Puerto Rico is an unincorporated US territory (it's complicated!) in the northeast Caribbean sea. As such, US citizens and anyone with a US visa can enter Puerto Rico. The main airport is Aeropuerto Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU). Once in the airport, one may take a taxi cab or an Uber to get to Old San Juan (about a 15 minute drive).
The conference will take place in Museo de Las Américas (a museum showing pre-Columbian to modern and contemporary art from the Americas - make sure to visit the collection!) in the Spanish colonial town of Old San Juan, at the northernmost coast of the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan. This is a National Historic Landmark District. Most of the buildings date back to the 1500s-1800s. Just outside the conference venue, you can find the Castillo San Felipe Del Morro, a fortress overlooking the ocean whose construction started in 1539. Within a 15 minute walk, you can enjoy a walk along the historic promenade Paseo de la Princesa (1853) or have a meal at the old convent-turned-hotel El Convento (1651). Everything is walking distance within Old San Juan.
Here is a list of places serving local coffee, which are also good for a quick breakfast:
Café Don Ruiz - coffee shop inside the conference venue serving local coffee
Café Cuatro Sombras - artisan coffee shop serving local coffee. Opens early (7am). Located on the way from the Sheraton Hotel to the conference venue.
Filtrado - small coffee shop with a nice backyard serving high quality local coffee.
Caficultura - brunch, lunch, gourmet sandwiches, local coffee, relatively large space
Chocobar Cortés - This is the restaurant of a local chocolate factory, they serve breakfast, coffee, and chocolate
Spiga - breakfast and brunch restaurant, good homemade breads, somtimes busy
Here is a list of recommended lunch and dinner restaurants in Old San Juan. All of these serve good food.
El Jibarito - one of the most famous local restaurants serving traditional Puerto Rican meals, good for both lunch and dinner, closed on Mondays. It gets a bit busy and there is usually a wait but totally worth it. Try "mofongo" (fried then mashed plantains with garlic and other things) with some kind of protein (chicken, steak, or shrimp)!
Pirilo - Pizzas and more, good for lunch and dinner.
Café Berlin - classic bistro with good vegetarian and vegan options
The following four are all relatively small lunch spots serving traditional everyday Puerto Rican food. All very tasty and relatively inexpensive:
Deaverdura - Laid back, small, corner restaruant, traditional Puerto Rican food
Café Manolín - lunch spot for traditional caribbean and Puerto Rican dishes
Café El Punto - casual spot for traditional Puerto Rican lunch, good mofongo, closed on Mondays
Café Mallorca- classic and local spot for breakfast and lunch serving a daily special fixed menu.
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Mercado La Carreta - brunch and lunch restaurant, beautiful big open space, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
St Germain - classic lunch bistro with good vegetarian options, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
La Madre - tacos and other mexican inspired dishes, good for both lunch and dinner/drinks
Barrachina - traditional Puerto Rican food, famous for their piña coladas (they claim to have invented piña coladas there)
El Asador - grilled meats, good for larger groups and dinner
Princesa - open outdoor space, good for dinner, closed Sundays and Mondays
Fancier restaurants for dinner:
Some bars:
La Factoria - famous cocktail bar featured in the music video for the song "Despacito"
La Taberna del Lúpulo - artisanal and local beers
Al Fresco - rooftop wine bar
Cafetin Marrero - laid back, locals like it
Deshistoria - beers and empanadas
Main historical landmarks:
and many more cathedrals, buildings, tunnels, and museums...
The main streets in Old San Juan are Calle Fortaleza, Calle del Cristo, Calle San Sebastían.
A bookstore in Old San Juan with a good selection of Spanish literature:
Here is a NY Times article with a few things to do in San Juan. The conference venue is featured in the article.
Here is another guide to Old San Juan.
You may be interested in checking out the neighborhoods: El Condado, Santurce, and Isla Verde. You may need to take an Uber or a cab to get here.
El Condado and Isla Verde have a more touristy/beachy atmosphere.
Santurce has more of an urban, local, and hip vibe. Loiza Street in Santurce has plenty of restaurants, bars, food trucks, and interesting spaces to explore.
La placita de Santurce is a big square with plenty of restaurants and bars where locals hang at night. It is worth checking out with a group of people.
The closest beach to Old San Juan is El Escambrón; this one is about a 40 minute walk from Old San Juan. There are other beaches which you might need ground transportation to get to but are relatively close, like Ocean Park and Isla Verde Beach.
Museums in San Juan:
Museo de Las Américas (conference venue)
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the main public university on the island, has its main campus located in Río Piedras. As any public university in Latin America, the UPR serves as a vital organ for the social and political structure of the whole country. Here is the math department website.
Puerto Rico is home to a wide range of ecosystems, many of them endangered, including dry forests, coral reefs, three of the world's seven bioluminescent bays, and North America's only rainforest.
Here is a basic but complete tourist guide, with the main beaches, museums, nature activities, etc...
Ideas for Wednesday:
Plan a hike at El Yunque Rainforest
Plan a tour at the Bioluminescent bay (at night)
You might be interested in combining a hike at El Yunque in the afternoon + a visit to the Bioluminescent bay at night, assuming you have enough energy! You must plan the transportation ahead of time. We will provide more information.
Plan a tour at a coffee farm such as: Hacienda Tres Angeles, Hacienda Pomarrosa, Hacienda San Pedro, Hacienda Lealtad, more here. You must contact a farm, make reservations ahead of time, and plan the transportation. We will provide more information.
If you are planning to visit the mountains in the center of the island (where most coffee farms are located) you may be interested in visiting Casa Pueblo, a community self-management project that is committed to appreciating and protecting natural, cultural, and human resources. Read more here and here.
Spend the day at one of the beaches near San Juan and/or discuss math with other participants walking around Old San Juan in a relaxed atmosphere.
Combine any of the activities above with "Chinchorreo"
For more ideas for day trips visit: www.puertoricodaytrips.com.
Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown Puerto Rico episode.
If you have any questions or encounter any problems contact Manuel Rivera anytime.