San juan puerto rico facts: San Juan, Puerto Rico

21 Secrets of San Juan Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico’s capital city of San Juan attracts visitors to hotspots like the fort garitas and the old town’s Fortaleza “umbrella” street, but there are many more secret buildings and stories inside this walled city. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory that Americans do not need to show their passport to visit. The number of doors in each colorful façade tell the history of taxes; and, the world-famous “Puerto Rican rum” is not originally from Puerto Rico. So, if you like piña coladas and want to learn who really invented them, read on for 21 Secrets of San Juan Puerto Rico. 

Table of Contents

1. The colorful houses used to be all whitewashed

The now colorful old town houses were originally all whitewashed to protect the bricks. Puerto Rico was one of the only remaining Caribbean islands without colorful buildings so in 1954 they began painting the buildings different, vibrant colors. 

2. San Juan cobblestone streets are not from ship ballasts

Despite what many think, San Juan cobblestone streets are not from ballasts, but originated from 1890 Liverpool, England. Many other cobblestone streets, in Boston or Philadelphia, for example, were built from weight balancing ballasts in ships that were thrown overboard in exchange for gold and treasure to bring back to Spain. San Juan’s cobblestones have a blue color, and the bluer the stone indicates a higher metal content. 

3. Why are there so many shells around San Juan and Puerto Rico? Where is the shell shaped hotel restaurant?

There are a number of symbolic shells around San Juan and Puerto Rico since it is a popular Spanish and Christian symbol for baptism and pilgrimage. That is why there are many shells along the Camino Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The scallop shell design symbolizes many starting points for pilgrims that converge into one destination. There is an iconic modern Perla restaurant in La Concha that is built to look like a shell floating over ocean waves. This seashell-shaped architectural wonder is a popular wedding venue.

4. San Juan airport is not in San Juan

The San Juan airport is not in San Juan, but in the neighboring town Carolina. 

5. San Juan, Puerto Rico is considered the oldest U.S. city.

It is considered the oldest city in the U.S. as the National Park Service states, “San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the oldest continuously inhabited post-European contact city in United States territory and the second oldest in the entire Western Hemisphere.”

6. The island of Puerto Rico was originally called San Juan.

The Island of Puerto Rico was originally called San Juan by Columbus after Saint Juan Bautista. Later, the island was renamed Puerto Rico, meaning “rich port” in Spanish.  

7. There is only one of the six original walled city gate entrances.

The walled city originally had six gate entrances. Puerta de San Juan is the only remaining gate, which you can still walk through today. 

8. The oldest standing cathedral in the Western Hemisphere is in San Juan.

The San Juan Cathedral is the oldest cathedral still standing in the western hemisphere. It also houses the tomb of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. 

9. This cathedral houses the mummified remains of Saint Pius, San Pio.

The San Juan Cathedral houses the mummified remains of Saint Pius, San Pio. Twelve popes have taken the saint’s name. 

10. Where is the oldest Catholic elementary school?

The Colegio de Párvulos is the oldest Catholic school for elementary education in Puerto Rico, built in 1865. 

11. The piña colada was invented in San Juan, but which bar and bartender originally served it?

The piña colada was invented in San Juan, but the original bartender and location are up for debate. A marble plaque outside Barrachina states Ramon Portas Mingot mixed the first piña colada there in 1963. However, the Caribe Hilton claims Ramon Monchito Marrero created the piña colada in the Beachcombers Bar in 1954. 

12. Bacardi rum is not from Puerto Rico, but originally began in Cuba.

Bacardi bottles read “Puerto Rican Rum” but Bacardi actually began in Cuba. Now you can tour its Puerto Rico factory, now the largest premium rum distillery in the world. 

13. Why does the Bacardi bottle have a bat symbol on it?

The Bacardi bottle dons a bat symbol for good luck. This represents the fruit bats living in the old distillery and the luck of the brand surviving so much, from an earthquake to exile.  

