San Juan is a modern city with the characteristics of an American metropolis. However, behind the shiny facades of the new buildings, the historical features of the Spanish heritage are clearly visible. After all, the capital of Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain for more than 400 years. San Juan is divided into two parts: old and new. The old town is an open-air museum, surprising with its unique architecture. Outside the old city there are private houses and elite suburbs, as well as a resort area with a luxurious beach. Isla Verde(Isla Verde).

Climate and weather

The city of San Juan is located in a tropical climate zone. Throughout the year, the temperature varies from +22 °C to +31 °C. The warm period in San Juan lasts from late May to October. The hottest days occur in early September, when the average daily temperature can reach +35 °C. The cold (according to the islanders) period lasts from December to March: during this time the daytime temperature is +29 °C. Precipitation is possible throughout the year. The period from January to March is considered the driest.

Nature

The city of San Juan and its surroundings amaze with its unique flora and fauna. The coastal waters are inhabited by colorful tropical fish and funny crabs. Coral reefs untouched by poachers attract divers from all over the world with their beauty.

Evergreen trees and shrubs make it feel like you are in another world. It is home to many interesting fauna that you will not find in other parts of the world. The most interesting specimen of the animal world is the coca frog. This frog is one of the symbols of the island of Puerto Rico. It is very difficult to notice cocas, since even the largest of them reach a length of about 5 centimeters. However, it is difficult not to hear them. Even a small company of these little creatures attracts attention with their characteristic sounds. "ko-kii", thanks to which they received such a name.

Attractions

The historical center of San Juan is considered Old San Juan(Viejo San Juan). It lies on the edge of the peninsula of the same name, which is washed by the waters of the Atlantic. Now it is a National Historic Site, attracting many tourists. Its monuments are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The entire center of old San Juan is filled with buildings and structures of the 16th-17th centuries. Many of them are considered unique examples of the Spanish colonial style. Thus, Viejo San Juan boasts numerous defensive structures and majestic forts: San Felipe del Morro(XVI century) and San Cristobal(XVII century), as well as El Palacio de Santa Catalina.

Buildings and structures that deserve attention include: Town Hall, former family home Ponce de Leon(Casa Blanca), Church Saint Joseph 1523, Theater Tapia, former Spanish barracks, now a museum Ballaha, former municipal prison La Princesa(now a historical museum), municipal cemetery C Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Cathedral John the Baptist XVI century (it contains the grave of the great explorer and founder of the colony, the Spaniard Juana Ponce de Leon), Dominican Convent, Pigeon Park, known as "Parque de La Palomas".

8 kilometers from San Juan is the largest factory in the world where rum is produced "Bacardi". Here you can see almost the entire process of making an elite alcoholic drink and taste it, as well as buy local alcoholic products.

Nutrition

Locals call their cuisine Cocina Criolla. It has absorbed the features of Spanish, African and American culinary traditions. Lunch and dinner usually start with soups and hot appetizers. Be sure to try the roast suckling pig Lechon. Before roasting on a spit, it is marinated for 24 hours, due to which it acquires an absolutely delicious taste.

Soups are a staple of the Puerto Rican diet. One of the most famous soups is black bean soup. Another classic soup is chicken and rice. It may taste slightly different depending on the restaurant. The third classic soup is fish soup, prepared with fish heads and tails.

The flavor that comes from all Puerto Rican cuisine comes from the use of various herbs and spices.

Stews are a staple of the Puerto Rican diet. They are usually prepared in сaldero- deep and heavy pans. The main course is usually grilled steak with onions, pork butt and Creole-style meat. Puerto Ricans also love chicken, which is seasoned with various spices. Most visitors to San Juan will enjoy fish and shellfish dishes.

Try also all kinds of fruits: mango, guava, papaya, avocado, acerola (Barbados cherry), star fruit. Bananas are the most popular side dish served in any restaurant. Moreover, this is not just a raw fruit, but fried green bananas.

To finish off your meal in a San Juan restaurant, try aromatic black coffee. Since the island does not produce wine, it is better to order beer for light alcohol. The most popular brand is considered Medalla. And, of course, rum is the national drink of Puerto Rico. 80% of all rum consumed in the United States comes from this wonderful island.

