8 Things to Avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Following up on the series of things to not do in specific locations, today I bring you 8 things to avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This list of things to not do is brought to you by Yina from My Nomad Tips. She has some amazing travel tips there. Not only on her native Puerto Rico, but also in many different destinations she has visited.

Do not miss out on the previous entries of this series. We have touched very different destinations such as: Barcelona (Spain), Muscat (Oman), Seoul (South Korea), Madrid (Spain), New York (USA) or Shanghai (China). Following these: Things to avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

8 Things to avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of those places where people go for a carefree vacation beneath the Caribbean sun. This means sometimes tourist forget to check what is doable and what is not when in San Juan.  Resulting in stress, fines and honestly, avoidable situations. Therefore, I gathered 9 things to avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico, so you can have your well-deserved tropical vacation. 

Avoid taking an Uber to the airport

Yes, we have Uber in San Juan and you can take advantage of it to explore some of the city. However, the reason I say it is one of the things to avoid in San Juan is for practical reasons. While Uber can take you to the airport, they aren’t allowed to leave you in front of the gates. As a result, you will have to walk a certain point with all your baggage. Because of this, I suggest taking a taxi instead.

Don’t assume everyone understands English

If you stay in San Juan there is a good chance most people in the tourism service know English. Still, that doesn’t mean that if you ask the old lady in the street for some directions, she will understand you. I’m sure she will try her best to help you, but don’t assume everyone on the island speaks English.

Instead, it’s better to learn some Spanish words like ” Por favor” for Please and “Gracias” for Thank you. We are very proud of our culture. Even though bilingual people are very proud of talking both Spanish and English, the ones that only speak Spanish are proud of this as well.

Don’t always expect Caribbean sunny weather

The lush greens forests of Puerto Rico don’t feed only from all year-long sunshine. On the contrary, we get rain all year long. Especially from July to November. This helps keeping the local green humid forest alive. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t rain during the other months. This said, check the weather forecast constantly and plan accordingly.

Problems with the weather are one of the easiest things to avoid in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is as simple as packing a small umbrella when visiting the country. The rain doesn’t last long so you can still stroll the streets, visit some historical places or drink some piña colada while you wait for the rain to stop.

Don’t rely on public transportation

Not even as a local I have ever taken public transportation. Mostly because I know it is not as reliable as a taxi or a private car.  It is a shame we don’t have better public transportation with the local crazy traffic. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a good parking space too. If you are arriving with your own car or have rented one, one of the main things to avoid in San Juan is to drive around town.

If possible, and if you are staying at the old San Juan, your best choice is to leave the car at the hotel or a parking space and explore the ancient walls by foot. It is a very small center so I would only recommend driving to explore the country outside of old San Juan.

Avoid staying inside your hotel complex

As tempted as you are to stay inside the all-inclusive complex… don’t. Not only will you miss out on all the adventures Puerto Rico has to offer but you won’t get to experience the real country. Even if you plan on only visiting San Juan, I recommend visiting some of the historical landmarks of Puerto Rico such as: El Moro, Paseo de la Princesa and La Placita to get a feeling of the tropical nightlife.

Avoid the city’s beaches

One of the most famous San Juan Beaches is Ocean Park. In my opinion, this is one of the main places or things to avoid in San Juan, or even Puerto Rico. I personally don’t enjoy this beach just because it is so crowded, windy and not good at all for a relaxing afternoon. Unless you enjoy sand hitting you constantly.

If you can, rent a car and go to Carolina or Loiza. There you will find crystal clear water while still remaining near the San Juan area.

Nevertheless, if you can’t move outside San Juan, I recommend Balneario El Escambron for calm waves. However, keep in mind that the City Beaches don’t do justice to Puerto Rico’s acclaimed beach landscapes.

Avoid eating at fast food chains

Our mix of Spanish, Taino and African ascendants not only left us with great rhythm and passion for music, but also with some great food. Puerto Rico has a lot to offer when it comes to gastronomy. Some people will be tempted to go for the safe bet and hit the local McDonalds or other fast food restaurants. Don’t.

Avoid eating the boring plain food offered in these restaurants. Instead, I recommend the famous restaurant Raices, where not only the food is amazing but the waiters dress in their typical African dresses. The restaurant itself is inspired in the old Spanish colonial days with many beautiful murals and antique artifacts for decorations. You will be taken aback to older times. Also, visit Bebo’s Café, as it has great food at great prices.

Avoid interacting with the wildlife

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself surrounded by sea cows (manatis), whales or sea turtles. I think many tourists come to be in contact with these “exotic” animals. Unfortunately, this is one of the main things you need to avoid in San Juan, or at least try to minimize it. If you find yourself near these animals, interacting with them may incur in elevated fines.

Does a fine of $25,000 for interfering with humpback whales sound like a nice ending to your Caribbean experience?

Instead, it is best to watch them from afar. On the other hand, if you are surprised by them when on a boat, carefully drive away parallel to them and make sure to keep a distance of at least 300meters (1000ft).

To finish: one Do. Do leave tips

Finally, leave a tip. Waiters are paid very low wages and earn most of their income from tips. This is not necessary to mention to US nationals since it is natural there, but is important to keep in mind for all the other nationalities. Undoubtedly, Puerto Rico is not the cheapest place to visit, but please don’t take it out on the waiter who just tried the best to offer you a great culinary experience. The expected tip is at least 15% of the total.

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