all your clothes and belongings. If you are not a big fan of the desert Moab is definitely not worth visiting. Moab Can Be Expensive (Compared to Other Places in Utah) As I mentioned before Moab is not one of the most expensive places in the Southwest. However youll still have to pay a bit more to stay and eat in Moab than in other areas of Utah. Hotels campgrounds and tours can get expensive during peak season so its best to book early or use discount codes for your...