San Juan. Puerto Rico’s capital city and only major metropolitan area, with well over half of the population of the island. It is Caribbean, Latin, American, and more, all rolled into one amazing city. In this guide, we will explore what to see, where to go, what to eat, and how to experience this incredible…
“Gringo go home.” The writing across the sidewalk of Calle Loiza sort of smacks me in the face as I walk from the grocery store back to my rented apartment in San Juan. This isn’t my first encounter with that sentiment; a rally even took place in Old San Juan while I was staying here…
San Juan, Puerto Rico is a world-class destination. And with that comes a world-class food scene. From Latin influences to tropical libations to completely unique inventions, the city offers visitors some great chances to taste their way around the various cultures that have built Puerto Rico and called it home. Please note, these are only…
Editor’s note: one of the best things about having writers on The Royal Tour other than myself is to experience a shared destination from a different perspective. While my Puerto Rico trip was largely an in-depth look at San Juan, Sam Spector journeyed to other places on the island, and uses that experience to share…
For most visitors to Puerto Rico, San Juan is a stop for a couple of days to visit Old San Juan. They then leave for beach resorts on other parts of the island. To me, that is a mistake. San Juan - the modern city of San Juan outside of the old city walls -…
The oldest European-established city in the United States, and third oldest in the Americas behind Santo Domingo and Panamá City, San Juan has been capturing the hearts and souls of visitors since its establishment exactly 500 years ago, in 1521. Charming colorful buildings line streets paved in blue stones. Fountains and churches honor the city’s…
If I am being completely honest, some days it is a struggle to do the research necessary to write an article that I am proud of. I supplement in-person experiences with internet research, as well as conversations with locals and other travelers, making sure to take copious notes and large numbers of photos. It can…
When Covid began - I mean, truly began - in March of 2020, I came home. I was in Spain, and told myself that as soon as cases got out of control (I defined this as more than 100 cases in a single day country-wide) I’d leave Europe and return to Los Angeles until it…
I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that the entirety of Laguna Grande didn’t glow bright blue. Photos taken showing things like this are a) amazing, b) taken with better cameras than my iPhone and likely special UV filters or photoshopping, and c) a bit of false advertising. However, after that initial letdown…
Miguel’s long beard moves wonderfully up and down as he smiles. “Ask me anything,” he says. “Anything at all.” Over the next two hours, I do just that. We talk about his island home of Puerto Rico, the people, the politics, the food. We speak of his two sons, one still here and one in…