Accommodation

Puerto Rico is considered one of the most inexpensive countries in the Caribbean. Of the 12 thousand hotels in the country, more than 50% are located in San Juan and its surroundings. A stay in luxury hotels (for example, the Condado area) will cost you from $250 per day, but you can find many good places for $100-200 per day. A cheaper area begins in the east of the city Isla Verde, where there are many inexpensive guesthouses and a nice private beach.

Small boarding houses and private hotels are ready to provide tourists with rooms ranging from $50-70 per night. In addition, the government subsidizes the opening of small hotels with reasonable prices and a good level of service. They are usually designated "Paradores Puerto Ricanos"(Paradores Puertorriquenos) and are located not only in San Juan, but throughout the island. From May to November, accommodation prices decrease by 20-30%, which is associated with hurricane season on the island of Puerto Rico.

Entertainment and relaxation

While in San Juan, visit the area Condado- the busiest part of the city with many shops and luxurious restaurants, fashionable hotels and casinos. Beach lovers should visit Condado Beach — best beach capital Cities. There are also a huge number of sports facilities, nightclubs and dance schools located here. Diving and surfing enthusiasts should head to the lagoons Los Corozon And San Juan.

During the day you can visit all sorts of museums in San Juan: the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, the Children's Museum, the distillery Bacardi(known as "Rum Cathedral") and etc.

In the evenings the city is filled with music. And these are not just tunes coming from nightclubs - these are classics at their best. You can listen to jazz in "Carly Cafe Concierto", you can enjoy flamenco in Spanish restaurants, but salsa and reggaeton will delight you in nightclubs.

Every year San Juan celebrates the birthday of its guardian angel - July D-Day John Baptista. You'll be lucky if you get to a street festival in January Saint Sebastian and in July - for a musical Casals Festival. Before Christmas or after the New Year, numerous street concerts and vibrant folklore performances are held in the capital. But even the most ordinary day in San Juan passes like a holiday!

Purchases

Walking along the cobbled streets of Old San Juan, you will find everything you want - from small shops and stalls with traditional crafts to famous brand boutiques ( Coach. Burberrys, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Guess and Custo Barcelona). Lovers of jewelry and expensive watches will also find a couple of shops here. Many of them are passed down from generation to generation, and perhaps the owner will not only sell you the jewelry, but also explain the intricacies of his complex craft.

The main streets for shopping in the old town are the streets Christ, Fortaleza And San Francisco. Here you can buy souvenirs popular among tourists: wooden figurines of saints, coca frogs, carnival masks made of coconut and papier-mâché, lace ( "mundillo"), musical instruments (“cuatro”) and, of course, great rum "Bacardi", "Barrilito" And "Don Ku" Pay attention to the local coffee, which has been supplied to the Vatican since the 19th century.

The largest shopping center in the Caribbean is located in the center of San Juan - Plaza Las Americas. Here you will find more than 300 luxury stores, including clothing and accessories from such famous designers as Louis Vuitton, Gucci And Salvatore Ferragamo. By shopping in factory outlets of famous brands, you save more than 50% compared to European prices. Factories are also located outside the city. shopping centers, where you can buy clothes and accessories from brands such as Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Nine West, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Nike, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren etc.

Transport

There are two ways to get to San Juan: by plane on the Moscow-Atlanta-San Juan route (the cost of a round-trip ticket is about $1,000) or by water transport (ferry, cruise ship, etc.) to the port of San Juan.

Urban transport in San Juan includes the metro, buses and taxis. The metro has only one line with 16 stations. All stations are mainly ground-based. There are also underground ones - these are stations Rio Pedro and University. The San Juan Metro operates daily from 5:30 to 23:30. The cost of one trip is $1.5.

Despite the fact that in San Juan buses run regularly on several routes, bus service between the cities is very poorly developed. Intercity transportation connecting the capital and the west coast is carried out by one small company Linea Sultana. Therefore, local residents prefer to use their own transport to travel around the island. San Juan is served by five limited-access express roads, highways, and expressways. Despite this, roads in San Juan suffer from severe congestion.

