Wreck of the Ten Sails Park (Gun Bay, East End, Grand Cayman) – this park was set up to commemorate the Cayman’s best-known shipwreck. On February 8, 1794, the Cordelia, heading a convoy of 58 square-rigged merchant vessels en route from Jamaica to England, foundered on one of the treacherous East End reefs. A total […]
InterContinental San Juan Resort & Casino (5961 Avenida Isla Verde, Isla Verde) — A blue neon light envelops you as you enter this casino, which draws locals and visitors with its elegant decor. Live music is usually available on Saturday nights.
El San Juan Hotel & Casino, The Waldorf-Astoria Collection (6063 Avenida Isla Verde, Isla Verde) — Neither the clangs of the slot machines nor the sounds of the salsa band disrupt the semblance of Old World. The polish continues in the adjacent lobby, with its huge chandeliers and mahogany paneling.
Pirate’s Caves (South Shore Road, Bodden Town, Grand Cayman) – these are natural limestone caves located on Grand Cayman’s south shore, and are a nod to the island’s history of pirate activity during the 17th & 18th centuries. To accommodate the family-friendly tourist traffic, there’s a gift shop with pirate paraphernalia and a petting zoo. […]
Plaza del Mercado (Calle Dos Hermanos e/Calle Capital, Santurce) — Though mostly overlooked by tourists, the Plaza del Mercado is one of the most charming corners of San Juan. At its center is a market hall dating from 1910. Inside you’ll find bushels of fruits and vegetables, many of which you probably haven’t seen before. […]
Plaza de Hostos is located near La Casita, features artisan displays, snack stands, and traditional piragüeros, who sell shaved ice topped with tropical fruit syrup.
Pedro St. James Castle (Grand Cayman) — Originally built by an Englishman who arrived in the islands in 1765, it is the islands’ oldest surviving building. Local stories also associate it with the pirate Henry Morgan and a 17th-century Spaniard, Pedro Gómez, though there’s no proof. The house is touted as the islands’ ‘birthplace of […]
Plaza de Colón (Old San Juan) — The tallest statue of Christopher Columbus in the Americas stands atop a soaring column and fountain in this bustling Old San Juan square, kitty-corner to Castillo San Cristóbal. What was once called St. James Square was renamed in 1893 to honor the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in […]
Teatro Tapia (Plaza Colón, Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan) — named for Puerto Rican playwright Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, this theater hosts traveling and locally produced theatrical and musical productions. Matinee performances with family entertainment are also held here, especially around the holidays.
Old Harbor Brewery (202 Calle Tizol e/Calle Recinto Sur, Old San Juan) — Serious beer-lovers know to head to this authentic microbrewery and restaurant close to the harborfront. More clubby than pubby, it packs in locals as well as tourists who come to taste the five delicious German-style beers, brewed in European-style open fermentation tanks. […]