Old San Juan Historical Walking Tour
Description
A convenient and straightforward way to learn about and explore Old San Juan is with a local, knowledgeable guide who will lead you on an easy 2-hour history stroll through the oldest section of the city. Following the tour, you will understand the history behind the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its unique ties to the US, as well as its rich Spanish, Taino Indian, and West African heritage. Perfect for all ages, the tour will explore landmarks such as La Casa Estrecha and La Catedral de San Juan Bautista – Old San Juan’s venerated cathedral, which is Puerto Rico’s grandest religious building. Additionally, you will discover parts of the city’s impressive defensive system, including its walls, only remaining entrance door, and Fortaleza, the fort known as the “mistake” the Spanish made! Our tours also visit La Rogativa, La Capilla de Cristo, and many other "must-see" sites.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will enjoy the history behind Casa Estrecha and how it came to fruition
We will stop at the Cathedral and discuss its rich history and its place in Old San Juan's cultural, political and religious life. Interior access to certain landmarks may vary due to operating hours, religious services, or special events. Guests are always encouraged to visit interiors independently before or after the tour when available.
We will walk inside el Cuartel de Ballajá and enjoy the architecture and history
We will walk along the newly renovated Church. Interior access to certain landmarks may vary due to operating hours, religious services, or special events. Guests are always encouraged to visit interiors independently before or after the tour when available.
Tour the historic 500 year old city with an expert guide.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- *Important* As historical churches we visit have a conservative dress code, please dress accordingly.
- Not recommended for people with any kind of mobility impairment
Reviews(396)
Pablo was an amazing tour guide! So thorough and engaging the whole time. He answered all of our questions and was extremely knowledgeable
Danny did a great job! His passion and excitement showed as we toured Old San Juan learned of the history and what made Old San Juan what is it. Tasted delicious authentic flavors along the way. Appreciated the energy and knowledge of Danny. Very interesting tour with great food tastings along the way.
My husband and I took this 2-hour walking tour of Old San Juan, and it was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Claudia, was incredibly passionate and brought the history and culture of the city to life. She shared fascinating stories and made the tour both informative and enjoyable. At the end of the tour, she also gave us excellent recommendations for local restaurants and shopping, which made the rest of our day even better. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Old San Juan!
Our guide, Alberto was very kind and clearly LOVED his job. He knew tons about the city and made this a great tour. We laughed, learned and had a great time.
Alberto’s passion for what he does shines through in every tour! We're delighted you enjoyed learning about the city while sharing plenty of laughs along the way. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience 😊 You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
Very knowledgeable on the history of old San Juan
We're delighted you enjoyed learning about the rich history of Old San Juan throughout the tour! Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience. 😊 You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
Our guide Pablo was a total delight to spend time with. I learned a ton of new things and saw part of San Juan id never been too before. If I could give him 20 stars I would.
Twenty stars? We'll gladly take that as the highest compliment! ⭐😊 Pablo will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed exploring a new side of San Juan while learning something new along the way. Thank you for making us part of your adventure! You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
This tour was amazing. Raisa was our guide, and she taught us so much about old San Juan. History was divided into 3 pieces: before the arrival of the Spaniards, during Spanish rule, and under American rule. I loved the way she explained everything, throwing in a joke here and there. I’m very detail oriented and like to get what I pay for: this tour was absolutely worth the cost. Additionally, the tour says no bathroom breaks, but if you really need to go don’t worry; she gives two 10 minute breaks throughout the tour to go to the bathroom, take a closer look at the sights, or grab a water. The walk itself was also not too extrenuating; we had some people who were not at peak health and they were okay. Raisa also stops here and there to speak, which gives people an opportunity to sit down. A huge thank you to the tour company for letting us move tour dates at no cost!
Thank you for such a thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear Raiza's storytelling, humor, and deep knowledge of Puerto Rico's history made the experience so meaningful. We also appreciate you highlighting the tour pace, comfort breaks, and flexibility with your date change. Knowing the tour exceeded your expectations truly means a lot 😊 You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
This was a well put together tour. The tour guide was very informative and educated on the history of Puerto Rico.
A great food tour should be both delicious and educational, so we're delighted to hear you enjoyed learning about Puerto Rico's rich history along the way! Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience 😊 You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
Leslie was informative and engaging! I traveled to Puerto Rico with a group of students for a summer travel course from Lycoming College and the students really benefited from Leslie's informative tour which was tailored to their specific interests. Such a wonderful and generous way to operate the tour!
Tailoring the experience to each group is something Leslie does exceptionally well! We're delighted to hear your students from Lycoming College found the tour engaging, educational, and relevant to their interests. Thank you for trusting us to be part of their Puerto Rico experience 😊 You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah, Georgia ❤️
Alberto was our tour guide and he made the tour fun and interesting. He’s extremely knowledgeable and has a passion for history and his country- you won’t go wrong if you book with Alberto. I did the 5-7 walking tour and it was lovely to spend the evening strolling the streets seeing the activity while learning about the culture and history- 2 hours was perfect allotted time with a break in between to get a beverage of your choice and sit for a minute. Really enjoyed it!!! Book with Alberto!!
We’re so glad you enjoyed spending the evening exploring Old San Juan with Alberto. It’s wonderful to hear his passion for Puerto Rico’s history and culture helped make the tour both fun and memorable, and that the pacing and atmosphere made for such a relaxing experience, thanks for joining! You’re now officially a Flavors Foodie Insider and can enjoy 10% off your next tour in San Juan, St. Thomas, or Savannah. See you again soon!