14. Is Teatro Tapia the oldest theater in the U.S.?

Teatro Tapia, founded in 1832, is the oldest, still-operating freestanding performing arts theater in the U.S.. It is named after the local playwright Alejandro Tapia y Rivera.  

15. Who are famous celebrities from Puerto Rico?

There are many famous celebrities from Puerto Rico including Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Joaquin Phoenix. Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for In the Heights and Hamilton, is also from Puerto Rico. 

16. Where is the narrow house in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

La Casa Estrecha, the Narrow House, is only five feet and three inches wide. The exact address is 101 Calle de Tetuan, San Juan, 00902, Puerto Rico. Antonio Álvarez turned the neglected alleyway into a two-story yellow home, complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The other, less popular, narrow house in San Juan is located at 152 Calle Sol. 

17. When was San Juan and La Fortaleza named an UNESCO World Heritage Site?

La Fortaleza and San Juan were named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. 

18. Significance of two or three door houses in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The more doors a house had, the more taxes were paid. Often you will find two-door houses and three-door houses alternating one another. This is because the two-door houses were built later, in the space between the larger houses.  

19. Where are some early examples of concrete tiles from Spain?

Puerto Rico has some of the earliest examples of concrete tiles brought from Spain. They were cheap and decorative tiles that were revolutionary and replaced dirt floors and carpets.  

20. Which is the oldest and most popular fort in San Juan? Which is the largest fort in San Juan?

El Morro might be the oldest and most popular fort, but Fort San Cristóbal is the largest Spanish fortification built by Spain in the New World.

21. Where is the haunted devil fort garita in San Juan?

The most famous of the many garitas, or sentry boxes, overlooking the water is the Garita del Diablo, built in 1634 in a remote location. This is where a soldier disappeared from his post, either to run away with his love, or, as legend says, he was taken away by the devil. The fort is closed to the public, but can be seen from the nearby street. 

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A to Z Kids Stuff

Puerto Rico

Things to Know

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico means “rich port” in Spanish.

Capital: San Juan

County’s inhabatants: Puerto Rican

Abbreviation: PR

Currency: U.S. Dollar

Official Languages: Spanish and English

The majority of Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic.

Puerto Rico is located about 1,000 miles southeast of Florida, a part of the West Indies in the north Caribbean Sea. Puerto Rico is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Rico includes the largest main island and a number of smaller islands.

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Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1917. In 1950, President Truman sighed the Puerto Rico Commonwealth Bill, which enabled the island’ people to establish their own constitution. Puerto Rico became a commonwealth on July 25, 1952. It is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States.

History

Puerto Rico’s first inhabitants were the Taino Indians, who originally came from South America. Christopher Columbus reached the islands during his second voyage in 1493 in the name of the Spanish Empire.

San Juan from above.

Juan Ponce de Leon, who accompanied Columbus, was granted permission to explore the island. He found a well protected bay that could harbor large sailing ships.

Beside the bay a town, Caparra, was founded. By 1521 the town was moved to the northern end of the harbor and named Puerto Rico. Over time the port became known as San Juan and the name Puerto Rico came to be applied to the whole island.

Settlement on Puerto Rico really began in 1898, when the Spanish gave the island to the U.S.

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Animals

National Symbol: Coqui (pronounced ko-kee).

Some species of the conqui are only found in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has no large wild mammals. All land mammals on the island came with humans (except bats). Mice and rats came on sailing ships. The mongoose was brought in to control rats on sugarcane plantations. Domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, cows, and horses were brought to Puerto Rico.

Iguanas and many small lizards abound, bats are present, as are a few snakes. The largest snake is the Puerto Rico boa.

In the waters surrounding are variety of sea mammals, such as dolphins and humpback whales.

Puerto Rico has some insects including mole crickets and termites that damage buildings and crops. Barracuda, kingfish, crabs, mullet, Spanish mackerel, tuna, sharks, snappers, lobster, and oysters are among the marine life inhabiting coastal waters.

Land

Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with tropical wet and dry climates. There is little difference from season to season.