Connection

For calls to the mainland, there are several options in San Juan. Firstly, you can use cellular services (roaming from American operators). cellular on the entire island of Puerto Rico has one feature - it operates in the range CDMA/TDMA. If your phone supports standard communication GSM, it is better to rent a local phone at any mobile operator office.

The second option is to use landline services (payphones, telephone in a hotel room). Payphones operate using telephone cards, which can be purchased at post offices and kiosks, as well as ATT cards and cards for international calls.

The third option is the Internet web. There are quite a few Internet cafes in San Juan. In addition, almost all business centers and large hotels have their own access points, including WiFi.

Safety

The security situation in San Juan is mixed. Any serious crimes against tourists are extremely rare here. However, crime (fraud and theft) does exist, especially in poor areas on the outskirts of the city. Tourist areas are fairly safe and are guarded by a specialized police force called the tourist police.

In any case, you should remain vigilant and prudent when moving around the city, especially at night. It is clear that at this time it is better to avoid dark outskirts and alleys, deserted beaches. Only in the old part of San Juan can you safely walk the streets at night, as this part of the city never sleeps. The coastal area is also suitable for night walks La Perla.

Asking for directions local residents, be careful with the phrase: "Follow me!". Most likely, you will be led to the place you were looking for. However, there is also a possibility that you will fall into the hands of scammers. This is especially true for women and solo travelers.

If you rent a car, always try to leave it in a secure car park and not on the side of the road. Never leave valuables in plain sight, so as not to provoke thieves.

Business climate

The capital of Puerto Rico is a free industrial export zone, which, combined with cheap local labor resources, makes it possible to attract foreign investors from all over the world to the country. The relatively low cost of the company registration procedure also plays a huge role, especially compared to other countries. There is some advantage for American citizens: they do not need to obtain a special permit or visa to carry out commercial activities in the country. That's why San Juan is a great place to start your own company and do business.

Puerto Rico has its own Constitution, according to which no income taxes are levied on the population. Moreover, this applies not only to local residents, but also to foreign guests. These virtually duty-free conditions attract large numbers of foreign entrepreneurs to San Juan and other Puerto Rican cities. The most favorable direction for investment is tourism. The pharmaceutical industry, electronics and clothing sales also bring in good profits. Behind Lately The number of large world-famous corporations that have opened their branches in San Juan has increased significantly.

Real estate

On average, San Juan residential property prices are lower than in the United States, but higher than in other Caribbean countries. The main factor determining the price of a property is its proximity to the ocean. On the coast there are residential complexes with sky-high prices for apartments. Luxury villas and mansions located on huge plots of land can cost over a million dollars. The owners of such real estate are wealthy islanders or Americans, as well as representatives of the European continent. Prices for luxury real estate are constantly growing, so many foreigners purchase them for the purpose of further resale. A spacious apartment in San Juan near the coast can be purchased for $200,000-250,000. Similar housing in an area further away from the ocean will cost you 2-3 times less.

On the island, including San Juan, there is a special tax system for homeowners. If real estate properties are purchased for personal residence and not for commercial use, they are almost not subject to taxes. When buying cheap real estate, priced below $100,000, owners do not have to pay taxes at all.

Commercial real estate in San Juan is also in high demand: the capital is literally filled with numerous hotels, tourist complexes and hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment centers. Every year the flow of tourists increases, providing high profits for these establishments.

Puerto Ricans are a very friendly, polite and calm people. If you are friendly towards the locals, they will treat you the same. Talking to strangers in stores is common in Puerto Rico. So don't worry if a stranger strikes up a conversation with you.

While vacationing in San Juan, follow some rules that will help make your vacation safe and enjoyable:

• You may be bothered by local mosquitoes, so it is recommended that you take a strong insect repellent with you on your trip.
• You can drink tap water in San Juan, but outside the city it is better to prefer bottled water.

Old San Juan, or as it is locally known, El Vejo San Juan, is located on the western tip of a rocky peninsula at the mouth of San Juan Bay. When traveling to Puerto Rico, you simply must visit Old San Juan, with its cobblestone streets covered in blue furnace stone that hold the secrets of the history of this amazing city.

Architectural features

Old San Juan is full of buildings and structures from the 16th-17th centuries, which today are a National Historical Zone and Starting point for tourists. This city is more like a museum, which contains buildings with ancient architecture. The most famous area is Plaza del Cinto Centenario, which has preserved examples of colonial style in the western part of the city. The narrow and winding streets are paved with blocks called “adekines”. The elegant facades of the buildings and their balconies with trellises entwined with flowers transport passers-by to the times of the classics of Spanish literature. Along the northern side of Old San Juan there are fortress walls built of stone, forming, together with the forts, a strong defensive system that once protected local residents from raids by French, Dutch and British corsairs. Over time, many buildings were destroyed, and only the ramparts of San Cristobal, El Morro and the walls of La Muralla remained intact. However, even these buildings testify to the power and former greatness of the fortress.

Excursion tour

Old San Juan is considered the main cultural attraction of the Puerto Rico resort. Along the entire waterfront of the city there are docks for cruise ships. This is where you should start your walking tour. To the left of the pier is the Plaza de la Darsena, which houses a tourist information center, a center for artisans with their work, and here you can see the schedule of cruise ships that make daily boat trips and walks along the surrounding beaches.

Other attractions in El Vejo San Juan include:

• Casablanca, built in 1523 as the residence of the Spanish conquistador Pense de Leon;
• Dominican convent, which today houses the Institute of Culture;
• City hall;
• La Fortaleza, erected in 1540 as the residence of the island's governor;
• Cathedral of San Juan;
• La Princesa is a neoclassical building that was built in 1837 as a prison, and today is a wonderful exhibition hall for the work of local artists;
• La Rogativa is an amazing sculptural group erected in 1797 to commemorate the city's rescue from British troops;
• Museum of Colonial Architecture;
• Fort San Cristobal and Fuerte San Felipe del Moro, which are recognized as National Historic Monuments and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List;
• Delas Palomas is now a pigeon sanctuary;
• Plaza de Armas is the main square of the Old Town with four monuments representing the seasons;
• El Convento is one of the luxurious

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San Juan (/ ˌ S æ p HW ɑː n / ; Spanish pronunciation: [San - xwan] listen), "Saint John") is the capital and most populous municipality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 Census, it is the forty-sixth largest city under the jurisdiction of the United States, with a population of 395,326. San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, who called it Ciudad de Puerto Rico("Rich Port City"). The capital of Puerto Rico is the second oldest European-established capital in the Americas, after Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Several historic buildings are located in San Juan; Among the most notable are the city's former defensive forts, Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal and La Tiree, the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.

Today, San Juan is Puerto Rico's most important seaport and manufacturing island, financial, cultural and tourist center. The population of the metropolitan statistical area, including San Juan and the municipalities of Bayamón, Guaynabo, Cataia, Canóvanas, Caguas, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Carolina and Trujillo Alto, is approximately 2 million people; Thus, about half of Puerto Rico's population currently lives and works in this area. San Juan is also the main city of the San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Statistics Area. The city has been host to events in the sports community, including the 1979 Pan American Games; 1966 Central America and Caribbean game; 2006, 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics events; Caribbean Series and Special Olympics and MLB San Juan Series in 2010.

story

Ruins of the residence of Juan Pons de Leon in Capar

Shanti city along the Martin Peña canal, 1973

The architecture is more diverse in other areas of the city. The Santurce district has a large influence from Art Deco, while the Hato Rei districts have more modern structures.

Districts

Districts of San Juan

San Juan and Rio Piedras, as separate municipalities on a 1915 map

The main central part of the city is characterized by narrow blue cobblestone streets and picturesque colonial buildings, some of which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Sections of the old city are surrounded by massive walls and several defensive structures and famous forts. These include the 16th-century Fort San Felipe del Morro and the 17th-century Fort San Cristobal, as part of the San Juan National Historic Site, and the 16th-century El Palacio de Santa Catalina, also known as La Fortaleza, which serves as the governor's mansion. Other buildings of interest predating the 20th century are Ayuntamiento or Alcaldia(City Hall), then Diputation Provincial And Real Intendencia buildings that currently house the Puerto Rican State Department, the Casa Rosa, the San Jose Churches (1523) and the adjacent Hotel El Convento, the former home of the Ponce de León family, known as the Casa Blanca, the Tapia Theatre, former Spanish barracks (now the Ballajá Museum), La Princesa(a former city prison, now headquartered by a Puerto Rico Tourism Company), and the Cemetery of Mary Magdalene in San Juan, located just outside the city walls. The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista (construction began in the 1520s) is also located in Old San Juan, and contains the tomb of Spanish explorer and settlement founder Juan Ponce de Leon. Old San Juan, also known as "old town", is a major cultural attraction in Puerto Rico; its bayside is lined with dock wedges for large cruise ships.