Puerto Rico is a mountainous tropical island; sixty percent of Puerto Rico is covered in mountains.

Puerto Rico is a mountainous tropical island; sixty percent of Puerto Rico is covered in mountains.

Most of tropical forests in Puerto Rico are gone. El Yunque Peak is the Caribbean National Forest. These 28,000 acres are all that remain of the rain forest that once covered much of the island

Plants

There are several thousand varieties of tropical plants that grow in Puerto Rico; poinciana, flaming red blooms, and huge kapok trees.
Crops: sugarcane
,
coffee
, pineapples, plantains, bananas Before coffee and sugarcane became the foremost cultivated crops, cacao (chocolate tree) and ginger were the top crops.

Video

Make

Fort El Morro is a fortress that was completed in 1589. El Morro has small circular sentry boxes. Make a Sand Castle Glitter Globe. (school-age)

More Puerto Rica crafts for school-age children – Puerto Rican Mask, Red and White Jars.

Taínos of Puerto Rico
Crafts to make. This site also contains lesson plans and printouts.

Coquí

Color

Puerto Rican Symbols:

Puerto Rico Flag Printout
Bird-Stripe-Headed Tanager

Flower-Hibiscus

Taino color page

Fun Facts

Roberto Clemente
The first Hispanic to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

See Also

All Around The World

States of the USA

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Weather in San Juan for 3 days, weather forecast for San Juan for the next 3 days, , Puerto Rico.

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all 11 universities in San Juan

8 of 11

• Universities Universities Universities in the country of San Juan
• Presented in at least one rating

14

• List of various ratings
• Universities in San Juan
• (12 institutions and 2 subject ratings)

2

• Global ranking
• Universities in San Juan
• Among TOP 200

Highest subject ranking among universities in San Juan

Engineering
Payscale College Salary Report – Best Schools by Majors

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

Nursing and Health
Payscale College Salary Report – Best Schools by Majors

Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metro Campus

Computer Science
Payscale College Salary Report – Best Schools by Majors

University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras

University Rankings in San Juan, Puerto Rico 2022

#1

University of Puerto Rico System

University of Puerto Rico

Student satisfaction:
4. 7 / 5.0
(5 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (10)

• subject ratings

#2

University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras

Universidad de Puerto Rico en Rio Piedras

Student satisfaction:
4. 7 / 5.0
(242 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (4)

• subject ratings

#3

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico

Student satisfaction:
4. 6 / 5.0
(53 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (3)

• subject ratings

#4

National University of San Juan

Universidad Nacional de San Juan

Student Satisfaction:
4. 8 / 5.0
(6 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (4)

#5

Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metro Campus

Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico – Recinto Metropolitano

Website – university

• University rankings (2)

• subject ratings

#6

Albizu University, San Juan

Universidad Albizu

Student satisfaction:
4. 5 / 5.0
(8 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (1)

#7

EDP ​​University

Student satisfaction:
4.1/5.0
(13 reviews)

Website – university

• University rankings (1)

#8

Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music

Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico

Website – university

• University rankings (1)

#9

School of Plastic Arts and Design of Puerto Rico

Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico

Student satisfaction:
4. 6 / 5.0
(80 reviews)

Website – university

#10

University College of San Juan
Colegio Universitario de San Juan

Student Satisfaction:
4.3 / 5.0
(7 reviews)

Website – university

#11

Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication

Website – university

Key facts about San Juan for international students

Population: 448000

Time: GMT -3

District/Province: San Juan,

Cost of living for students in San Juan:

* 100 = prices in London city

• Cost of living without accommodation 82* (18% cheaper than in London city)
• All expenses including accommodation 60* (40% cheaper than London city)

• Food (grocery stores and cheap restaurants) 73* (27% cheaper than London city)

• • Supply voltage: 120 V
  • Frequency: 60 Hz

• • Supply voltage: 120 V
  • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with universities in San Juan

University of Puerto Rico System ranks #1 in San Juan in our meta ranking composed of 133 university rankings.