Other areas

To the east of San Juan lies the wealthy tourist-oriented neighborhood of Condada, occupying land that was owned by Pub entrepreneur Ubarri Capetillo, a Spanish railroad developer and Count of San José de Santurce under the Spanish colonial period. Beaches, such as nearby Ocean Park, popular with swimmers, surfers and kiters, are found along the entire Atlantic coast of the area, which is also the focus of numerous hotels.

Near Condado there are two separate business districts, Santurce and Miramar. Miramar is a largely residential area rising south of Condado Bay. It includes the former barrio Miraflores, as well as the drained swamps and landfill over which San Juan's first airport was built, Isla Grande Airport, which was renamed Fernando Luis Ribas Dominici Airport in honor of Major Fernando Luis Ribas Dominici (USAF). Miramar currently houses the Puerto Rico Convention Center, as well as some of San Juan Harbor's cruise ship piers. In 2005, Miramar was designated a Puerto Rico Historic District.

Santurce, originally named San Mateo de Cangrejos(Saint Matthew Crabs), was a settlement for freed African slaves during the city's early days. After Pablo Ubarri tried to obtain permission to link San Juan with Rio Piedras properly using a steam tram in 1878, the time it took to travel between the two points was reduced and thereby stimulated colonization and growth of the area. At the beginning of the twentieth century, an electric trolley was installed, the village was divided into three parts, and its main settlement merged with the city, renamed with the Spanish spelling Santurtzi ( Saint George in Basque), birthplace of Ubarri in Vizcaya, Spain. The "Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico" (Puerto Rico Art Museum) and other important cultural centers are located in Santurce.

Looking down Old San Juan Street on the bay side

Demography

San Juan is the largest city in Puerto Rico by population. From 1899 to 1950, the municipality of San Juan excluded the village of Rio Piedras. For this reason, data on population and land area for the period refer only to Antiguo San Juan and SANTURCE barrios or subdivisions, San Juan. The old municipality of Rio Piedras constituted the third most populous city of Puerto Rico at the time of its annexation in 1951. Its strategic location south of the capital served as a junction for all major modes of transportation of the island and as the geographic entrance of San Juan, which are factors causing the dramatic urban development of Rio Piedras in the 20th century.

Places and monuments highlighted in the tours include: Old San Juan, promoting the historical character of its colonial buildings and narrow streets covered by adoquine, blue stone cast from slag; they were brought as ballast on Spanish ships. This includes the city's ancient defensive walls and forts, most notably El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal. On January 23, 1984, both of these buildings were cataloged as part of the cultural heritage of humanity. The restaurants and art galleries in the zone are frequented by tourists. Local universities are promoted as historical sites, most notably the campus of the University of Puerto Rico, located in Rio Piedras, which is the oldest university on the island having been founded in 1903.

culture

San Juan is home to artists and musicians locally known as Sanjuaneros who have had a significant influence on Puerto Rican culture. During the 20th century, the musical aspect of the city was influenced by performers including the Afro-Caribbean dancer and choreographer Sylvia del Villar and José Enrique Pedreira, who became the composer of the Puerto Rican Danzas. Musicians such as opera singer Justino Diaz and Graham winners Ramona Ayala (Daddy Yankee) and Ricky Martin were born in the city. Other notable residents include writers Giannina Braschi and Tomás Blanco, award-winning actors Raúl Julia and Benicio del Toro, and comedian José Miguel Agrelot. Rafael Cordero (1790–1868), had a major influence on the development of Puerto Rican education and was once known as the "Father of Public Education in Puerto Rico". The city is also home to modern and classical art museums. The Puerto Rico Art Museum owns the largest collection of contemporary art in Puerto Rico, housing over 1,100 permanent works of art and displaying temporary exhibitions containing works of art from various locations across Latin America.

In an attempt to reduce dependence vehicle and traffic congestion, the city built a metro system dubbed "Tren Urbana" ("Urban Train"). The 10.7 mile (17.2 km) line connects to 16 stations. The project, which opened in late 2004, cost $22.5 billion and made more than $1 billion over budget and four years late. Tren Urbano received less passenger traffic than initially projected and did not significantly reduce the city's automobile traffic, despite a reported 7.5% increase in passenger traffic in 2006 over 2005. There is a planned project to build "intercity light rail systems" linking the cities from San Juan and Caguas.

Increased investment in public transportation, however, has not changed the fact that San Juan is a car-reliant city and its rapid growth has sparked urbanization. As of mid-2010, the government approved plans to redevelop this Puerto Rican city, featuring a new massive transit system, new roads and intersections, and more beach access points. No car will be allowed in the oldest part of town (Old San Juan). The plans hope to correct previous poor urban planning in the old part of the city, Isleta, and curb dependence on motor vehicles. The redevelopment plans also hope to make the city more attractive to attract new residents, with San Juan suffering from population decline over the past 60 years.

Health and utilities

San Juan has a sophisticated triage system, hospitals, and preventive care medical services. The municipal government sponsors regular health fairs in different areas of the city, with a focus on healthcare for the elderly and disabled. There are 20 hospitals in San Juan, half of them operated by the government. The largest hospital in San Juan and the most important of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean is Rio - Piedras medical Center , or Centro Medico de Rio Piedras in Spanish. Founded in 1956, this hospital is operated by the Health Services Administration of the Puerto Rico Department of Health. It consists of eight other hospitals.

• San Juan City Hospital: This hospital is run by the San Juan Municipal Government.
• Industrial Hospital: This is a hospital for government employees of Puerto Rico, whether municipal or Commonwealth government employees. Typically, police officers are injured and firefighters are taken care of here.
• San Juan Children's Hospital - also operates within the San Juan municipal government.
• Children's Hospital: Operated by the Commonwealth government, this is the main trauma hospital for pediatric cases.
• Centro Medico: This is the main trauma hospital for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
• Centro Cardiovascular del Caribe (Caribbean Cardiology Cardiac Surgery): This is the main hospital for open heart surgery in the Caribbean. The hotel offers family-friendly accommodations for patients.
• Psychiatric Hospital: The main psychiatric hospital in Puerto Rico. Operated by the Government of Puerto Rico.
• Psychiatric Hospital Correctional: It is both a hospital and a correctional facility. It operates jointly with the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Health Services Administration.

There are 10 hospitals in the city of San Juan. Of these, nine are diagnostic and treatment centers located in communities throughout San Juan. The main hospital is located in the Centro Medico. These 10 hospitals are:

• Llorens Torres
• Puerto Nuevo
• San Jose
• Rio Piedras
• Sabana Llana
• Santurce Parada 19
• General Hospital (Centro Medico)

In addition, there are 10 private hospitals in San Juan. This:

• Hospital Metropilitano
• Auxilio Mutuo Hospital
• Hospital Auxilio Mutuo Expreso
• Veteranos Hospital: The main veterans hospital in the Caribbean. Operated by US Veteran Healthcare System.
• Ashford Presbyterian Hospital
• Pavia Ato Rei Hospital
• Hospital Pavia Santurce
• San Jorge Children's Hospital: The most well known children's hospital in the San Juan Metropolitan Area.
• Hospital San Gerardo: Located in the Cupey area, a small hospital but also specialized in psychiatry and the elderly.
• Hospital del Maestro (Teachers Hospital): Located in Hato Rey, this hospital is run by the Puerto Rico Teachers' Association.
Caribbean series, Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

The newly built $28,000,000 San Juan Swimming Pool is beginning to attract island and regional swim meets, as well as winter training at top mainland American colleges and universities, including the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

In July 2007, the San Juan Golf Academy and its driving range began operating on top of the city's former sanitary landfill in Puerto Nueva and would eventually be the city's first and only 9-hole golf course.

Professional teams